"What the hell is this, that bastard Morgans!"
On the sun-drenched quarterdeck, Sakura spat a mouthful of drink onto the newspaper.
The World Economic News Paper reported the Enies Lobby incident with its usual sensationalist style, but this time the headline section was replaced by a picture of a young girl.
In the portrait, the girl with flowing cherry-pink hair wore a fitting school swimsuit, leaning against a cloud-filled sofa. The overhead perspective accentuated the gentle curves of her legs, with a hint of a lovely figure subtly visible beneath the thin yet sturdy fabric. The lack of excessive adornment gave her a wild beauty.
"Oh~, Sakura looks really good like this~"
Leviathan rolled over on a nearby cloud, exposing her belly to the sun.
"Damn paparazzi. When I get to the New World, I'm definitely going to catch him and give him a beating."
Sakura clenched the newspaper, the moisture on it quickly evaporating before being consumed by azure flames.
Below, Enel excitedly discussed his Ark Maxim modification plans with Tom. The two highly skilled shipwrights sparked ideas off each other, perfecting the improvements possible on the Ark Maxim blueprints.
In the distance, Tiger and Kuina intensified their training in Haki and Chakra.
The recent encirclement by so many Vice Admirals had made them aware of many of their shortcomings.
Footsteps approached as Iceburg, clutching a stack of parchment, scrambled up the quarterdeck.
"Sakura-nee, come look at your bounty poster!"
"Oh, how much did it go up this time?"
Sakura ran her hand over the rim of her glass, dropping a few ice cubes inside.
"This is your bounty we're talking about, show a little concern at least!"
Iceburg caught his breath, giving her a helpless look.
He then spread out the parchments one by one before Sakura.
The first was naturally Sakura's, featuring a brand new wanted photo. Perhaps the Marines' intelligence department was slacking off, directly replacing Sakura's photo on the wanted poster with the one from Morgans' report.
However, compared to the flattering photo on the poster, ordinary folk would pay more attention to the number written in the bounty column… 2,000,000,000 Berry.
"Another increase, as expected. The World Government is only willing to spend money on bounties."
A nonchalant Sakura pursed her lips, taking the parchment from him.
"Don't just focus on yours, look at the others!"
Iceburg grabbed a bounty poster and shoved it toward Leviathan beside him.
The small ship spirit wearing a raincoat, spinning on a mast shrouded in mist and clouds, was given the title [Night Crow], with a bounty of 890,000,000 Berry.
"[Death Sword] Kuina, bounty 300,000,000 Berry."
Sakura flipped to another sheet, tossing it down to Kuina. "The Marines are so lame, only knowing how to undermine people's reputations by giving them lousy nicknames."
"And these two: [Adventurer] Fisher Tiger, bounty 640,000,000 Berry! [Thunder Fox] Enel, initial bounty 340,000,000 Berry!"
Iceburg grabbed two more posters, trying to toss them out as coolly as Sakura had.
However, without Haki, the parchments merely fluttered in the air after he threw them.
The sound of Geppo steps echoed as Kuina flew up from below, catching the two posters.
"What's this?! Fine for Tiger-san and little Leviathan, but why is that arrogant jerk's bounty higher than mine?!"
Hearing the girl's indignant voice, Enel abandoned his discussion with Tom about Ark Maxim improvements. In a flash of lightning, he snatched the poster from her hand.
"Yahahahaha! Because you're weaker than me, gloomy girl~!"
An infuriated Kuina directly drew her sword, and she and Enel started fighting on the deck.
Watching the increasingly lively scene on deck, Sakura propped her chin on her hand and asked, "What about you and Tom-san? Did you get bounties?"
"Tom-san got one, but I didn't!"
Iceburg clenched the last bounty poster in his hand, lowering his head, his brow trembling.
"Alright now, this isn't your fault!"
Tom, with his round, protruding belly, walked up to the quarterdeck.
His massive frame sat down on the cloud carpet, bowing deeply to Sakura.
"For saving my life this time, I am deeply grateful, Sakura-sama!"
"No need for that, Tom-san."
Sakura walked forward, helping him up. "We'll drop Iceburg off at Sabaody Archipelago. What happens after is up to him."
"That would be best." Tom nodded.
"Huh? Why? I want to go to Fish-Man Island with you, Tom-san!"
