Chapter 115: Famous Across the Four Seas
As dawn broke, the sky began to lighten.
The editors at the World Economic Journal had worked through the night, and the special edition was finally ready.
The News Coos flapped their wings, carrying the freshly printed newspapers, and cheerfully flew off in all directions.
They flew over towns, ports, and the decks of ships, scattering the newspapers like snowflakes.
The headline on the front page was so eye-catching that—
In the Four Blues, the first half of the Grand Line, the New World…
Almost everywhere, the moment the newspapers arrived, they were instantly sold out.
This series of events, fueled by public opinion, swept across the entire sea like a hurricane, creating a massive storm!
————
In the New World, on the Moby Dick.
"Gurararara—"
A hearty laugh shook the deck. Whitebeard tilted his head back and chugged a large gulp of liquor, then tossed the newspaper to Marco. "Look, Marco! Those guys at the Marines have really lost face this time!"
"The Curtain Call Pirates, Shane…" Marco took the newspaper and glanced at it, his eyebrows raising slightly. "That guy Akainu… he actually got injured?"
"Huh?"
"Did that really happen?"
"Let me see too, Pops!"
The other division commanders were shocked and quickly gathered around.
"Whoa?!" Diamond Jozu's eyes widened. "540 million Berries… to get a bounty like that just after entering the Grand Line, that's even more outrageous than Red-Hair's growth rate."
A bounty of that level would even rank among their own division commanders!
"And he's a swordsman too!" Izo said, turning his head with interest. "A swordsman that even Akainu couldn't catch… Hey, Vista, this guy's swordsmanship is probably even better than yours, right?"
"Don't be ridiculous, you bastard Izo~!" Vista roared. "How could that be?! Don't compare me to some brat who's just entered Paradise!"
He said that, but Vista's gaze kept darting back and forth between the handsome face on the wanted poster and the long tachi on the young man's back.
A pure swordsman who hasn't eaten a Devil Fruit? To reach such a level with swordsmanship alone…
It's been a long time since I've met a guy like that!
Vista narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of his sword.
Get to the New World soon, kid! When we meet, let's have a good duel. Let me see what you're really made of!
"Pops," Marco said, closing the newspaper thoughtfully. "Should we try to make contact? A super-strong rookie like this, we can't let the other crews recruit him first."
"No rush. Let's wait until he enters the New World!" Whitebeard grinned, waving a hand. "Things like this depend on fate, you foolish son! Gurararara… for now, let the Marines have their headache! This sea is finally getting exciting again!"
————
Onigashima, the Skull Castle.
"Wahahaha, Pey-tan! Why are you running?! I'm not going to eat you!"
"..."
Two figures were chasing each other between the pillars.
And at the far end of the hall, the candlelight cast a long, massive shadow.
"Worororo! Queen, what are you looking at now?" Kaido said, lying drunkenly on the main throne, a liquor gourd in his hand. He glanced at Queen, who was holding a newspaper, a look of surprise on his face.
"Boss, there's some big news from Paradise," Queen said, a cigar between his teeth, and handed the newspaper over with a grin. "Look, a kid who's only eighteen has almost turned Marine Headquarters upside down. They're having a real headache over him."
"Oh?"
Kaido lazily took the newspaper and, after reading the report with narrowed eyes, his gaze fell on the wanted poster.
"Eighteen, a few years younger than Yamato, huh? Hmph, interesting…"
Kaido's gaze lingered on Shane's face for a moment, and then he suddenly asked, "To be able to last that long against Akainu… is he a Zoan-type user?"
"Huh?" Queen was taken aback. He scratched his head. "According to the intel, it seems not… this kid is a pure swordsman, he hasn't even eaten a Devil Fruit."
"...?"
Kaido was suddenly interested. He sat up straight. "He really hasn't eaten one?"
"No, didn't you read the paper? He escaped by jumping into the sea…"
"Worororo! Who reads that stuff carefully!" Kaido's drunken eyes shone with excitement. "To be that strong at his age, with just his physical body… that's a rare talent!"
"Hey, Queen!" he grinned. "Put those few fruits we were saving on hold. Keep a close eye on this kid. The moment he enters the New World, report to me immediately! I'm going to go find him myself, and I'm bringing the fruits with me!"
"This…" Queen wiped the sweat from his brow. Boss Kaido is great in every way, but… isn't he a little too fond of recruiting talent?
A kid who has just entered the Grand Line, and he's already getting this kind of treatment… he can even choose his own Devil Fruit?
Although he had to admit, that Shane had earned it.
A bounty of 540 million Berries before even entering the New World was truly outrageous.
