The rebuilt Mopuchi Castle was slowly being expanded as well.
The worn walls and gates had been restored, new guard posts and lookout stations were set inside, and the small garden Hancock created while looking after the place had somehow grown larger.
At the end of a corridor connected to the castle, a detached building had been built—The Black Cat Hall.
It had become the de-facto headquarters of the Black Cat Pirates, and inside it, all the top members were gathered.
"Well, I suppose it was expected…" Daz placed a stack of papers on the central table. "Our bounty amounts have been updated."
Vice-Captain of the Black Cat Pirates, Steel Blade Daz Bones: 15 million → 180 million Berries.
"Vice-Captain, you rose fast," Amisu remarked, looking at the poster.
"He fought an Admiral and wounded him badly," Crocodile grunted from the corner. "Honestly, I think it's cheap."
Captain of the Guard Unit, Sword Beside the Throne Amisu: 80 million.
"…Also, I somehow got a huge amount right from the start…" Amisu whispered, staring at her own face on the paper.
"You assisted the Vice-Captain, it's normal."
"True," Chris nodded. "Not just the captain—some of us got bounties too. Most around 40 to 50 million. Only I got the same 80 million as the captain."
"Horo horo horo!" A shrill laugh cut through the air as a ghost floated by. "If you stand out and cause chaos, of course your bounty goes up!"
"P-Perona… you held off tons of Marines with your ghosts," Chris said, sweating slightly. "That alone made your bounty jump a lot…"
Perona, executive and main ship crew, Ghost Princess: 6 million → 35 million.
And Nico Robin, executive, Devil of Ohara: 79 million → 100 million.
"Hmph…" Hancock pouted, looking at the wanted posters. "So even as a newcomer, I ended up above Perona and the others."
Boa Hancock, Admiral of the First Fleet, Pirate Princess: 150 million.
"You stand out—your looks and your strength," Mihawk said with a calm smile. "Your ability wasn't used much in this battle, but as a fighter, your value is extremely high. Accept it proudly."
"You say that," Perona floated upside down to look Mihawk in the eye, "but you, a mere guest commander, surpassed almost all of us…"
Guest commander and top swordsman who trained the elite, Death Teacher Dracule Mihawk: 280 million.
"He was already wanted," Hancock said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "They simply added the new amount."
"Mihawk is well-known even outside headquarters," Robin added.
Next, those who joined recently:
Crocodile, the Desert King: 81 million.
And the Marine defector, old soldier Commodore Taki: 55 million.
"You guys…" Bege watched in disbelief and amusement while lighting his cigar. "You're not a 'West Blue' pirate crew anymore. Even without Kuro."
"Yes," Hack agreed, crossing his arms. "In total, we're top-tier even in the Grand Line. Well—not surprising, since we defeated three Admirals."
Despite this, none of them acted arrogant. Not even a hint of pride or greed surfaced.
Including guest commanders, the total bounty of over 30 billion made them one of the strongest crews in the world—the kind even Marine Headquarters would mobilize its full force against.
"And Kuro's bounty is 2.8 billion," Bege muttered, staring at his poster. "I checked so many times—this isn't a mistake, right? What the hell did he do in the Holy Land? He was supposed to be rebuilding and helping…"
"Maybe he got too popular with the government officials…" Daz suggested dryly.
"Ah… true," Amisu realized. "That could happen."
"Well, the poster still says 'Dead or Alive'," Perona noted. "He must've become a nuisance."
"I agree with Perona," Crocodile said. "Kuro built ties with the Marine, but not with the government. He must've tried forming connections while in the Holy Land…"
"And the higher-ups hated that, huh. It makes sense, but… why now? Anyway, if they issued these posters, it means he escaped the Marine's chase. We must do our best until he contacts us."
Taki—the oldest here, and also the newest—straightened his posture.
He had fought alongside Kuro briefly, but this was his first time joining the main strategy meeting at the Black Cat Hall.
He couldn't embarrass the former Marines who followed him.
"In the last battle, we lost three ships completely, and many others were damaged. The main fleet is mostly fine, but we must rebuild our ship facilities. Until then, we manage with what we have."
"Vice-Captain, do you plan to put everyone on ships?"
Before the Great West Blue Battle, the Black Cat Pirates had around 1,000 soldiers.
With the Marines who defected—even with some losses—they now had over 3,000.
"No. We have enough ships, since we captured some Marine vessels. But we lack cannon shells and gunpowder to use them all."
Daz glanced at Troy and Kika, both Guard Unit members and main-ship specialists.
They nodded.
"So, according to the Captain's plan, we divide our forces. This was originally for when we reached 1,000 troops… but we passed that easily."
"Instead of 300, we'll select 500 soldiers and form a new force—the Army. They'll guard our land territory, maintain order, and study land-based defense."
"Today we settle the new military structure and our territorial management."
–
"We'll become famous just for taking down this brat!!" a thug shouted, waving a rusty cutlass. "Get him—!!"
"Damn it, grab the girl next to him as a hostage—GAAAH!!"
"W-Wait, I surrender! I won't touch you—Ghh!!!"
After about twenty minutes of kicking and burying pirates headfirst into the ground, things calmed down.
