East Blue, Cocoa West Village.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the small house, painting the courtyard a warm orange-red.
Genzo rode past on his bicycle, the small windmill on his head spinning merrily. He turned his head, gazing nostalgically at the empty house.
It had been over half a month since Bellemere moved away. I wonder if she's happy now?
She should be happy, right?
After all, that woman left with a hearty laugh, saying she had worked hard in the orange orchard for over a decade and could finally go out and relax on vacation.
"Sigh…"
Genzo let out a sigh, preparing to turn away when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.
"Excuse us."
Two men in black suits and sunglasses stood at the door, holding a document, their faces adorned with polite yet distant smiles.
"Are you Mr. Genzo?"
Genzo was taken aback, sizing them up. "Who are you?"
"I'm a member of the World Government's CP3, here to investigate some matters." The man on the left nodded slightly. "About Xiano."
Xiano?
Just as Bellemere had predicted!
No, to be precise, this was Xiano's idea from the phone call.
That kid really has foresight; he had Bellemere move away just as his bounty was about to rise to around five hundred million Berry. As for where she moved to, even he didn't know.
At that time, he hadn't thought much of it.
He believed the World Government and the Marines wouldn't stoop so low as to trouble a retired old soldier in the countryside.
But now…
Genzo's pupils constricted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He snorted coldly, his tone suddenly turning angry. "That ungrateful little brat? What do you want with him?!"
"Oh?" The CP3 member raised an eyebrow. "It seems you don't have a good impression of him?"
"Not just bad!"
Genzo stomped his foot, gritting his teeth as he cursed, "That ingrate! We raised him in our village for so many years, and what did he do? As soon as he became an adult, he went out to become a pirate and killed so many Marines who uphold justice! He's completely disgraced Cocoa West Village!"
His voice grew louder, drawing the attention of several nearby villagers.
"Exactly! That bastard!"
"If I had known, I should have kicked him out of the village back then!"
"I could tell he wasn't a good person years ago; he tore down all the mountains on the island, and now there's nowhere to go for spring outings!"
"Indeed, that guy was already causing trouble when he was little; he almost ate the big white dog at the village entrance!"
The villagers gathered around, angrily denouncing Xiano's crimes, each one filled with righteous indignation, as if they wished they could strangle him themselves.
A large white dog barked angrily, clearly sharing the villagers' hatred for Xiano.
The CP3 member narrowed his eyes slightly, scanning the faces of the crowd.
"You all really hate him, huh?"
"Hate? Of course we hate him!"
Genzo shouted angrily, "That guy led Nami and Nojiko, two good girls, astray! Now even Bellemere can't stand the village's disdain and has left home. That bastard better never come back; otherwise, I'll be the first to break his legs!"
"Yeah! Break his legs!"
"Make sure he never dares to return to East Blue!"
The villagers were incensed, with some waving hoes, ready to fight.
The two men in suits exchanged glances and finally nodded. "We understand. Thank you all for your cooperation."
Ten minutes later.
The two appeared on a small path outside the village, under a coconut tree, dialing their superior.
"...We've gathered all the information, sir. Xiano's adoptive mother has moved away, whereabouts unknown, and both of his sisters are with him, while the villagers on the island harbor intense hatred for Xiano."
"So, there's nothing left in Cocoa West Village that we can use to threaten Xiano."
"Understood, we're preparing to return to the team."
Meanwhile, at Genzo's home.
The villagers gathered in the living room, listening to Genzo's summary.
"The two men have already left."
Genzo scanned the room:
"However, we must remain vigilant. This is just the surface; there may be hidden threats behind it."
"For instance, they could disguise themselves as ordinary merchants or passing travelers to probe for information. In any case, everyone remember, in front of outsiders, we must stick to the original plan."
"Understood, Genzo, don't worry!"
"Hmph, think they can disguise themselves? These dogs trying to frame Xiano can't hide their stench!"
...
Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.
The sound of cicadas filled the air; in the summer season, the wind chimes under the dojo's eaves jingled in the evening breeze.
"Dinner's ready!"
A hearty voice came from the kitchen, and the children in the dojo cheered, dropping their bamboo swords and rushing to the dining hall.
