On a sunny morning in Sorbet, the first issue of the newspaper "Coral Voice" was released.
It was not an ordinary newspaper. It was the product of rging the three major newspapers of the Eastern Coral Region. It was under the direct control of the Pablo Family. And its front page carried a ssage not agreed upon by the three owners, but dictated by Pablo himself.
On the front page was a large image divided into two halves.
The right half was a portrait of Pablo. He wore a white shirt, his black hair combed back. His face was handso, calm, and his eyes looked at the horizon with confidence. He was not smiling. He did not need to.
The left half was an image of the black fleet. Dozens of black ships lined up in the port, their sails fluttering, bearing the na "Pablo" and the family emblem: the crossed sword and hand.
Above the image was the main headline:
"Hero of the Coral: How the Pablo Family Saved the Region from Chaos and Pirates."
Beneath it were long articles recounting how the Pablo Family brought peace to the nine islands, how they fought pirates, how they expelled gangs, how they raised farrs' salaries, how they opened ports for trade, how they made the region safe.
The newspaper was distributed on every island. In every town. In every port. In every café. In every ho.
Everyone read it.
---
On the distant island of Verona, where Pablo had begun his journey more than a year and a half ago, Savia sat in her small shop.
She was still the sa. A woman in her thirties, her dark hair tied behind her head in a deliberate carelessness that only added to her beauty. She sold charcoal, spices, and simple goods.
The newspaper arrived via a passing rchant.
She opened it. She saw the image.
She recognized him imdiately.
Pablo. The thin child who ca to her shop selling charcoal. From whom she used to buy for three hundred and fifty Beli. Whom she had warned about the sea, saying: "The sea is not a place for a child alone. Pirates, storms, greedy rchants."
And now, his face was on a newspaper cover. Beside him, a fleet of black ships.
She read the article. It said that the Pablo Family brought peace to the region. That they fought pirates. That they controlled the nine islands.
She closed the newspaper. She looked at the image again.
"The sea is not a place for a child alone." she whispered to herself. Then she smiled.
"But you are not a child now, Pablo."
She put the newspaper aside. She returned to her work. But she was thinking of that child who stood before her a year and a half ago. Of his eyes. Of his determination. Of his silence.
"You have grown."
---
In the Marine headquarters in Naraka, Captain Vinson sat in his office.
He was still the sa. His light brown hair combed back. His blue eyes half-closed. His long sword hanging behind his chair.
Before him, the newspaper "Coral Voice" lay open.
He read the headline. He looked at the image. He recognized the face.
Pablo. The child who ca to his office more than a year ago. Whom he accused of threatening peace. Against whom he could prove nothing.
And now, he controlled the region. He had a fleet. He had an army. He had newspapers spreading his glory.
Vinson was not angry. Not afraid. He was neutral as always.
"This child is dangerous." he said to himself.
He opened his desk drawer. He took out a paper. He began to write.
"To the Marine Headquarters of the South Blue,
Subject: Report on the Pablo Family and their control of the Eastern Coral Region..."
He wrote in clear handwriting, without exaggeration. He stated only the facts. The number of islands. The size of the fleet. Control of the ports. Influence on trade. Lack of evidence of direct cris against civilians.
"I advise monitoring the situation. This family may pose a future threat to stability in the region."
He signed the paper. He placed it in an envelope. He called a soldier.
"Send this to the high command."
The soldier took the envelope and left.
Vinson remained seated. He looked out the window. He saw a rchant ship flying the flag of the Pablo Family – a black flag with the emblem of the sword and hand.
"I warned you, Pablo. I told you the Marines are watching."
But he also knew that Pablo had committed no clear cri. That he had brought stability. That he had made people safer.
"We will wait and see."
---
In Sorbet: People stood before the newspapers posted on walls. They read. So smiled. So were afraid. So were thinking. An old man said: "This young man... he has changed everything."
On Shell Island: The farrs gathered around the newspaper. They looked for their nas. They did not find them. But they found news about salary increases. They were happy. A young boy said to his father: "Father, this man is handso." The father laughed. "This man is our lord now."
On Skull Island: The residents were still afraid. But after reading the article, their view of the family changed. So felt relief. One survivor of the pirate massacre said: "I was not comfortable with this family. But he killed those who killed my people. That makes respect him."
On Breeze Island: The people were cautious. They knew that Morris fought to the end and lost. They knew that Arthur defeated him. They were not happy, but they were not angry either. One rchant said: "What matters is that the port works. And goods move."
On Coral Island: The pearl rchants looked at the newspaper with disdain. They knew it was propaganda. But they also knew that half of them had died at Shigo's hands. No one dared to comnt aloud.
On Shadow Island: The people whispered among themselves. They were afraid of Kuro's return. But reading that the black fleet controlled the region made so feel safe. A young woman said to her friend: "Perhaps this is better than Kuro's gang." Her friend whispered: "Better or worse? We don't know yet."
On First Port Island: The sailors and workers read the newspaper while sipping coffee. They knew Pablo. They knew Darin. They knew their salaries had increased. One worker said: "I don't care who rules. What matters is that I eat." The others laughed.
On Last Port Island: The few residents read the newspaper with curiosity. They were not important enough to have an opinion. But they were curious. They wanted to know what was happening in the world.
In Naraka: The factory workers read the newspaper. They knew Pablo. They knew Arthur and Ido. They knew they had been part of the Pablo Family from the beginning. So were proud. So were afraid. An elderly worker said: "I saw him when he was just a supervisor at the fruit factory. And now... look at him."
---
In his palace in Sorbet, Pablo sat on his chair. Before him, a copy of "Coral Voice." He read it slowly. He was smiling.
He did not care about people's reactions. He knew so would be afraid. So would respect. So would hate. So would love. That did not matter.
What mattered was that the newspaper said what he wanted. That the image showed what he wanted. And with repetition, the ssage would reach them, and the idea he wanted would stick in their minds.
Jinny entered the room. She sat beside him.
"Have you read it?" he asked.
"Yes."
"And what do you think?"
"I think the people of the nine islands will now know who you are."
"Not who I am. What I want them to know."
She smiled. "Sa thing."
He put the newspaper aside. He looked at her.
"This is only the beginning."
"I know."
He stood up. He walked to the window. He looked at the port. He saw the black fleet. He saw the black sails fluttering in the wind.
It was the beginning of a new era.
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