NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: CH 11
Marineford – A Rising Threat
"Good kid."
Vice Admiral Garp smirked as he looked at the bounty poster, raising his eyebrows slightly. "Handsome too, almost as much as I was back in my prime!"
"I…!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku nearly choked on his frustration. "Your narcissism knows no bounds!"
Sengoku took a deep breath and reviewed the reports:
• Bai Yu, around 18 years old. Suspected Logia Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder Fruit) user, swordsman at the level of Ryuo, and possesses advanced Conqueror's Haki strong enough to shatter the ground.
• Navigator: Nami, 18 years old. Logia Kumo Kumo no Mi (Cloud-Cloud Fruit) user. Single-handedly wiped out the Arlong Pirates in seconds.
• Doctor: Kaya, 17 years old. Suspected user of a Restoration-based Paramecia Devil Fruit—capable of returning fleeing targets to their original positions.
• Nojiko forcibly recruited into the crew…
Garp's frown deepened. "This… is a rookie pirate crew?"
The abilities they possessed were already enough to dominate the first half of the Grand Line, and Logia users weren't exactly weaklings.
"Where did they get three top-tier Devil Fruits?!"
Sengoku narrowed his eyes. "And possibly more. Two of them haven't even been recorded before."
"Especially Bai Yu." Sengoku continued grimly. "Advanced Conqueror's Haki the moment he set sail, most likely an expert in both Armament and Observation Haki, a suspected Goro Goro no Mi user, and a master swordsman… This level of strength doesn't just come from East Blue."
"Why not?! You looking down on East Blue?" Garp scoffed, crossing his arms.
"Pfft—" Sengoku exhaled sharply, trying to stay calm.
He composed himself and continued, "There's no data on Bai Yu from a year ago. His origins are unknown… and his potential is too great to leave unchecked."
As soon as Sengoku read the report on Bai Yu's Conqueror's Haki shaking the earth, he instinctively wanted to send an Admiral to eliminate him immediately.
Four years ago, Red-Haired Shanks ascended to the rank of Yonko, and rumors of him possessing the strongest Conqueror's Haki in the world had circulated ever since.
For Sengoku, advanced Conqueror's Haki was a dangerous omen.
Combine that with a Logia ability?
He had seen firsthand what Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji were capable of.
"I'll head to East Blue myself."
Garp grabbed his Marine coat and stood up, taking all the senbei with him.
Sengoku shook his head. "I'd advise against getting your hopes up. Their ship floats in the sky, dragged by clouds. No one knows where they are right now."
"Then I'll take some leave and check on East Blue."
Garp, despite everything, was more concerned about Luffy than anything else.
Sengoku sighed. "How much bounty do you think is appropriate for him?"
"The higher, the better! Make it as big as possible!"
Garp picked his nose casually. "A guy with that much potential will attract problems. Too little, and people won't take him seriously. Too much, and he'll become a target."
"Five billion berries. Set it at that, and I guarantee Kaido will beat him to death within ten days."
Sengoku nodded in understanding.
But five billion was too much.
A bounty too high could attract unwanted attention, forcing a new pirate crew to deal with relentless bounty hunters and rival pirates.
They would either rise to the occasion or perish before reaching the New World.
"A young Red-Haired Shanks…? A young Golden Lion…? If luck isn't on his side, he won't even get the chance."
Sengoku's sharp gaze landed on the document.
"Some titles and bounties must be earned. Right now, you… are not qualified."
Bounty Issued!
Two Days Later – Baratie, East Blue
The floating restaurant Baratie was unusually lively today.
Several newspapers and bounty posters had just been delivered, causing an uproar.
"Hey, is this real?!"
"This is insane! They're from East Blue?!"
"So young… and so terrifying!"
The restaurant was buzzing with disbelief.
And in one of the corners—
"Sh-Sh-Shit…!"
Usopp trembled as he stared at the bounty poster, his face pale as memories of Syrup Village resurfaced.
Even Zoro, who rarely showed emotion, was frozen in place.
"Oi, what's wrong?"
Luffy, freshly bandaged and back to full energy, leaned over curiously. "Is it my bounty? Let me see!"
His eyes scanned the paper.
"Wait a second… this guy looks familiar."
He squinted, trying to count the zeros in the bounty.
"One… ten… hundred… wait, how many is this?!"
Luffy's face contorted in confusion. "I can't count this high!"
Sanji, who had been enjoying a cigarette nearby, glanced at the bounty and smirked.
"Luffy, do me a favor. Stop begging me to join your crew. You're too damn loud."
"No way! You have to join!" Luffy protested firmly.
Sanji sighed, rubbing his temple.
"Fine. I'll join. Just shut up already."
"YOSHAAA!"
Luffy cheered, his signature grin widening.
Despite losing their navigator and ship, the kind-hearted Merry had gifted Luffy a small replacement vessel as thanks for defeating the Black Cat Pirates.
However, they still lacked a proper navigator, meaning they couldn't travel far just yet.
That's why they had stayed at Baratie for three days, trying to recruit Sanji while searching for a new crewmember.
Unlike the original timeline, without Nami, Luffy had been relentlessly pestering Sanji to join from morning until night—even following him to bed at times.
Sanji had finally cracked under the pressure.
"Huh? This guy…?"
Sanji exhaled a ring of smoke as he glanced at the bounty poster in Luffy's hand.
But the moment he saw the number, his cigarette fell from his lips.
"Demon King… Bai Yu?"
"One… billion?!"
"AH, SO IT'S A BILLION! THAT'S A LOT!" Luffy said, as if he had just understood the value.
Zoro's voice was grave. "It's him. Bai Yu."
Luffy tilted his head. "Who?"
Usopp shuddered. "Bai Yu! The guy who nearly cut you in half in Syrup Village! The one who stole Nami and our ship! If Nami and Kaya hadn't begged for our lives, we'd be dead right now!"
"BANG!"
Luffy smashed the table, his expression darkening.
"So it's him! DAMN IT! I'M GONNA BEAT HIM UP!"
Sanji: "…"
Sanji exhaled deeply.
Excuse me, he thought.
Is it too late to quit now?