King had long since surpassed 1 billion, and he was only at 700 million himself, just a little over 100 million higher than this kid!
If he really did decide to join the Beast Pirates, he would probably be ranked just below the two of them, the All-Stars…
Tsk, what would his new title be then? Shane the Drought?
Just then—
The two figures finally burst into the banquet hall.
"Dammit, Pey-tan! Why are you avoiding me?!" Ulti chased her brother around the hall.
"Calm down, sis!" Page One ran for his life. "Lord Kaido is having a serious discussion!"
"Hey," Queen's forehead throbbed, his cigar grinding between his teeth. "You two…"
The first time, he held it in.
The second time, his fat face began to twitch.
And when Ulti whizzed past him for the third time, knocking over his prized liquor—
"SO NOISY!!!"
Queen exploded with rage. His obese body displayed a surprising agility as he grabbed the two siblings and roared, "You two idiot kids, if you're going to fight, take it outside! You're going to deafen Lord Kaido!!!"
"...W-Waaah…" Ulti was sprayed with spittle. She stared at Queen, and her big eyes welled up with tears.
"You're the one who's deafening me, you idiot!!!"
THUMP! Kaido slammed his kanabo on Queen's head. The latter immediately fell backward, his grip on the siblings loosening.
"Take your brother and go outside," Kaido said, looking at Ulti. "This place is too small. It's not suitable."
"Okay! Thank you, Lord Kaido!"
Ulti giggled and bowed to Kaido, then stuck her tongue out at Queen and dragged her brother out by the ear.
Kaido silently watched the two of them leave.
Queen finally sat up, rubbing his head. "Hiss… that hurts. Was that really necessary, boss? Aren't you spoiling those two a little too much…"
"They're not even adults yet. Let them be. Don't do that again! I promised Hanafuda that I would raise them well!" Kaido snorted. He then seemed to remember something and frowned. "By the way, you go and contact Hanafuda yourself. Ask him why this quarter's Devil Fruits haven't been delivered yet."
Friendship was friendship, but business was business.
That guy had promised to deliver three Zoan-type Devil Fruits each time, and he was already several days late. What was the holdup?!
"Yes, boss!" Queen scrambled to his feet. "He must have been delayed by something… don't worry, I'll go and press him right now!"
Hanafuda
————
Whole Cake Island.
The sea breeze rustled. Katakuri sat alone at the top of the mast, staring at the newspaper in his hand.
A high bounty, incredible strength… it's been a long time since a monster-level rookie like this has appeared on the sea.
But what he was most interested in was…
This guy has two sisters too?
To be able to take your sisters with you, without a care in the world, and freely roam the seas?
"Heh…"
Katakuri's eyes were filled with envy. He thought of his mother, who had recently been trying to force his sister into another political marriage… He pulled his scarf up higher and leaned back against the mast, a little weary.
What an enviable kid.
————
On a pitifully small sailboat.
Screech—!
Tashigi threw open the cabin door, the newly delivered newspaper clutched in her hand, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Mr. Mihawk!"
She rushed over to Hawkeye and shook the newspaper open. "Ta-da! Look! There's new news about Lord Shane!"
Hawkeye, who had been polishing the Black Sword, Yoru, paused.
He looked up and scanned the report—Akainu injured, Crocodile dead, the Marine fleet returning in failure… every line made his hawk-like eyes gleam.
Did I underestimate him?
So his swordsmanship is that powerful?
"Interesting," he murmured, a long-dormant fighting spirit igniting in his eyes.
Since his inconclusive duel with Red-Hair, no one on this sea had made him yearn to draw his sword so much.
The Black Sword, Yoru, trembled slightly in its sheath, as if sensing its master's mood. Hawkeye suddenly looked up toward the depths of the Grand Line and said, "After tonight, we go our separate ways."
"HUH?!!"
Tashigi, who had been happily admiring the newspaper, stared at him, her eyes wide. "Why, Mr. Mihawk?! Aren't we both trying to find Lord Shane?"
"Your ship is too slow," Hawkeye said, shaking his head slightly. "At this rate, we'll never catch up to him."
"Your ship is fast, and it sinks fast too," Tashigi muttered pouting. "It's not that the ship is slow, you just think I'm annoying!"
"..." Hawkeye rubbed his temples with a headache. "You said it, not me."
For the past few days, Tashigi had been pestering him to teach her swordsmanship. It was getting on his nerves.
As for why he was on a ship with Tashigi…
It all started the day he left Loguetown.
He had set out for Reverse Mountain, continuing his pursuit of Shane's ship.
But as he was descending, the whale, Laboon, had mysteriously disappeared, and he had been so distracted by it that he had capsized.
