Location: Skies above Banaro Island
Storm held the Den Den Mushi, ignoring Aokiji's inner turmoil. He was focused on one thing: his bounty.
95 Million Berries.
It was a start. But for someone aiming to dismantle the Yonko, it felt... light.
"Isn't this a bit low?" Storm complained. "It's not even 100 million. Other pirates will think I'm small fry. Can you add another 100 million? Or maybe 100 million per letter of my name?"
"Vongola Storm... that would be 1.2 billion Berries," Aokiji sighed. "The bounty is determined by Headquarters based on threat level, not your ego."
"95 million is high for a first bounty," Aokiji reminded him. "Crocodile's bounty froze at 81 million. Boa Hancock's froze at 80 million. Once you become a Warlord, the number stops moving."
"Still..." Storm grumbled. "100 million is the threshold for a Supernova. 95 is just... awkward."
"You have strange priorities," Aokiji rubbed his temples. "If you want a higher bounty, go burn down a government facility. Wait—why am I giving you advice on how to be a criminal?!"
"You chose this path, sir," Storm grinned. "Anyway, talk to Tsuru. She's smart. She'll understand the value of inflation."
"Fine. Anything else?"
"One thing." Storm's voice dropped. "I dealt with Hanafuda. And I captured his crew. Several hundred pirates. Do you want them?"
"Dealt with?" Aokiji paused. "Like Crocodile?"
"No. Crocodile is a 'hero,' so I let him live. Hanafuda... well, he's in hell."
"By 'hell,' I hope you mean Impel Down level 6, not the afterlife."
"Who knows?" Storm chuckled. "Oh, and a bonus tip: Hanafuda was a spy for Kaido. He was funneling Ancient Zoans to the Beasts Pirates."
Clatch.
Storm hung up, leaving Aokiji staring at a dead snail.
"Kaido's spy? A Warlord working for a Yonko?" Aokiji rubbed his forehead. "Ara ra... this kid is causing headaches already."
Location: Banaro Island, Town Square
Storm landed in the square. Robin was waiting with her army of clay golems. She had sorted the hundreds of captured pirates into three groups.
"Boss," Robin handed him a stack of posters. "Group A: Hanafuda's elite. Hardcore criminals. Group B: Average pirates. Group C: People with no bounties—likely slaves or spies."
Storm scanned the list. Bounties ranged from 10 to 90 million. Trash mobs.
"Any Devil Fruit users?"
"Three," Robin pointed to three unconscious officers. "Poison Lizard, Komodo Dragon, and Marine Iguana. All Zoan types."
"Ugly lizards," Storm frowned. "Keep them. I'll take their fruits later. As for the rest..."
He waved his hand. The clay wave swallowed Group A and Group B.
[System Alert: Mass Takedown]
[Multiple Silver Trophies Acquired]
Storm felt a surge of stats. Cleaning up trash was satisfying in its own way.
He walked over to Group C—the "innocents."
"Waaaaah!"
A man in a black suit fell to his knees as Storm approached.
"Don't kill me! I'm a Government Agent!"
"A CP agent?" Storm raised an eyebrow. "What's so great about the World Government?"
He raised a clay fist.
"WAIT! I have orders!" The agent screamed. "From the Highest Authority! The Five Elders want to speak with you!"
Storm paused. "The Five Elders? Can you contact them?"
"Yes! Right now!"
The agent scrambled to pull out a Golden Den Den Mushi. After a series of encrypted transfers, a familiar raspy voice emerged.
"Vongola Storm. You're on Banaro Island?"
It was Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro.
"That's right," Storm replied, his tone polite but mocking. "I'm flattered the Five Elders know the name of a nobody like me."
Nusjuro felt a sense of déjà vu at the tone—it reminded him of Kizaru—but he ignored it.
"What about Hanafuda?"
"That terrifying T-Rex?" Storm sighed dramatically. "He was too strong. I couldn't hold back. He's dead."
"Dead? You're diligent," Nusjuro noted, not sounding upset at all.
"White Dragon," the Elder cut to the chase.
"Do you want to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
The offer hung in the air.
Nusjuro's logic was cold.
Hawkeye did nothing but farm.
Boa Hancock hid in the Calm Belt.
Jinbe was too close to Whitebeard.
Doflamingo was running a black market.
Moria was... Moria.
The Warlord system was failing. They needed fresh blood. Someone strong. Someone who hated pirates.
Someone like Storm.
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