"What about Luffy?" Shakky teased.
"Luffy-sama is special!" Hancock said confidently.
Perona floated nearby, muttering, "Hypocrite."
"What did you say?!" Hancock spun around.
"I said, Amazon Lily sounds nice!"
Perona immediately floated behind Luffy, peeking out with half her head. "Luffy, let us go there?!"
It did seem like a good place.
Luffy thought for a moment, then looked at Hancock. "Are you sure it is not too much trouble?"
"Not at all! It would be no trouble at all!"
Hancock's voice trembled with excitement. "To be able to help Luffy-sama is this lady's greatest honor!"
"Then we will be in your care." Luffy grinned.
"How wonderful!"
Hancock nearly jumped for joy.
She tried to maintain the dignity of the Pirate Empress, her cheeks flushed, stars in her eyes. Her usual aloof demeanor was gone.
But the blush on her face and the hearts in her eyes completely betrayed her.
Nearby, Perona could not help but roll her eyes and mutter, "Lovesick fool."
"Amazon Lily. Quiet, safe, and with Sea Kings as a food source."
Golden Lion spoke. He rubbed his chin and looked at Hancock. "Little girl, this old man will come along to recover. No problem, right?"
Hancock's expression instantly shifted from sunny to stormy. "Abso-lute-ly not! You old bastard! What do you think Amazon Lily is? A tourist resort?! This lady only welcomes Luffy-sama!"
Men, stay away.
"Don't be so stingy."
Golden Lion was thick-skinned. "This old man is a patient now. Look at my head, all wrapped up like a mummy by that brat Law. If I go back to the New World like this, those bastards will laugh at me. I will wait until my injuries heal, until I am back at my peak, then go back in glory. Perfect."
His head was now wrapped in thick bandages. Law's surgery had been successful, but he needed time to recover.
He did not want to go back to the New World looking so pathetic.
He wanted to recover completely, then return in glory.
"What does that have to do with this lady?!" Hancock gritted her teeth.
"Hancock." Luffy suddenly spoke.
Hancock's expression immediately softened. "Yes, Luffy-sama?"
Shiki: "???"
"Let Shiki come along."
Luffy said, "He helped me a lot. And when he is healed, I want to fight him again."
Shiki was a good sparring partner.
He was also an old acquaintance of Whitebeard. He might have some advice on developing the Gura Gura no Mi.
Golden Lion was first startled, then laughed heartily. "Jihahaha! Good boy. You have courage. It is a deal. When my head is healed, we will have a good fight!"
He also wanted to see how strong Luffy with two Devil Fruits would be.
Hancock looked at Luffy, then at Golden Lion. Finally, she snorted very reluctantly and turned her head away. "Since Luffy-sama says so..."
"Hancock, I will come too," Rayleigh proposed again.
"You are also an old man." Hancock glared at Rayleigh.
"Well, well. I will also go back to see the citizens." Shakky exhaled a smoke ring, smiling.
Hancock looked at Shakky.
She had to listen to the former former empress.
She still had many things to ask Shakky, who had been through it all.
Granny Nyon might know, but she would never say.
Hancock could only pout and reluctantly say, "Fine."
She glared at Golden Lion and Rayleigh. "But you two will stay on the nearby uninhabited island. You are not allowed to set foot on Amazon Lily!"
"Fine, fine." Golden Lion waved his hand. He just wanted a place to recover.
Rayleigh also smiled and nodded.
And so it was decided.
Luffy, Hancock, Perona, Kuma, Golden Lion, Rayleigh, and Shakky would go to Amazon Lily and the surrounding islands to train and recover.
They were all on the Merry and the Sunny.
Before leaving, Luffy took one last look at the Sabaody Archipelago, where chaos was brewing.
Gunfire, battle cries, screams. This once prosperous island was descending into chaos.
And this was only the beginning.
...
After several days of rebuilding following the Impel Down War, while the Marines were overwhelmed, what was expected happened.
The chaos began.
But the repercussions of the Impel Down War were more intense than anyone had anticipated.
Even before the war had fully ended, signs of chaos were already appearing across the Grand Line.
Without the suppression of the Marines' main force, the pirates who had been lurking in the shadows sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain.
Plundering merchant ships, attacking islands, fighting over territory.