He had ended up in the sea, a drenched rat, and his ship had crashed against the coast of Twin Cape and been smashed to pieces.
And just then, Tashigi, who had set out before him, had been sunbathing on the grass at Twin Cape. So, the clumsy sword-obsessed girl had witnessed the whole embarrassing scene.
His first instinct had been to knock her out and take her ship.
But he remembered the words she had spoken back at the Loguetown port…
And in the end, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
So, here he was.
A temporary passenger on her ship.
And the clumsy girl, Tashigi, after recognizing him, had been ecstatic. She had pestered him for swordsmanship lessons every day, even squatting outside his cabin door at night, clutching her sword.
She had eventually fallen asleep, muttering in her sleep, "Mr. Mihawk… please take me as your student… I have to get stronger… so I can be worthy of following in Lord Shane's footsteps…"
—It was incredibly annoying.
He was used to being alone and hated being disturbed, let alone taking on a student.
But strangely, he had never actually left.
He didn't know why.
Perhaps… it was because the girl's pure devotion to the way of the sword reminded him of his younger self?
"..."
Hawkeye was silent for a moment, then he suddenly said, "Alright."
Tashigi immediately looked up, her eyes wide, holding her breath.
"Until we catch up to Shane," he said calmly, "I will teach you a few moves every day, and I will check your progress the next."
Tashigi's pupils instantly lit up.
"If I am satisfied, I may even consider taking you on as my student in the future."
"But…" Hawkeye looked down at her calmly. "…if your progress is too slow, and I feel that you have no talent and are wasting my time—"
"I promise I won't!" Tashigi shot to her feet, her cheeks flushed. "I'll practice with all my might! I will not disappoint you! I-I'll go get my sword right now!!"
She dropped the newspaper and was about to rush out, but she tripped over the threshold and fell flat on her face.
"..."
Hawkeye watched the clumsy girl fumble around, looking for her glasses. He couldn't help but close his eyes, wondering if he had just made a terrible mistake.
Shane, oh, Shane.
Where are you? Just stop for a moment and let me catch up…
————
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!! GARP!!"
Sengoku slammed the newspaper on his desk, his roar of disbelief nearly blowing the roof off the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Did I say something wrong?" Garp asked, then nonchalantly continued to pick his nose. "But it's the truth. I've known the kid for a long time. I even taught him Armament Haki."
"THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" Sengoku gritted his teeth, wanting to punch the old fool. "You wait until you see the wanted poster to tell me something this important?! A good student you taught is now a huge problem for Headquarters! He's killed two Vice Admirals and a Warlord!"
"Does that really make him my student? I just taught him the basics to repay a debt," Garp shrugged. He glanced at the close-up of Akainu's injuries in the newspaper and suddenly grinned. "But… to be able to push Sakazuki to that point, he's pretty amazing, puhahaha!"
"GARP!!" Sengoku's roar shook the windows. "You still have the mood to laugh?!"
"What are you so angry about?" Garp said, wiping his booger on the goat beside him. "Onigumo brought his death upon himself, right? You know the whole story. And that Broumaya was a complete lunatic, wasn't she?"
"They're dead. Am I supposed to be sad? On the contrary, I feel that the air in Marineford is much fresher now…"
As for that Warlord, Crocodile.
Garp clicked his tongue. He had seen him a few times over the years, and his instincts told him that the guy had never really changed his ways.
He had once been an ambitious pirate, but after going to Alabasta, he had put on a righteous act, hunting pirates even more actively than the Marines…
Who knew what he was really up to!
As for that Shane.
He had never attacked a town or robbed a merchant ship since he had set sail. Even the "pirate crew" label had been forced on him by Headquarters.
"Anyway, I don't have anything against the kid. Of course, if I run into him, I'll still bring him in!" Garp grinned. "Speaking of which, if you're so eager to solve this problem, I have an idea. The Warlord position is open now, right? Why not just recruit him as the new Warlord?!"
It would kill two birds with one stone!
It would stop the kid from causing trouble for the Marines, and it would add a Warlord who wouldn't abuse his legal right to plunder and bully the people.
It was a win-win.
"A Warlord…"
Sengoku's face darkened.
He had to admit, it was a viable solution.
In fact, he didn't need Garp to suggest it. He had already considered it, even as a backup plan, right after Crocodile's death.
But not now!
At least not for a while!
Sengoku stared at the World Economic Journal on his desk, a vein throbbing in his temple.
That bastard Morgans… he had published an extra edition overnight, before Headquarters could even put any pressure on him, and had spread the news all over the world!
