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Chapter 53: Bounty Posters and Loguetown
One day later.
On the Going Merry.
In the early morning, a News Coo landed on the ship's railing.
After some skillful bargaining from Nami, the angry newsbird left behind a newspaper and a pile of droppings, then flew away with a single coin in its beak.
I'm never coming to this ship again.
"Usopp, remember to clean that up later."
Nami didn't seem to mind, as it wasn't her turn on duty anyway. She walked around, reading the newspaper and chatting.
A short while later, after just a few glances, her expression suddenly changed, and small beads of sweat slowly trickled down her forehead.
This is...
A bounty poster!
A few minutes later, all the members of the Straw Hat Pirates were gathered on the deck, staring intently at the newspaper in Nami's hands, each with a different expression.
"Monkey D. Luffy, of the Straw Hat Pirates, bounty... three... 30 million Berries?!?"
Usopp covered his face with his hands and let out an incredulous shriek.
"Luffy's bounty is 30 million Berries, much higher than Kuro's and Krieg's, who he faced before!"
"Haha! I finally got a bounty!" In stark contrast to Usopp's terror, Luffy was so happy he nearly jumped.
Before, Zoro and Ganyu both had bounties, but he, the captain, did not, which had made him very frustrated.
But now, things had finally taken a turn for the better.
"It's not just Luffy!"
Nami's expression was serious. She took a deep breath and pointed to another side of the newspaper.
"Look! Ganyu's and Zoro's bounties have been updated! They are now... 16 million Berries and 15 million Berries respectively!"
"Whoa!!" This news caused another sensation.
Doesn't this mean they already have three criminals with bounties in the tens of millions on their crew?
"Let me see!"
Sanji moved closer, his gaze immediately falling on Ganyu's new bounty poster.
In the photo, the blue-haired girl seemed to be standing on the coastline. She held a bow, her long ice-blue hair fluttering in the wind, her gaze focused and determined. Her figure was shrouded in a hazy frost, but her delicate and beautiful face was still clearly visible.
Sanji sucked in a sharp breath, feeling as if his heart had been struck by lightning. Pink heart symbols once again appeared uncontrollably before his eyes.
"Oh! Mademoiselle Ganyu! She is truly flawless!"
However, when his gaze inadvertently swept to the other side: the green-haired swordsman held three swords, the background seemingly the chaotic scene caused by the "Dragon Twister" that defeated Hatchan, and his resolute face wore a cold smirk for the camera...
Sanji's passion instantly cooled, and he just let out a soft, disdainful snort.
"Tch."
D*mn it, this guy actually has 15 million Berries!
"15 million Berries, that's not low..." Zoro glanced at his own bounty poster, his expression still relatively calm.
But his gaze involuntarily drifted to Ganyu's wanted poster beside him.
They were the same at the beginning, why does he have millions more Berries now?
Although he was a bit annoyed, Zoro also admitted that her bounty was high; her strength was indeed greater than his.
But... I'm sure this is only temporary.
"This photo... when was it taken?" Ganyu stared at her wanted poster, her brow furrowed, feeling a bit incredulous.
This photo captured the moment she froze the whirlpool and the sea with her arrow, saving that Marine warship.
The clever choice of angle and the precise timing of the shot once again made her admire the photographer's professionalism.
Seeing everyone talking and laughing, Nami said with some exasperation:
"Hey! You all need to be serious. Three of us have bounties now. If we get to the next island, there will definitely be countless people wanting our heads!"
"The next island you mentioned, could it be...?" Usopp asked thoughtfully, as if he had just thought of something.
Hearing this, everyone looked up, realizing what was happening.
Their destination was the Grand Line, and before that, they only needed to reach one island.
Nami tucked a strand of short hair behind her ear and pointed in a direction where the outline of an island was faintly visible.
"If you sail in this direction for a few more hours, you'll reach an island with a famous town called 'Loguetown'."
"I know!" Usopp replied excitedly, his voice rising. "That's the birthplace of the King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger! And... it's where he was publicly executed!"
"The Town of the Beginning and the End." Ganyu whispered these words, her eyes shining faintly. "For pirates born in the East Blue, this is a town they must visit."
She turned her head to look at Luffy and asked softly, "Luffy, do you want to go?"
Luffy's pupils dilated slightly. He was silent for a moment, then murmured, "The Town of the Beginning and the End..."
...
Loguetown, located at the entrance to the Grand Line in the East Blue, is a vital island. Due to its unique geographical location and historical background, it has become the most famous and chaotic place in the East Blue.
More than twenty years ago, the final words of the Pirate King, Roger, which started the Great Age of Pirates, echoed throughout the world. Countless young people with dreams, ambitions, or seeking excitement flocked to the sea.
As the last stop for many East Blue pirates before entering the Grand Line, Loguetown's fame grew, and almost every pirate crew with any ambition made it a "must-visit" spot.
But that was all in the past.
Ever since a Marine Captain, appointed by Marine Headquarters, took over Loguetown, everything changed.
For years, this captain, named Smoker, with his unparalleled personal strength and terrifying Logia-type Devil Fruit ability, had never let any pirate who set foot in Loguetown escape.
Thus, Loguetown had transformed from a "pilgrimage site" for pirates into a "forbidden zone" that people feared.
"Captain Smoker! I... I'm very sorry, my daughter didn't mean to..."
Loguetown street.
A young man bowed repeatedly to an unusually tall and burly white-haired man, his forehead covered in sweat.
Next to him stood a little girl with her head down, holding a broken ice cream cone in her small hand.
The man, nicknamed "Smoker," had a cigar in his mouth. Through the curling smoke, only his cold and slightly fierce eyes were vaguely visible.
He lowered his head slightly, his gaze first sweeping over the conspicuous mark on his military trousers, then landing on the little girl who was so scared she was about to cry. His brows furrowed.
Then, he did something no one present expected.
"Sorry, my pants ate your ice cream."
He took a few coins from his coat pocket, crouched down, placed them gently in the little girl's palm, and said, "Next time, buy... a bigger one."
Hearing this, the little girl froze for a moment, staring blankly at the coins in her palm, then slowly broke into a sweet smile, her eyes brimming with tears. "Okay!"
The young man beside him seemed to snap out of his daze and quickly pulled his daughter to thank and apologize to Smoker again, "Sorry, Captain Smoker..."
Smoker didn't say anything, just waved his hand casually, stood up again, and strode away.
He had only taken a few steps when he saw a group of young people entering from the town entrance.
Leading the way was a boy in a straw hat and a red vest.
He looked around excitedly, full of curiosity about everything in the town, like a country boy visiting the city for the first time, finding everything new and interesting.
Behind him followed three men and two women, each with distinct features, attracting a lot of attention.
A young girl with orange hair, a green-haired swordsman with a sharp gaze and daggers at his waist, a blond man in a black suit with curly eyebrows, a blue-haired girl with a unique temperament and a pair of small horns on her head, and... a long nose.
Smoker's pupils contracted slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group.
I feel like these people look somewhat familiar, but I can't remember where I've seen them before.
So.
He just stood there, his arms crossed, like a patient hunter, waiting for them to reveal even the slightest hint of their pirate nature.