Judge raised his eyebrows, looking somewhat invigorated.
"Captain Davy Jones, if I can use Lineage Factor research to do even more for you… would you agree to grant me one request?"
"Let's hear it."
Judge's breathing grew rapid.
"My life's greatest wish is for the Germa Kingdom to once again dominate the North Blue—to restore its former glory! If you are willing to help me, I will repay you with Germa's top-tier science and technology."
Germa's cutting-edge technology?
Perhaps it would prove useful in unexpected ways.
Davy Jones thought for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. As you wish, our contract is established."
Joy appeared on Judge's face—only for him to feel something strange the next moment.
Psst—
It felt as if something had pierced his heart, but the pain lasted only an instant—so short he wondered if it had been an illusion.
But he was satisfied with the results of this transaction. His excitement overshadowed any lingering discomfort.
He then asked for a position for his daughter, Reiju—something close by, so she could serve under Davy Jones.
Davy Jones agreed and arranged for Reiju to work under Alvida. He then instructed Alvida to assign Judge and the Germa Army a suitable island to station on.
From now on, the Vinsmoke family would be another affiliate of the Davy Jones Pirates.
Meanwhile, by the following evening, news also arrived from Fish-Man Island.
After being silent for so long, Neptune finally made a decisive choice once Jinbe brought back the latest battle report.
He sent his first-in-line heir—Shark Prince Fukaboshi—to the Thriller Island to serve directly under Davy Jones.
This silent gesture made everything clear: the Ryugu Kingdom was fully aligning itself with Davy Jones, even disregarding its status as a World Government member nation.
After all, even as a member nation, Fish-Man Island had never been treated fairly. Following Davy Jones instead seemed a better path—at least fish-men and merfolk now enjoyed vastly improved status.
As Davy Jones's reputation soared, more and more forces began placing their bets on him.
On an island in the New World—blisteringly hot, with only thin shade beneath a cluster of palm trees—several colorful tents stood together.
Dracule "Hawkeye" Mihawk stepped across the soft sand and gravel, expression indifferent, stopping before the tents.
His hawk-like eyes stared at the drunken group sprawled on the ground. He pressed his lips into a thin line, silently waiting.
"Mihawk?!"
Suddenly, someone shoved away the drunk sleeping on top of him and sat up, yawning, stretching lazily.
"What wind blew you here? I heard you were teaching Luffy's crewmate, the 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro—teaching him swordsmanship and Haki?"
"I taught him the basics of Haki. It'll take him some time before he can fully grasp it," Mihawk replied curtly. "Strictly speaking, I'm not his teacher, nor am I obligated to supervise his progress."
"So that means you're free right now?" Shanks brushed aside his red bangs, revealing the three scars across his left eye. He grinned. "Good. Come drink with us. You're not leaving till you're drunk."
Shanks' relationship with Mihawk was complicated—the type forged through constant battles.
"You still have the mood to drink." Mihawk's voice was cold, eyes fixed on him.
Realizing something, Shanks grew serious. Around them, the supposedly drunk crew—Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and others—sat up immediately.
These monsters could never be truly drunk.
"The 'New vs. Old Yonko War'… has it ended?" Shanks guessed. "Already? I thought it'd take longer…"
He touched the Den Den Mushi in his arms. Ever since losing face at Big Mom's territory, he had returned to his domain, refusing to interfere further in the war.
Still, he had been waiting—waiting for one side to call him, asking him to mediate.
Clearly, that had been wishful thinking.
"Shanks." Mihawk cut him off and tossed a newspaper toward him. "See for yourself."
Shanks caught it and opened it with a serious expression.
The crew leaned in, and the more they read, the darker their expressions grew.
Davy Jones had actually won—
And decisively!
This meant the "balance of the Four Emperors," which Shanks had tried so hard to maintain, had completely collapsed. And now they faced two colossal, terrifying enemies:
Kaido and Davy Jones.
Blackbeard, Doflamingo, Wang Zhi, and other major pirates would also reap various benefits.
When a whale falls, all creatures thrive.
Yet Shanks still laughed, pointing to the headline's author.
"Look at this. Everyone claims to hate Morgans—saying he exaggerates, twists facts, fearmongers. But everyone loves reading his reports. Hypocrites, the lot of them."
"But at least he's toned down lately. His words aren't as sharp. Must've suffered under the World Government and learned what he can and can't write."
The Red Hair Pirates chuckled along, though without any joy.
"And the bounty posters," Mihawk added, tossing a bundle of papers onto the ground before sitting on a nearby rock.
The crew picked them up, their expressions growing grave—especially after seeing Davy Jones's new bounty.
But Shanks, upon seeing it, burst out laughing.
"Sengoku and the Marines really know how to sow discord. They're masters at it."
Beckman gathered all the posters and read aloud for those who hadn't seen them.
"Just like the Beasts Pirates, the Davy Jones Pirates are divided into ranked units. Their bounties are assigned accordingly."
"The 'Two Beasts', each raised by 50 million berries:
— 'Sea Bull' Mooo: 105 million
— 'North Sea Kraken' Krake: 120 million"
"The 'Ten Curses', each raised by 100 million:
— 'Cheer Captain' Porche: 190 million
— 'Doll Girl' Mikita: 237 million
— 'Gangster' Capone Bege: 238 million
— 'Cannibal' Bartolomeo: 250 million
— 'Slaughter Warrior' Killer: 262 million
— 'Octopus' Hachi: 270 million
— 'Sea Rumble' Scratchmen Apoo: 298 million
— 'Ghost Princess' Perona: 340 million
— 'Glutton Girl' Jewelry Bonney: 340 million
— 'Red Flag' X Drake: 422 million"
"The 'Six Paradoxes', each raised by 300 million:
— 'Magician' Basil Hawkins: 549 million
— 'Thousand-Two-Face' Buggy: 695 million
— 'Magnetism' Eustass Kid: 715 million
— 'Schemer' Kuro: 726 million
— 'Iron Mace' Alvida: 740 million
— 'Surgeon of Death' Trafalgar Law: 770 million"
"The 'Twin Omens', each raised by 500 million:
— 'Knight of the Sea' Jinbe: 1.338 billion
— 'Desert King' Crocodile: 1.581 billion"
And as for Davy Jones's bounty, everyone could only laugh helplessly—they all knew it was intentional.
Shanks's bounty was 4.0489 billion.
The late Big Mom's bounty was 4.388 billion—though Davy Jones obviously couldn't claim that money now.
Kaido's bounty was 4.6111 billion.
The deceased Whitebeard's bounty had been 5.046 billion, extremely close to Roger's 5.5648 billion.
Had Whitebeard survived Marineford, he likely would have surpassed Roger to become the highest-bountied pirate in history.
And the bounty the Marines set for Davy Jones was—
4.7 billion.
No more, no less. Exactly 4.7 billion.
Which meant his bounty sat neatly above Kaido's 4.6111 billion—stepping directly on Kaido's head.
It wasn't that Davy Jones wasn't worth 4.7 billion—
It was that this number was too deliberate.
Too obviously intentional.
Everyone knew this was Sengoku's scheme.
And everyone also knew that even if Kaido realized it was a trap, he would still be enraged.
That was Sengoku's method.
During the Marines' period of strategic low-profile maneuvering, maintaining a bloody three-way struggle among the Yonko was unquestionably beneficial for "Justice."
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