In addition to the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy, the World Economic Times also leaked information about what the Straw Hat crew had done on the Sabaody Archipelago.
For some reason, the World Government had not been able to shut up Morgans.
Many events that should not have been made public were being circulated as news everywhere.
The incident of Luffy kidnapping and even killing a Celestial Dragon was naturally treated as a pirate crew incident as well.
And earlier, Kuma had said he was on the Sabaody Archipelago to carry out an elimination mission... at least so far, there was no evidence of any elimination.
Captain Luffy was still alive, and the Straw Hat crew, who had been sent flying by Kuma on the Sabaody Archipelago, were certainly somewhere in the world.
They were a dangerous crew.
As Luffy's bounty rose, Nami and the others had done nothing, yet their bounties had increased as well.
Pirate Hunter Zoro: from 150,000,000 to 350,000,000 berries.
Cat Burglar Nami: from 100,000,000 to 220,000,000 berries.
Black Leg Sanji: from 80,000,000 to 160,000,000 berries.
Sniper King Usopp: from 40,000,000 to 100,000,000 berries.
Then there were the two pets of the Straw Hat crew.
Unidentified White Creature: bounty raised from 50 to 1,000 berries.
Cotton Candy Lover Chopper: bounty raised from 100 to 500 berries.
Devil Child Nico Robin: from 140,000,000 to 400,000,000 berries.
Princess Vivi, who had been "kidnapped": bounty remained 500,000,000 berries.
Iron Man Franky: from 44,000,000 to 120,000,000 berries.
Skeleton Brook: from 33,000,000 to 100,000,000 berries.
The Straw Hat crew was small, comparable to the Red Hair Pirates, known as the Iron Wall Pirates in the New World.
After Luffy's bounty sharply increased, due to the Sabaody Archipelago incident, the entire Straw Hat crew's bounties had risen.
The meeting was not yet over, and Gion had somehow retrieved a stack of wanted posters and chased after Garp.
"Wahahaha! Running out like the two of us, Tsuru and Sengoku will be angry." Garp laughed.
His ability to regulate his emotions was top-notch. He was back to his usual carefree self.
"Vice Admiral Garp, your grandson's crew has a total bounty exceeding five billion berries!" Gion said.
She handed Luffy's wanted poster to Garp.
"3.5 billion, huh? So it has come to this." Garp was somewhat emotional.
After Roger became Pirate King, the highest bounty to date was 5,564,800,000 berries.
At the rate Luffy was going, he had not even entered the New World, yet his bounty was already this high. He might even surpass Roger's bounty in the future.
"Wahaha, Gion-chan, you seem extra concerned about my grandson."
"Even if he is your grandson, Vice Admiral Garp, the Marines absolutely cannot tolerate such a heinous criminal."
Gion looked at Garp. "I have decided. Before Straw Hat Luffy enters the New World, I will eliminate the threat he poses!"
During the Impel Down War, she and Tokikake, along with some elite Marines, had not participated. Instead, they had been maintaining stability in the New World and monitoring the movements of the other two Emperors.
The Marines' crushing defeat in the Impel Down War could be said to be a defeat solely at the hands of Straw Hat.
If left unchecked, he could be even more dangerous than Pirate King Roger.
"Wahahaha! I would like to capture him too. If you can do it, Gion-chan, go ahead." Garp said nonchalantly.
"Having your word, Vice Admiral Garp, is enough."
Gion had come precisely to give Garp advance notice.
Everyone knew the relationship between Tsuru-san and Garp, and Gion also had a good relationship with Garp.
She still held considerable respect for the Marine Hero.
Even though his son and grandson were heinous criminals, Vice Admiral Garp had never compromised on his own sense of justice.
He stood on the side of the ordinary Marines, protecting their rights.
He was far better than some other Marines.
"Gion."
Tsuru, who had come out, failed to stop Gion. She frowned at Garp, who was laughing carefreely. "That will be very dangerous."
"Whether Gion-chan can even find Luffy is another matter. And the Marines arresting pirates is only natural, wahahaha!" Garp laughed.
Besides, he did not think Gion had the ability to catch Luffy.
What would she rely on? Surely not her good looks.
Gion, known as the most beautiful flower in the Marines, was indeed very beautiful, especially her long legs. She had countless admirers.
But Luffy?
"You know how stubborn she can be," Tsuru said.
Garp frowned.
He suddenly thought of the several beautiful women on his grandson's ship.
Their relationships had seemed somewhat unusual.
"It couldn't be... Gion-chan would not resort to seduction," Garp muttered.
"What are you muttering about? Before, Gion obtained a Devil Fruit in the New World. She has been considering whether to eat it."
Tsuru said, "If she is determined enough to eat it and goes to confront your grandson, it is hard to say who will end up in trouble."
The danger she had mentioned earlier was not that Gion would be in danger.
"A Devil Fruit? A Mythical Zoan?" Garp frowned.
"With Straw Hat Luffy's current Haki and physical technique, even if Gion had a Zoan or Logia, she would have no chance of winning."