Zoro and Sanji, the two little rascals, charged ahead, shoving each other to see who could get through the door first.
"Mosshead! Don't block the way!"
"Curly Brow! You should move!"
The two tangled at the entrance, and just as the noise grew louder, suddenly—
"Hey, you two little brats!"
Bellemere emerged from the kitchen with a cigarette in her mouth, grabbing each of them by the ear. "You're both practically grown-ups now, yet you still act like little kids at mealtime? Looks like today's training wasn't enough!"
"Ow, ow, ow!" Zoro grimaced, "Bellemere, let go!"
"What are you saying, Mosshead? How rude! Who's an aunt?" Sanji tiptoed to ease the pain while indignantly defending, "She's clearly a beautiful big sister!"
"Smooth talker!"
Bellemere wasn't buying it; she huffed and dragged the two little rascals toward the front yard.
"As punishment for disrupting dinner, you two will do two thousand one-handed push-ups right now, and you can eat only after finishing!"
"Two thousand?!" The two little rascals cried out in despair.
Under normal circumstances, this training load might not be much, but they were both starving!
In the main house, Koshiro held a cup of hot tea, smiling as he watched the scene unfold.
After Kuina and Zeff left, these two boys had become increasingly unruly, causing a ruckus every day, and his gentle nature had no way to handle them.
However, since Bellemere arrived half a month ago, the two kids had settled down considerably.
Was it because they feared Bellemere's fierce personality…
Or was it because they were afraid of their big brother, who could scare them into submission with just a glance?
Or perhaps a combination of both? Koshiro's gaze fell on the newspaper fluttering on the table, and he momentarily lost himself in thought.
One billion Berry…
It had only been a little over two months since he set sail, and his bounty had already reached such a terrifying level.
Even among the people he knew, only one had a bounty higher than this figure.
If given another year or two, what kind of achievements would this kid reach? Koshiro couldn't even begin to imagine.
Of course, besides that…
Koshiro gently flipped through the newspaper, pulling out the second wanted poster, quietly gazing at the girl with the high ponytail.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
Following that boy, she would surely become the world's greatest swordsman, right? When she returns home, she can slap my face hard and make me apologize for that foolish remark I made that night.
"Kuina…"
Do your best.
...
Grand Line, Jaya Island.
This is a half-island left on the ground after being cut off by the raging sea currents.
The town of Magic Valley on the island is notorious for being a gathering place for outlaws, and many pirates passing through this area often linger for a while.
At this moment, it was afternoon, and a tavern was bustling with noise.
Pirates were gulping down rum, boasting about their adventures, with the air thick with the mixed scents of alcohol and sweat.
"Hey, have you seen the recent newspaper? That monster named Xiano rejected the Warlords of the Sea's invitation, and his bounty has risen to one billion Berry!"
"Of course! This is shocking news that has stunned the entire world. What pirate in the Grand Line doesn't know about it? Do you really need to say that?"
"Ah Xiong's news is really outdated!"
The surrounding companions laughed and teased.
Some pirates sighed, "One billion Berry… There must be at least a few hundred bounty criminals on this island, if not a thousand. I wonder if their total bounty even matches this guy's."
"Definitely not!"
"Exactly! That's one billion Berry! I'd say the total bounty of all the pirates in the first half doesn't even reach that!"
"Huh? That can't be right; it should be at least ten billion! You're the one who's bad at math!"
"Who are you calling an idiot, you jerk! Aren't you illiterate too? A truly cultured person wouldn't come to be a pirate!"
The two argued back and forth, and the surrounding pirates took sides, each group supporting their respective viewpoints.
But one thing was undeniable.
One billion, that number had far exceeded their comprehension.
After all, in the first half of the Grand Line, there were very few pirates with bounties over one hundred million, and those above five hundred million were realms only monsters from the New World could reach! Just then.
"Creak—"
The shutter door was pushed open, and a tall figure stepped inside.
Instantly, the noise in the tavern came to a halt. All the pirates' gazes involuntarily focused on this man—
A black trench coat, sharp eyes like a hawk, and… that iconic black cross sword!
