Chapter 69: Bounty Posters Issued! Famous in the East Sea!
On the coast of Cocoyasi Village, the waves gently lapped against the reefs.
Two days had passed since the fire that had consumed everything.
During these two days, the Straw Hat crew had become the village's guests of honor, receiving a hero's welcome.
Now, having finished their rest and recovery, the group was loading supplies onto the Going Merry, preparing to set sail once again.
Inside the ship's cabin.
Tatsuya, under the pretext that the Vice Captain needed to think about strategy, was lying on a hammock, checking the remaining Ninja Points on his system panel.
"The settlement for killing Arlong... I'm quite well-off again."
Tatsuya rubbed his chin, pondering his next direction for redemption.
"We're about to enter the Grand Line, the main base for Devil Fruit users."
Tatsuya's gaze swept across the dazzling array of Ninjutsu in the list, finally settling on the [Water Release] category.
On this vast sea, what could counter Devil Fruit users better than seawater?
Although water created by Chakra is different from seawater, it should still have some effect.
"I choose you."
With a thought, Tatsuya decisively chose to redeem the techniques.
[Ding! Consumed 1,300 Ninja Points. Congratulations to the host for learning: Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu (B-rank).]
[Ding! Consumed 700 Ninja Points. Congratulations to the host for learning: Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu (C-rank).]
Tatsuya closed the system interface with satisfaction, stretched, and walked out of the room.
...
On the deck.
Nami was holding a checklist, meticulously verifying the supplies Johnny and Yosaku were carrying on board.
"Fresh water, five boxes of oranges, meat..."
"Goo-goo gah-gah! Goo-goo gah-gah!!"
Just then, the black Crow Clay, standing on Nami's shoulder, suddenly raised its head and emitted a series of urgent, strange cries toward the sky.
"What's wrong, Clay?" Nami looked up in confusion.
In the sky, a News Coo wearing a hat and carrying a satchel was circling down.
Flap flap—
The News Coo skillfully dropped a thick stack of newspapers and two rolled-up bounty posters from its bag, then flapped its wings and flew away.
"Newspapers? And... bounty posters?"
Nami's heart skipped a beat as an ominous premonition welled up within her.
With trembling hands, she picked up the two bounty posters and slowly unfurled them.
The next second.
"AAAAHHHH!!!!"
An extremely shrill scream instantly pierced the silence of the harbor, causing Usopp, who was carrying a box, to flinch so hard he almost dropped it on his foot.
"What happened?! Is it an enemy attack?!"
Zoro instantly drew his sword, while Luffy and Sanji also rushed over.
Just as Tatsuya stepped out of the cabin, he saw Nami slumped on the ground in a state of collapse, clutching the two pieces of paper tightly.
"It's over... it's all over..."
Nami held up the bounty posters with tears streaming down her face:
"See for yourselves!!"
The group crowded around.
The first one was Luffy's.
In the photo, Luffy was grinning widely, showing a mouthful of white teeth, laughing mindlessly.
[Straw Hat Luffy]
[Bounty: 30,000,000 Berries!]
[Defeated the two overlords of the East Sea, Krieg and Arlong. Dead or Alive]
"Woooaaaahhh!!"
Luffy snatched the bounty poster, his eyes instantly turning into stars as he looked at the long string of zeros:
"Thirty million!! Hee hee hee! I'm a great pirate worth thirty million Berries!!"
"So cool! To have such a high bounty the first time!" Usopp, though scared, couldn't help but marvel.
Next was the second one.
Everyone's eyes shifted over, and their pupils contracted slightly.
This photo was clearly a snapshot.
The background was a raging sea of fire, the exact moment Arlong Park was reduced to ruins.
A black-haired youth stood sideways, holding a blood-dripping longsword.
He was looking back slightly, his crimson Sharingan eyes appearing eerie and cold in the firelight, as if he were a Shura walking out of hell.
[Crimson Lotus Victor]
[Bounty: 28,000,000 Berries!]
[Dead or Alive]
And at the bottom of the bounty poster, there was a line of striking small print:
This criminal is extremely dangerous! Not only did he collaborate with the Straw Hat crew to defeat the Krieg Pirates and Arlong Pirates,
but he also openly murdered the Marine Colonels of the 16th and 153rd branches.
Cruel methods, cold personality; recommendation: kill on sight!
"T-Twenty-eight million?!"
Johnny and Yosaku's jaws dropped in terror as they looked at the two bounty posters.
"Nearly thirty million for a first bounty?! This is the highest bounty ever recorded in the East Sea!"
