As one of the few people in the world who knew that the Akatsuki was actually the Straw Hat Pirates, Dracule Mihawk's astonishment did not last long.
After all, they had caused a disaster of that magnitude—and had even personally killed a Celestial Dragon. No matter how many Beli the bounty was, he wouldn't find it strange.
But just then, a sudden, strange gust of wind swept past, blowing open the newspaper that was about to be stained red with blood.
Rustle—
A yellowed sheet of paper suddenly flew out from between the pages, carrying with it the strong scent of freshly printed ink.
As bounty posters fluttered past his eyes one after another, Mihawk's hawk-like pupils abruptly burst with a sharp glint.
From deep within his gaze surged a shock even greater than before.
For a moment, the world's greatest swordsman stood frozen in place.
...
...
"Unbelievable, really~"
"To think Nami has actually become a great pirate with a bounty of two hundred million Beli!?"
"That's the equivalent of ten Arlongs!"
East Blue, Cocoyasi Village.
Nojiko, her healthy dark skin gleaming, propped her chin on her palm. Her fingers twirled idly through the tips of her blue-violet hair as shock and joy intertwined on her face.
Across from her, Genzo—the village's chief of security—wore a deeply troubled expression.
"Enies Lobby… How could Nami and the others act so recklessly!?"
"At this rate, won't they become enemies of the World Government, hunted by both the Government and the Marines!?"
Automatically slipping into the role of a worried parent, Genzo perfectly embodied a familiar truth—
Those who truly care about you never worry about how high you fly. They only worry about how tired you are.
Compared to Nami becoming world-famous as the Elemental Witch, Genzo would rather she live an easy, healthy life.
Unfortunately…
Even someone whose horizons were limited to the East Blue knew that once Nami had joined the Straw Hats, a peaceful life was no longer possible.
"sigh…"
Looking at the thick stack of Straw Hat bounty posters in his hands, Genzo let out a long sigh.
...
...
"I really didn't expect Franky to be wanted by the Marines so soon after setting sail."
"Just as I thought—those guys can never stay out of trouble."
Water 7, Galley-La Company headquarters.
Having just finished interviewing candidates for a new secretary, Iceburg leaned back in his rocking chair and gently shook his head as he read the newspaper.
Just then, a loud commotion suddenly erupted from below his window.
Curious, Iceburg leaned out and saw members of the Franky Family—now dressed in Galley-La work uniforms—waving Franky's bounty poster and shouting angrily.
"Iceburg-san, this is way too unreasonable!"
Zambai, the squad leader at the front, waved his arms furiously.
"Why is Boss Franky's bounty only sixty million Beli!? It's the lowest in the Straw Hat crew!!!"
"We protest!"
"With Boss Franky's strength, it shouldn't be this low!"
"Yeah! Iceburg-boss, don't you have contacts in the World Government!?"
"Can you call them and ask them to raise Boss Franky's bounty!?"
"..."
"…Are you idiots!?"
Standing at the window, Iceburg's forehead instantly darkened with black lines as he listened to their shouting.
So many people rack their brains trying to erase their bounties—and you're trying to increase Franky's…
He really couldn't tell whether they loved him or were trying to get him killed.
Still…
"Franky's bounty is a bit low."
"Even that cute little guy Chopper has a bounty of one hundred and twenty million Beli."
"But still… is that monster really the Chopper I know?"
...
...
"That's right. That is Chopper."
On Drum Island, Doctor Kureha answered Dalton's question without the slightest hesitation.
Dalton's face filled with amazement.
"I never imagined Chopper had a form like that hidden away!"
"Is that also the power of a Devil Fruit?"
"One hundred and twenty million Beli… You can tell his strength in that form is anything but ordinary."
"Yes… it really is extraordinary…"
Gazing at the photo of the gigantic monster on the bounty poster, Kureha couldn't help recalling the day Chopper first developed the Rumble Ball.
Once terrified of being seen as a monster, Chopper could now reveal such clear, lucid eyes even in a monstrous form.
Chopper had truly grown.
...
...
"H-Hey, this has to be a joke, right?!"
"Sanji, that damn brat—hasn't he only been at sea for a short time!?"
"The Marines must've messed up their intelligence, right!?"
"No! I refuse to believe it! This is fake! Impossible!!!"
East Blue, Baratie.
When Sanji's bounty arrived with the morning newspaper, the busy chefs in the kitchen instantly lost their composure.
They huddled together, heads stacked like a little mountain, eyes darting back and forth.
One moment at the newspaper—The next at the bounty poster.
Just then, an explosive voice thundered in from the kitchen's back door.
"You bastards! Can't you hear the customers outside rushing their orders!?"
"Standing around doing nothing—are you trying to put my restaurant out of business!?"
"Boss Zeff!!!"
Seeing Zeff storm in on his wooden prosthetic leg, the chefs scattered in panic.
Only a few veteran chefs remained, pointing at the bounty poster in shock.
"No, Boss Zeff!"
"Didn't you see today's newspaper!?"
"Sanji… Sanji he—"
But Zeff looked utterly unconcerned.
"Today's paper? Of course I saw it!"
"So what if that brat Sanji got a bounty? Look at you lot, acting like bumpkins!"
"Don't you know the most important thing for a chef is taking care of the customers!?"
"Yes, Boss Zeff! We were wrong!"
Under Zeff's noble lecture, the chefs all nodded obediently.