Marines Suffer Crushing Defeat! Two Vice Admirals Dead, One Injured! Admiral Akainu Also Wounded!
Warlord Crocodile Confirmed Dead! The Culprit is the Same Man!
The Highest Bounty in the History of the First Half of the Grand Line! 540 Million Berries!
Exaggerated, inflammatory.
Every headline was like a slap in the face to Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku could even imagine the faces of the pirates in the New World, laughing gloatingly as they read the news.
In the midst of this media storm, if the Marines were to suddenly extend an olive branch and recruit him as a Warlord?
What would become of the Marines' dignity?
Where would he hide his own face!
"We'll wait and see…" Sengoku took a deep breath, his gaze falling back to the wanted poster on his desk.
In the photo, the black-haired young man stood with a sword on his back, a reckless smile on his lips. His sharp, black eyes seemed to pierce through the paper, staring straight at him—
Mockery.
Blatant mockery!
As if he were mocking the Marines' grand encirclement operation, which had ended in the embarrassing failure of an injured Admiral and a fleet returning in defeat.
Sengoku's fingers unconsciously tightened, crumpling the edges of the wanted poster…
————
In the Grand Line, on a certain sea.
On the deck of The Curtain Call, the crew was huddled together, carefully reading the newly bought newspaper, whispering excitedly.
"Ha! I knew it!"
Nami was the first to finish. She stood with her hands on her hips, laughing proudly. "A Marine Admiral, what a joke! He couldn't do a thing to my brother!"
They had been worried since they had lost contact, but thankfully, the World Economic Journal had been quick to bring them the good news of Shane's safety.
"Is that so?" Kuina said, looking up with a deadpan expression. "If I remember correctly, if I hadn't knocked you out, you would have rushed back without a second thought."
You probably would have gotten a hole punched through your chest by Akainu the moment you showed up. What's the difference between that and just throwing your life away?
"I…" Nami was speechless for a moment, but then she said stubbornly, "T-That was because I was too worried! And you have the nerve to talk? Who was it that stood on the deck all night, staring to the north, with their sword in their hand? You almost broke your neck, didn't you?"
"..." Kuina's ears instantly turned red.
Dammit, why did you have to say that in front of everyone?!
"Hey, you two," Nojiko said, trying to intervene, but she was interrupted by a commotion at the other side of the table—
"Woof, woof… awoo!"
Gin suddenly stood on his hind legs, his front paws excitedly tapping the newspaper. The crew followed his gaze and saw a large stack of wanted posters that had fallen out from between the pages.
The first one was Gin's, and the bounty was astounding—
"One hundred and fifty million Berries?" Kuina said, turning her head in surprise. "Nice one, Gin! That's a big jump."
"You're not bad either," Nojiko said, handing her the next poster with a grin. "One hundred and forty million."
Kuina raised an eyebrow and compared it to the others.
Second only to Lord Shane?
The Marines really think highly of me. They've put a big gap between me and Uncle Zeff and Smokey.
As for being lower than Gin… she thought that was normal. She was still a little weaker than Gin, and in the battle at the docks, Gin had been the real star.
"What about me?! What about me!!!"
Nami raised her hand high, her eyes full of anticipation. "I did a lot this time too! The Marines should know I'm a Logia user now, right? How much did my bounty go up?"
If not a hundred million, then ninety… no, eighty million would be fine too!
"Let me find it for you… whoa, the captain's is over five hundred million now? But with a record like that, it makes sense… oh, here it is, right under the captain's."
The others immediately gathered around to take a look.
Then, they all turned their heads and looked at Nami with pity.
"Hey…" Nami narrowed her eyes, a bad feeling creeping up on her. "Why… why are you all looking at me like that…"
"80,000 Berries!" Nojiko said, holding back a laugh as she slapped the wanted poster down in front of Nami. "Congratulations! It's a whole tenfold increase!"
Nami's expression froze.
One, two, three, four… she counted again and again, and after confirming that there were really only four zeros on the wanted poster, her vision went black, and she began to tremble. "W-Why?!!!"
"Are the Marine staff officers all a bunch of idiots who just sit in meetings all day?!!!" she shrieked, on the verge of a breakdown. "Didn't they see the wall of fire I created?! What about the fire snakes?! The fire phoenix?! I even beat a Marine Captain one-on-one!"
"Err, well, according to the battle report and Gin's new epithet…" Smoker said, flipping through the newspaper. "…it seems, perhaps, maybe… the Marines thought your Flame-Flame Fruit ability was coming from Gin."
Gin?
Nami's head snapped around, and she glared at Gin.
What?