Tsuru watched Gion's retreating figure. "It is a mysterious fruit. It is not recorded in the Devil Fruit encyclopedia."
"A Paramecia?"
"A Paramecia. The Time-Time Fruit. Legend has it that it has the power to travel through time, to send people into the future."
Garp: "..."
The future?
Garp shook his head. "With Luffy's current Haki, a Devil Fruit ability is unlikely to be very effective."
"But the power of Devil Fruits is a miracle of this sea. Anything can happen," Tsuru said.
Garp's expression shifted.
That was true.
And the user of this Devil Fruit would not be just anyone, but Gion, a Marine Vice Admiral and Reserve Admiral.
When he thought of Luffy not reappearing for several years or even decades, grass would be growing on his grave.
Garp scratched his head. "It is not a bad idea, certainly."
If you cannot deal with a problem in the present, leave it for the future?
At least for the next few years or even decades, the world would be free of the threat of an Emperor-level pirate.
"She has never been able to make up her mind. I think you just made the decision for her."
"Wahaha! The future is fine. As long as no one gets sent to the past."
...
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
After the meeting, Sengoku called the Admirals in.
"The World Government's newest orders."
"One: Issue a worldwide wanted notice for Straw Hat Luffy and his crew. Their bounties have been updated. Relevant information will be distributed simultaneously."
"Two: Strengthen surveillance of the New World's sea areas, especially changes in the Whitebeard Pirates' territory. But do not proactively intervene in conflicts between the Emperors for now."
"Three..."
He paused, looking at Akainu. "Sakazuki, your injuries will take time to heal. On the science side, Dr. Vegapunk has agreed to design a mechanical prosthetic for you, compatible with your Magu Magu no Mi. It is expected to be fitted and tested in a month."
Like their former teacher, Zephyr, he would need a prosthetic.
Akainu's remaining right fist clenched. Veins bulged on the back of his hand. But he said nothing.
Losing an arm to a rookie pirate was a lifelong humiliation.
"Borsalino. Kuzan."
Sengoku looked at the other two. "Until the new Fleet Admiral is officially chosen and the handover is complete, you two will jointly be responsible for Headquarters' daily defense and the stability of the first half of the Grand Line. Reports from branches G-1 through G-8 will go directly to you."
"Eeeh~ What a pain." Kizaru curled his lip, but he did not refuse.
Aokiji was dazed for a moment, then nodded.
Sengoku rubbed his brow. "Also, regarding the Warlord system, keep an eye on it recently."
There had been questioning voices within the World Government about the Warlord system.
This war had demonstrated the flaws of the system to its fullest.
It was practically defunct.
Crocodile's position had been vacant and given to Blackbeard, and now it was vacant again.
Kuma had disappeared after the war, though he should have returned to Mary Geoise.
Moria had also vanished after the war.
Jinbe had become a pirate again.
The only Warlords left were the Pirate Empress, Doflamingo, and Hawkeye.
The Warlord system had always been an expedient measure to use pirates to counter pirates.
When the Warlords were no longer obedient, or when more powerful variables appeared, its value was questioned.
"After this meeting, there may be new changes. Just be aware."
Sengoku smiled bitterly.
The world situation was about to become even more confusing.
...
The New World, the pirate paradise in the latter half of the Grand Line.
Chaos came as expected.
Though the Whitebeard Pirates had withdrawn, the condition the World's Strongest Man had displayed on the Impel Down battlefield had only excited countless ambitious men.
Was an aged Emperor who had lost the Gura Gura no Mi still an Emperor?
Countless pirates would use their lives to find out.
Even during Whitebeard's reign, there had been a steady stream of pirates after his head and the vast territory and wealth he protected.
Even more so now.
In some eyes, this was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"1.5 billion berries."
On an island somewhere in the New World.
The place was shrouded in darkness.
A temporary base of the Blackbeard Pirates.
Lafitte held up Blackbeard's wanted poster. "Captain, your bounty has greatly increased."
Marshall D. Teach sat in an old captain's chair, chugging rum.
Half his body was still covered in bandages. He had lost an ear.
1.5 billion.
"Ze ha ha ha! This old man is worth this much too!" Teach laughed.
He was now one of the few pirates in the New World with a high bounty.
But this was far from what he had envisioned.
Damn. It was definitely because of the Devil Fruit.
The Momo Momo no Mi was far inferior to the Gura Gura no Mi.
The Momo Momo no Mi could increase the speed, volume, and size of objects it touched.
Up to 100 times.
It sounded impressive.
But to Blackbeard, in a sense, it conflicted with his abilities.
Because after obtaining the Yami Yami no Mi, he had focused on developing that ability. Though he had previous training in physical technique, progress had stalled.
Of course, he had chosen the Momo Momo no Mi for a reason.
If a nobody like Byrnndi World could be called the World Destroyer with this fruit, that proved its terror.
Especially after fighting Straw Hat, whose terrifying physical technique still made Teach's ear throb.
The Momo Momo no Mi could compensate for his weak physical technique.
And anything, any matter, could be enlarged 100 times.
Who said darkness was not matter?
