Hearing Shakky's words, all members of the Straw Hat Pirates—except Ray—felt somewhat unreal.
They had experienced tense and thrilling adventures all along the way, living under constant high pressure, training and improving every day.
They had almost no time to compare themselves with others or the outside world.
But according to Shakky's introduction, they suddenly realized how quickly they had grown.
Other pirates from the same period ("The Supernovas") were completely incomparable to them.
Nami and Usopp both had bounties of 100 million Berries.
The others were even more ridiculously high.
And now that Franky has eaten the Soul-Soul Fruit, his strength will undoubtedly improve dramatically in the short term.
That was Big Mom's ability, with limitless potential for a shipwright.
Moreover, since Franky joined the crew, his strength has significantly improved compared to before—definitely not something a mere 50 million Berry bounty could represent.
As for Brook, he already had 33 million Berries decades ago.
Adjusted for inflation today, that would be roughly 100 million today.
As for the two "mascots," Chouchou and Chopper... their 1000 Berry bounties were purely a joke.
Chopper has mastered Two-Color Haki—how could his true strength be anything less than 300-400 million?
Chouchou goes without saying—at the level of an Emperor's right-hand man, he could probably fight Luffy evenly for a short time if he got serious.
It could be said that the Straw Hat Pirates now consisted entirely of Supernova-level fighters.
The more Chopper thought about it, the faster his heart beat!
"Wow... are we really this powerful?"
Usopp threw his head back and laughed heartily.
"Shahahahaha! As expected of the pirate crew where the great God Usopp resides!"
The others also smiled.
It was simple—with great strength comes unshakable confidence.
Rayleigh looked at this group of young people before him and revealed a gratified, nostalgic smile.
"Even without Ray... you are more than capable of sailing through the New World."
"But I have one more question for you, Luffy..."
Rayleigh leaned forward, his eyes serious.
"Why do you want to become the Pirate King?"
Luffy answered without hesitation, grinning widely.
"Shishishi! Because the Pirate King is the freest person in the world!"
"And if I become the Pirate King, I might be able to make sure everyone in the world has enough to eat! Shishishishi!"
When Rayleigh heard the first part, he immediately thought Luffy resembled Roger, the image of his former captain surfacing in his mind.
Then Luffy's second statement made Roger's figure materialize vividly before Rayleigh's eyes.
For a moment, he thought his captain had returned.
The two straw-hatted figures seemed to merge into one.
'This straw hat truly suits a formidable man like you... hahaha.'
"Hmm... Roger once said those exact words."
The Straw Hat Pirates had been stunned into silence by Luffy's outrageous declaration about [making sure everyone in the world has enough to eat].
In this dog-eat-dog world of pirates, wanting everyone to be well-fed was nothing short of a childish fantasy.
They had wanted to tease Luffy about it, yet felt such a pure dream shouldn't be mocked.
Though naive, it was magnificent.
Then they heard Rayleigh's remark: [Roger said the same thing].
Instantly, all their teasing words were swallowed back.
After a pause, deafening laughter erupted throughout the bar.
The Straw Hat Pirates declared one after another:
"Then we'll join you in this glorious madness!"
Witnessing this, Rayleigh's eyes grew moist.
"Just like the Roger Pirates back in the day..."
Ray quietly watched their boisterous play, but Chouchou's telepathic voice echoed in his mind.
『Master... are you really leaving?』
『Not sure.』
『Can I come with you?』
『Don't know.』
Chouchou, who had been playing with Luffy, suddenly fell silent.
He leaped out from the crowd and came to Ray's side.
Crouching by Ray's feet, he stayed solely to keep him company.
The observant Robin noticed this immediately and sensed something was wrong.
She picked up her glass and walked over to Ray.
"You seem troubled."
Ray took the glass, drank a sip, but shook his head to indicate it was nothing.
"Go join them."
Yet Robin seemed to have a premonition.
She recalled a line the other crew members had overlooked.
Rayleigh had said earlier: [Even without Ray, you are...]