"The… the world's greatest swordsman, 'Hawkeye' Mihawk?!"
Someone recognized him and gasped in terror, dropping their cup with a crash.
The others who hadn't recognized him were also taken aback, and some quick-witted ones had already quietly pulled their partners to sneak out the back door.
Hawkeye ignored the commotion around him and walked straight to the bar, followed closely by a visibly nervous Tashigi.
"One tequila, on the rocks."
He ordered a drink for himself, glanced at Tashigi, and ordered her the tavern's best-selling cherry pie.
They chose an inconspicuous spot in the corner to sit down, and Tashigi gradually calmed down.
"Mr. Mihawk," Tashigi asked in a low voice, "Do you really think Lord Xiano and the others will come here?"
"Just trust me."
Hawkeye took a sip of his drink and said lightly, "If Xiano doesn't arrive here within three days, I'll read my name backward from now on."
He was overly confident about this.
Xiano's crew's route had been traceable up to this point.
From Whiskey Peak to Little Garden, then to Alabasta, following this pattern, the next stop would undoubtedly be Magic Valley.
"By the way, since we arrived on this island, your mood has been quite low."
Hawkeye glanced at the girl across from him. "It's strange; clearly, his fame has risen, and you should feel happy like last time, right?"
"I… I am happy for Lord Xiano, but… but…"
Tashigi, caught in her thoughts, lowered her head in frustration. "Lord Xiano's steps are moving too fast, making me feel further away from him."
"…"
Hawkeye silently observed the girl before him, not offering any words of comfort.
In his eyes, Tashigi's talent in swordsmanship could only be described as decent, far from the swordsman girl who resembled Xiano.
Yet, Tashigi's obsession with swordsmanship and the state of mind she exhibited while practicing truly impressed him.
What a pity.
Hawkeye shook his head slightly, withdrawing his gaze.
This little one, if she had continued under his guidance, might have achieved something in the path of swordsmanship.
But the agreement they made was clear; he was only responsible for temporary instruction, and once he met Xiano, he would part ways with Tashigi.
And now, Xiano was about to arrive on this island.
Their fates would come to an end.
Why should he worry about a passerby he met by chance?
...…
Meanwhile.
On the Sunset.
Xiano pushed open the door to the training room, stepping out with a slightly frustrated rub of his sore fists.
"I couldn't grasp it, Conqueror's Haki Infusion."
He sighed sadly.
Previously, when he sparred with Garp, he had paid special attention to memorizing the way Garp used Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
This skill was becoming essential for those reaching the finals, and it was a rare opportunity to learn, so he had to give it a try.
Unfortunately…
"It really isn't that simple."
He glanced at the Poneglyph in the training room and shook his head.
Since parting ways with Garp two days ago, he had been practicing diligently, trying various methods, but Conqueror's Haki still couldn't be applied to physical attacks.
This was somewhat expected.
Xiano felt a twinge of regret but wasn't disheartened.
After all, it had only been two months since he awakened Conqueror's Haki.
Such top-tier combat techniques were only mastered by a few old-timers worldwide; they weren't easy to grasp. Even Luffy, under Rayleigh's careful guidance, took two years to learn it.
As for Yamato? The reason she could use it so freely at a young age was entirely due to Kaido's rigorous training day after day.
There was still a long way to go; he couldn't be too impatient!
Xiano reassured himself.
However, he hadn't come away empty-handed; in fact, he had gained a lot.
Garp had gone all out against him this time, and it was incomparable to their previous playful sparring in the Colbo Mountains.
The old man's powerful control over Armament Haki, especially the technique of continuously compressing and enhancing the external intensity of Armament Haki, had enlightened him greatly.
From now on, he would specialize in this area and practice more with the assistance of the Poneglyph.
He believed it wouldn't be long before his Armament Haki strength would reach another level.
"Ha…"
He stretched, letting go of his distracting thoughts, and walked through the corridor to the deck.
Just in time to see Nami excitedly holding up a newspaper, shouting, "Hey! Everyone! Come look! Our new bounty is out!"
"Just bought a new newspaper?"
