For example, there were videos of people recording their daily lives, snapping casual selfies, surviving on deserted islands, and even pirates posting clips of their robberies.
However, any illegal content was quickly flagged and deleted by the system.
Of course…
The most popular videos came from Amazon Lily. Suggestive, eye-catching, and expertly filmed, they had the largest fanbase by far. While posting videos daily, they'd even reply to comments to keep engagement high.
"Thank you for the follow, Helmeppo~"
"Thanks for the follow, Onigumo~"
"Appreciate the follow, Coby~"
"Thanks for the support, everyone! Kikyo will post more videos tomorrow."
…
During this period,
the number of phones delivered by the News Coos to islands across the sea began to drop.
Sensing opportunity, nobles, royals, and rich merchants who had stockpiled phones started reselling them at outrageous prices.
But even though demand remained high, not many people bought them. The prices were just too insane.
Internally, Morgans had already shifted strategies. From now on, the focus was content. Newspapers would no longer be the primary product, but instead serve as backup to their video operations.
Also, from now on, anyone buying a phone would be required to follow the newspaper's TikTok account. Buyers were told that following the account would give them real-time, first-hand intel on the sea. A worthy trade.
Morgans believed that just the promise of exclusive sea intel was enough to hook everyone into following.
Three days later,
he decided it was time to execute the plan, sending out every available News Coo in one massive wave.
Over the last few days,
the News Coos had been twitching with restraint, holding back under orders. But now, they'd finally been let off the leash.
Each phone delivery would now net them double the usual commission!
Fueled by this new pay scale, the News Coos went ballistic, flying faster than ever, like they'd been shot full of adrenaline.
Within just two days, the number of islands with phone access skyrocketed.
As for those nobles and merchants who hoarded phones?
They were ruined.
They had no idea why News Coos were suddenly delivering massive amounts of phones—and selling them for even less than before. Only 100 Berries each!
"Damn Morgans! How many phones does that freak even have?!"
"He's hogging the whole roast, not even leaving us a bone to gnaw!"
"Damn it, I saved for decades... and now I've lost everything!"
…
Of course, none of their cursing ever reached Morgans.
To him, money was now just a number. He'd transcended currency.
…
Grand Line.
In a quiet patch of sea, the Going Merry drifted calmly.
Suddenly,
Luffy's wailing and Usopp's begging could be heard echoing across the ship.
"Nami, pleeease! Just buy a phone!" Luffy lay on the deck, hugging her leg, eyes filled with puppy-dog desperation.
"Yeah! Even that old guy at Reverse Mountain has a phone—it's gotta be awesome!" Usopp chimed in, clinging to Luffy and looking just as pathetic.
"Everyone else has one! If we don't, are we even real pirates?!" Luffy added, as if a smartphone were core pirate gear.
The two dropped to their knees in unison, looking up at Nami with pleading eyes.
"Hmph! Do you even know how much phones cost now?! They're being scalped for 20,000 Berries!"
Nami snapped and punched both of them straight into the deck. Grinding her teeth, she muttered, "If only we had bought 100 back then. They were just 200 Berries each. We could've flipped them for a 19,800 Berry profit each!"
Her eyes instantly turned into little money signs. She started to drool.
"100 phones... That's 1,980,000 Berries!"
Zoro looked at the chaos unfolding, sighed, and went back to sleep.
Phones? Not his thing.
The only thing that mattered was the blade. His goal was to become the world's greatest swordsman. That was it.
Sanji, ever the gentleman, had quietly prepared juice for everyone. He handed a glass to Nami with a charming smile.
"My beautiful, radiant Nami-san, here's your juice."
"Thanks, Sanji." Nami took it with a satisfied sip.
"You're very welcome. It's a gentleman's duty."
Sanji turned away gracefully and set the rest of the glasses on a barrel nearby.
Usopp immediately ran over and grabbed one. Luffy reached for another.
Once the two had slurped theirs down, their gazes returned to Nami, hope rekindled.
Before they could say a word, Nami waved them off. "Stop. Don't say another word. I'll buy it."
"YEAH! We're getting phones too!" Luffy leapt up in glee.
"Haha! I, Captain Usopp, will be the first 8,000-underling commander on the sea to own a phone!" Usopp cheered.
"No, I, Monkey D. Luffy, will be the first Pirate King with a phone!"
But—
Nami quickly doused their hype. "We'll buy one when the News Coos arrive. The ones in town are way too expensive. We can't afford them."
…
Three more days passed.
Finally, they spotted a familiar silhouette flapping toward them from the sky.
"News Coo!!!"
Luffy sprang up and reached toward it, nearly grabbing it out of the air.
"LUFFY!!!"
WHAM!
Luffy's face collided with the deck, embedding itself halfway into the planks.
"Don't abuse animals!" Nami stormed over and punched him into the floor again. She turned to the News Coo with a sweet smile, handing over 200 Berries.
"Hello, Mr. News Coo. We'd like to buy a phone, please."
The News Coo gave a knowing nod, pulled an elegantly packaged box from its bag, and handed it to her. It then took 100 Berries from her palm.
"Huh? Only 100?" Nami blinked in surprise.
"Coo coo." The News Coo chirped and nodded, then pulled out another box, gesturing with its beak—interested in whether they wanted more.
"Buy it! I need my own phone as captain!" Luffy shouted.
Startled by the outburst, the News Coo flapped back a few steps.
"Uh…" Nami gave it an apologetic look. "Since it's so cheap, let's get one for each of us."
"Mr. News Coo, we'd like five phones total, including this one. Please give us four more." She handed over another 400 Berries.
The News Coo was more than happy to oblige.
In remote areas, commissions were higher, not just for transport, but also for sales, and they even got bonuses for tough weather, long distances, extreme heat, and winter conditions.
After selling five phones, the News Coo flapped away, satisfied, onto its next delivery.
Back on the ship, the Straw Hat crew was buzzing with excitement.
Usopp clutched his phone with both hands, tears streaming down his face.
"Nami… thank you! You're the best navigator in the world! Waaaah!"
"Thank you, my dear Nami-san!" Sanji's eyes turned into hearts. He was floating with joy as he tore open his box.
Zoro didn't even glance at his. He set the unopened box aside and went back to napping.
(To be continued.)