On the shores of Cocoyasi Village, the waves gently lapped against the reefs. Two days had passed since the fire that had cleansed everything. During this time, the Straw Hat crew had become honored guests, receiving treatment fit for heroes.
Now, fully rested and replenished, the crew was busy hauling supplies onto the Going Merry, preparing to set sail once more.
Inside the cabin, Viktor—under the pretense of being the "Vice-Captain" who needed to ponder strategy—lay on a hammock, scrolling through his system interface to check his remaining Shinobi Points.
"The payout for taking down Arlong... my pockets are feeling much heavier now."
Viktor rubbed his chin, contemplating his next path of progression. "We're about to enter the Grand Line. That place is a stronghold for Devil Fruit users."
His gaze swept across the sprawling list of ninjutsu before finally settling on the [Water Style] tab. In this vast ocean, what could counter Devil Fruit users more effectively than seawater? While chakra-generated water wasn't identical to seawater, it was bound to have some effect.
"I choose you."
With a mental command, he confirmed the purchase.
[Ding! Consumed 1,300 Shinobi Points. Congratulations to the host for learning: Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet (B-Rank).]
[Ding! Consumed 700 Shinobi Points. Congratulations to the host for learning: Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu (C-Rank).]
Satisfied, Viktor closed the interface, stretched his limbs, and stepped out of the room.
On the deck, Nami was holding a checklist, meticulously verifying the supplies Johnny and Yosaku were carrying aboard.
"Fresh water, five crates of oranges, meat..."
"Caw-caw! Gaa-gaa!!"
Suddenly, Klay, the black crow perched on Nami's shoulder, looked toward the sky and let out a series of frantic squawks.
"What is it, Klay?" Nami looked up in confusion.
High above, a News Coo wearing a hat and a messenger bag circled down. It skillfully dropped a thick stack of newspapers along with two rolled-up bounty posters before fluttering away.
"Newspapers? And... bounty posters?" Nami's heart skipped a beat, an ominous premonition washing over her. She picked up the two posters with a trembling hand and slowly unfurled them.
In the next second: "AAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"
A piercing scream shattered the silence of the harbor. Usopp, who was carrying a crate, jerked so hard he nearly dropped it on his foot.
"What happened?! Enemy attack?!" Zoro drew his sword instantly, while Luffy and Sanji rushed over.
Viktor emerged from the cabin just in time to see Nami collapsed on the deck, clutching the papers as if her world were ending. "It's over... everything is over..."
Tears streaming down her face, she held up the posters. "Look for yourselves!!"
The crew crowded around.
The first was Luffy's. The photo showed Luffy with a wide, toothy grin, looking completely carefree.
[STRAW HAT LUFFY]
[BOUNTY: 30,000,000 BERRIES!]Defeated the East Blue overlords Krieg and Arlong. Dead or Alive.
"WHOA!! OOOH!!" Luffy snatched the poster, his eyes turning into stars as he stared at the long string of zeros. "Thirty million!! Shishishi! I'm a big-time pirate now!!"
"Amazing! Such a high bounty for a first-timer!" Usopp marveled, despite his lingering fear.
Then, they turned to the second poster. Their pupils shrank slightly.
This photo was clearly a candid shot taken during the battle. The background was the towering, raging sea of fire at the moment Arlong Park turned to rubble.
A black-haired youth stood in profile, holding a blood-stained longsword. He was looking back slightly, his crimson Sharingan glowing eerily cold amidst the flames, appearing like an Asura stepped straight out of hell.
[CRIMSON LOTUS · VIKTOR]
[BOUNTY: 28,000,000 BERRIES!]Dead or Alive.
Beneath the bounty, there was a prominent line of small text: Extremely dangerous criminal! Collaborated with the Straw Hat crew to crush the Krieg and Arlong Pirates.
Publicly murdered Captains of the 16th and 153rd Branches. Cruel and cold-blooded; summary execution advised!
"Twenty... twenty-eight million?!" Johnny and Yosaku's jaws nearly hit the deck. "Nearly thirty million on the first bounty? This is the highest spec bounty in East Blue history!"