The whole sea seemed, overnight, to have returned to the madness of the early days of the Great Pirate Era, when Roger had kicked it off.
Both the New World and the first half of the Grand Line, and even the Four Blues, where the Marines had better control, saw varying degrees of chaos.
Even Marine Headquarters, after this huge war, simply did not have enough troops to suppress it all.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Because the war had taken place in the Impel Down sea area, and not at Marineford itself, at least there was no further damage. That was a small mercy.
But the air still carried an indescribable oppression.
The number of warships at port had noticeably decreased. Many had been sent to various parts of the Grand Line to suppress the chaos.
In a spacious conference room on the top floor of Headquarters, Marine officers of Vice Admiral rank and above sat cross-legged, divided into two rows.
Everyone looked grave. Before each of them, or on their knees, was a newly printed newspaper.
The headlines of the World Economic Times were shocking:
[The Fifth Emperor is Born! Straw Hat Luffy's Two Devil Fruits Shock the World!]
[Complete Record of the Impel Down War: The Marines' Crushing Defeat, a New Era Begins!]
[Whitebeard's Decline? The Four Emperors' pattern May Be Reshuffled!]
At the head of the room, Rear Admiral Brannew stood straight, his expression serious.
The video Den Den Mushi before he was hard at work, one eye receiving reports from various locations, the other projecting images onto the screen ahead.
This meeting had quite a few core topics.
"How is the situation in the New World?" Vice Admiral Tsuru asked, opening her eyes.
Brannew switched the documents in his hand.
"As expected, after the outcome of the Impel Down War spread, pirate activity worldwide increased by 300%. The seven Marine branches in the first half of the Grand Line suffered over twenty attacks this week. The situation in the Four Blues is slightly better, but the audacity of pirates has also markedly increased."
"As for the New World,"
Brannew paused, "the Whitebeard Pirates have returned to their territory, but the situation is not good. According to intelligence, both Kaido of the Beasts and Big Mom Charlotte Linlin are secretly moving their forces, seeming to usurp Whitebeard's territory."
Though the Whitebeard Pirates had successfully withdrawn, the aged Whitebeard's weakness, shown at the end of the war, had been seen by countless eyes.
The hyenas of the New World had smelled blood and were beginning to stir, eyeing the head of this old Emperor.
There were frequent provocations against the Whitebeard Pirates.
Kaido was entrenched in Wano. Ships of his Beasts Pirates frequently appeared at the edges of Whitebeard's territory.
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin's Totto Land fleet was also on the move. She had long coveted the resource-rich islands in Whitebeard's hands.
"And Red Hair?" Sengoku asked.
"The Red Hair Pirates are currently still within Whitebeard's territory, seemingly helping to stabilize the situation. A direct large-scale conflict between the Emperors has not yet broken out, but three small-scale clashes have occurred."
Brannew answered, "Both Kaido and Big Mom seem to be tempted, wanting to see how much strength Whitebeard has left after this war."
For now, a direct, expanded war between the Emperors probably would not happen.
Emperor Red-Haired Shanks had not left the Whitebeard Pirates' territory since the war ended.
This move forced Kaido and Big Mom to restrain themselves.
Unless Kaido prepared a suitable bargaining chip to approach Linlin, no one could face two Emperors alone.
A direct clash between two Emperors might still be controllable, but if it turned into a three-way battle, the entire New World would be plunged into unpredictable disaster.
Garp sneered, "Those two certainly know how to pick their timing."
"It is a pirate's nature."
Akainu's voice was cold. "The weak are meat, the strong eat. That is why I have always said that pirates must be crushed with absolute force. Any compromise will make these scum push further!"
His words had a pointed implication. Many officers in the room looked at Sengoku.
Sengoku's expression did not change. He said calmly, "Continue."
Brannew nodded. "Thanks to Red Hair's intervention and the mutual restraint between the Emperors, the New World is currently maintaining a fragile balance."
This gave the Marines precious time to breathe.
"It probably will not last long. At most a month, the fire of war will be reignited in the New World."
"One month."
Sengoku tapped the table lightly, murmuring, "That is enough."
He slowly spoke. "Brannew, continue to the next item."
"Yes."
Brannew switched the video Den Den Mushi's screen. A line of large text appeared on the screen.