Gin, who had been happily stretching on the ground, looked up at Nami, who was stalking toward him, a dark expression on her face… he was completely bewildered…
…
Two minutes later.
"Gin, Gin, Gin… GIN!!!"
Nami was on her knees, bruised and battered, her teeth gritted as she tearfully pounded her left arm, which had a Gin sticker on it.
Nojiko stood beside her, sighing.
This sister of hers was a complete idiot.
The bruises weren't from Gin.
Gin would never hurt his master's sister, so he had just been dodging. But in her chase, Nami had run into several corners, and…
"Waaah…"
Nami suddenly looked up, her eyes pitiful. "Nojiko, help me! Help me beat up Gin and let out my anger!"
"Normally, as your older sister, I should pat your head and say, 'Of course!'"
"But I can't," Nojiko sighed. "Because even with the two of us together, we still can't beat Gin."
DAMMIT!!!
Nami sniffled, feeling even more aggrieved. A pet had stolen her glory and become the second-highest bounty on the ship, while she was being treated like a pet by Marine Headquarters…
Was there no justice in this world?!
When Big Bro gets back, I'm definitely going to tell on him!
"You want to complain to our brother?" Nojiko saw right through her. "We can't contact him right now. We've decided to just keep sailing aimlessly. When we find an island, we'll stop, let the Log Pose set, and wait for his call."
"As for when that call will come," Nojiko said, looking out at the sea, "we'll just have to wait. It's only been two days. Knowing our brother, he's probably exhausted and is still sleeping somewhere on the sea…"
————
"Hah, hah…"
Shane was indeed still sound asleep.
But he wasn't drifting on the sea. He was lying on a soft lap.
Robin sat on a sofa, her chin resting on her hand. Her lap was covered with thick clothes, and Shane was lying on top.
It couldn't be helped. The seating on the turtle's back was limited, and though this position wasn't very elegant, it was at least comfortable for both of them.
As for just tossing Shane onto the hard, uncomfortable shell…
Robin shook her head slightly, a small smile on her lips.
—She couldn't do something like that.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze soft as she looked at the handsome, sleeping face before her.
For some reason, the purplish-blue poison on the young man's body would sometimes surge to the surface, and then disappear without a trace.
Is his body's natural resistance fighting the poison?
That was Robin's guess. In any case, his breathing had been steady the whole time, and they were getting closer and closer to the medical kingdom. She didn't have to worry too much.
And now, his skin color was back to normal.
The young man's black hair was scattered across his forehead, his eyelashes casting a light shadow on his cheeks. There was a faint smile on his lips, as if he were having a pleasant dream.
"Honestly…" Robin couldn't help but reach out and gently brush the hair from his forehead, murmuring, "To be able to sleep so peacefully after such a big fight."
—He was a "vicious criminal" who had given Marine Headquarters a massive headache, a terrifying powerhouse who had easily killed her former boss, Crocodile.
But now, in her arms, he was like a defenseless child.
"Heh," Robin chuckled.
Such a contrast was strangely… endearing.
She suddenly remembered what had happened last night.
She had just pulled him onto the turtle's back, and they hadn't gotten very far when he had suddenly opened his eyes. He had looked at her blearily and said, "Oh, it's you."
And then, he had immediately collapsed and fallen back asleep.
It was so strange.
He trusts me too much, doesn't he?
Isn't he afraid that she's an enemy with malicious intent, who would just take him to the Marines for the bounty?
And what did he mean by that? Did he already know her?
That doesn't make any sense…
It was more likely the other way around. She had known about him for a while now.
After her conversation with Crocodile, she couldn't help but look into the black-haired young man.
And when Crocodile had gone to Whiskey Peak to set his ambush, she, having already completed her mission, had been curious and had secretly followed.
And then, she had witnessed him kill Crocodile, train with the giants in Little Garden, and then stay behind to fight Akainu on Thor Island, allowing his comrades to escape, a feat that had shaken the world…
At first, she had just been curious. And with Baroque Works gone, she had nowhere else to go. So she had decided to keep following him, hoping to find a new protector.
But now, what she was more interested in was not just the strength of the Curtain Call Pirates, but the enviable bond between the crew.
Freedom, trust, camaraderie.
Things she had never truly had in her twenty-plus years of life seemed to be a given on this ship.
If she could get him to accept her, to become a member of his crew…
The sea breeze rustled, and she suddenly snapped out of her reverie, a self-deprecating smile on her face. Someone like me… why am I fantasizing about something like that again?
But why did he know her?
Robin lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously stroking Shane's hair.
He was probably just exhausted and delirious, and mistook her for someone else who looked similar.
That was the only explanation she could think of.
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