Somewhere in the New World, on an uninhabited island.
The Red Hair Pirates were, as usual, throwing a party.
It was a tradition for them; whenever they passed a new, unfamiliar island, they would celebrate with a feast.
However, today, the Red Hair Pirates had an uninvited guest.
"Three billion Berries?!!" Hawkeye stared at Leo's new wanted poster, utterly shocked.
How long had it been? Leo started at 30 million, then 500 million, and now 3 billion.
Even the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, or the former sea dominator Rocks, hadn't risen this fast.
Was this kid cheating?!
"Wahahahaha... Hawkeye, feeling envious?!!" Shanks patted Hawkeye's shoulder, comforting him. "Don't worry, if you weren't a Warlord, your bounty would definitely be higher than his."
"That's right. As the World's Greatest Swordsman, you should have that confidence," Lucky Roo chimed in, his words muffled by the drumstick in his mouth.
Hawkeye shot the two a cold glance.
He was so 'thankful'.
"This Leo guy has some serious guts, daring to smash Enies Lobby. Does he just act without considering the consequences?!!" The sniper, Yasopp, frowned slightly.
Although he had his doubts, without knowing the real reason, he could only follow the newspaper's narrative.
"Things probably aren't that simple," Benn Beckman, the strategist of the Red Hair Pirates, glanced at the newspaper, a glint of wisdom in his eyes.
The Marine report was clearly vague; there must be hidden details they weren't aware of.
The others didn't press the matter.
They had no conflict with Leo; his bounty was just entertainment for them.
They didn't feel the need to get to the bottom of it.
"Shanks, the reason I came to find you this time was to talk about Leo," Hawkeye put down his roasted meat, wiping the grease from his hands.
It was actually a bit embarrassing.
From the time he parted ways with Leo at the Baratie in the East Blue until now, Leo's bounty had been updated twice, and his fame had skyrocketed.
And him?!
He had just rowed from the East Blue to the New World.
Hawkeye was seriously considering getting a proper ship.
Using his black blade, Yoru, as an oar was just too inefficient.
All his time was wasted on travel, always late to the party.
"Huh?!!" Shanks was taken aback. "You know him?!!"
Hawkeye nodded slightly. "I crossed blades with him once in the East Blue."
Picking up the wanted poster again, he looked at the dazzling number and said, word by word, "I think Leo's strength is worthy of these three billion Berries."
For a moment, all activity among the Red Hair Pirates halted.
They stared dumbfounded at Hawkeye.
Somewhere in the Grand Line.
A dog-prowed Marine warship was going full speed.
At the bow, Garp stared grimly at the newspaper in his hand.
Only he knew just how much substance lay behind Leo's 3 billion Berry bounty.
Damn it!!!
Where was that brat Luffy? There had been no news of him lately.
He was wandering around the Grand Line like a headless chicken.
If Leo found out about his relationship with Luffy and encountered Luffy before he did, it would be a complete disaster.
Frantically anxious, Garp immediately ordered, "Search island by island! We must find Straw Hat Luffy!!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!!"
"Understood, Vice Admiral Garp!"
Banaro Island, Grand Line.
"Zehahahaha... Destroying Enies Lobby? Leo sure did something impressive!" A rough laugh filled the entire tavern.
Blackbeard, missing several teeth, handed the newspaper to his companions. "Take a good look! This is how a pirate should act!!"
"Demon Sheriff" Lafitte twirled his cane, shaking his head with a light laugh. "Captain, let's not be as reckless as him."
"Weehahahaha.... Lafitte, since when did you become so timid?!!" "Champion" Jesus Burgess laughed loudly while flexing his muscles for everyone.
"Cough cough.... Burgess... don't... don't boast here. Let's survive Ace's pursuit first," the terminally ill "Death God" Doc Q looked half-dead nearby, as if he might kick the bucket at any moment.
Hearing Ace's name, Blackbeard's face instantly darkened.
That bastard! So what if he killed Thatch?!
So what if he betrayed the Whitebeard Pirates?!
So what if he stole a Devil Fruit?!
Was it that big a deal?!
Did he have to chase him all the way from the New World to the Grand Line?!
Enough was enough.
Once he developed his Dark-Dark Fruit a bit more, next time he met Ace, he'd finish him off for good.
The Florian Triangle.
"Kishishishishi..... Have Berries inflated to this extent?! Such a high bounty for a rookie?!" Gecko Moria, with his disproportionate upper and lower body, looked at the newspaper and let out a strange laugh.
"Lord Moria, Leo did kill Crocodile," a voice came from seemingly empty air beside him.
Gecko Moria's face darkened. "Shut up, Absalom!"