[Worldwide Draft Plan: Supplementing Forces and Recruiting Top Combatants]
A slight stir went through the conference room.
The Worldwide Draft proposal had been raised before the Impel Down War, but it had still been in the discussion phase.
Now, with the Marines' serious loss of troops, the plan had gone from a proposal to a necessary strategy.
"As you can see, this agenda was proposed by Fleet Admiral Sengoku before the war began," Brannew said.
The reason the Marines had dared to start the war was precisely that, as a violent organization under the World Government, the entire world was their source of troops.
The pirates, in contrast, could not replenish their depleted forces quickly.
"The specifics of the plan have already been drafted."
Brannew distributed documents to the officers present. "The Marines will simultaneously recruit in all 170 member nations of the World Government. The recruitment criteria will be relaxed appropriately. We expect to recruit 50,000 new recruits within three months."
"50,000? Is that number too low? We lost over 30,000, and they were elites."
A Vice Admiral with a full beard spoke, frowning. "And new recruits need time to train, Rear Admiral Brannew. Recruits of varying quality are nothing more than cannon fodder before real strong fighters."
"We have considered that."
Brannew nodded. "So the recruitment plan is divided into two parts: the recruitment of ordinary soldiers and the recruitment of special combatants."
The recruitment of special combatants.
The senior officers present knew very well that the Worldwide Draft, a major project initiated by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, had been proposed before the war began.
But this Worldwide Draft might have another variable.
Because the newspaper in their hands reported the news that they would recruit Admiral-level fighters.
The text on the screen changed.
[Recruiting Admiral-Level Combatants from Around the World]
"Preposterous!"
A middle-aged Vice Admiral slammed the table and stood up, his face red. "The Marines already have three Admirals! That is enough! Kizaru, Aokiji, Akainu, each is among the world's top strong fighters. Why do we need to recruit Admirals from outside?"
This was a matter of the Marines' dignity.
His words struck a chord with many.
Sengoku looked at these officers. He knew about the faction problem.
The Marines had never lacked for factional struggles.
Hawks, doves, neutrals.
Headquarters faction, branch faction.
And the conservatives who relied on seniority.
Now that he was proposing to recruit Admiral-level talent from outside, of course these people would worry about their own interests.
It was an undeniable fact that the Marines were plagued by faction, but everyone agreed on one thing.
Admirals should be trained from within the Marines.
Bringing in an Admiral from outside would not only hurt morale but might also introduce unpredictable elements.
Brannew's expression did not change. "This is Fleet Admiral Sengoku's decision."
The room grew even more silent than before.
Everyone knew the position of Fleet Admiral would soon be vacant. Sengoku was taking responsibility for the events of the Impel Down War, for letting Shanks and the Whitebeard Pirates go, and for the prison break. He would soon resign and semi-retire.
"Why is Sengoku taking all the responsibility? Anyone can see that the World Government's actions were the bigger problem!"
Gion wanted to stand up and speak, but Tsuru, sitting beside her, pressed her hand down and shook her head.
Only someone of Sengoku's weight could take the blame and calm things down.
Gion gritted her teeth and sat down.
Sengoku understood what these people were thinking.
Even if the Admiral positions were left vacant, there were still reserve Admirals who could be promoted.
For instance, two such backup Admirals were at this very meeting.
Gion and Tokikake.
Indeed,
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku,"
the Vice Admiral who had stood up said, "we also have backup Admirals within the organization! Gion and Tokikake are both Admiral-level. If only..."
"It is not enough."
Sengoku cut him off. "Gion and Tokikake are indeed excellent, but for the situation ahead, excellence is not enough. We need monsters who can dominate an era, like Garp."
Garp, who had been mentioned by name, was sitting in a corner, secretly eating senbei.
Hearing his name, he looked up and grinned. "Haha, Sengoku, you finally admit I am a monster?"
This bastard. He wanted to hit him.
Sengoku glared at him and continued, "The Worldwide Draft has already been approved by the Five Elders. The first recruitment notices will be issued to the world in three days. There is no room for discussion on this matter."
At this, everyone understood clearly. This was not a discussion. It was a notification.
Before stepping down, Sengoku had to do this. The Marines needed more monsters.