Thus, having uncovered a hidden implication, Robin sat down beside Ray and didn't move.
"It's been a while since we last met. Let's chat."
"Alright."
...
By noon.
Rayleigh had agreed to coat the Straw Hat Pirates' ship at a 90% discount (basically free).
This thrilled Nami beyond words.
Afterward, they split into groups to attend to their own business on the island.
The two beauties (Nami and Robin) went clothes and skincare shopping together.
Zoro went in search of alcohol (and got lost like always).
The playful kids and the lecherous ones—Luffy, Sanji, Chopper, Brook, and Hachi—chose to accompany the mermaid Camie to the amusement park.
Franky didn't budge; he was completely absorbed in "Vegapunk's Complete Guide to Technology" and had lost all desire for entertainment.
His mind was wholly occupied with the Sunny, the Merry, and his own modifications.
Chouchou, following Ray's command, soared high into the sky and headed toward the New World alone.
As for Ray, he chose to travel in a straight line through the island.
The necessary arrangements had been made, and it was time to pay some dues ..... starting with kidnapping someone.
…
Half an hour later.
Ray had already made his way onto the narrow paths of the Lawless Zones.
The environment here was dreadful, filled with the stench of alcohol, waste, and desperation.
Due to the poor conditions, law enforcement personnel from the Marines rarely patrolled the area, making it a safe haven for human traffickers, the homeless, thieves, and thugs.
Logically, this time of day should have seen many people active on the streets.
But after walking for a long time, Ray hadn't encountered a single soul.
His keen sense of smell told him that almost all the slum residents had gathered on the hillside ahead.
And there, a girl stood—the very target Ray intended to "kidnap" today.
On the hillside, three kilometers away from Ray.
A "20-year-old beauty" with pink hair and a crescent-shaped white gem piercing below her right eye.
She sat sprawled on the ground, unladylike, devouring a pizza while instructing her subordinates to distribute food to the crowd below the hillside.
This person was none other than Jewelry Bonney, one of the Supernovas.
"Hey! You brats over there! No cutting in line! One bag per person, no extras!"
"You little punk! What are you staring at my chest for?! Keep it up, and I'll gouge your eyes out!"
"And those human traffickers hiding in the grass—are you trying to cash in on my bounty?!"
"If you want a fight, get out here!"
SWISH! SWISH!
As Bonney's voice faded, dozens of human traffickers armed with guns or machetes emerged from the tall grass behind her.
Their leader was covered in tattoos of various animal patterns, making him look intimidating.
"Hehehe... the Glutton, Bonney, with a bounty of 140 Million Berries. You dare show up on our turf?"
"There's an auction tonight, and it's not too late to capture you and hand you over."
"With your status as a Supernova and that… unique figure, you might even catch the eye of the Celestial Dragons. If that happens… hehehe, we'll hit the jackpot."
But one of the underlings tried to warn his boss nervously.
"Boss... she has a 140 million berry bounty. She might be really strong. Are we sure about this?"
The trafficker boss immediately dismissed the concern, brimming with unearned confidence.
"She's just a weak woman! Who knows how she got that bounty? With a body like that, maybe she earned it on her back. How could she possibly stand a chance against dozens of us men?"
Hearing this, the underlings all nodded in agreement.
One by one, they raised their weapons, surrounding Bonney and her crew completely.
Meanwhile, those who had received relief supplies from Bonney scattered far away like rats, unwilling to offend the slum's crime boss for a stranger.
After all, Bonney was just a passerby, while the crime boss was their long-standing ruler.
In the end, only one young boy remained at the foot of the hill.
He picked up a wooden stick nearby, trembling but steeling himself to defend the pink-haired lady.
…
Facing this group of vicious human traffickers, Bonney showed no trace of fear.
She wiped pizza sauce from her mouth. Her subordinates also wore relaxed, almost bored expressions.
"Captain… these guys are laughably stupid."
Bonney nodded in agreement, cracking her knuckles.
"Who could argue with that?"