"Look, the new bounty posters are up!"
"Where's mine? Where's mine? Do I have one?"
"There it is — it's the captain's bounty!"
…
At the White Wolf Pirates' base on Sphinx, when news of the new bounties broke, Ripley and Rocks ran excitedly to find the wanted posters.
But they didn't find their own — instead, they spotted Magnus's.
Why? Because it was impossible to miss.
A huge portrait of his face was plastered on the most prominent bulletin board in the port town.
"Captain of the White Wolf Pirates: Knowles Magnus."
"Bounty."
"560 Million!!"
Hiss—
Seeing that number, every pirate who'd gathered couldn't help but gasp. Even Rocks and Ripley, who'd been eagerly searching for their own posters, were no exception.
"That's so high!"
"Isn't anything over 100 million already considered a great pirate?"
"This is nearly six times that!"
Magnus's previous bounty had been just 290 million — an unattainable figure for most pirates.
But compared to true great pirates, it hadn't been enough to set him apart.
Even after years of activity, other pirates with nine-figure bounties merely saw him as an experienced peer, nothing to fear.
But now… that had changed.
White Wolf Magnus — taking on two at once, killing a marine admiral and driving off another admiral candidate — accomplishing feats most pirates could only dream of.
Even if that "two at once" claim was a little inflated — who cared?
Without real strength, who else could dare claim they'd done the same with only two crewmates each worth less than 200 million?
560 million Berries.
That bounty, far beyond any ordinary great pirate, forced everyone to see Magnus in a new light.
Not just a great pirate.
But a ruler of the seas, one the World Government itself could only avoid clashing with.
"There it is — that's my bounty!"
When Rocks finally spotted his own, his heartbeat quickened. The desire he'd had earlier to see his own number faded in the face of Magnus's towering figure.
"Child of Omen, Rocks D. Xebec — 55,000,000 Berries!"
For a fledgling pirate, that was already enough to earn the title of Supernova.
That's why the marines had dubbed him "Omen."
But Rocks didn't let it go to his head. He knew who he was chasing — someone whose bounty was ten times his own, the peak of the entire sea, the strongest pirate alive!
In this era, no pirate had yet reached that height.
"But I won't give up!"
Rocks clenched his fist, silently vowing.
Because he'd promised Magnus — he was both a follower and a challenger.
Someday, he would become strong enough.
Someday, he would stand before Magnus and challenge him fair and square!
On the other side…
Ripley not only saw Magnus's bounty, but also those of the White Wolf's old crewmates.
Her name appeared near the bottom.
"Schemer Roya — 230,000,000 Berries!"
"Rose Lily Edwards — 190,000,000 Berries!"
"Blue Flame Ed — 150,000,000 Berries!"
"Witch Dr. Kureha — 110,000,000 Berries!"
…
"Imperial Flower Ripley — 70,000,000 Berries!"
Because of her giant form, she'd earned the title. Many said that while Ripley in her human-sized form was indeed a beauty, she lacked distinction compared to others.
But once she transformed, it was different.
That towering figure gave the men of the sea a feeling like they wanted to conquer a mountain.
70 million Berries.
Not far from great pirate level — and with her natural giant talent, once Ripley mastered Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), she'd reach that level easily.
When Ripley and Rocks brought back news of everyone's rising bounties, the old crewmates just laughed heartily, not caring about numbers.
"Other than Magnus, the rest of us haven't improved much over the years. Our bounties only rose because a marine admiral died this time," Roya said with some emotion.
In that last battle, he'd been badly wounded — and with his age, he doubted he could ever return to his peak.
"Right. That's why your big sister here lives in fear every day, afraid of running into some strong bounty hunter. Lucky all these years at sea haven't turned me into a hag — otherwise I wouldn't even dare climb into the captain's bed," Rose Lily Edwards said, hugging Magnus from behind, pressing her ample charms into his back, sighing dramatically.
"Captain, you wouldn't toss me aside just because we have younger, prettier crewmates now, would you?"
"Haha, Lily — don't forget how old Magnus is himself," Kureha laughed, gulping down a drink. "So, Magnus, need me to treat you?"
"Haha, no need," Magnus replied with a hearty laugh. "I'm healthier now than you all think."
His enhanced cellular vitality not only made him young again but also gradually restored his organs to their prime.
Sometimes even filling him with urges he hadn't felt since youth.
But wasn't that what life at sea was for?
Treasure and women!
Magnus had been a pirate for many years — and even though he'd always kept his own bottom line, he'd met more than a few women who moved his heart.
Rose Lily Edwards was just one of them.
There were others — women with terrible personalities, best left unmentioned.
Truth be told, Lily's personality wasn't exactly sweet either. A year ago, Magnus had gone out of his way to avoid her, afraid one day she'd kill him in bed.
After all, she was much younger than him — around the same age as Rona.
On this sea, those who stayed young at heart often stayed young in looks. Even Kureha, who was a full decade older than Magnus, still looked about forty.
Not a trace of old age on her.
Just like Magnus now — looking like he was in his early fifties, with a strong body and a handsome, mature face.
In just a few days, he could feel Lily getting impatient already.
And there were kids nearby!
As for the bounty? Magnus had already known about it after his fight with Kong.
Because the system had already issued his reward.
Paramecia · Gaga no Mi! (Song Song Fruit!)
(End of Chapter)
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