"In the Impel Down War, we faced not only the Whitebeard Pirates, but also Straw Hat Luffy, Golden Lion Shiki, escaped prisoners from Impel Down, and other forces. If a conflict of this level occurs again in the future, the Marines need more top combatants."
Sengoku glanced at the three Admirals present.
Admirals were indeed powerful, but they could not be at their peak forever.
Like Akainu now.
He had lost an arm.
The Marines needed fresh blood. New monsters.
And training from within took time. What the Marines most lacked now was time.
Sengoku sighed. "The coming era, in particular, will be even more chaotic than the Great Pirate Era that Roger began."
He looked around the room. "The emergence of Straw Hat Luffy has already proven this!"
The officers in the room felt a chill.
Someone who was both a Gomu Gomu no Mi and Gura Gura no Mi user.
A young man whom both Whitebeard and Red Hair are valued.
He had killed a Celestial Dragon and stood against the World Government.
It was hard to imaginegine these things all happening to one person.
The conference room fell silent.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is right."
Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke at the right moment. Her voice was gentle but carried undeniable weight. "The times have changed. If we cling to the old ways, we will only be swallowed by the waves of the new era."
"In this situation, the Marines must regain combat effectiveness as quickly as possible."
That Vice Admiral opened his mouth to speak, but finally slumped back into his seat.
Brannew switched topics at the right moment.
"Next is a report on the Impel Down incident."
The picture on the screen changed to a three-dimensional structural diagram of Impel Down.
"Warden Magellan was seriously injured, but his condition has stabilized."
"Although the main battlefield of the Impel Down War was on the surface, the dispersion of the battle severely affected Impel Down."
"According to Warden Magellan's report after regaining consciousness, Impel Down is forty percent damaged. Especially Levels Four through Six, where multiple structural collapses occurred and seawater flooded in."
As a result, many prisoners had died directly in the escape of the battle, but more had escaped.
"Among them, a large number of prisoners from Levels One through Five have followed Buggy the Clown. This is a force that cannot be ignored."
Brannew's expression was very serious.
Prisoners locked in Impel Down were at least at the level of Marine elites. Buggy the Clown had recruited a large number of these elites, and they respected Buggy very much, forming an organization. It could not be ignored.
"Buggy the Clown?"
A Vice Admiral frowned. "The one who broadcast almost the entire war with a Den Den Mushi? He managed to recruit so many prisoners?"
"Yes."
Brannew nodded. "According to intelligence, Buggy used his heroic performance on the battlefield to win the admiration of many prisoners. Now these prisoners call him Captain Buggy and firmly believe he is the leader who can lead them to greatness."
Garp snorted with laughter. Sengoku glared at him.
"The point is not how strong Buggy is, but the influence he has."
Sengoku said gravely, "A man who could broadcast the Impel Down War, who is on friendly terms with Red-Haired Shanks, who can speak up in front of Straw Hat Luffy and Whitebeard, even if he is not strong, is trouble enough."
Everyone present was well aware of Buggy's performance on the battlefield.
Also a former crewmate of the Pirate King, the relationship between Buggy and Shanks was worth noting.
Brannew continued, "The Buggy Pirates have now entered the New World. Their movements are unknown. It is recommended to treat them as a matter of concern."
He paused and took a deep breath. "Next, the situation on Level Six."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew heavy.
The Vice Admirals narrowed their eyes.
They all knew very well what Impel Down's Level Six meant.
The main active forces in this war had largely come from Level Six.
Impel Down's Level Six held monsters capable of shaking the very foundations of the world.
Every name there represented a bloody history.
Brannew switched to another photo. The Marines present could not help but frown.
It showed the horrific scene of Impel Down's Level Six.
Shattered cells, dried blood stains, twisted corpses. It was a hellscape.
Brannew continued, "It has been confirmed that Teach, the former Warlord who was recently stripped of his title, infiltrated Level Six during the war and held a selection battle among the prisoners."
At this, the room fell silent.
A battle among those madmen?
Was Blackbeard himself not mad?
"Among them, five have been confirmed to have joined the Blackbeard Pirates: Sanjuan Wolf, Avalo Pizarro, Vasco Shot, Catarina Devon, and Shiryu of the Rain."