Tatsuya took his bounty poster, and as he looked at the slightly chuunibyou-esque title, his lip couldn't help but twitch:
"Crimson Lotus...? Who came up with this nickname? Such poor taste."
"They probably saw that big fire."
"Well, 28 million is barely acceptable. But it's actually 2 million less than Luffy. It seems the Marines still think this monkey is more dangerous."
"Hee hee hee! I won, Tatsuya!" Luffy waved his bounty poster back and forth in front of Tatsuya.
Clang!
Just then, the sound of two pairs of knees hitting the deck rang out.
Sanji and Usopp were kneeling on the ground in unison, their fists frantically pounding the deck as tears streamed down their faces.
"Why!! Why?!"
Sanji bit his handkerchief, looking at Tatsuya's handsome bounty photo with a face full of jealousy:
"Why does even this red-eyed bastard have a bounty! And the photo was even taken so handsomely! Why isn't there one for me!!"
"I defeated an officer too!!" Usopp also cried, his nose running.
"I am a brave warrior of the sea! Why did the Marines ignore me! Even if they only gave me ten million Berries, it would be fine!!"
"Goo-goo gah-gah! What about me!!"
Clay also flapped its wings angrily, pecking at the bounty posters:
"Lord Clay clearly put in effort too! Why isn't there a bounty for the great Clay! Unfair! Goo-goo gah-gah!"
Looking at this group of fools.
Zoro leaned against the railing; though he said nothing, a blazing fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.
He touched the Wado Ichimonji at his waist and gave a cold snort:
"Hmph, next time... I'll get a more resounding name too, and it will definitely surpass yours."
However, before the group could celebrate for long.
"YOU TWO IDIOTS!!!"
Nami instantly transformed, her teeth sharp and eyes furious, as she grabbed Luffy and Tatsuya by their necks and shook them violently:
"What is there to be happy about!! This is thirty million and twenty-eight million!!"
"This means we will become the Marines' primary targets!!"
Nami pointed at Tatsuya in collapse:
"Especially you! Tatsuya! Now we've completely become wanted criminals! How are we supposed to sail peacefully in the future!!"
"Stay calm, stay calm, Miss Navigator." Tatsuya, still being choked, remained smiling.
...
As the News Coo flew, these two bounty posters were like two heavyweight bombs, quickly causing waves across the East Sea and even the world.
Foosha Village.
Inside the Party's Bar.
The gentle Makino looked at Luffy's brilliant smiling face in the newspaper and couldn't help but show a relieved smile:
"That child, Luffy, seems to have truly found some very good partners."
Meanwhile, the village chief Woop Slap was so angry his beard was trembling: "How is this a good thing! This is fate! This is damn fate! If that old bastard Garp finds out..."
Baratie Restaurant.
Zeff was sitting on the deck sharpening a kitchen knife.
Patty ran over in a panic, holding a newspaper: "Boss! Look! It's those kids!"
Zeff took the newspaper, looking at the staggering bounties and the photos of the two youths.
"Hmph."
He gave a cold snort, but a barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth:
"Those two brats... they've started making a fuss so soon?"
"Crimson Lotus... Heh, it actually suits that fire-playing brat quite well."
Syrup Village.
Inside the luxurious mansion.
Kaya, whose health had now recovered, was sitting in the garden, happily leafing through the newspaper in her hands.
"Ah! Found it!"
Kaya's eyes suddenly lit up as she pointed to a corner in the background of Tatsuya's bounty poster.
In that background of raging fire, there was an extremely blurry dark shadow.
However, the silhouette of that long nose was so distinct.
Pfft—
Kaya couldn't help but laugh out loud, pointing at the shadow and saying to a sheep-like butler beside her:
"Look, Merry! Usopp-san is right behind Tatsuya-san! Even though only his nose is showing..."
"But they really are active on the sea, that's wonderful."
Loguetown, the city of the beginning and the end.
In the smoke-filled Marine base office.
A strong man with a head of white hair and two cigars in his mouth slammed two bounty posters onto the desk.
Smoker.
He exhaled a thick ring of smoke, his gaze lingering on the photos of Luffy and Tatsuya for a long time.
"Straw Hat Luffy... thirty million."
"Crimson Lotus Victor... twenty-eight million."
Smoker picked up his Jitte, his eyes becoming sharp and dangerous:
"A peaceful place like the East Sea actually produced two such troublesome guys."
"Killed Nezumi, that trash? Hmph, although I hate that guy too, killing Marines... is a grave crime."
"If they want to go to the Grand Line, they must pass through here."
"I will personally bury these pirates... in Loguetown."
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