A full month had passed since that incident, and during that time, the Marines had finally adjusted the bounties for Jack and his entire crew.
Their wanted posters were updated to reflect the recent events, as the reports of their latest confrontation spread throughout the seas.
Jack had effortlessly defeated one of the most promising Marine recruits that Marine Headquarters had produced in years — a young man who had been personally trained by a former admiral who later became a Marine instructor.
The result of that battle had shaken the entire Marine force stationed in the area.
When reinforcements arrived at the scene where the clash had taken place, what they saw was nothing short of horrifying.
Most of the Marines present had suffered severe injuries; some were missing limbs, others bore deep cuts across their faces, as if marked deliberately by someone who enjoyed leaving behind a signature.
That someone was Laffitte, whose sadism had grown considerably over the months. He was slowly turning into a zealot-like figure who followed Jack with unwavering devotion, willing to commit any act if it meant fulfilling Jack's will.
Issho, on the other hand, had knocked out his opponents with his sheathed blade — his mastery and precision were so refined that he didn't even need to draw his sword to defeat them.
Aramaki's adversaries met a far grimmer fate; their bodies were left completely dry, as if every drop of liquid had been sucked out of them, their skin clinging tightly to their bones.
Club, being more straightforward in his fighting style, simply used his blunt weapon to incapacitate anyone who stood in his path.
However, among all the wounded Marines, the one who drew the most attention was Sakazuki — a recruit known for possessing one of the most destructive Logia-type Devil Fruits in existence.
In theory, he should have been untouchable, especially in a battle without Haki users. Yet somehow, he had been overpowered and gravely injured, something that sent shockwaves across the entire Marine command.
The news spread fast, and so did the fear of what Jack and his crew were capable of.
Because of this, Jack's bounty skyrocketed, reaching an astounding 100,000,000 berries.
While the number might not have seemed outrageous by itself, it carried far greater meaning when placed in context.
Zephyr, the former admiral turned instructor who had trained Sakazuki himself, was consulted by the officials responsible for assigning bounties.
Through his insight, they were able to estimate the level of strength Sakazuki possessed before his graduation, as well as how much stronger he had become since.
According to their assessment, if Sakazuki were a pirate instead of a Marine, his bounty would have easily reached around 100,000,000 berries.
Given the standards of that era, that amount would have been equivalent to at least 500,000,000 berries — perhaps even closer to a billion.
The rest of Jack's crew also experienced sharp increases in their bounties. Aramaki's had risen the most among them after Jack, largely because the Marines discovered that he was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user.
Laffitte, Club, and B saw their bounties grow by significant margins as well, while Issho finally received an official bounty poster of his own.
When the crew gathered to look over their new wanted posters, they noticed that most of their bounties had increased by at least fifty to seventy-five percent compared to before.
Jack's, however, had surged so dramatically that it left even his own crewmates surprised.
Over the next month, the Wicked Wench spent nearly as much time on the ocean as they did near land. As their reputation spread further, more bounty hunters began to target them.
Small pirate crews, mercenaries, and even organized criminal groups took their chances, all hoping to claim the enormous rewards that now hung over their heads.
Some simply wanted to make a name for themselves, while others sought to recruit new members by boasting about fighting Jack's crew.
The Marines, realizing that the threat was growing beyond control, assigned a Vice Admiral to personally oversee the pursuit of the Wicked Wench.
Despite the Marines' persistence, every encounter ended the same way — with Jack and his crew victorious, leaving behind broken fleets and shattered pride.
Even when the Vice Admiral himself joined the hunt, he too failed to capture them. The repeated failures only added to the crew's infamy, as they became one of the most feared names in the West Blue.
Eventually, Jack decided that they had seen enough of the West Blue. Having experienced nearly every island worth visiting — and destroyed more than a few in their wake — Jack wanted to move on.
He ordered Laffitte to set their next course toward the North Blue. Though Jack planned for their eventual entry into the Grand Line from the East Blue, he wanted to see the rest of the world first.
The North Blue, being the only sea they had yet to visit, was their next logical destination.
The Wicked Wench sailed tirelessly for weeks before once again reaching the area near Reverse Mountain.
The massive waterfall that connected the Blues stood before them, but this time, things were different. Their ship had undergone countless upgrades since the last time they crossed it.
Thanks to Aramaki's innovations and the natural reinforcements from his powers, the Wicked Wench moved with incredible stability.
When they rode the Reverse Waterfall once again, the ship glided smoothly upward, the hull barely shaking under the immense pressure of the current.
Unlike their first crossing, which had been filled with chaos and near disaster, this one felt almost effortless.
The ship rose steadily toward the top, the sea spray glimmering beneath the sunlight, before descending safely on the other side.
As the waves calmed and the sea stretched before them, Jack stood proudly at the bow of the Wicked Wench. Behind him, his crew prepared for what lay ahead.
The Wicked Wench had finally reached the North Blue, cutting through the calm yet chilly waters that were noticeably different from the seas they had sailed before.
The crew standing on the deck wore expressions full of excitement and curiosity, their eyes wandering across the horizon as they eagerly took in the unfamiliar scenery.
Each of them was looking forward to what this new sea might offer — whether it be adventure, treasure, or just another challenge waiting to be faced.
Laffitte leaned against the railing with his usual grin, quietly observing the distant coastline, while Aramaki and Club argued playfully about what kind of islands they would see first.
B, on the other hand, was already preparing his weapons out of habit, though even he couldn't hide the slight smile on his face.
Issho, ever calm and composed, simply stood with his hands behind his back, at peace within himself as he listened to the rhythm of the waves and the quiet laughter of his crewmates.
At the front of the ship, Jack stood tall, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
The cool wind brushed against his face, carrying the faint scent of pine and salt that was unique to this part of the sea.
His heartbeat quickened with every passing second, not out of fear, but out of anticipation.