"Shiryu of the Rain?"
Aokiji looked up. "The former Chief Guard of Impel Down?"
"Yes. He chose to betray Magellan during the battle and join Blackbeard's side."
Brannew nodded. "Blackbeard kept his promise and took these five. Of the other prisoners who participated, most were killed."
Shocked gasps filled the room.
To choose his crewmates this way?
No, he was not choosing crewmates. He was choosing weapons.
The screen showed the wanted posters of these criminals, one after another. Each was terrifying.
Blackbeard had chosen the most elite partners from among the world's most vicious criminals.
Or rather, that might have been the purpose of his joining the Warlords.
"But there are clearly others from Level Six whose whereabouts are unknown."
"Confirmed on the battlefield were Byrnndi World, Redfield, Douglas Bullet..."
With each name Brannew read, the faces of the officers present darkened.
Each of these names represented a disaster that the Marines had once exhausted themselves to suppress.
"Even a single Level Six prisoner escaping into a kingdom poses a great danger to its people."
Some Vice Admirals stood up. "These bastards should be hunted immediately! Issue wanted posters now!"
That was the sentiment of many Marines.
Seeing this, Sengoku closed his eyes.
And Brannew was feeling pressured.
If he said this, the room would explode.
Brannew forced himself to continue, "But the World Government has ordered us to conceal the Level Six incident. If such a serious matter were revealed, it would affect the World Government's credibility."
"Has the World Government considered the impact these criminals will have?" Gion also stood up, ready to condemn. "Is the World Government willing to disregard people's safety for its own authority?!"
"Calm down, Gion." Tsuru held her arm.
Brannew was sweating. "This is a direct order from the Five Elders."
"So innocent lives are to be sacrificed to save their faces?"
Garp sneered, stood up. "This old man has heard enough."
He turned and walked toward the conference room door.
"Garp!" Sengoku shouted.
Garp stopped at the door, not looking back. "Sengoku, you know I have always hated this kind of shit."
He pushed the door open and left.
Those World Government fools had not changed one bit.
Gion also stood up. "I cannot accept this either. If the Marines are willing to sacrifice our basic duty to protect people for political expediency, then what is the justice we uphold?"
She followed Garp out of the room.
The meeting fell into awkward silence.
Sengoku sighed. "Continue, Brannew."
Brannew nodded and switched the screen.
This was the main event of today's meeting.
They had to issue new wanted posters.
"First, Buggy the Clown, who recruited many followers in this war. According to intelligence, Buggy the Clown is preparing to enter the New World with these people. As a former crewmate of the Pirate King, his relationships with Red Hair, Straw Hat, and Whitebeard are good."
"More importantly, he broadcast almost the entire Impel Down War on Den Den Mushi. The impact was extremely negative. He has a large following who see him as a candidate for the next Emperor. And this publicity is also very dangerous."
"Therefore, Buggy the Clown's bounty is 1,000,000,000 berries."
One billion?
The Vice Admirals looked grave.
Though not as high as the Emperors' multi-billion bounties, for a man whose previous bounty had not even been listed, it was an astronomical figure.
There was no way around it.
If there were victors in this war, they were not the Marines, nor Whitebeard.
It was the escapees, led by Straw Hat Luffy and Buggy the Clown.
"Next, the two former Warlords who escaped in the war."
Two photos appeared side by side on the screen.
On the left was Crocodile's grim face. On the right was Jinbe's serious expression.
"Crocodile, former bounty 81,000,000 berries,frozen after becoming a Warlord. Caused major damage in the Impel Down War, fought Doflamingo and Hawkeye. His whereabouts are unknown. Bounty reinstated and raised to 800,000,000 berries."
"Knight of the Sea Jinbe, former bounty 250,000,000 berries. Opened the Gate of Justice during the war, allowing the Whitebeard Pirates to enter, which critically affected the course of the war. Bounty reinstated and raised to 830,000,000 berries."
Two former Warlords, with bounties over 800 million.
That was top-tier among pirates.
Brannew put up another wanted poster. "Next, the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki."
When that unruly face appeared on the screen, the atmosphere in the room grew even more oppressive.
This great pirate, from the same era as Roger and Whitebeard, who had once stormed Marine Headquarters alone and fought Garp and Sengoku, was now free.
