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Sengoku drew in a long breath, his sharp eyes sweeping across the three Admirals. At last, he made a grim decision.
"Transmit my order," he said slowly.
"The bounty for the Demon Child, Dan…"
He paused — searching for a number worthy of that monster.
"…Raise it to three billion berries."
"Pffft—!!"
Garp's mouthful of senbei went flying. "Three billion?!"
Kizaru's sunglasses slid down his nose, revealing wide, stunned eyes."Oooh~ Fleet Admiral, are you serious about that? From one billion all the way up to three? That's… quite a leap, even by our standards~."
Akainu's brow twitched violently. Three billion — that was beyond the vast majority of great pirates, approaching the level of the Yonko's top lieutenants… or even the Emperors themselves.
Aokiji cracked open one lazy eye, his usual calm replaced by disbelief. "Three billion… Sengoku-san, don't you think that's a little…"
"Not high enough," Sengoku cut him off, voice like a hammer. "That brat's threat level is already far beyond anything we imagined. His very existence tramples on the order of the world! If we let him keep growing unchecked… I can't even begin to imagine what the seas will become."
He slammed his fist on the desk. "Three billion — that number tells the world just how seriously the Navy takes this 'Demon Child.' It'll make anyone thinking of joining him think twice about their place."
Sengoku's voice echoed through the office — firm, final, and absolute.
The news spread like wildfire, racing across the world faster than any ship could sail.
Under Morgans' direction, the World Economy News splashed the headline across the biggest front page in its history.
"EXTRA! EXTRA! The Youngest Monster in History — A Bounty Explosion Like Never Before!"
"The Demon Child Dan — Bounty Set at THREE BILLION BERRIES!!"
The moment that number hit print, the world lost its mind.
"Three… three billion?! Am I seeing this right?!"
"You've gotta be kidding! He's, what, barely a year old?!"
"That's higher than most legendary pirates!"
"Has the Navy lost its mind—or did that kid really pull off something insane?!"
From bars to back alleys, from ports to pirate ships, people clutched their papers in disbelief. Shock. Awe. Fear.
And then — they read the details.
The article laid it all out: how that infant had utterly crushed Doflamingo the Heavenly Yaksha and Gild Tesoro the Golden Emperor — two Warlord-class monsters — at the same time.
After that…
No one doubted it anymore.
All that remained was terror — raw and bone-deep.
"Is… is that thing even human anymore?!"
"Kaido's son… he's like some ancient beast wearing baby skin!"
"This world's going to hell…"
New World — Whole Cake Island
"Mama! Mama! Something big's happened!" Perospero burst into Big Mom's chamber, panic written all over his face.
"Mamamamama~ What is it, Perospero? Don't tell me the cake telegraph's finished already?" Big Mom was sprawled on her candy bed, surrounded by obedient Homies, drooling happily.
Perospero handed her the paper, voice trembling. "You… you'd better see for yourself…"
Big Mom took it lazily — but the moment her eyes fell on the headline "Demon Child Dan – 3 Billion Berry Bounty", her massive pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Then she read the rest — Dan's feats in Dressrosa.
BOOM!
Big Mom shot upright. The overwhelming force of her rage made the entire island quiver.
"Dan?! The Demon Child?! Again?!"
"A brat barely past his first birthday… beat TWO Warlords?!"
"Three billion… THREE BILLION?!"
Her face twisted with fury and envy. "That drunken fool Kaido!! Why—WHY does he get a son like that?!"
Her roar thundered through the palace, shaking candy chandeliers and sending the Homies scurrying.
Katakuri, Smoothie, and the other Sweet Commanders stood frozen, afraid to even breathe.
The more Big Mom thought about it, the angrier — and greedier — she became. Drool dripped from her mouth as a dark gleam flickered in her eyes.
"Mamamamama… a son like that shouldn't belong to that drunk!"
She slammed her palm down, cracking the candy floor. "Listen up! Send out a crew — no matter the cost, BRING ME that kid called Dan!"
Her grin widened, wild and hungry. "I'll make him my son! Mamamamama! With him, my dream of becoming Pirate King will be within reach!"
New World — Somewhere on the open sea, aboard the Moby Dick
"Demon Child Dan…"
"The bounty jumped from one billion to three?"
Whitebeard — Edward Newgate — stared at the newspaper, bisento in hand, his expression unusually solemn.
Even a man who'd seen every kind of storm at sea… couldn't help but be impressed.
But what really gave him pause — was the name. Kaido's son.
"Seems that bastard Kaido's luckier than I thought," Jozu grumbled, cracking his knuckles until they popped. "A one-year-old… took down Doflamingo and Tesoro?"
"Three billion…" Bista muttered. "That kid's threat level's already on par with the Yonko."
The captains exchanged looks — surprise, disbelief, even a tinge of resentment.
The Whitebeard Pirates and Beasts Pirates had never been on good terms. If Dan belonged to any other crew, they might've admired him. But Kaido's? That stung.
"Tch. That idiot Kaido… who would've thought he'd have a son like that."
Whitebeard drained his sake in one gulp, a rare glint of sharpness flashing in his eyes. "Still… even I can't help feeling a little jealous, y'know…"
Every captain froze.
Whitebeard — jealous?
That alone said more than any number could about the terror of the Demon Child.
Elsewhere — Aboard the Red Force
"Captain! We got word from Whitebeard — he's agreed to meet!" Yasopp shouted, beaming.
"Oh? That old man's finally showing some courtesy, huh?" Shanks grinned, clearly in a good mood.
Right then, a News Coo landed on deck.
Lucky Roux, chewing on a chicken leg, snatched up the paper — and nearly choked.
"Pffft—!!" The half-eaten drumstick went flying. "C-Captain! You gotta see this!"
Shanks frowned, taking the paper — but the moment his eyes fell on the bounty poster, his smile froze solid.
His lone arm trembled slightly.
Ben Beckman leaned over his shoulder, cigarette dangling from his lips. "Three billion, huh…" His tone was quiet, but heavy.
One by one, the other officers gathered, scanning the page.
"This has gotta be fake!"
"Demon Child Dan… wait, isn't that the brat who stole your letter last time, Rockstar?!"
"Doflamingo and Tesoro—both beaten by him?!"
"Well, guess you don't need to feel bad about losing anymore, Rockstar."
The crew broke into startled murmurs and laughter — tinged with disbelief.
"Demon Child Dan… Kaido's son…" Shanks muttered, eyes narrowing.
That name. That kid.
He could no longer be ignored.
"..."
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