"Is killing Crocodile so difficult?! He was just a nobody. If I made a move, it would be as easy as squashing an ant."
"Killing him isn't something worth boasting about. Have you forgotten, I was the man who once challenged Kaido himself!"
Remembering his glorious past, Moria proudly lifted his chin.
Not everyone had the courage to challenge a Four Emperor.
In the shadows, Absalom fell silent.
He thought to himself, But you still lost in the end.
Besides, it's not like Crocodile never challenged Whitebeard either.
Perona, floating in the air, played along and clapped her hands admiringly. "Lord Moria, you are the best!"
"Crocodile was no match for you, and neither is Leo."
"Of course," Moria naturally took the compliment. "I'm not boasting, but if that brat Leo dares to come to my Florian Triangle, I'll beat him until he cries like a baby."
10,000 Meters High.
After leaving Enies Lobby, the ship switched to autopilot.
Their next destination was naturally the Florian Triangle.
Upon returning, Nami handed the four items found at Enies Lobby to Leo.
They were: the Paramecia-type Bubble-Bubble Fruit, the Zoan-type Ox-Ox Fruit, Giraffe Model, the Golden Den Den Mushi, and the Elephant Sword, Funkfreed.
Leo directly tossed the two Devil Fruits into his system warehouse.
The Bubble-Bubble Fruit's offensive power was too weak and offered little improvement.
As for the Ox-Ox Fruit, Giraffe Model... those in the know, know.
He'd rather throw it away than let any of the girls eat it.
Leo gave the Elephant Sword to Tashigi.
While it wasn't a famous grade sword, it was novel.
Even Leo was seeing a sword that had eaten a Devil Fruit for the first time.
As for the Golden Den Den Mushi, Leo kept it for himself. It might come in handy someday.
In the ship's luxurious lounge.
Most of the girls were gathered here, apart from a few, each doing their own thing.
Everyone's life was returning to normal.
It was worth mentioning that Kalifa had integrated into the all-female collective very quickly.
Mainly because the girls were already immune to the process, and the routine was familiar.
Any woman Leo set his sights on was caught eventually. They would be seeing each other all the time anyway.
And they had to serve Leo together at night. Harmony was best.
"Leo, aren't we moving a bit too fast?!!" Nami, who had been exercising on the treadmill, suddenly stepped off, her face bitter.
"What?!!" Leo, who was being fed fruit by Vivi, was confused.
He didn't know what Nami meant by 'fast'.
But she definitely wasn't questioning that.
Wiping her sweat, Nami pouted. "I mean, from the time we left the East Blue until now, it's only been a little over a month, and we're almost at Sabaody Archipelago, the end of the Grand Line! We haven't gained much along the way."
Makino, Kaya, and the others who were also from the East Blue nodded slightly, feeling the same.
Leo refuted, "You can't say that. Hasn't your strength improved a lot?! Now even Vice Admiral Onigumo is no match for you."
Nami put her hands on her hips, feigning fierceness. "You know that's not what I'm talking about! With so many women on the ship, have you forgotten my dream?!"
"I told you about it before."
The other girls covered their mouths, snickering, watching Leo with schadenfreude,期待 (anticipating) his response.
Leo immediately raised his hands in surrender. "Haven't forgotten. I remember."
"I know you want to map the entire world. After I recruit the remaining beautiful women, I'll take you all on a tour. There will be plenty of time then."
"Good that you remember." Satisfied with the answer, a bright smile returned to Nami's face.
"Brother Leo, there are already so many beauties on the ship. Are you still going to recruit more?!!" Vivi stared at Leo, troubled.
There were so many people; she was starting to have trouble remembering everyone.
Sometimes she even called someone by the wrong name. It was awkward.
"Captain, we've encountered so many women along the way, but you didn't even glance at them. Yet you're going to specific places to recruit others. Is there some secret to it?!!" Robin rested her chin in her hands, looking at Leo with a gentle smile.
But a mischievous glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.
During their flight, they had landed on islands to get some fresh air.
On one island, there were groups of beautiful women, some whose looks rivaled Nami and Vivi's.
But Leo had been completely unmoved. Strange.
Kaya closed her medical book and came over, playful. "Brother Leo, I want to know the reason too?!"
The angelic Conis fluttered her small wings, full of curiosity.
Driven by curiosity, the other girls put down their work and gathered around Leo.
Their captain was too mysterious, like he was shrouded in a thick fog.
Surrounded by several beauties, different fragrances assailed Leo's senses.
Under the influence of the slave印记 (mark), Doberman and Kalifa were the boldest.
The two shook their bodies, their clothes... turning to碎片 (fragments).
