Brannew picked up his pointer and indicated the wanted poster:
"Monkey D. Luffy, alias Straw Hat, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. From the East Blue onward, he has been a force to be reckoned with. Pirates with bounties exceeding tens of millions—such as Buggy the Clown, Don Krieg, and even Arlong—have all been defeated or crushed by him!"
"After entering the Grand Line, his actions grew increasingly rampant! He caused chaos at Whiskey Peak, Little Garden, and other locations. Eventually, he extended his claws toward a World Government—Alabasta!"
"The Straw Hats became involved in the Alabasta civil war and clashed with Shichibukai Crocodile, objectively worsening the internal unrest in that kingdom! What's more..."
He pointed emphatically at Vivi's wanted poster. "They audaciously kidnapped Princess Vivi of the Alabasta Kingdom! This is a serious provocation against the World Government's system!"
In the audience, more than a few Vice Admirals who knew the truth twitched.
The truth about Alabasta was no secret among the higher-ups. Crocodile had been the real mastermind. The Straw Hats, in a sense, had set things right.
But to preserve the Shichibukai system's dignity and the World Government's absolute authority, the Straw Hats—who dared to challenge authority—had to take the blame.
"One might have thought that after the Alabasta incident, this crew would show some restraint."
Brannew's tone shifted, growing extremely heavy. "But we were all wrong. Not long ago, this man caused another world-shaking incident!"
The pointer stabbed at the symbol representing Enies Lobby.
"Enies Lobby! A judicial stronghold directly under the World Government. An island that symbolizes absolute justice and the dignity of the law. Because of him—Monkey D. Luffy—the Straw Hat Pirates... it was completely destroyed!"
Muffled gasps echoed through the conference room.
Though they had all heard rumors, hearing it officially confirmed still shook these battle-hardened Vice Admirals.
Enies Lobby destroyed. This was an unprecedented humiliation in 800 years.
"From the intelligence currently available to us,"
Brannew surveyed the room, speaking deliberately, "the Straw Hat Pirates represent the highest tier of danger among pirates in the first half of the Grand Line. They are no longer rookies. They are a major threat that must be confronted with all our resources!"
Many Vice Admirals' gazes involuntarily drifted toward the Admiral seated in the front row, who was yawning.
Had that Straw Hat truly become that powerful?
To escape unscathed from an Admiral's grasp?
Though the official account called it a retreat, merely holding his own against Aokiji and successfully escaping was proof of strength.
But some well-informed Vice Admirals wore expressions of understanding and resignation.
They had heard various inside information.
If the Marine Hero hadn't appeared at that critical moment to take over pursuit, perhaps the Straw Hat would now be regretting his actions in Impel Down's Frozen Hell.
Vice Admiral Garp's... leniency... was almost an open secret in certain circles.
No one dared to call it out.
Huh? Want to taste his fist?
Everyone knew how close Garp was to Fleet Admiral Sengoku. When Garp publicly cursed the Celestial Dragons on certain occasions, it was Sengoku who cleaned up the mess.
"The Straw Hats attacked Water 7, leading to the assassination attempt on Mayor Iceburg. They then brazenly assaulted Enies Lobby, seriously provoking the World Government's authority. Straw Hat openly destroyed the World Government's flag—the most direct and egregious declaration of war against an institution that has ruled the world for 800 years!"
"According to intelligence brought back by surviving CP9 members, Straw Hat Luffy single-handedly defeated the entire CP9 force."
Brannew notably omitted any mention of Luffy's battle with Aokiji. "Finally, they fled under the personal pursuit of Vice Admiral Garp!"
He paused for emphasis. "Throughout this, the other members of the Straw Hat crew also demonstrated considerable danger.
They fought on equal terms with Marine Headquarters' elite and CP9 agents—their strength far exceeds our previous assessments!
Their current bounties no longer reflect their danger. Significant increases are necessary to warn the world and mobilize all forces for their capture!"
Brannew began unveiling the new wanted posters.
He first removed Zoro's old 60 million bounty poster, replacing it with a new one. The three-sword swordsman's expression was fierce, the burning ruins of Enies Lobby behind him.
"Roronoa Zoro, the Pirate Hunter! Combatant of the Straw Hat crew. A three-sword style swordsman! We seriously underestimated his threat. He carries three renowned blades—Wado Ichimonji, Sandai Kitetsu, and Yubashiri. His swordsmanship is exceptional. Unconfirmed reports suggest he has crossed blades with the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk! At Enies Lobby, he defeated CP9's Kaku and engaged multiple Marine field-grade officers in combat. An extremely dangerous individual! Based on his performance, we believe he is likely the crew's second-in-command! Accordingly, his bounty is raised from 60 million Berry to 150 million Berry!"
Murmurs rippled through the audience.
150 million—in the first half of the Grand Line, that was already a bounty that commanded respect.
Next came Sanji's new wanted poster.
"Black Leg Sanji. A senior officer of the Straw Hats and primary combatant. His physical combat skills are formidable, particularly his precise and brutal kicking techniques. At Enies Lobby, he demonstrated not only superior fighting ability but also considerable combat intelligence, defeating CP9's Jabra. Bounty: 80 million Berry."
Then Nami.
"Cat Burglar Nami. Senior officer of the Straw Hats and the crew's navigator. Her navigational talent far exceeds ordinary standards and has been crucial to the Straw Hats' repeated escapes. She wields a mysterious weapon capable of manipulating weather, generating powerful lightning-based attacks. Intelligence suggests she shares a close relationship with Captain Luffy and may have significant influence over him. Considering these factors, her bounty is raised to 100 million Berry."
"Sniper King Usopp. Senior officer of the Straw Hats and the crew's sniper. Though he appears cowardly, he consistently proves decisive at critical moments. His luck is remarkable, and his sniping skills are extraordinary. He demonstrated combat and tactical abilities at Enies Lobby. Bounty: 40 million Berry!"
Brannew paused, pointing to two posters with distinctly different styles.
"And finally, the Straw Hats' two pets."
His voice carried an indescribable oddness. "The cotton candy-loving reindeer, Tony Tony Chopper. Bounty raised to 100 Berry."
"Unidentified white creature. Bounty raised to 50 Berry.
***
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