"Shiki allied with Straw Hat Luffy in the Impel Down War, significantly affecting the battle. At Fleet Admiral Sengoku's recommendation, his original bounty is reinstated."
"Bounty: 4,203,050,000 berries."
4.2 billion berries.
A bounty equaling that of an Emperor.
Shiki's danger was evident.
If Shiki had not faced Garp and Sengoku alone back then, perhaps Emperor Red-Haired Shanks would not be where he was now.
As a former officer of the Rocks Pirates, if even the apprentice Kaido had become an Emperor, surely the veteran Shiki was qualified.
"Another important figure who escaped from Impel Down. Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace, Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, former bounty 550,000,000 berries. Rescued by Straw Hat Luffy during the Impel Down War. His identity as the Pirate King's son is now publicly known."
"Considering his strength, identity, and importance to the Whitebeard Pirates, his bounty is raised to 1,500,000,000 berries."
1.5 billion. That was the level of a Yonko commander.
Given that Ace was Roger's son, this number reflected both the recognition of his strength and the fear of his bloodline.
Most of Brannew's list were escapees from Impel Down.
Fire Fist Ace had the highest bounty, no doubt due to his bloodline.
"Of course, none of the above are the main point."
He switched to another photo.
Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach's gap-toothed smile appeared on the screen.
That smile seemed especially ferocious now.
Brannew took a deep breath. "This bastard is one of the main items on today's agenda. The former Warlord who recruited elite partners from Level Six. According to our intelligence, Blackbeard recently encountered Byrnndi World. Blackbeard and his crew killed World and took his Momo Momo no Mi. Subsequently, Blackbeard has shown the ability to use two Devil Fruits!"
"What?!"
This time, even the three Admirals showed shock.
"How is that possible?!"
"The rule is that a person can only eat one Devil Fruit!"
"Have you forgotten Straw Hat Luffy?"
"But if this is true, then Blackbeard's level of threat..."
"Silence!" Sengoku shouted.
The room fell silent again, but shock and unease were written on every face.
After Straw Hat Luffy had the Gomu Gomu no Mi and the Gura Gura no Mi, another troublesome person with two Devil Fruits had appeared.
And Blackbeard, based on his prior actions, was a man of great ambition who would do anything to achieve his ends.
Troublesome.
"Another dual user has appeared?" a Vice Admiral murmured.
"Yes."
Brannew nodded gravely. "Blackbeard has shown ability similar to Straw Hat Luffy's: using two Devil Fruits simultaneously. Though the mechanism is unclear, the fact is established."
He displayed several blurry photos, taken from a distance during a battle.
Though not clear, they showed Blackbeard using both darkness and a cannon that enlarged his body.
"Therefore, for the huge damage he caused in Impel Down, Blackbeard also bears significant responsibility. We are raising his bounty to 1,500,000,000 berries."
1.5 billion, tied with Ace's.
But this was only the beginning.
Everyone knew that with Blackbeard's ambition and methods, this number would soon be exceeded.
Brannew took down Blackbeard's wanted poster, looked around the room, and said, "These criminals, though dangerous, have not yet truly shaken the foundations of the world. The real focus of today's meeting, the real heart of the matter, is one thing."
Straw Hat Luffy's level of danger.
The video Den Den Mushi switched to one final photo.
When that grinning face in the straw hat appeared on the screen, the air in the room seemed to freeze.
Straw Hat Luffy.
The true central figure of the Impel Down War.
He had killed a Celestial Dragon. He had defeated an Admiral. He had taken the Gura Gura no Mi from Whitebeard.
Everyone in the room felt a chill, their breathing slowing.
The big news now was not who had escaped from Impel Down, or what clashes had occurred between the Emperors.
Unless it was a real clash between Emperors, nothing else would be as serious as this matter.
Every newspaper and every report only talked about one thing.
A great pirate with both the Gomu Gomu no Mi and the Gura Gura no Mi, who had influenced the course of the Impel Down War, the son of Revolutionary Dragon, Straw Hat Luffy, was now the true Fifth Emperor of the Sea.
"Monkey D. Luffy. Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. Gomu Gomu no Mi and Gura Gura no Mi user. Son of Revolutionary Dragon, Monkey D. Dragon."