They spoke to Leo in seductive tones, "Captain, tell us嘛~"
The other girls stared, wide-eyed and dumbfounded. The next second, they all blushed furiously.
What are you doing?!!
They were all just chatting normally, teasing Leo a little.
And suddenly they start a live...?!
"Pfft—" Leo, who was drinking water, couldn't hold back and spat it out. This was too sudden.
Was the slave mark this overpowering?!
Kalifa was one thing, but to turn someone as serious as Vice Admiral Doberman into... this?
"Captain, your new wanted poster is out," the sexy Sara said as she walked in from outside, holding a newspaper.
As soon as she entered, she saw the scene before her.
The girls turned their heads awkwardly to look at her, their eyes falling on the近乎赤裸 (near-naked) Doberman and Kalifa.
"Uh...." Sara blushed in embarrassment. "Captain, am I interrupting?!!"
"Don't mind them, they're just messing around," Leo waved his hand. He had just come out of his room not long ago; he wasn't that energetic.
"You two, go put some clothes on, now."
Doberman and Kalifa pouted but didn't dare disobey Leo. They could only pick up some black stockings from the drawer and put them on.
"Brother Leo, three billion Berries! How many zeros is that?!!" Kaya looked in amazement at the string of zeros following the number '3'.
"The Captain is truly amazing. Most pirates never reach such a high bounty in their lifetime," Nojiko praised, giving a thumbs-up.
Back in Cocoyasi Village, she thought Arlong's 20 million Berry bounty was an astronomical figure.
Now it seemed like a complete joke.
"Leo, why doesn't the newspaper mention Kizaru or Garp?!!" Nami flipped through the paper, but it only contained news about Enies Lobby's destruction and various slanders against Leo.
It seemed like Garp and Kizaru had been deliberately erased.
"Robin, tell them," Leo gestured with his chin towards Robin.
Robin chuckled and explained to the girls, "The Marines are surely afraid of losing face. If the public found out a Marine Admiral was beaten so badly by the Captain, who would still believe the Marines have the ability to protect them?"
Hearing this, the girls understood.
"Tch, these guys are so dishonest," the innocent Conis immediately puffed out her cheeks.
They only report what benefits them and erase what doesn't?!
"From the Marines' perspective, it's actually quite normal. They can't very well report news that damages their image," Leo explained, casually tossing the newspaper into the trash.
"Enough about them. We'll reach the Florian Triangle tomorrow. It's a good chance for you to meet Brook."
Leo proactively changed the subject; he really had no interest in Marine affairs.
"Brook?! Laboon's friend?!!" The girls vividly remembered the whale from Twin Capes.
"You'd better prepare yourselves. Brook is just a skeleton now. Don't be scared when you see him," Leo gave the girls a timely warning.
He didn't want them getting overexcited and accidentally breaking Brook's bones.
They certainly had the strength for that now.
"Captain, if I remember correctly, isn't the Florian Triangle the territory of the Warlord, Gecko Moria?!!" Robin recalled the information she knew about the Florian Triangle.
"Correct," Leo nodded in confirmation. "It is indeed his territory."
"Huh? Another Warlord?!!" Makino blinked. On their journey so far, they had already encountered three Warlords.
First Hawkeye, then Crocodile, and now Gecko Moria.
Was it fate that they kept running into Warlords?!
"Nami, when we reach the Florian Triangle tomorrow, you'll handle Moria."
"Tashigi, there's a Great Grade Sword, one of the 21 O Wazamono, in the Triangle. It's also a black blade. Whether you can get it depends on you."
A black blade?!!
Tashigi's eyes lit up instantly. So far, she only knew that the World's Greatest Swordsman Hawkeye's Supreme Grade sword, Yoru, was a black blade.
There was actually a second one?!
"Captain, I will do my best," Tashigi said with serious determination. No matter who her opponent was tomorrow, she would defeat them and take the sword.
"Robin, Doberman, Kalifa, tomorrow you three will provide support. Don't let anyone else disturb them."
Kalifa: Newest combatant of the Leo Pirates, having consumed the Observation Haki Fruit and the Armament Haki Fruit.
The three women obediently nodded.
As for the other girls, they could just watch the show tomorrow.
As for him, his goal was naturally to recruit the twin-tailed Perona.
The Florian Triangle.
This area was perpetually shrouded in thick fog, with extremely low visibility.
In the past, many pirate ships passing through this sea would, aside from a few who lost their way, mostly find their way out and leave safely.
They基本上 (basically) encountered no danger.
But starting ten years ago, everything changed.
Pirate crews passing through here rarely made it out of the foggy sea. Gradually, it became a place of terror.
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T/N :
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