Chapter 23: Wanted
"It's time to go!"
On the coast of Foosha Village, a massive ship was docked. Standing beneath it was a young man in a white shirt with red hair and three long scars—each about ten centimeters—running across his left eye. He looked at Yasopp and said the words with a calm, steady tone.
"Got it, Captain."
Yasopp nodded heavily, turned to look once more at his wife and son, then spun back around and strode up the gangplank.
That year, Shanks was seventeen.
…
Marine Headquarters.
"Summoner Ze…" Sengoku murmured, eyes deep and sharp as he read the report in his hands.
"In just a few days, he's nearly wiped out all the pirates in the East Blue—leaving almost no survivors. Travels with a powerful dinosaur, personal combat ability unknown…"
"Such a ruthless streak. Refuses to join the Navy, only cares about making money… but after killing a World Noble, I've got no choice but to put him on the other side now."
Sengoku spoke as if to himself, then picked up a Den Den Mushi and made a call.
…
"Captain!"
Camon came running into the cabin in a hurry—his short legs almost tripping over themselves.
Creak…
The door opened, and Ze stepped out.
He was about 1.8 meters tall, dressed in a clean white shirt tucked into black jeans and Martin boots. His long silver hair flowed down his back, giving him a calm yet ethereal look.
A little gorilla sat on his shoulder, clutching his hair for balance.
Camon looked up at him nervously, holding a wanted poster in his trembling hands.
"Captain, you've been wanted…" he said anxiously.
Ze took the poster. The image showed him seated on the back of a dragon-like beast—his refined, almost divine appearance standing in stark contrast to the ferocious monster beneath him.
Below the picture were his name and bounty amount:
Summoner Ze — 30,000,000 Berries.
"So I've really become a pirate, huh…" Ze said quietly, his tone calm and almost detached.
"But really, thirty million? That's all? What an insult."
He clicked his tongue. "Guess even in Sengoku's eyes, World Nobles aren't worth much."
He didn't realize Sengoku wasn't yet Fleet Admiral—just a Marine Admiral at this time.
"Well, since I've been branded a criminal, might as well make it official and form a pirate crew."
"Camon, can you draw a pirate flag?"
"Captain, I can't!" Camon said, hanging his head.
"Forget it. Once we reach the Grand Line, we'll find someone who can. You can go for now."
"Yes, sir."
Camon turned and left.
Ze looked down at the wanted poster again, his expression firm. "Seems I'll need to take a trip to Skypiea and bring back the gold from the City of Gold first. Then I can buy a proper ship and hire a few support staff."
"As for the crew's name… let's go with Dragon Flame Pirates. Descendants of the Dragon and the Flame of Huaxia."
As for crewmates, he wasn't planning to recruit any. He alone was enough. Once he had money, he could summon an entire army of dinosaurs—enough to sweep the seas.
"Yaa~ yaa~"
Suddenly, a cry came from outside.
Ze raised an eyebrow and walked out.
High in the sky, the Wukong Pterosaur was calling out in one direction.
Following its gaze, Ze saw ten Marine battleships sailing straight toward them. At this speed, they'd meet in just a few minutes.
"Coming for me already?" Ze muttered.
He'd just been declared wanted—how could the Marines respond this fast?
…
A thousand meters away, aboard one of the Marine battleships—
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, up ahead—it's the newly wanted pirate, Summoner Ze."
A Marine elite put down his telescope and reported to a towering, three-meter-tall man draped in a coat of justice—Sakazuki (Akainu).
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