"Oh, Captain. It is finally light. It is already noon. Next time, you need to control your ability."
Shiryu looked up at the sky. "If the Whitebeard Pirates suddenly attacked, it would be a problem."
Blackbeard laughed. "Ze ha ha ha! Do not worry! The old man Whitebeard must be even more overwhelmed now!"
"Kaido and Big Mom have already begun encroaching on Whitebeard's territory."
Lafitte wiped his cane, a faint smile on his lips. "How interesting. The balance among the Emperors, maintained for so many years, is about to break."
Burgess said excitedly, "Captain, we are now qualified to get a piece of the pie! Sanjuan alone could wipe out an entire fleet!"
In the corner, Sanjuan Wolf, over a hundred meters tall, crouched.
In previous battles, this 180-meter giant had left almost nothing in his wake.
"Not yet. Not yet."
Teach waved his hand. "If we rush in now, we will just be targets for Kaido and Big Mom."
No one could endure like him.
There must be many in the Whitebeard Pirates now who wanted his head.
But they had their own problems.
"We will wait until they have exhausted themselves against Whitebeard, until Red Hair is also drawn into the fight. Ze ha ha ha! Then will be the best time for us to appear!"
He glanced at the wanted poster in his hand, his expression darkening for a moment.
Straw Hat Luffy. Bounty: 3.5 billion berries.
"Straw Hat Luffy took Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi. Tch. That should have been mine!"
The fruit. The fame. The status.
All had been taken.
And an ear. He had become his nemesis.
Catarina Devon licked her lips. "I heard Straw Hat is now called the Fifth Emperor. Four Emperors have become five. How interesting."
"An Emperor?"
Teach narrowed his eyes. "Ze ha ha ha. He certainly has the qualifications now. I will not fall behind either. Get ready, everyone. This is just one stopping point. Our goal is the pirates' paradise!"
While the New World was still in chaos, they would take their own territory.
Hachinosu.
The one ruling there now was also a great hero of the sea, with ties to Whitebeard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin.
The legendary great pirate, Wang Zhi.
...
The New World, Whitebeard's territory.
On the huge deck of the Moby Dick, lights blazed.
The sound of wine barrels being opened rose and fell. The scent of roasted meat mixed with the richness of malt, drifting in the night breeze.
But beneath the festivity, there was a lingering heaviness.
"Drink! To Pops still being alive!"
"To Commander Ace coming home!"
"To all the brothers who made it back!"
This was how pirates were. They celebrated both joy and sorrow with banquets.
The Whitebeard Pirates had experienced similar wars before. They recovered quickly.
But the Whitebeard Pirates also had to face the coming challenges.
Marco carried a huge wooden cup through the crowd.
Some of the drinking buddies from before were no longer there.
The central area of the deck, the widest part, belongs to the commanders and Whitebeard.
Near the huge bonfire, Whitebeard sat in his special seat.
The left half of his body had dark red skin, knotted muscles, horny textures, and even small bone spurs protruding from his elbow.
In his hand was an oversized sake cup, proportionate to his size.
Ace sat on the deck at his feet, leaning against the base of Whitebeard's seat.
He also had sake, but he drank slowly. Flames flickered unconsciously between his fingers, illuminating his downcast eyes and pressed lips.
The festivities seemed to be separated by a pane of glass, unable to reach him.
Ace was overwhelmed with self-blame. The crewmates, and Pops, had all suffered because of him.
"Ace."
Ace looked up. Marco walked over.
Marco carried a plate of a giant, sizzling animal leg and sat down beside him, forcefully pushing it toward him.
"Eat. Just drinking is not good."
"Marco, I..."
"I know what you want to say."
Marco tore off a large piece of meat, stuffed it into his mouth, and said indistinctly, "It is all my fault. I was too impulsive. I dragged everyone down. Right?"
Ace was silent.
Marco swallowed the meat and patted Ace on the shoulder with his greasy hand.
"Listen, Ace. On this ship, we are family."
"If a family member is captured, going to rescue them is only natural. If it were me, if it were Vista, if it were anyone on this ship, Pops would take us all to tear down Marine Headquarters. Do you believe that?"
Ace opened his mouth but said nothing.
"I believe it."
Vista walked over, still wrapped in some bandages.
"Ace, in this war, we lost brothers. Pops lost his power."
"But if we had not gone, if we had watched you on the execution platform, that pain would be ten thousand times worse than it is now."
"It would make us feel that we are not worthy of being called the Whitebeard Pirates. That we are not worthy of being Pops's sons."
The Whitebeard Pirates were different from mainstream pirate crews.
Or rather, each Emperor's crew had a different nature.
Kaido's was an absolute authority built on his own supremacy.
Big Mom's was a vast pirate crew bound by blood ties.
Shanks's was a group of like-minded partners.
Whitebeard's was a family of relatives without blood ties.
If this had happened to Kaido or Big Mom's subordinates or children, if Kaido was in a good mood, he might go fight the Marines. If not, he would just replace them.
Big Mom's answer would be simple and unpretentious: She had so many sons and daughters she could not count them. She could just have another.
***
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