"Rocks Pirates Senior Executive, Beast Brian, Bunch-Bunch Fruit ability user, bounty 3.6 billion Berries. Extremely heinous, dead or alive!"
Following the previous incident, the Navy had finally confirmed Brian's Devil Fruit ability and updated it in the latest bounty notice. The intelligence network of the World Government combined with the Navy ultimately proved formidable.
With three consecutive leaps, Brian's bounty directly became the second highest among the Rocks Pirates, surpassed only by Captain Rocks himself.
Such a massive change left countless people around the world utterly stunned. After recovering from their shock, they could only ask one question: Have the Navy gone mad?
Even figures like Whitebeard hadn't received such "special attention" from the Navy. Why should Brian deserve this?
But after learning all the details, they could only silently retract their questioning. Beast Brian—this guy truly deserved this bounty.
On a specially designated section of the bulletin, the Navy highlighted Brian's outrageous exploits:
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Debut merely two years ago
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Spent first two years in obscurity, operating in the New World black market with little recognition
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Joined the Rocks Pirates about a month ago as one of four senior executives
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Collaborated with Shiki in planning the Fiore Sea Battle, inflicting devastating losses on the Navy
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Kidnapped a Celestial Dragon to forcibly negotiate with the Navy
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Through this transaction, acquired countless rare treasures and numerous top-tier Devil Fruits
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During the recent Barren Sea Battle, personally killed Admiral Kappa
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Reappeared afterward to rescue Shiki
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Final attack before departure required the combined defense of the Navy's three top commanders
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Aftermath of the battle dealt further catastrophic damage to the Navy
All these unbelievable feats were accomplished by one man within just a single month. How could this not shock people? How could this not drive them wild?
Brian could rightfully be called another legend among contemporary pirates.
Based on these factors, the Navy ultimately issued such a bounty. Those who initially questioned it fell silent. One could only say that the Navy's heavy losses had ultimately cemented Brian's fearsome reputation.
Of course, Brian's extraordinarily high bounty was also inseparable from one man.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Bam
"Sengoku, your plan to kill with praise this time was still quite risky." Fleet Admiral Kong tossed a stack of faxes onto the desk as he addressed the man before him. "Look at this—because of this 'Beast,' in just a few days, all four seas have seen a surge of pirates using his name. Especially in the North Blue, countless are clamoring to enter the Grand Line and become pirates under Brian's command."
"I've received piles of requests for reinforcements and even complaints from branch commanders everywhere—the intelligence reports are pouring in like rain." Kong sighed deeply, clearly troubled by everything that had transpired.
The Navy's initial intention in assigning Brian such a high bounty was to intimidate the numerous pirates across the world.
By setting such a high bounty, they aimed to attract powerful and ambitious individuals to target Brian.
Even if they couldn't kill Brian, they could at least cause him significant trouble.
Or even bring trouble to the Rocks Pirates.
As long as they achieved this much, it would be considered a win for the Navy.
This was the "praise-to-kill" plan, specifically proposed by Sengoku.
Unexpectedly, once this plan was implemented, the situation spiraled completely beyond the Navy's control.
Across the four seas and the Grand Line, numerous pirates rose up in frenzy.
They all sought to head to the New World to become Brian's subordinates.
As for bounty hunters and other ambitious figures, not a single one made an appearance.
In the South Blue, the two bounty hunter headquarters were locked in a life-and-death struggle.
They completely ignored the Navy's latest bounties and intelligence.
For them, eliminating their rivals and monopolizing the South Blue was the top priority.
In the West Blue, several major Mafia families were also embroiled in fierce battles.
Due to the extensive political and business connections of these families, the Navy found it difficult to intervene fully.
The East Blue and North Blue, meanwhile, were overrun by rampant pirates, with no end in sight for arrests.
If the four seas were in such a state, the first half of the Grand Line was even worse.
Pirates multiplied like mad, one after another.
The Navy headquarters was currently short of mid- and low-ranking officers.
They had all been dispatched to capture pirates.
In other words, the Navy's "praise-to-kill" plan had veered completely off course, beyond any hope of correction.
How could this not infuriate Kong?
If it weren't for the fact that the plan had been proposed by his most trusted subordinate, Sengoku, Kong would have long erupted in thunderous rage and curses.
Faced with Kong's questioning, Sengoku, seated across from him, remained silent, his expression grim.
Sengoku's body was wrapped in bandages, with only a Vice Admiral's coat draped over him.
He looked utterly haggard.
The recent naval battle had taken a significant toll on him.
Especially the final wave of attacks, which aggravated the injuries he had accumulated over the past week.
At the time, it seemed manageable.
But upon returning to headquarters, he fell ill.
He spent two days bedridden before he could rise.
Today was the fourth day, and he was still weak.
Sengoku silently picked up the intelligence report on the table and began reading.
The more he read, the darker his expression grew. Finally, he slammed the report down and tossed it onto the table.
Thud~
"Pfft~"
"Cough, cough~"
"Huff, huff~"
He spat out a mouthful of blood, and the flushed redness on his face gradually subsided.
After catching his breath in the chair for a while, he finally calmed down.
Lifting his head, he looked at the tense Kong and said, "My apologies, Fleet Admiral Kong, I lost my composure."
"This 'praise-to-kill' plan was my proposal."
"Given this outcome, I am willing to take full responsibility and accept punishment."
Sengoku found such a result hard to accept.
At this point, he was not yet the man later known as the "Resourceful General" Sengoku.
He was still too young.
Coupled with suffering two major defeats at Brian's hands, Sengoku's hatred for Brian could only be described as seething.
This time, he had actively proposed the "praise-to-kill" plan when determining the bounties.
Sengoku didn't expect to cause Brian much trouble.
But as long as he could thoroughly annoy him, it would be satisfaction enough.
He never anticipated the outcome would deviate so drastically.
Once again, Sengoku had no choice but to accept his defeat.
His heart was heavy.
Earlier, as he read through the intelligence reports...
Sengoku, already in a weakened state, actually felt Brian's mocking gaze emerging from the intelligence report.
This was what had caused such a loss of composure.
For the current Sengoku, Brian had evolved into a role akin to an inner demon.
Without eliminating Brian, he could never attain true peace of mind.
In the decades that followed,
even as his horizons broadened, his military rank continuously rose, and he eventually reached the position of fleet admiral,
whenever matters related to Brian arose,
even if he could maintain surface calm and make cool-headed responses and judgments,
in the dead of night, he would still privately rage alone.
So furious he couldn't sleep at all.
Sitting up in bed, cursing Brian as that bastard.
Damn him to hell, truly damn him.
Brian had affected Sengoku's sleep quality for decades to come.
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