"He's actually a pirate with a bounty of one hundred million berries? A member of the Pirate King's crew? Someone like that should be sailing the Grand Line, not wandering around the East Blue!"
Carlo and Kaf, the bounty hunter brothers, exchanged stunned looks. Each could see the same disbelief and fear reflected in the other's eyes.
Kaf's legs suddenly gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, drenched in cold sweat. After several shaky breaths, a tremor of relief ran through him, his expression glowing with the joy of one who had narrowly escaped death.
If he hadn't listened to his brother, if he'd actually dared to make a move on Ross's treasure, their fates would have been sealed.
Carlo, standing beside him, also felt a chill crawl up his spine. For once, he was grateful that greed hadn't clouded his reason.
A member of the Pirate King's crew. A pirate worth more than a hundred million. That wasn't someone small-time hunters like them could ever handle.
Though the Carlo brothers were famed bounty hunters in the East Blue ranking among the top five in the region when working together their influence ended there. On the Grand Line, they would be nothing more than small fish waiting to be crushed.
"He's really a pirate? And one of the Pirate King's crew?"
Bellemere, who had been reading the same paper, was equally shaken. It was almost impossible to connect the cheerful, kind-hearted Ross she'd come to know with the image of a bloodthirsty pirate. But a Marine-issued bounty poster didn't lie. There was no doubt Ross's true identity was that of a pirate, one who had once sailed under Gol D. Roger himself.
"He didn't seem like a bad person though…" Bellemere murmured, thinking back to Ross's carefree grin and the easy confidence in his laughter.
Before she could dwell further, the door burst open and a breathless village officer, Ajin, came running in from outside. Spotting Bellemere, he hurried over. "Bellemere! A Marine battleship is heading for Cocoyasi Village it's about to make landfall! Did you request it?"
"A Marine battleship?"
Bellemere froze for a moment, her expression turning serious. "Let's go take a look."
They rushed out of the tavern, and the Carlo brothers quickly followed.
Cocoyasi was just a quiet little village. The appearance of a full Marine battleship here was far from ordinary. Both brothers had the same uneasy thought the Marines were here for Ross.
When they reached the coast, a massive Marine warship had already docked at the shore. Its towering sails loomed over the island, and the metal boarding ramp clanked as it lowered. Dozens of uniformed Marines marched down in disciplined rows, forming neat lines on either side, their eyes sharp and respectful.
A figure appeared at the top of the ramp.
It was a young woman, not yet twenty, with short violet hair that shimmered under the sun. Her features were elegant, her posture composed. The crisp Marine uniform she wore outlined a slender waist and long, confident legs.
A stunningly beautiful woman yet the insignia gleaming on her chest marked her as a Major.
Ajin's eyes widened. "A female Major? In person? What are the Marines doing bringing someone of that rank all the way here?"
"Here, look at this." Bellemere handed him the newspaper she'd been clutching.
Ajin's eyes scanned the front page and when they stopped at the bold wanted poster, his face turned from shock to disbelief. "He's a pirate? One of Roger's crew?!"
His words echoed Bellemere's own earlier reaction. Neither could comprehend how the cheerful, kind Ross could be a wanted criminal worth a hundred million berries.
Roger the man who conquered the Grand Line. And his crew? Each one was a legend. There was no such thing as an "ordinary" man among them.
"T-then… who's she?" Ajin stammered, glancing toward the woman who had just stepped off the ship.
"That's Major Celis," Bellemere replied. "The youngest Marine Major in the East Blue Division. If she's here in Cocoyasi, there's no question it's because of Ross."
She gave Ajin a few hurried instructions, then walked forward briskly, stopping before the young Major. She saluted crisply. "Bellemere, Ensign of the East Blue Division, reporting, ma'am."
Celis nodded slightly, her gaze cool and composed.
Just then, a Marine pushed through the crowd of onlookers and saluted.
"Major, regarding the Pirate King's crewmember—"
Celis's cold voice cut in. "Where is he now?"
The soldier straightened immediately. "When I received the bounty alert, he had already departed. He's been gone for about an hour. Based on the course of his ship, he isn't heading toward the Grand Line but deeper into the East Blue likely toward Windmill Village."
Celis gave a single nod and turned toward her ship again. Her voice carried over the sound of the waves clear, steady, and resolute.
"In the name of Absolute Justice, I will personally capture the pirate Ross."
Bellemere sighed quietly. Being targeted by Celis was as good as a death sentence.
Meanwhile, far from the village, Ross lay lazily on a deck chair aboard his small ship, a gentle sea breeze brushing over his face. He rocked slightly with the motion of the waves, smiling contentedly.
He was already planning what he'd do after retirement maybe a quiet life near the coast, a bottle of rum by his side utterly unaware that he had become a wanted man.
The Grand Line.
On a stretch of calm sea, Silvers Rayleigh stood aboard a small boat, a newspaper fluttering in his hand. As he read the headline, his expression froze in disbelief.
"What the hell is that kid thinking? Ross was always clever. Getting wanted is one thing, but how did he let the Marines uncover his identity? What kind of trouble did he stir up this time?"
He pulled out the bounty poster from between the pages. The bold "100,000,000 Berries" glared up at him, and Rayleigh's jaw dropped.
"The crew barely disbanded, and already he's making waves? Unbelievable."
He let out a long sigh. "Kid, you'd better stay sharp. The Marines won't take that lightly. A hundred million… that's more attention than you can afford. Don't get caught."
Ross's strength barely matched that of a ten-million-berry pirate, but now, with the government branding him a hundred-million threat, even a chance encounter with the wrong Marine could mean capture or worse.
The Roger Pirates had long gone their separate ways, each living in hiding. From here on, every man had to rely on himself.
Elsewhere on the Grand Line.
In another quiet sea, Shanks set down his mug and glanced at the same newspaper. A small smile played on his lips.
"One hundred million, huh? That's a bit early for you, Ross."
Back in the East Blue.
Inside a dimly lit cabin, Buggy clutched the bounty notice with trembling hands, tears streaming down his painted face.
"Ross! Why did you have to get yourself wanted, huh?" he wailed. "Please, whatever happens, don't let the Marines catch you! And if they do don't sell me out! Don't drag your brother down with you!"
Outside, the crew exchanged bewildered glances.
"What's wrong with the captain today? Did he lose his mind?"
Across the seas, from Crocus at Twin Cape to the scattered remnants of Roger's crew, every man who saw the news fell silent.
Ross barely strong enough to earn a ten-million-berry bounty had somehow drawn the wrath of the World Government and a price ten times higher.
Just the thought of it sent chills down their spines.
That day, the world learned a new name: Ross, former crewmember of the Pirate King.
A man who, in his first bounty ever, had already crossed the one-hundred-million mark.
Only one word could describe it legendary.
And so, without even realizing it, Ross who was still lying on his ship, dreaming of an easy life had accidentally become famous.