Viktor took his poster, his mouth twitching as he looked at the slightly edgy epithet. "Crimson Lotus...? Who came up with this nickname? Terrible taste."
"Probably because of that massive fire," Zoro grunted.
"Well, 28 million is acceptable," Viktor mused. "But being 2 million lower than Luffy... it seems the Marines still think this monkey is the bigger threat."
"Shishishi! I won, Viktor!" Luffy waved his poster in Viktor's face.
Thud! Thud!
Suddenly, the sound of knees hitting the deck echoed. Sanji and Usopp were kneeling side-by-side, pounding the deck with their fists in a fit of jealous grief.
"WHY!! WHY IS IT LIKE THIS?!" Sanji bit his handkerchief, staring at Viktor's handsome poster with pure envy. "Why does this red-eyed bastard get a bounty! And why is the photo so cool?! Where am I?!"
"I defeated an officer too!!" Usopp cried, snot running down his face. "I am the brave warrior of the sea! Why did the Marines ignore me! Even ten million would have been fine!!"
"Caw-gaa! What about the Great Me!!" Klay flapped his wings angrily, pecking at the posters. "I helped too! Why is there no bounty for Lord Klay?! Unfair!!"
Watching the clowns, Zoro leaned against the railing. He didn't speak, but a fierce fighting spirit burned in his eyes. He touched the Wado Ichimonji at his waist and huffed. "Hmph. Next time... I'll get an even bigger name. I'll definitely pass you both."
However, before they could celebrate for long—
"YOU TWO IDIOTS!!!" Nami transformed into a sharp-toothed demon, grabbing Luffy and Viktor by their necks and shaking them violently. "What is there to be happy about?! This is thirty million and twenty-eight million!!"
"This means we are now primary targets for the Marines!!" She pointed at Viktor frantically. "Especially you, Viktor! Now we are full-blown fugitives! How are we supposed to sail peacefully?!"
"Relax, relax, Miss Navigator," Viktor chirped, still smiling despite being strangled.
As the News Coos took flight, these two bounty posters acted like heavy bombs, sending ripples through the East Blue and the wider world.
Foosha Village, Party's Bar: Makino looked at Luffy's beaming face in the paper and smiled warmly. "It looks like Luffy has found some truly wonderful nakama."
Meanwhile, Mayor Woop Slap fumed until his beard shook. "How is this good news! It's destiny! It's that damn destiny! If that old bastard Garp finds out..."
Baratie: Zeff was on deck sharpening a knife when Patty ran over in a panic. "Owner! Look! It's those kids!" Zeff took the paper, looking at the staggering bounties and the photos of the two youths.
He let out a huff, but a faint, unnoticeable smile played on his lips. "Those brats... making a ruckus already? 'Crimson Lotus'... heh, fits that fire-playing brat well."
Syrup Village: Kaya, now restored to health, sat in her garden happily flipping through the paper. "Ah! I found it!" Her eyes lit up as she pointed to a corner of Viktor's poster.
In the background of the raging flames, there was an extremely blurry black silhouette.
But the profile of a very long nose was unmistakable. "Pfft—" Kaya couldn't help but laugh, pointing at the shadow for Merry. "Look, Merry! Usopp-san is right behind Luffy-san! Even if it's just his nose... they really are active on the sea. That's wonderful."
Loguetown, The City of Beginnings and Ends: In a smoke-filled Marine office, a white-haired man with two cigars in his mouth slammed the posters onto his desk. Smoker. He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his gaze lingering on the photos.
"Straw Hat Luffy... 30 million." "Crimson Lotus Viktor... 28 million."
Smoker picked up his jitte, his eyes becoming sharp and dangerous. "For a peaceful place like the East Blue to produce two such troublesome individuals. Killed that waste Nezumi? Hmph. I hated that guy too, but killing a Marine... is a capital crime."
"If they want to reach the Grand Line, they must pass through here."
"I will bury these pirates myself... right here in Loguetown."
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