Three days later, news of Enies Lobby being breached spread across the seas like wildfire.
The Straw Hat Pirates instantly rose to fame as one of the hottest rookie crews, causing quite a stir even in the distant New World.
Luffy’s bounty skyrocketed to 300 million Berries, making him the highest-bountied rookie pirate of his generation.
Countless pirates were left in shock.
"Captain, the News Coo is here!"
Lucky Roux looked up at the bird flying across the sky, his face lighting up with excitement.
"Should we buy a newspaper?"
"It’d be nice to see Luffy’s new bounty."
A bonfire crackled on the beach of a deserted island.
A week earlier, they had already heard rumors that Enies Lobby had fallen.
But hearing secondhand information and reading the official newspaper were two completely different experiences.
"Heh, let’s get one."
Shanks took a swig of strong liquor and smiled.
"We’ve been staying in the Calm Belt for quite a while."
"We’ve practically been cut off from the outside world."
"This is a good chance to see just how much trouble Luffy’s caused."
He suddenly grinned.
"Alright, everyone."
"Let’s make a guess."
"Whoever gets Luffy’s bounty closest..."
"I’ll give them this cask of fine liquor."
"I’ll start."
"300 million Berries!"
As soon as he spoke, Shanks casually tossed a treasured cask of liquor onto the sand.
The crew immediately erupted into cheers.
Lucky Roux hurried over to buy the newspaper from the News Coo.
Within the Calm Belt, not only was there no wind for sailing...
It was also filled with countless Sea Kings.
Once a ship ventured deep inside, even real-time Den Den Mushi communications became unreliable.
For those staying on Amazon Lily, the only reliable source of outside information was the News Coo.
"Benn Beckman."
Yasopp chuckled.
"You’re the brains of the crew."
"You should at least be able to beat the captain’s guess."
"What do you think Luffy’s bounty is?"
Everyone turned toward Benn Beckman.
The first mate removed the cigar from his mouth, glanced toward Lucky Roux, who had just finished buying the newspaper, and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"...Captain."
"I suddenly feel like letting Lucky Roux buy the paper wasn’t such a good idea."
"Don’t forget..."
"That guy’s bad luck with predictions is almost supernatural."
Everyone froze.
His infamous jinx?
Yasopp suddenly remembered something.
"You mean..."
"After we left Whitebeard’s territory..."
"The captain said he was looking forward to seeing what kind of sparks would fly between Luffy and the Marines’ new Admiral..."
"And Lucky Roux replied..."
"’Not sparks. Blood.’"
"...Right?"
"That’s right..."
"I remember it too..."
The crew exchanged awkward looks.
Even Shanks’ smile stiffened.
Remembering that casual conversation from before...
Everyone instinctively looked toward Lucky Roux.
The moment they saw the guilty look on his face—
Their hearts sank.
"Roux!"
Yasopp hurriedly shouted.
"Quit standing there!"
"Bring the paper over!"
"Don’t tell me your jinx actually came true!"
Lucky Roux wore a bitter expression as he handed over the newspaper.
"I was only joking..."
"Who would’ve thought Luffy’s luck would be that bad?"
"The paper does cover Enies Lobby."
"And it has all of Luffy’s new bounty information..."
"But..."
"You’d better read the rest yourselves."
Everyone’s eyes immediately focused on the front page.
The Straw Hat Pirates’ headline...
Had been reduced to a tiny corner of the newspaper.
Replacing it was a photograph of a dock reduced to scorched ruins.
The bold headline stretched across the page.
Marine Rising Star vs. Pirate Rising Star!
No Sparks—Only Blood!
Pirate Rookie Crushed on the Spot!
Beasts Pirates’ Tobi Roppo Attacks! Admiral Glutton Lucas Defeats Him in One Blow!
Pirate Rookie Escapes Amid the Chaos!
The massive black letters dominated the front page.
There was even a photograph of Lucas reporting the incident to Sengoku to claim his reward...
Alongside a miserable-looking Luffy and his crew.
Reading the article...
Then looking at the battered Straw Hat Pirates in the photograph...
The lively bonfire party instantly fell silent.
...
Could it be...
Their captain had really bet his left arm...
On the wrong era?
Meanwhile...
More than a dozen nautical miles from the Sabaody Archipelago...
A Marine warship cut through the waves.
Standing at the bow, Lucas leisurely ate steamed buns while drinking from his wine gourd.
A Den Den Mushi sat in front of him, connected to an ongoing call.
"Lucas!"
Garp’s voice burst from the Den Den Mushi.
"Have you completely lost your mind?"
"It’s already been three days!"
"Why haven’t you brought that Tobi Roppo back yet?"
"Don’t tell me you’re really planning to use a disabled man as bait just to lure Jack the Drought over for the bonus!"
"You’ve become crazier and crazier."
"But..."
"I like it!"
"I’ve never liked those Beasts Pirates bastards anyway!"
His hearty laughter echoed across the deck.
The Marines standing nearby couldn’t stop their faces from twitching.
Across the world...
The Four Emperors were synonymous with nightmares.
Ordinary people feared them.
Even Marine officers usually avoided provoking them whenever possible.
Yet here they were...
Watching someone deliberately fish for a Four Emperor Commander.
Even Saul, whose incredible Ancient Zoan vitality had allowed him to recover somewhat over the past three days...
Nearly coughed up blood after hearing the conversation.
He had always believed becoming a pirate simply meant accepting death if the day ever came.
Never...
Had he imagined becoming fishing bait.
What made it even harder to accept...
Was that this Marine Admiral never measured them by their fearsome bounties.
He measured them...
By bonus money.
To Lucas...
Their worth was merely five percent of their bounty.
Nothing more.
For Saul...
It was an insult nailed permanently onto his pride.
If he hadn’t been wrapped up like a rice dumpling...
Bound hand and foot...
Locked in Seastone handcuffs...
And hanging helplessly from the mast...
He would’ve preferred dying with dignity.
"Garp..."
Lucas took another sip of strong liquor.
"Doesn’t a 50 million Performance Bonus sound wonderful?"
"Just keep this from Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"If everything goes well..."
"I’ll cover all of your rice crackers."
"But it’s already been three days."
"Marine Headquarters still hasn’t located CP9?"
"If this keeps up..."
"I’ll have to find another way."
"Another way?"
Garp was stunned.
Then he suddenly shouted,
"Don’t tell me..."
"You’re planning to do what you did last time?"
"Go buy intelligence from an underground black-market tavern?"
"The last time you bought information..."
"You ended up provoking the Beasts Pirates."
"If you do it again..."
"I’m worried you’ll offend another one of the Four Emperors just by purchasing a single rumor."
"Sengoku’s going to have a heart attack."
"Just wait a little longer."
"Marine Headquarters’ intelligence network isn’t as useless as you think."
"We’ll soon figure out which district of the Sabaody Archipelago CP9 is hiding in."
"Hey!"
"Don’t hang up on me!"
"Fine!"
"I’ll even give you my private contact line!"
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