"Before the Impel Down War, his bounty was 660,000,000 berries."
Brannew said, "After the war, every newspaper in the world was covering the same thing."
He switched to the front page of the World Economic Times.
[The Fifth Emperor of the Sea is Born!]
"Though 'Emperor' has never been an official title, when it is accepted by the world, its meaning changes."
Brannew's voice was dry. "It means that, in the eyes of the world, Straw Hat Luffy now has the same status and threat level as Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and Red Hair."
The conference room was deathly silent.
Only the sizzle of Akainu's magma fist could be heard.
"Oh, that is terrifying~"
Kizaru, legs crossed, pouted, spoke in his usual slow drawl. "Straw Hat's terror is indeed as great as an Emperor's. But are there not only four Emperors? What does it mean to have five Emperors?~"
"That does not matter."
Sengoku slowly spoke. "For monsters like them, once recognized by the world, the title naturally falls upon them."
He paused, "Straw Hat Luffy has already crossed that threshold."
At the mention of Luffy's name, smoke rose from the desk.
Akainu's fist on the table had turned red. He lifted his head, cigar between his teeth, his eyes dark with fury.
"In the end, they are just pirates! What Emperor or not!"
Akainu slammed his fist on the table. A hole melted in it.
The medical officer beside him nearly screamed.
His bandages had only just been changed.
One arm and one huge scar, left by two Emperors, Whitebeard and Straw Hat Luffy.
To ordinary Marines, these were marks of honor. But to Akainu, they were a humiliation of the highest order.
He stood, his one remaining fist clenched. Anger practically blazed in his eyes.
"The disgrace of the Impel Down War, this old man will never forget. That arm, that scar... one day, I will personally send Straw Hat Luffy to the deepest level of Impel Down."
"Calm down, Sakazuki."
Aokiji exhaled cold air, extinguishing the magma on Akainu's fist. "Getting angry is not good for your wounds. And Straw Hat Luffy is no longer an opponent who can be defeated with anger."
The atmosphere in the room grew even heavier.
Aokiji was right.
In the Impel Down War, Luffy's strength had far exceeded the level of a Supernova.
It was solid, monster-level power.
Those nearby dared not speak.
Two Admirals—and Admirals who would likely be competing for the position of Fleet Admiral. What could they say?
Only one person could keep them in check.
"He killed three Celestial Dragons on the Sabaody Archipelago. He infiltrated Impel Down to rescue Fire Fist Ace. He released many dangerous prisoners. He disrupted the entire Impel Down War, causing the world structure to become like this. He bears unshirkable responsibility."
"Straw Hat, Monkey D. Luffy!"
"Former bounty: 660,000,000 berries. New bounty..."
"3,500,000,000 berries!"
More than five times his old bounty. Among recent pirates, none other than the Emperors had a bounty this high.
Considering that Luffy had only been at sea for a year and was not yet twenty, the meaning of this number made every Marine officer present shiver.
"3.5 billion?" a Vice Admiral stammered. "That is already..."
"Already Emperor level." Sengoku finished his sentence.
Sengoku stood and walked to the screen.
"A dual user of the Gomu Gomu no Mi and the Gura Gura no Mi."
"He has all three colors of Haki, with Conqueror's Haki at the top level, able to face Whitebeard directly."
"His swordsmanship has been recognized by Hawkeye. His physical technique is on par with Garp's."
"In the Impel Down War, he fought Kizaru, Aokiji, and Akainu without losing."
"He has close relationships with Golden Lion, Knight of the Sea Jinbe, and Silvers Rayleigh."
"He is the son of Revolutionary Army leader Monkey D. Dragon, and the grandson of Marine Hero Monkey D. Garp."
With every sentence Sengoku spoke, the temperature in the room dropped.
When all these facts were stacked in one person, the resulting chemical reaction was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"And that is not all."
Sengoku turned to face the room. "According to intelligence, Straw Hat Luffy was seen on the Sabaody Archipelago with Silvers Rayleigh and Golden Lion Shiki after the war."
The room gasped.
"What is Straw Hat Luffy trying to do?"
"He should now have the qualifications to enter the New World."
"Is he planning to stay in the Grand Line to regroup?"
What kind of monster would appear in the New World then?
***
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