On the "Gale", Nami stood at the bow, checking the route with the chart and compass. Carmen had gone back to the kitchen, leaving Leno and the others resting around the table.
Chopper, unable to sit still, circled Leno, peppering him with questions: "Hey, Leno, the way you turned into a giant dragon just now was so cool! They say someone in the New World has the same ability as you—Is that true?"
"Of course it's true. My ability is a copy of his."
"Sugoi! Devil Fruit powers can be copied?!" Chopper's jaw dropped. He'd never heard of such a thing.
Robin also looked over in surprise. Copying abilities?
"Strictly speaking, it's an artificial Devil Fruit—an experiment on man-made Devil Fruits led by the world-famous scientist Dr. Vegapunk…
The fruit I ate is the 'artificial version' of the ability fruit belonging to the great pirate Kaido."
At the side, Robin propped her cheek on her left hand, thoughtful. "Then is this artificial version completely identical to the original Devil Fruit's power? Are there any drawbacks?"
"For now, the abilities are almost identical. As for drawbacks… it's very hard to awaken?"
"Oh no! If someone manufactures my fruit's ability, won't I be in danger?" Chopper panicked.
Nami, who had just confirmed their heading and returned, burst out laughing at Chopper's words. "Relax, Chopper. No one's going to manufacture your Devil Fruit ability."
"Eh? Why not?"
While they were chatting and laughing, they didn't yet know that as their wanted posters went out, the world beyond began to roil.
Marine HQ, Marineford, in Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
Bang!
Sengoku slammed the intelligence report onto the desk. "So that brat has finally taken this step, has he?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru glanced over the report, a solemn glint in her eyes.
"Adventurer Leno possesses formidable strength, and now he's entangled with Nico Robin. With a combination like this, the World Government can't afford not to take it seriously."
"Hahahaha… Don't worry, Sengoku, Tsuru. That kid Leno has no ambition. He just wants to sail and have adventures," Garp said, snatching the cracker from Sengoku's hand and stuffing it into his mouth as he tried to reassure Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Sengoku's temper flared. He threw a punch.
Bang!
"Pu~"
Garp, mid-bite, instantly spat out the cracker that hadn't been swallowed due to Sengoku's punch.
"Garp, you blockhead! Look at what that brat has done! He attacked World Government personnel and recruited the wanted 'Devil Child' Nico Robin. How am I supposed to be at ease?
And look at the strength of his crew: every one of them is a Devil Fruit user, two of them rare Mythical Zoans, and they're all swordsmen—powerful swordsmen at that.
There's also a Logia user. I don't need to tell you how strong Logias are. Add their captain Leno, and you've got a terrifying force roaming the four seas. And you tell me to relax?" Sengoku vented in one go, unleashing a fierce tirade at Garp.
"It seems we have no choice but to issue bounties, Sengoku—otherwise the World Government won't let this pass," Vice Admiral Tsuru shot Garp a look, then turned to Sengoku.
"How much should we set them at?" Sengoku rubbed his temples.
Outside the Operations Room at Marine HQ, a Marine lieutenant commander wearing sunglasses—Brannew—straightened his uniform, smoothed the mess of green "bed-head" atop his shiny forehead, and pushed open the door.
"The theme of today's meeting is to discuss and confirm the bounty amounts for Adventurer Leno and his crew, and to issue the wanted posters."
"Adventurer Leno first appeared in the East Blue, becoming known after his fight with Vice Admiral Garp. He then caused an uproar when he was revealed to have slain the great pirate 'Golden Lion' Shiki."
"His ability is currently identified as a suspected Mythical Zoan akin to Kaido's, possessing combat power on par with Vice Admiral Garp."
"Since this is his first bounty, and to show we take him seriously, Fleet Admiral Sengoku suggests we set the amount as high as possible."
"As for his crew, we'll set their bounties according to their roles and strength…" As the meeting proceeded, the bounties for Leno's crew were swiftly finalized and the orders sent out.
At Cocoyasi Village, Aileen had been practicing her sword swings by the shore since early morning, when a village kid came running with the day's newspaper, flustered.
"Aileen, boss—bad news! Your brother and the others are wanted! They've become fugitives!"
Thump!
"Dom! How many times have I told you not to call me 'boss'? It sounds awful!" Aileen flattened the kid with one punch, thoroughly annoyed.
Dom toppled over, his newspaper scattering. Several wanted posters slipped free and fluttered to the ground.
Seeing the photos on those posters, Aileen's face changed. She hurriedly gathered them up and ran home.
"Mom, Dad! Leno-brother and Nami-sister—they're wanted! They've become fugitives!" Aileen rushed in, holding up the posters.
Belle-Mère and Genzo grabbed the paper and the posters in a hurry.
After a moment, Belle-Mère clicked her tongue in irritation. "Tch! What are those punks up to now? They turned themselves into fugitives just to save a woman!"
"Tsk, tsk… five hundred million Berries!? Oh? Nami's got fifty million too? Not bad, not bad."
"Well, well, judging by those big grins in the photos, I'd say that brat Leno is taking pretty good care of them," Genzo hurried to smooth things over.
"Hmph! If I find out that little brat Leno made my girls suffer or upset them, I'll beat him senseless!" Belle-Mère growled.
"Hey, hey, hey—Dad, Mom, is this really the time to talk about whether they're happy? They're wanted! You're not worried at all?" Aileen cried, agitated.
"Don't worry, Aileen-chan. You know how strong your brother Leno is. He'll protect your sisters. Even with bounties on them, they'll be fine. They're strong enough to fend for themselves," Genzo said, doting.
"'Strong enough'… huh?" Aileen murmured, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a clamor rose outside their door. The family stepped out to find the villagers cheering with excitement. Aileen's little friends darted through the crowd, waving Leno's crew's wanted posters as they spread the news.
"Sugoi! Five hundred million Berries! My god, Leno's amazing!"
"Yeah! Five hundred million Berries! I can't believe I live in the same village as Leno!"
"Look! Nojiko and Nami too—one hundred and ten million and fifty million!"
"Hahahaha… Our Cocoyasi Village is now the most famous village in the East Blue!"
"Let's throw a banquet—celebrate Cocoyasi Village's rise to fame!" The villagers' cheers snapped Belle-Mère's family out of their daze.
"What are you bastards so excited about? I raised those brats! At least half their achievements are thanks to me. Am I proud? Of course I am!" Belle-Mère yelled, hands on her hips, looking proud.
"Hahahaha… Banquet time!" Ignoring Belle-Mère's bluster, everyone bustled about making preparations.
"You rascals… hahahahaha…" She kept grumbling even as she joined in the laughter.
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