"No wonder that guy's bounty was set straight at 650 million Berries by the higher-ups."
"So it's because he killed a Celestial Dragon…"
It wasn't until this moment that Smoker finally understood why Will's initial bounty was so astronomical.
After all, in all these years, no one had ever dared to kill a Celestial Dragon.
Yet now, one had been abruptly taken out in the East Blue.
To the eyes of the World Government and the Marine Headquarters' top brass, this was clearly an unforgivable act.
So, it was no surprise that his bounty would be set so high.
Moreover, there seemed to have been a similar case before.
Smoker recalled three years ago.
A rookie pirate, fresh out to sea, had merely defeated some small-time pirates and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea at the time.
Yet, the Marine Headquarters had slapped a staggering 550 million Berry bounty on him.
Back then, when Smoker saw that news, he was equally shocked.
Clearly, the size of a bounty was entirely at the whim of the World Government and the Marine Headquarters' higher-ups.
As for why those higher-ups would deliberately conceal the news of a Celestial Dragon's death, Smoker couldn't quite figure it out yet.
But the thought that that guy had dared to kill a Celestial Dragon?
Not only did it not spark any anger in him, but he instinctively felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
After a moment of contemplation, Smoker snapped back to reality. He turned his head toward the port, silently musing to himself:
"That guy… he's probably going to stir up an unimaginable storm on the Grand Line…"
With that, he didn't dwell on it further. Turning back, he revved up his custom motorcycle, billowing white smoke as he sped toward the Marine base.
Meanwhile, at Twin Cape, the entrance to the Grand Line.
After drifting downstream, Buggy the Clown made a temporary stop here. He disembarked alone and headed toward the cape.
When he spotted an old man reclining in a deck chair, he couldn't help but break into a wide grin and burst out laughing.
"Yahahahaha! Long time no see, Crocus-san!"
"Hm?" Crocus, wearing glasses and reading the latest newspaper, turned his head in surprise at the voice.
Upon seeing the man's distinctive outfit and unmistakable red nose, he immediately blurted out, "Well, if it isn't Buggy! What brings you to my neck of the woods?"
As he spoke, he stood up, casually folding the newspaper shut.
At that moment, a photo of a man in the paper briefly flashed by.
But Buggy, with his sharp observation skills, caught a glimpse of the figure in the photo.
He rushed over, snatched the newspaper from Crocus's hands, and started reading it intently.
"Latest bounty… Water 7…"
"Damn it… that blasted jerk… got a 650 million Berry bounty from the Marines?!"
After finishing the article, Buggy's entire body trembled slightly, a mix of shock and rage surging within him.
And when he read that the guy had even dared to attack a Celestial Dragon, a tinge of fear crept into his heart.
"Good thing I got out of there fast. If I'd run into that guy again, I might not have made it out alive…"
As Buggy secretly rejoiced in his heart, Crocus noticed the stump on Buggy's right arm and couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Buggy, what happened to your right hand? Who cut it off?"
What shocked him even more was how clean the cut on Buggy's forearm was.
"Uh… well…" Buggy's expression froze, his mind racing to come up with a good answer.
After all, he didn't want to lose face in front of Crocus.
"Eureka!" A spark lit up in Buggy's eyes as an idea struck him.
He turned to Crocus, his tone suddenly serious and low as he chuckled, "Heh heh heh, you're asking about this hand?"
He raised his right arm, now missing half its forearm and hand, his voice taking on a deeper, more solemn tone.
"I've already bet this right hand on that man!"
At this, Buggy's expression turned uncharacteristically serious.
"That guy… he's destined to turn this world upside down!"
"After all, that's the man I, the great Buggy, bet my hand on!"
"So that's how it is…" Crocus muttered, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.
It was as if someone else had said something similar to him before.
"Oh, right. It was that kid, Shanks."
Recalling who it was, Crocus looked at Buggy, who had turned to face the sea with a profound expression, and thought to himself:
"These two… one lost his left arm, the other his right hand."
"In a way, they're oddly in sync."
But he kept these thoughts to himself, not planning to voice them.
After all, he could tell Buggy was just putting on a tough front to save face.
Who knew if Shanks had said those things back then for the same reason—pride?
After staring at the sea for a moment, Buggy turned back around.
When he caught Crocus's knowing gaze, his expression stiffened, and he quickly blurted out, "Alright, I'm outta here!"
"Crocus, just wait until the great Buggy's name echoes across the entire Grand Line!"
"Yahahahaha~!"
With that, he let out a boisterous laugh and hurriedly dashed back to his pirate ship.
"Heh, Buggy's still the same old Buggy," Crocus said with a shake of his head and a chuckle. He paid no further mind, picking up the newspaper to continue reading.
With his wealth of experience, how could he not have noticed?
The moment Buggy saw the man in the newspaper, his expression had turned incredibly complex.
"So, this is the guy, huh? A 650 million Berry bounty."
"Killing Marines, CP9 members, beating a Celestial Dragon, and freeing the slaves of Water 7…"
After carefully reading through it, a glint of surprise flashed in Crocus's eyes as he muttered, "What a monstrous rookie."
Elsewhere, across various parts of the Grand Line, the name "Madman" Will was gradually drawing attention.
On Nine Snake Island, in the Amazon Lily Kingdom, Boa Hancock, the current Empress and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was lounging languidly on a throne formed by her coiled pet snake, Salome. Dressed in a cheongsam, the slit along her leg revealed a glimpse of her fair skin.
Bored out of her mind, Hancock's attention was piqued when Gloriosa, standing nearby, read aloud a passage from the latest newspaper.
Her eyes flashed, and she immediately raised a hand to interrupt. "Wait, Elder Nyon, what did you just say? Beating a Celestial Dragon?!"
Without waiting for a response, Hancock stood, snatched the newspaper, and began reading it intently.
"Er…" Gloriosa's eye twitched, but she said nothing, already accustomed to Hancock's behavior. Leaning on her snake staff, she stepped aside.
Hancock paid her no mind. After reading the bounty details, her usually cold eyes locked onto the man in the photo.
"Interesting… someone who dares to beat a Celestial Dragon…"
"This guy… he's rather bold."
Her thoughts swirled as she gazed at the image pensively.
But a few seconds later, she tossed the newspaper to the ground.
Returning to her snake throne, she closed her eyes, as if the matter was of little consequence.
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