Summer had arrived in Cocoyasi Village.
In the season of cicadas' songs, from one end of the village to the other, everyone was buzzing about the same topic.
"Could there be some mistake? Xiano and the others have actually been put on a wanted list?"
Genzo abruptly stopped his bicycle, staring at the newspaper in his hand.
"Pure nonsense!"
A villager beside him fumed, "They claim that Xiano attacked Loguetown, and that Vice Admiral Onigumo intervened to arrest him. I think it's the other way around—they're framing him!"
"Exactly! If anyone, I'd believe Nami, that little troublemaker, might pull off some petty theft. But Xiano? Absolutely not!!!"
Another auntie, who had just returned from grocery shopping, was equally indignant.
"That's right!"
"Looks like even within Marine Headquarters, there are plenty of bad apples!"
Listening to the voices outside.
"Heh." Bellemere propped her legs on the table, lit a slim cigarette, and smiled as she gazed out the window at the azure sky.
If even the villagers didn't believe Xiano could become a ruthless pirate, how could she possibly believe it?
Still.
Truly her child. It hadn't been long since he set sail, and he'd already stirred up such a commotion.
The bounties were shockingly high too. Even Nojiko, the little tagalong, was worth 40 million?
Back when she was in the Marines, the combined bounties of all the pirates she'd encountered didn't even come close to that!
Wow~, so much money. Honestly, when they return, maybe I should just tie them up and cash in the bounties.
She exhaled a wisp of smoke.
Back in the day, when she'd worked so hard to save up 300,000, she could never have imagined a day like this.
...
Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.
By the candlelight, Koshiro sat on the tatami, reading the newspaper. Two heads poking over his shoulders were practically squeezing his ears off.
"180 million, wow!!!"
"80 million Berries, wow!!"
"8,000 Berries, wow… huh?"
Alright, let's skip that one. Moving to the next page, the sight of the handsome silver wolf, the curly brow, and the mosshead set off another round of excited exclamations.
"Hmph, Kuina's only 75 million? Not even as high as old man Zeff and Agin!"
After going through all the wanted posters, Zoro wiped his nose forcefully, "It's nothing special. Once I set sail, I'll catch up in no time!"
"Dream on!"
Sanji sneered, "You've lost to her 5,500 times, and you think you can surpass Kuina? The perfect bounty for you would be 5,500 Berries!"
"Still better than you!!"
Zoro roared, "You don't even dare challenge Kuina! Don't use that 'can't hit women' excuse—you're just a coward!"
"That was back when I didn't know any better. Don't underestimate me!" Sanji's face turned red.
Over the years, the memories of being intimidated by Kuina's increasingly fierce glare, shrinking like a quail, and being teased and bullied by that brat Nami flashed through his mind—
He pounded his chest, "My Knight's Code is evolving too!"
"Now I've realized that not fighting women is actually disrespectful. To truly show respect, I should be more serious and give it my all!!!"
"Now that's more like it!"
Zoro's eyes lit up, giving a thumbs-up, "I never thought you'd say something so profound. Even your curly brow is starting to look good to me."
"Is that so!" Sanji said smugly, "With you praising me like that, I feel like calling you Mosshead all this time was a bit too harsh."
The two fools wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders, hands on their hips, and burst into laughter.
In the middle of them, Koshiro still wore his usual smiling expression, but a vein was visibly throbbing on his forehead...
Back when Zeff and Kuina were around to keep them in check, he hadn't thought much of it.
But now, he was truly experiencing firsthand just how exhausting it was to have these two energetic kids together, constantly shouting and causing a ruckus—
Forget waiting until they're adults, why don't you two just set sail already!
...
Loguetown, the docks.
"Are you really sure about resigning, Tashigi?"
The Petty Officer who had come to see her off looked regretful, "You know, your probation period is almost over. With your swordsmanship skills, it wouldn't take more than a few months for you to become an officer once you officially join the Marines. Giving up now is such a waste."
"I don't regret it, Petty Officer!"
The black-haired girl shook her head, "Back then, I was inspired by Lord Xiano and joined the Marines to pursue justice. But now I understand—"
She pointed to her chest, "Justice resides in the heart, not in appearances!"
"As long as you can uphold the path of justice in your heart and strive to practice it, it doesn't matter where you are or what identity you take to sail the seas. On the other hand, even if you stay in the Marines, who claim to represent justice, you might just end up becoming an unforgivable villain!"
"In fact, the Marine Headquarters, which has twisted the truth and labeled Mr. Xiano as a major criminal, has already become unforgivable in my eyes!"
Tashigi's gaze was firm, "One day, I'll set foot on Marine Headquarters and point at the cloaks of the Fleet Admirals to ask them what their so-called path of justice truly is!"
"Then why don't you turn around and say that to me!"
The Petty Officer bared his teeth and roared, "Why are you standing so close and staring at him? You're spraying saliva all over his face, don't you know that's rude!"
"Ah, sorry!"
Tashigi flusteredly took out her glasses and immediately bowed in apology. Only then did she realize she had been facing a stranger carrying a massive black sword.
"It's fine."
Hawkeye subtly wiped his forehead and didn't pay much attention. Under the apologetic gazes of the two, he folded the newspaper in his hand, boarded a small boat, and left the dock.
Did I miss him after all?
Hawkeye silently watched the receding silhouette of Loguetown. He had arrived here last night, only to find out that the person he was looking for had left several days ago.
By now, they've probably already crossed Reverse Mountain, right?
Under normal circumstances, he would have given up. He had no interest in chasing a swordsman who was likely inferior to him across the vast seas for so long.
But just in the past few days, the Loguetown Incident had erupted.
After hearing the descriptions from the townsfolk, the information in the newspapers, and seeing the vanished execution platform with his own eyes—
"Xiano," Hawkeye murmured to himself.
This man, who had shone like a star the moment he set sail, was becoming more and more intriguing to him…
...
The New World, somewhere on the sea.
A bonfire crackled behind a massive rock, with half an Elephant Tuna sizzling on the spit. The crew of the Red Hair Pirates lay sprawled on the grass, surrounded by empty bottles of alcohol.
"Hmm?"
The bounty poster flapped noisily in the sea breeze, slapping against Ben Beckman'
s face. He stared drunkenly at the bottommost one:
"Four, five, six... Huh? Seven zeros? Not eighteen million, but one hundred and eighty million Berry?!"