And then—
Rapid, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the kitchen.
Two kitchen apprentices rushed in, carrying an enormous canvas, shouting as they ran:
"Boss Zeff! The giant Sanji bounty poster you ordered is finished!"
"Where should we put it!?"
"Put it in the most eye-catching spot!!!"
"I want everyone to see that Sanji has become a great pirate!!!"
With a grand wave of his hand, Zeff barked his order.
"Yes!"The apprentices immediately dashed off, disappearing into the main hall.
The chefs stared at Zeff with eyes wide as saucers.
Zeff, unfazed, looked at them with amusement.
"What?"
"Don't tell me you don't know that reading the newspaper every morning is a skill every old man must master!?"
Not long after…
A massive bounty poster was proudly displayed at Baratie's front entrance, ensuring every customer would see Sanji's dashing figure as a flame demon the moment they walked in.
And beneath it—
A staggering bounty of 990,000,000 Beli!!!
...
...
"Miss Kaya!!! Miss Kaya!!!"
Morning sunlight bathed the quiet Syrup Village in warm gold.
Suddenly, chaotic and urgent shouting shattered the peaceful calm like a boulder dropped into still water.
The three former members of the Usopp Pirates, each sporting their own unique hairstyle, ran from one end of the village to the other, waving a freshly printed newspaper.
Even though Kaya's mansion lay outside the village, they shouted as if performing some kind of ritual, circling the entire place:
"Look, Miss Kaya!"
"Captain Usopp has been wanted by the World Government!!!"
"And it's incredible!!! Incredible!!! Incredible!!!"
"1.08 billion Beli!!!!!"
"That's the third-highest bounty in the entire Straw Hat Pirates!!!"
"Captain Usopp—"
"Has become a brave warrior of the sea!!!"
"He… finally made something of himself!!!"
Tears streamed down their faces, glittering like stardust as they scattered into the air.
...
...
Goa Kingdom's Windmill Village, Shimotsuki Town, the Kingdom of Alabasta, the Sabaody Archipelago…
As newspapers spread across the world, more and more people saw the Straw Hat Pirates' bounties—and were plunged into deep shock.
Though rumors had circulated days earlier that Enies Lobby had been destroyed by pirates,
Only when the thick stack of Straw Hat bounties was revealed did people truly realize the horror of what they had done.
Compared to the recent Impel Down prison break involving the legendary Golden Lion, the destruction of Enies Lobby felt even more unbelievable.
After all, the world's last impression of the Straw Hat Pirates was still that skirmish in Loguetown months ago.
And as everyone knew, the East Blue—the weakest sea—was seen as the edge of the world, a place no one ever paid attention to.
To most people, the Straw Hat Pirates were like that utterly forgettable classmate who suddenly took first place in the entire school, publicly dated the school beauty, and then casually revealed a perfectly sculpted eight-pack…
Defeating both a Marine Admiral and a former Admiral—such feats were legendary even for an Emperor's crew, yet now they belonged to a once-unknown pirate band.
From this day forward, no one would dare underestimate the Straw Hat Pirates again!
Once merely somewhat famous, they had transformed overnight into a top-tier pirate crew with a total bounty of 7.5 billion Beli!!!
...
...
"H-Hey, this has to be a joke, right?!"
"1.5 billion Beli!?"
"Did the Marines misprint the posters?! Did they add an extra zero to Straw Hat's bounty!?"
First half of the Grand Line, on a certain island.
Cavendish stared at his own bounty of one hundred and fifty million Beli in disbelief.
According to his plans, defeating a Marine Vice Admiral should've landed him squarely in the headlines.
Instead, the sudden release of the Straw Hats' bounties shoved all news about him into an obscure corner of the paper.
Jealousy exploded in Cavendish's eyes.
Consumed by envy, he no longer resembled the elegant figure admired by the public.
Beside him, his tall and equally handsome vice-captain Sleiman calmly flipped through the Straw Hats' bounties, mercilessly adding insult to injury.
"I don't think that's very likely."
"Even if there was a printing error, they couldn't possibly misprint everyone's bounty."
"But it is strange… their vice-captain only has 1.07 billion Beli."
"That's ten million less than this Usopp guy."
"Just who is Usopp?"
"And also…"
Sleiman suddenly pulled out another poster, staring blankly at the sheep-headed figurehead on it.
"Why would the Marines put a bounty on a pirate ship?"
"And it's thirteen hundred million Beli—second only to the captain!"
"What a baffling decision."
...
...
The New World, the mysterious homeland of giants—Elbaf.
A gentle sea breeze swept across the hidden island, rustling the leaves of a colossal tree that towered into the clouds.
Beneath it, a giant wearing a broad-brimmed hat slowly raised his head.
Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating his massive face.
Watching the white clouds drift across the blue sky, a joyful smile spread across his features.
"At last… you've found companions willing to protect you."
"I really want to see you again soon, Robin."
The giant murmured softly.
He then lowered his head, carefully pinched the bounty poster between his fingers, and tucked it into his coat pocket as though it were a priceless treasure.
Just then, a thunderous shout erupted behind him.
A giant wielding a massive spiked club roared:
"Hey, Saul! Why are you spacing out!?"
"Hurry up and get to work!!!"
"It's our group's turn to go fishing today!!!"
"I'm gonna catch a huge Sea King and show everyone!!!"
(End of Chapter)