The first attackers had some skill, but after that it was just trash.
Total idiots. Couldn't judge power differences at all.
Just rushing in with numbers…
If they were in our crew, the old soldiers would've beaten formation training into them on day one.
Compared to the foes we'd fought recently, these guys didn't even have basic decency. A few months ago, I probably would've hung them upside-down and burned their crotch hair again.
"30 million… 55 million… 280 million… 12 million… ah, that one was over 100 million," Hina mumbled, walking among the unconscious bodies.
Hina!! Stop quietly reciting their bounty amounts when I knock them out—Wait, over 100 million!? THAT guy!? He couldn't even handle one slash!!
"And YOU help me!!" I yelled at her. "They're aiming for you too!!"
"The moment I try, the pirate disappears… then appears slammed into the walls or ground," Hina replied flatly, poking a groaning man with her boot.
…Well, yeah, but still!!
Damn it—seeing too much of the future puts a crazy strain on my body. It helps against someone like Kizaru, but against small fry like this, it's almost pointless! I need to use future sight more and let my body and brain get used to it!
"Agh—Hina, over here!" I called out, rubbing my temple. "This is a pain, so I'm blowing them away all at once!!"
"You should've done that from the start."
"I thought knocking out a few as an example would end it!!"
Ugh.
This feels just like the East Blue.
They're completely underestimating me because of how I look.
They think numbers will wear me down fast?
…Fine.
Alright, then.
Let me teach you.
—Die.
I pull Hina in, lifting her by the shoulders and the back of her knees, and jump straight into the air.
Wait, Hina—don't shove your fingers between my ribs.
I get it, I surprised you. My bad.
"If any of them survive this, I'll recruit them."
—Time for the old Cat Bite: Extreme!
…
…
…
"…Even after hearing you beat Admiral Kizaru, it still didn't feel real… but you've really become a monster," Hina said, looking down from where we landed.
"Stop making it sound like I'm not human," I sighed, dusting off my suit. "The real monsters are way beyond this."
Everyone on the street was slammed into the ground by a single strike from above. Not one survived it. May they rest in peace.
Well, this island must be one of the weaker ones in the New World—Spandine chose it as a hiding place, after all. Definitely early-stage New World.
No CP presence detected… good.
I was expecting CP9 might ambush me, but no sign of them.
Good.
Now then… what next…
I went wild all over the street, but the people not involved in the fight are just drinking and laughing at the idiots I smashed.
Thick-skinned… or they simply don't care.
Ambition? Maybe.
But they care more about cheap thrills.
I've got some money… but is it enough…?
I need water, food, fuel, and clothes.
Thankfully, even though the lawlessness is terrible, trade still works on this island.
"Hina, let's find a shop selling clothes—"
"No good," Hina interrupted, rifling through a fallen pirate's vest. "These guys only have basic Log Poses. Too weak for the New World… but I'll take them anyway."
"Hey, Marine."
"What?"
"Why are you looting before the pirate does?"
"If something's useful, we take it. Simple."
…Something's wrong.
I'm a pirate trying to negotiate fairly, and the Marine beside me is joyfully looting pockets.
Hina—stop.
Don't dig through their pockets like that.
"Kuro, bring me a cart or something. We're taking their weapons and all their money."
"Stop that! Stop!! Leave the coins, at least! Have mercy!!"
–
In the end, we took the regular Log Poses, a decent sword for me—not as good as Cat's Paw, but workable—and some money.
I thought about leaving their cash, but this is the New World.
Money matters.
And after some effort, I convinced Hina to stop taking everything they owned…
…I hope they'll survive with what they have left.
We entered a place that looked exactly like "the tavern," intending to buy food and water—And of course, trouble again.
"What's this kid?" a burly patron grunted.
"She looks like a Marine, but here we've got our own rules," another sneered.
"Walk away unless you want pain," a third man threatened.
"What rules? How dare you—" Hina started, stepping forward.
It was a bar, sure.
But also a gambling den.
Fine.
Expected.
And Hina stepping in to help someone being cheated… also expected.
I would've done the same.
—But then.
"Cheating against a blind man… disgusting," Hina spat out. "Hina disgusted."
…
…
"You shouldn't worry about me, miss," a low, gravelly voice replied.
"But—!"
A blind man…
With a scar running from his forehead across both eyes…
No way.
"You're making trouble, girl," the dealer growled, slamming his hand on the table. "We can't let that slide."
"She's pretty, she's a Marine—she'll sell well," the thug next to him grinned, reaching for a weapon. "Pay for the trouble you caused."
No way.
NO WAY.
Stop!! Thugs, STOP!
Those are death flags!
You don't know how to live, do you!?
Even ten of you couldn't beat Hina right now!!
"This isn't good," the blind man sighed, his hand drifting to his cane. "Miss, step back."
STOP!! Mr. Zatoichi, DON'T DRAW YOUR SWORD HERE!!
"Bad men…" the blind man muttered, gripping the hilt, "…should fall straight to hell."
ADMIRAL FUJITORA!!!
…No, Issho!!
Just younger!!
Aren't you supposed to be a Marine!?
Why are you on a pirate island!!?