"What the hell is going on?"
"Has that Marine brat Daren lost his mind?"
"Or is it the World Government that's gone insane?"
"Still... it doesn't feel real. With that kid's personality, he's not the type to act on impulse. And yet, he's openly declared war on the World Government...?"
Outside the damp, shadowy cave, rain poured in sheets and the howling wind tore through like a blade.
Inside, the Roger Pirates sat in stunned silence, staring at the fresh newspaper in disbelief.
"That brat Daren was never the type to just blindly follow orders."
At that moment, Roger, bottle in hand, suddenly grinned.
"Philseque Island, out in the frozen wastes of the North Blue. And the Five Elders show up there of all places? If I'm right..."
A flash of clarity cut through his drunken eyes.
"...Then what happened back then is happening all over again."
Everyone froze—then their expressions shifted.
What happened back then… The God Valley Incident!
As witnesses to that infamous battle, the Roger Pirates knew the truth all too well:
It had been a genocidal massacre, orchestrated by the World Government against the inhabitants of God Valley.
After that bloodbath, the Government had ceased all similar "hunting tournaments," especially given how many Celestial Dragons were lost.
But none of them had expected that, twelve years later, they'd actually revive that same monstrous game.
"Wait a minute... Don't tell me the Government held this so-called hunt in the North Blue just to target Daren?"
Gaban, who had been silent in thought, suddenly looked up, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"It's very possible," Rayleigh said, sighing with a complicated look in his eyes. "Daren's growth has been far too fast."
Silence fell.
Rogers Daren's meteoric rise through the Marines had been so extreme it even made hardened pirates like them feel a chill.
Each of them could vividly recall their first encounter with the young Marine.
It had been when Daren left his post as North Blue Admiral and was heading to Marine Headquarters for advanced training.
Back then, he was just a young Captain with a Devil Fruit power that, while cunning, barely earned him a place in their memories—though it did make Roger switch to plastic belt buckles afterward.
But the truth was, at the time, Daren couldn't even take a single casual blow from Roger. He was nearly killed on the spot.
And now—less than three years later...
That same Marine captain had grown strong enough to threaten the entire Roger Pirates crew, wielding significant authority in the Marines, and had once even pushed them to the brink.
That kind of growth speed... was monstrous.
It wouldn't be surprising if even the World Government had grown fearful.
So they used the situation as a pretext—to crush his will, to break his spirit.
But no one had expected the "Marine upstart" to be hiding this much.
His strength, his talent, his cunning, and the forces behind him...
"Pfft—!"
A sudden laugh shattered the silence. Roger burst out laughing, clutching his stomach, his shoulders shaking.
"Wahahahaha! The World Government really did it to themselves this time!"
"I can't even begin to imagine the looks on those five old fossils' faces!"
"They actually backed Daren into a corner and made him rebel! Wahahaha!"
Roger laughed so hard he nearly fell over, his face turning bright red as he wheezed for breath.
The others blinked—then quickly realized.
He was right!
That dangerous little Marine had been forced into open rebellion by the World Government. And for them, the Roger Pirates...
That was good news.
At least now, among the enemies they feared in the Navy, one had been removed from the board.
"I wonder how much bounty the World Government and the Marines will put on his head?"
Gaban chuckled and shook his head.
Roger snorted.
"Whatever it is, it sure as hell won't be higher than mine!"
He puffed out his chest with pride, and even the two long nose hairs on his face twitched smugly.
"I'm the man who's worth 75 million more than Newgate and 140 million more than Shiki!"
Everyone stared at him, deadpan, as their captain stood hands on hips, laughing like a fool. Several of them rubbed their foreheads in exasperation.
Of all the numbers in the world, the only one he could recite perfectly... was bounty figures.
But to be fair, he wasn't wrong.
Among the top-tier pirates and global criminals in the world, bounty rankings were divided into two major tiers, based on strength, notoriety, influence, and overall threat.
The first tier, with bounties over 2 billion Belly, included:
Monkey D. Dragon, Garp's biological son and leader of the Freedom Fighters – 3.059 billion Belly!
Kaidou of the Beasts, "the strongest creature on land, sea, and air" – 3.089 billion Belly!
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, the "Evil Spirit" – 3.36 billion Belly!
And Rayleigh and Gaban, vice-captains of the Roger Pirates.
Above them was the top echelon—those with bounties exceeding 4 billion Belly, the true apex predators of the sea:
Edward Newgate, the "Strongest Man in the World," Whitebeard – 4.515 billion Belly!
Shiki the Golden Lion, the "Flying Pirate," who once rivaled both Roger and Whitebeard – 4.45 billion Belly!
And standing above them all, the man with the highest bounty in history—
Gol D. Roger himself, with a jaw-dropping 4.59 billion Belly!
"Ahem... that might not hold up much longer."
Rayleigh's mouth twitched as he spoke under his breath.
Everyone turned in surprise.
Another newspaper had drifted down from the sky, landing right at the cave entrance.
And on the cover, printed boldly across the front page, were three freshly issued wanted posters.
Name: Monkey D. Dragon
Crimes: Founded the Freedom Fighters, openly defied the World Government, overthrew multiple national governments, incited chaos across the seas.
Threat Level: Extremely High
Bounty: 3.059 billion Belly
...
Name: Momonga
Crimes: Former Captain of Marine Headquarters, former North Blue Admiral, currently Deputy Commander of the North Blue Fleet, code-named "Raichu." Led an assault on Mary Geoise, the Celestial Dragons' Holy Land. High treason.
Threat Level: High
Bounty: 2.05 billion Belly
...
But all eyes quickly landed on the final poster—the largest one of the three.
Name: Rogers Daren
Crimes: Former Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters, current Fleet Admiral of the North Blue Fleet. Violently disobeyed World Government orders, carried out a mass execution of Celestial Dragons, and openly attacked Marineford. His crimes are monstrous.
Threat Level: Highest
Bounty: 5 billion Belly
The cave went dead silent.
So quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
The entire crew of the Roger Pirates stared at that staggering number in stunned silence, hearts skipping a beat.
5 billion Belly.
"Not that much more... just 410 million more than yours,"
Rayleigh smirked, glancing at Roger and giving him a cheeky wink.
"About two Byrnndi Worlds' worth, give or take."
Roger's face flushed beet red like a boiled octopus.
"No way!"
"Absolutely no way!!"
He shot up in a rage, stomping toward the mouth of the cave.
The others scrambled to grab him before he bolted.
"Let go of me! I'm heading straight to Marine Headquarters—no, to Mary Geoise!!"
Roger roared, eyes bloodshot, snorting white steam from his nostrils.
"How the hell does that brat Daren have a higher bounty than me?!"
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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