Overhearing their conversation, Iceburg frowned and rushed to Tom, grabbing his arm.
"Listen, Iceburg, don't forget what we left behind in Water 7!"
Tom placed his hands on Iceburg's shoulders, his expression solemn. "I probably won't be going back. But whether to destroy that thing or pass it on will be up to you, my disciples, to decide for your irresponsible master!"
Iceburg stiffened, remembering the Pluton blueprints he had hidden in Water 7!
He let out a powerless sigh and sat on the ground.
In silence, the Leviathan swiftly sailed through the Florian Triangle, arriving at the boundary between Paradise and the New World… Sabaody Archipelago.
"Finally, back here again!"
Once the ship was secured, Sakura eagerly jumped ashore.
"Hey, wait!"
Enel chased after her, extending a hand toward Sakura. "I need to buy some materials. Give me money!"
A smirk curled Sakura's lips. She raised her hand, hooking it around Enel's shoulder. "Calling me 'hey' won't get you any Berry. What should you call me, my dear shipwright-san?"
Enel's expression stiffened, and he fidgeted. "Cap... Captain! Please give me Berry!"
"Oh, that line sounds terrible coming from a grown man."
Sakura made a disgusted face, took out money, tossed it to him, then waved her hand to shoo him away.
"If you think it's gross, don't make me say it in the first place, you jerk!" Enel bared shark-like teeth, roaring at Sakura.
He snatched the Berries from Sakura's hand and dragged Iceburg off to the shipyards of Sabaody Archipelago to purchase materials.
Leviathan couldn't transform into a Night Sparrow to follow Sakura because Tom needed to do some preparatory work for her modifications. Tiger also had to stay to watch the ship.
In the end, the only one accompanying Sakura to Grove 16 was Kuina.
"Such a shame. I wanted them to meet all my companions."
Sakura led Kuina to the front of a bar, sighing helplessly.
"Shakky's Rip-off Bar?"
A huge question mark appeared over Kuina's small head.
Pushing the door open, the crisp door chime made the same sound it had decades ago.
Inside, Shakky was, as usual, dealing with pirates who couldn't pay their tab and tried to resort to violence.
By the bar counter, Rayleigh slowly set down his glass. His aged but still sharp gaze turned toward them. "Long time no see, Sakura."
"Hahaha, Uncle Rayleigh!"
Sakura tossed her luggage aside and gave him a big hug.
"He is... the [Dark King] Silvers Rayleigh!!!"
Behind her, Kuina was beyond commenting on her captain's peculiar connections.
Especially when the right-hand man of the Pirate King, a legendary figure of the seas, appeared before her.
"Have some juice to calm your nerves."
A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice was handed to Kuina. The stunned girl drank it in one go.
"That'll be 5,000,000 Berry."
Shakky extended a hand, rubbing her thumb and forefinger together at Kuina.
"Pfft!"
Kuina choked, spraying the juice everywhere.
"Shakky-nee, don't scare my crew!"
Sakura laughed, turning back and raising a fist in playful protest.
"Hahaha, just a joke~" Shakky handed a tissue to Kuina. "Sakura is Ray-san's disciple. For you all, we only charge cost price."
Sakura walked over and sat at the bar counter, accepting a bottle from Shakky and clinking glasses with Rayleigh.
"So, planning to head to the New World?"
Rayleigh swirled the ice in his glass, a gossipy smile on his face. "Shanks went to the New World a while back. If you hurry, you might still catch him."
Hearing Rayleigh's words, Sakura reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a scroll of bounty posters, flipping through to find Shanks's. "1.4 billion Berry. That idiot's bounty isn't as high as mine. Gotta make fun of him properly when we meet, hahaha!"
Her bluntness, almost identical to Shanks's, made Rayleigh roll his eyes, thinking to himself.
'No wonder you two got along so well on the ship back then. With this kind of straightforward, blockhead attitude, you're probably doomed to be single for life too.'
"Fine, fine. The future is yours. An old man like me won't meddle anymore." Rayleigh shook his head helplessly.
"Come on! I still have things to ask you!"
Sakura grabbed the bottle from the table, refilling Rayleigh's glass, putting on an ingratiating smile. "Could you tell me about Conqueror's Haki Infusion?"
Rayleigh choked on his drink, coughing, and stared at Sakura in astonishment.
"Huh?"