Chapter 62: New Bounties, At Least 200 Million!
The Going Merry, having been docked for several days, finally set sail once more. Under a clear blue sky, the small ship sailed upon a calm sea.
After leaving the waters of Alabasta, the hot, dry air finally began to grow moist again.
Having stayed near the coast of Sandy Island for just a few days previously, the Going Merry had become covered in a thick layer of sand grains.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of Reiner's undead, the Merry now looked completely refreshed, its deck gleaming brightly enough to reflect light.
However, the mood of the crew didn't seem to have improved much. They were all slumped dejectedly over the second-floor railing, faces slack, utterly listless.
"What's wrong with you lot?" Zoro, sitting leaning against the mast on the deck, called out impatiently upon seeing them.
"If you really couldn't bear to leave her, couldn't you have just dragged her onto the ship by force?"
"What kind of talk is that!"
The crew, already feeling down and needing an outlet for their sorrow, turned towards Zoro with looks of disdain and scorn:
"Barbarian!"
"Truly awful."
"Moss Head!"
"Green belly-warmer!"
"Three-Sword Style!"
"Wait a sec, Luffy," Usopp looked strangely at Luffy. What the heck? He couldn't help but remind him, "Three-Sword Style isn't an insult, Luffy."
"Four-Sword Style!"
"Four-Sword Style isn't either!" Usopp yelled speechlessly. "How about 'directionally challenged'? You could call him directionally challenged!"
"You looking for a fight? You two blond bastards!"
Zoro's face darkened. He directed his anger towards Reiner and Sanji, grimacing as he drew his swords, ready to charge.
He wasn't wrong! What else could be done? Since they didn't force her onto the ship, what's the use of sighing about it now?
Just then, the door to the living quarters opened.
Creak~~
"Oh my, looks quite lively out here," a gentle, teasing voice sounded. Hearing the unfamiliar voice, the crew members turned around.
A woman with a sexy figure, black hair falling straight to her shoulders, wearing a long-sleeved white shirt, walked out gracefully.
Robin squinted slightly, a gentle smile on her tanned face.
"Baroque Works!"
"We're doomed! The Warlord's revenge!"
"Reiner, go get her!"
The Cowardly Trio yelled in panic. They had seen Robin in the tomb and knew she was part of the Baroque organization, subconsciously assuming she was here for revenge.
Nami immediately ducked behind Reiner, pushing him forward. Half-pushed, half-reluctant, Reiner ended up in front of Robin, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Who are you?"
Zoro, upon hearing the Trio's shouts, instinctively placed his hand on his sword hilt, though he noted the newcomer didn't seem hostile.
"Doesn't matter who she is~~ Such a beautiful lady~~" Sanji's heart-shaped eyes were already slowly taking over his brain.
"Hello. My name is Nico Robin," Robin smiled slightly, then slowly turned her gaze to Luffy.
"I have nowhere else to go right now. May I please stay on this ship, Mr. Captain?"
Hearing this, Luffy looked into Robin's eyes. After making eye contact for less than two seconds, he replied without hesitation:
"I see. Can't be helped then. Okay, you can."
"NANI!!!"
"Wonderful, Miss Robin~~"
Even Zoro's face darkened. Too casual!
Didn't they just say she's from Baroque Works!? At least ask a few questions first!
"Hey, woman!" Zoro took his sword, keeping it sheathed, but pointed it levelly at Robin, yelling warily, "You were working for that Warlord before, right? What's your real purpose here!? We're not as easily fooled as Luffy!"
"Yeah, yeah!" The Cowardly Trio huddled nervously in a corner, nodding vigorously in agreement with Zoro.
Robin merely smiled faintly at this, leaning her hands on the second-floor railing and looking down at Zoro.
"I have no particular purpose. I am an archaeologist who can read the ancient script."
"My goal is to find the Poneglyphs and uncover the truth of the Void Century."
Robin then looked towards Luffy, chuckling softly. "Mr. Captain wants to become the King of the Pirates, doesn't he? I can still offer some assistance."
Offer 'some' assistance? Without Robin, even if they had all four Road Poneglyphs right in front of them, they wouldn't know where Laugh Tale was.
Then they'd just have to rely on Zoro to lead the way... Maybe they'd get there eventually by wandering around? Reiner thought internally.
"Poneglyph? Hundred years?" Luffy tilted his head, completely clueless about what Robin was talking about.
Hm? You don't know?
Robin was also stunned, looking blankly towards Reiner, her expression seeming to ask, He is the captain, right?
"Ahem," Reiner looked away shiftily, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Whatever! Shishishi!" Luffy grinned widely. "Anyway, sounds impressive! I agree, you can stay!"
"Hey, Luffy!" The Weakling Trio still seemed ready to protest.
But the next moment, Robin casually took out a small pouch, saying with an air of nonchalance:
"Oh dear, it seems I still had a little something on me. Not much use to me, though."
She untied the drawstring on the pouch, revealing sparkling red, yellow, and blue gemstones inside.
"I love you, Big Sis! You absolutely have to stay!"
Seeing this, Nami immediately ran over to Robin's side, face full of fawning flattery, eyes shining brighter than the gems themselves, staring intently at the pouch in Robin's hand.
Once the ship's tyrant was bought over, the others were powerless to resist.
Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp were quickly charmed by Robin using her Devil Fruit powers, rolling on the floor laughing hysterically.
As for Sanji... needless to say.
Watching the entire crew fall instantly, Zoro's face darkened completely. He muttered to Reiner in a low voice:
"Looks like it's just us two left. Be careful, Reiner. This woman is very cunning."
Reiner gave him a strange look. "Sumimasen, Zoro-chan... actually, it's just you left."
Zoro: "???"
"Reiner! Even you...?!"
"I was the one who invited her," Reiner stated coolly, much to Zoro's dumbfounded astonishment.
"She's the only person in the world who can read the Poneglyphs. She will be an indispensable nakama for us in the future."
A family needs to be complete, after all. (Correct usage)
"Relax, Zoro. Don't you trust Luffy's judgment?"
"He's the one I trust the least!" Zoro blurted out instantly, without a shred of hesitation.
Reiner: "."
Marineford. At the crescent moon bay port, dozens of large warships were docked. This was Marine Headquarters.
An absolute fortress that struck fear into the hearts of pirates worldwide, capable of dispatching terrifying power sufficient to destroy an island at a moment's notice.
The towering building rising behind the main plaza bore the imposing characters for 'Navy'.
Inside a certain meeting room, a group of Vice Admirals, clad in Justice capes with golden epaulets, were engaged in a heated discussion. Their roars were so loud they caused people passing by the door to flee in panic.
"Roronoa's bounty is already set at 60 million! The captain should be at least 100 million, right?"
"They even defeated a Warlord! The impact is abominable! It should be increased to at least 200 million!"
"What nonsense! Crocodile's bounty wasn't even over 100 million!"
"What are you barking about!? Why don't you go fight one and show us! Still saying 'not even over 100 million'!?"
"I!"
"You what, you old dog!"
"Alright, stop arguing! 30 million to 200 million... that increase is indeed a bit large," the person at the head of the table spoke deeply, his heavy voice immediately silencing the noisy room.
The speaker wore a Marine cap adorned with a seagull symbolizing the Navy, his pristine white uniform covered in medals. His tall figure exuded immense pressure even while seated. This was the Fleet Admiral commanding the entire Navy – Sengoku the Buddha!
Sengoku stroked his braided goatee. "The World Government wants to cover up this incident. Let's tentatively set it at 100 million for now. What else?"
"Next, the Knife-Saw Duo who joined the Straw Hat Pirates back in the East Blue. Combined bounty: 25 million."
Brannew operated the Visual Den Den Mushi, projecting two figures onto the screen, addressing the room:
"During the Alabasta incident, they respectively defeated the Baroque Works agents known as Miss Doublefinger and Miss Merry Christmas. Reportedly... the battles ended quite easily."
Hearing this, Sengoku began flipping through a stack of documents containing information on the two Baroque Works agents. After glancing through briefly, he asked directly:
"Raise them to 30 million each. What do you think?"
"About right."
"Sounds acceptable to me."
This time, the Vice Admirals had no major disputes. Perhaps in their eyes, a difference of a few million at this level wasn't worth mentioning.
"And then there's this. Captain Smoker's report mentioned paying special attention to these."
Brannew pressed the Visual Den Den Mushi again. Two tall figures appeared on the screen.
Even as just images, one could sense the imposing presence they emanated. Brannew continued:
"Blue Ogre and Red Ogre. According to Captain Smoker's report, these two were the main force that actually defeated Crocodile."
"Additionally, Captain Hina's report also mentioned being defeated by one of them in a single blow..."
The room fell silent for several seconds. Then, one Vice Admiral spoke softly, his tone somewhat uncertain:
"One hundred million each?"
"Isn't that a bit low? It doesn't seem to match their strength," another Vice Admiral countered.
"No! If the captain is provisionally set at 100 million, their bounties must be lower!"
"Then raise the captain's bounty a bit more?"
"Indeed. If he can command two such strong subordinates, a slightly higher bounty is reasonable."
The group of Vice Admirals began debating animatedly again, the volume rising, the room returning to its earlier noisy state.
"Everyone quiet! Same as always, let's compromise," Sengoku's voice finally quelled the uproar.
"Let's set them at 120 million each for now. Adjust the Straw Hat kid's bounty to 150 million."
Sengoku put down the documents in his hand. Bounties were determined by various factors.
For pirates like the Straw Hats, whose actions dictated their threat, bounties were generally based on strength. However, due to the World Government's request not to reveal that Crocodile was defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates, they even had to suppress the bounties somewhat. They weren't unfamiliar with situations where crew members were stronger than the captain. Lowering the crew's bounties slightly while raising the captain's had always been the standard procedure.
As for the risk of misjudging their strength based on the bounty? Pirates with bounties this high would only require Rear Admirals for assistance in combat; only Vice Admirals and above would actively pursue them. As long as their own people knew the truth, it was fine. They almost hoped outside pirates would underestimate them and engage in some dog-eat-dog fighting.
"Um... there is one more person. Smoker's report also mentioned him briefly."
Brannew pressed the Visual Den Den Mushi. An image of a figure with golden hair appeared on the screen – hair meticulously styled, wearing glasses, presenting a refined and cultured appearance.
The crowd couldn't help but look over curiously. Although Smoker was only a Captain, his reputation within Headquarters was considerable.
(End of this chapter)
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