Xiano raised an eyebrow and walked over.
"Brother!" Nami's eyes lit up as soon as she saw him. "Look! The front page is all about you! Your bounty has risen to one billion Berry!"
One billion? Xiano glanced at the front page photo and couldn't help but chuckle.
It seems the World Government has really been stimulated this time, angered to the point of embarrassment.
This bounty, in the New World, should only be second to the top commanders of the major pirate crews, namely King, Katakuri, Marco, and Beckman.
Among the new generation, he was directly leading the pack, far ahead.
"What about the others?" he casually asked. "Have their bounties risen too? And what about you? The Marine Headquarters should have cleared up their misunderstanding about Agin by now, right?"
"I… I haven't looked at the back yet," Nami mumbled, "I was waiting for you and everyone to come before reading it."
"Everyone is here now." Nojiko, holding Mochi, smiled and said, "We can read it out loud for everyone."
She patted Mochi's little head; everyone had finally noticed the little guy's changes during breakfast yesterday.
The originally snow-white rice ball had turned a light yellow and grown a tail. The direction of its growth was quite strange.
Could it be that after staying in Alabasta for too long, it changed color from the heat of the desert sun?
That was everyone's initial judgment, but fortunately, Mochi was still very cute, and having an extra fluffy tail made it even more fun to play with, solidifying its status as the beloved pet.
"Got it, I'll look at the back now… No, wait, I can't!"
Nami suddenly gritted her teeth and threw the newspaper to Smoker. "Smoker, you read it! I'll just listen."
"Huh?"
Smoker instinctively took the newspaper, looking at her with confusion.
Just a few days ago, every time a newspaper arrived, Nami would sneakily grab it first.
Now that the new wanted posters were actually released, she was acting timid? "You're too concerned about this," he shook his head and unfolded the newspaper.
"Who's concerned?!" Nami retorted, puffing out her chest defiantly.
"…" Smoker didn't bother to respond, glancing at the reports on the back, comparing them to the wanted posters, and clicked his tongue. "Hey, Kuina, your bounty has increased quite a bit, and you've pulled ahead of everyone."
"How much?" Kuina, who was polishing Wado Ichimonji, glanced over upon hearing.
"Xiano's swordmaster Kuina, according to the latest information, has officially been appointed as the vice-captain of the Falling Stars Adventure Pirates, with a bounty raised to 200 million Berry…"
Smoker grinned as he read this far. "In short, aside from Captain Xiano, you're the first to break the 200 million Berry mark. That's quite rare in the first half of Paradise."
Kuina nodded slightly, continuing to polish her sword, seemingly indifferent to whether she was satisfied with this bounty or not.
"What about me?" Nojiko asked curiously.
"You're right behind Kuina, also one of the crew members with the most significant bounty increase."
Smoker pulled out the wanted poster and handed it over. "Your title has changed as well; now you're 'Fist of Winter' Nojiko, a user of the Snow-Snow Fruit, with a bounty of 130 million Berry."
It doubled directly!
Nojiko's eyes brightened as she happily took the wanted poster. Previously, aside from Nami, she was the one who consistently ranked lowest on the ship!
"What about me? What about me!"
Nami finally couldn't hold back any longer and eagerly asked.
"Next is Agin; his bounty hasn't changed."
Smoker said this with some surprise. "So, the Marine Headquarters must indeed know that the flames aren't Agin's ability. Let me flip through… Hmm, Zeff, and then myself… This last one must be yours; the bounty is…"
Nami held her breath.
"One hundred million Berry!"
"How much?!" She exclaimed in surprise, her eyes wide.
"Congratulations!" Smoker shrugged, pulling out the last wanted poster. "The Flame-Flame Fruit ability no longer belongs to Agin. Wait a minute!"
He suddenly stopped in shock.
The others looked at the wanted poster he had pulled out, stunned, exchanging glances with strange expressions.
There, on the photo…
It was indeed Nami, but only half of her head was visible at the bottom, while the main part featured a white rice ball, perched on her head, grinning adorably at the camera.
The text below boldly read――
Flame White Group・Mochi, Bounty of One Hundred Million Berry!]
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