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Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Bounty Increase, 200 Million Beri!

The next morning.

Out at sea, off the coast of Alabasta, aboard a Marine warship.

A light drizzle fell from the sky, dispelling some of the desert region's morning heat. Smoker, two cigars in his mouth, lay lazily on a deck chair with his hands behind his head, gazing at the gray sky, lost in thought.

Footsteps approached. The tall, imposing Rear Admiral Hina, with her sleek pink hair, walked over. Seeing Smoker like this, she raised a delicate eyebrow. "Hina is quite surprised. To think the famously persistent White Hunter Smoker has become more... tactful. Instead of using controversial methods, you're using rain-making ships to alleviate the drought? Is this to win over the people?"

Without even opening his eyes, Smoker answered lazily, "Just borrowing your troops and tech, no need to complain so much, Hina."

"Hina is here on a mission," Hina said, crossing her arms, her tone carrying a hint of official seriousness. "A mission personally assigned by the World Government. If anything goes wrong, Hina will be in a difficult position." Her gaze shifted to a figure standing at the edge of the deck nearby, holding an umbrella. "And Hina herself is very invested in this. After all, the person we're escorting is a musician I quite like."

This piqued Smoker's interest a little. He opened his eyes and looked in the direction Hina was gazing, somewhat surprised. "Oh? Someone like you actually has things you like?" He found it hard to connect the iron-willed female officer Hina with being a fan.

"Hina is annoyed!" Hina glared at Smoker, dissatisfied with his blunt remark. "What's wrong with appreciating beautiful music and art?"

Smoker waved a hand dismissively; he wasn't much interested in the topic. Compared to that, he was more concerned with other things.

Hina looked at Smoker and continued, "However, Hina is indeed curious. Just who is this Straw Hat brat who's left such an impression on you, Smoker, and even defeated Crocodile?"

Mentioning Luffy, Smoker's expression grew complex. He exhaled a thick puff of smoke and said gruffly, "A very strange pirate."

It was the Straw Hat crew who defeated Crocodile. This country being pulled back from the brink of civil war was also largely thanks to them. And what role had they, the Marines, sworn to uphold justice, played in this entire affair?

After learning the truth of this war, Smoker was filled with a sense of powerlessness and absurdity. A Warlord of the Sea, legitimized by the World Government, was the mastermind behind an attempt to overthrow a country? This didn't entirely shock him; he had never truly trusted the Warlord system. But the actions of the Straw Hat crew, as pirates, left him even more confused. Judging solely by their behavior in this incident, it hardly seemed like something pirates should do.

So, even though he knew the Straw Hats were likely still recuperating in this country, Smoker found himself lacking the drive to conduct a large-scale manhunt, even adopting a somewhat lackadaisical attitude to a certain extent.

Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

In the serious atmosphere of the conference room, "Meeting King" Brannew stood once again before a huge blackboard. Adjusting his glasses, he addressed the many solemn-faced Marine officers seated before him. "Shortly after entering the Grand Line, he became deeply involved in the serious rebellion incident in the Alabasta Kingdom. Furthermore, according to the latest intelligence from the Alabasta royal family, this individual has brazenly abducted the kingdom's princess, Nefertari Vivi!" He slapped the projection of Luffy's carefree, grinning bounty poster.

"After our assessment, Monkey D. Luffy, Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. Based on his overall danger level and the severity of his crimes, his bounty is hereby raised to... 200 million Beri!"

A wave of suppressed gasps rippled through the conference room.

200 million Beri?

Even in the New World, that's the bounty of a famous, powerful pirate.

Brannew continued reading. "His crew member, Roronoa Zoro, defeated the former Baroque Works senior agent Mr. 1, Daz Bones. Bounty raised from 20 million to 60 million Beri."

"The 'Cat Burglar' Nami, who defeated the former Baroque Works senior agent Miss Doublefinger. First bounty issued: 10 million Beri."

"Additionally, according to reliable intelligence, the former Baroque Works member, 'Devil Child' Nico Robin, has confirmed her membership in the Straw Hat Pirates."

"And most importantly, the abducted Princess of Alabasta, Nefertari Vivi. By special authorization of the World Government, a bounty is issued for her capture. Bounty amount: 500 million Beri! Condition: Must be captured alive!"

He surveyed the room, his voice ringing with gravity. "This pirate crew, which has only just entered the Grand Line, now has a combined bounty approaching 1 billion Beri. This is an extremely dangerous signal and must be treated with the utmost seriousness!"

The assembled Marine officers looked at each other, their faces showing unconcealed bewilderment.

How long had it been since Luffy's initial bounty of 50 million Beri? To jump directly to 200 million!

Even accounting for the abduction of a princess, this increase was simply outrageous. Unless there were other internal circumstances they weren't privy to.

Some sharp-minded officers turned their attention to the internal reports on the Alabasta incident. Could Crocodile's downfall truly be connected to this rookie Straw Hat?

At the same time, in the Fleet Admiral's office at Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat behind his large desk, his glasses reflecting a cold light. He held Luffy's fresh bounty poster—200,000,000 Beri—his brow deeply furrowed.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

That utterly oblivious fellow beside him was, at the worst possible time, making that noise.

Sengoku slammed the bounty poster on the desk and roared at the figure lounging on the office sofa, happily munching on rice crackers. "Garp! I sent you to deal with that brat of yours! How has he gotten even more dangerous instead?!"

"Puhahaha! 200 million bounty, eh? This kid really knows how to stir up trouble!" Garp threw his head back and laughed, tears almost coming to his eyes, as if the person on the poster had nothing to do with him.

Sengoku glared fiercely at Garp. "We know your brat defeated Crocodile. But to save the World Government's face, we can't announce it openly. Based on his involvement in the Alabasta rebellion, Headquarters initially decided to raise his bounty to 100 million Beri. That was already an irregular, massive jump!"

Sengoku took a deep breath, struggling to contain his anger. "And what does he do? He goes and kidnaps their princess on top of that!"

Did he want Garp to become a great-grandfather already?!

***

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