Summer has arrived in Cocoyashi Village.
During the season of cicadas chirping, the entire village is buzzing about the same thing.
"There must be a mistake. Shano and the others have been put on a bounty?"
Ken stopped his bicycle in shock, looking at the newspaper in his hand.
"It's all made up!"
Nearby, a villager shouted angrily, "They claim Shano attacked Log Town, and that Vice Admiral Onigumo arrested him. It must be a reverse accusation!"
"Exactly! If they have to say something, maybe Nami caused some mischief, stealing little things, but Shano? Absolutely not!!!"
Auntie who just came back from buying groceries also raged indignantly.
"Exactly, exactly!"
"It seems, even within the Navy Headquarters, there are a bunch of bad people!"
Listening to the noises from outside the house.
"Hehe." Belle-Mere leaned her legs on the table, lit a slim cigarette, smilingly gazed at the azure sky outside the window.
The villagers don't believe Shano can turn into a menacing pirate, how could she believe it?
However.
He really is her child, causing such a commotion just after heading out to sea.
The bounty is frighteningly high, even the little follower Nojiko is worth forty million?
Back when she was in the Navy, all the pirates she encountered combined didn't have such high bounties!
Whoa~, so much money, seriously, once they return, might as well tie them all up and exchange for the bounty.
She gently exhaled a wisp of smoke.
Back then, painstakingly saving thirty thousand was joy enough, who would have thought there would be a day like this?
......
Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.
By candlelight, Koushirou sat on the tatami mat reading the newspaper, with two heads popping out onto his shoulders, almost squeezing his ears away.
"One hundred and eighty million, wow!!!"
"Eighty million Belly, wow!!"
"Eight thousand Belly, wow... hmm?"
Alright, skip this, onto the next sheet, looking at the handsome Silver Wolf, Curly Eyebrow and Green Algae Head exclaimed in amazement.
"Hmph, Kuina only has seventy-five million? Not even as high as Uncle Zeff and Ah Yin!"
After reading all the warrants, Zoro vigorously wiped his nose, "Just so-so, when I go to sea, I will soon catch up!"
"Dreaming?"
Sanji scoffed, "A guy who lost to her by exactly five thousand five hundred times thinks he can surpass Big Sis Kuina? I think the best bounty for you is 5,500 Belly!"
"Better than you!!"
Zoro barked angrily, "You don't even dare challenge Kuina, don't use that nonsense about not hitting women as an excuse, coward!"
"That was being immature, don't underestimate!" Sanji turned red.
Over the years, he recalled being intimidated by the increasingly authoritative Kuina's mere glance, shrinking like a quail, and getting bullied by that brat Nami—
He pounded his chest fiercely, "Even my knightly ways will evolve, progress!"
"I am completely enlightened now, not making a move against girls is belittling them, to truly express respect, one must be serious and go all out!!!"
"That's it!"
Zoro's eyes glimmered, raising his thumb, "Didn't expect you to say such philosophical words, even your curly eyebrows I find more pleasing now."
"Really!" Sanji beamed proudly, "With such praise, calling you Green Algae Head before felt too harsh."
The two fools hugged each other's shoulders, put hands on hips, and laughed heartily.
Between them, Koushirou still wore his usual smiley face, yet the veins on his temple were visibly throbbing…
Previously with Zeff and Kuina helping to keep them in line, it seemed fine.
Now he's personally experiencing how troublesome these two lively brats are together, always bickering—
Don't wait until you grow up, how about you two head out to sea immediately!
......
Log Town, the dock.
"Have you really decided to resign, Tashigi."
Slightly regretting, the departing Sergeant said, "Your internship was nearly ending, with your swordsmanship, once formally part of the Navy, within months you could be a Lieutenant. Giving up now, it's too regrettable."
"I have no regrets, Sergeant!"
The black-haired girl shook her head, "I was initially inspired by Lord Shano, joining the Navy in pursuit of justice. But now I understand–"
She pointed at her chest, "Justice dwells in the heart, not in appearance!"
"So long as you passionately uphold justice, wherever you roam and in whatever capacity is irrelevant, but conversely, even remaining within the self-proclaimed righteous Navy would lead you to become an unforgivable villain!"
"Actually, the headquarters falsely accusing and labeling Lord Shano as a serious criminal is, in my eyes, unforgivable!"
Tashigi's eyes are steadfast, "Someday, I will walk into Marinfanto, pointing to the Marshal's capes and question what their path of justice really is!"
"Then turn to talk to me!"
The Sergeant barked in annoyance, "Staring at someone so close, spitting saliva on their face, very rude, you know!"
"Oh, sorry!"
Tashigi hurriedly took out her glasses, quickly bowed after realizing she was facing an unfamiliar man carrying a black giant sword.
"All good."
Without showing a trace, Hawkeye wiped his forehead, disregarded them more, protesting apologetic stares, folded the newspaper, boarded a small boat leaving the dock.
Still missed?
Hawkeye silently gazed at the departing Log Town, having arrived last night, only to learn after inquiries that the person had already left days prior.
Have they crossed over Inverted Mountain by now?
Normally, he'd probably give up, disinterested in pursuing a swordsman likely inferior on the vast seas.
But coincidentally, the Log Town incident exploded days earlier.
Based on locals' account, press revelations, and his own witness, after the mysteriously vanished execution platform—
"Shano." Hawkeye muttered to himself.
About this man, shining as a star after just venturing out to sea, his curiosity keeps growing…
......
New World, a certain sea region.
The campfire crackled behind the giant rock, with a sizzling half elephant tusk fish on top, Red Hair Pirates crew sprawled casually on the lawn, surrounded by empty bottles.
"Hmm?"
The bounty order, fluttered by the sea breeze, smacked onto Ben Beckman's face. He squinted tipsily at the bottommost paper:
"Four, five, six… huh? Seven zeros? Not eighteen million, but one hundred and eighty million Belly?!"