Alabasta East Port—ten minutes after the Shichibukai invitation incident.
Atop the Red Line, in the Holy Land Mariejois, the Pangu City Hall.
"What!? That insolent brat refused our Shichibukai invitation?!"
"Not only did he refuse, but he sank all the warships of Vice Admiral Momousagi that came to bring him in!"
"And he even openly shielded that woman… shielding that devil's child, Nico Robin!"
"Arrogant! Absolutely arrogant! That guy doesn't take us seriously at all!"
"Since he won't give us face, we don't have to be polite. He wants to play hero on the seas? Fine! Let's see if anyone has the guts to take on a man with a 500 million reward!"
The world's highest authorities, the old men who controlled everything from the shadows, barked their orders.
And just a few minutes later…
Countless newspaper delivery birds soared through the skies, rushing to every corner of the world with the new bounties freshly minted by the World Government.
"What!? Another man with a 500 million bounty has appeared?!"
"Sugisawa Yuuto, president of Fairy Tail… what an incredible man!"
"His first bounty was only 80 million, and it's risen to 500 million in less than a month. Unbelievable!"
"Not unbelievable—it's only natural. After all, he defeated that Shichibukai!"
"The man who defeated Shichibukai Ke Locke Dar is worth every bit of that 500 million bounty!"
"But… I don't understand. Didn't Fairy Tail just save an entire country? Why did his reward increase?"
"Is there some hidden secret behind the Alabasta incident? Is it really safe to trust Fairy Tail?"
"Those guys aren't just law enforcers trying to trick us into killing each other like pigs, right?"
"I don't know… but I wouldn't dare hire a man with a 500 million bounty for my own affairs!"
All over the world, chatter and astonishment spread like wildfire.
New World—Dressrosa, Rosa.
"Fufufufu… I wonder how extraordinary these guys really are? Only 500 million, huh?" Shichibukai Doflamingo chuckled smugly.
"If it weren't for Dover, you would have become a Shichibukai. That bounty would've been 1 billion by now!" boasted Diamanti, one of his top officers.
"A mere Fairy Tail isn't anything to fear!"
A handsome pirate ship, somewhere at sea.
"Captain! Captain! Something's wrong! Your bounty's been surpassed—by a lot!" shouted the crew of the Junmei Regiment.
"What did you say?" Baima Cavendish, captain of the Junmei Regiment, froze mid-groom in front of a mirror.
"Five… five hundred million?! Are you kidding me?! What are the Marines thinking? How can someone suddenly surpass 400 million?!"
Cavendish couldn't believe it. He had assumed his 200 million bounty would be the brightest star this year.
Yet here was a dark horse appearing out of nowhere, overtaking him by more than double.
"What do I do now? 500 million… Yuuto's bounty is right in front of me. My 200 million is completely eclipsed!"
After a long pause, Cavendish muttered, "At least… in terms of beauty, he can't beat me. And my crew is…"
"No, Captain… the Fairy Tail guild leader is also a rare handsome man, and his crew… all first-class beauties!"
Cavendish: "..."
Some things were just impossible to compete with.
East Blue—Cocoyashi Village.
"Ah! Ah! Mr. Jian!"
"This is… bad news!"
"Nami… Nami has a bounty too?!"
The villagers' exclamations echoed through the village.
"What!? What do you mean? How did this happen? President Sugisawa and the others saved a country… why?!" Fengche Jian shook his head, stunned.
"I don't know all the details, but I trust President Sugisawa… trust Nami… trust Fairy Tail!" the blue-haired girl Nu Qigao said firmly.
Fairy Tail Guild Hall.
"Ooh~"
Excited voices erupted everywhere.
"Ten million… no, 500 million! The president's bounty has risen to 500 million!" Nami gasped in astonishment.
"Miss Erza has a bounty too—79 million! Only one million less than the president's original reward. Amazing~" Vivi marveled.
"So… so incredible!"
Erza smiled smugly. There was a thrill in having a bounty on her head.
"Nami! Juvia! You've also been offered bounties!"
"What? Me too?!" Nami froze.
"Yes, Little Thief Nami… 36 million Berry! Juvia… 54 million!" Marian said casually.
"Thirty-six million?! That's even higher than Arlong! Am I really that good?" Nami blinked in shock.
Second deck of the guild hall.
"I'm sorry… I really caused trouble… it's all my fault…" Robin apologized, her voice low and earnest.
"It's fine," Yuuto interrupted with a wave. "Bounties among my partners aren't a big deal. Even if I hadn't been offered one this time, it would've happened next time. Besides… I never intended to become a Shichibukai. This has nothing to do with you."
"President…" Robin pursed her lips. Despite his words, she still felt responsible for the conflict that had just occurred—it was all because of her.
"Alright, enough talk. By the way, I've prepared a small gift for officially joining the guild!" Yuuto said, smiling mysteriously. He produced a paper tube from his pocket.
"Open it and take a look!"
Robin hesitated for a moment, then unrolled the paper tube. Inside was a large scroll.
Her beautiful eyes widened in astonishment as she read the text.
"This is… historical text?!"