Chapter 101: New Badge Bounty Exceeds One Billion! (Request First Subscription!)

Great Line.

Paradise.

Hanafza stared at the report from his subordinates and the bounty notice in his hand, feeling as if his lungs were about to burst with rage.

"Those two idiots!"

"Did they really mess up trying to steal a Devil Fruit in the East Sea?"

The more he spoke, the angrier Hanafza became.

He slapped his hand backward, sending a massive boulder flying, yet the nameless fire inside him still had no outlet.

Boom!

The boulder crashed to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust, startling the pirates into silence, none daring to speak for fear of being caught in the backlash.

Only when Hanafza's breathing steadied and he barely regained his composure did someone muster the courage to speak hesitantly:

"This isn't entirely the Cat Brothers' fault."

"They had already obtained the fruit, but were intercepted by Knight Gao Wen as they tried to rejoin the Great Line."

"Moreover, Knight Gao Wen easily crushed the Cat Brothers—such strength isn't weak even on the Great Line."

"Someone of his caliber would likely not immediately consume the Devil Fruit, especially without knowing its ability."

"Captain, we still have time."

Hanafza's lips curled into a cold sneer:

"What if the fruit has already been eaten?"

"I myself am already a user—I can't consume another fruit—but this is something even that person finds intriguing."

"If something goes wrong on my watch, are you going to take the blame?"

The speaking pirate trembled violently and dropped to his knees instantly, cursing himself for speaking up.

Hanafza glanced at him, gradually calming down, and said coldly:

"Not just anyone is qualified to carry that blame."

"Besides, you're right—if there's even a sliver of chance the fruit hasn't been consumed yet, I still have an opportunity."

"Whether he ate it or not, the only path left for him is one."

"Death!"

With those words, Hanafza's aura of dominance radiated outward, stirring a violent wind around him.

Looking at the surroundings and the pirates kneeling far away, he felt a crushing sense of humiliation.

"If only I hadn't lost to that brat Jack, how could I have sunk to this level?"

"Damn it!"

After taking a deep breath, Hanafza turned toward the window, feeling the once-overwhelming sense of danger had vanished.

He asked:

"How's that old navy bastard doing?"

"He withdrew a few days ago, leaving only a few warships on standby—they pose no threat."

Hanafza revealed a cruel smile:

"Perfect. I'll handle it myself!"

……

……

……

East Sea.

The wind was light, the waves gentle, the clouds thin and the sky high—a rare fine day.

A small pirate ship slowly sailed into Raven Port and, guided by dockworkers, came to a gentle stop at the harbor's edge.

The townsfolk in the port paid it no mind.

For the pirate flag on that ship was none other than the banner of the Gao Wen Pirate Crew, which had pulled this port back from the brink of death multiple times in recent months.

Even many children stood curiously watching.

茉莉, the Cat Brothers, and the recovered Fan Fan Aoka had all gathered here to welcome Gao Wen's return.

The gangway lowered.

Gao Wen and his party descended slowly.

茉莉 immediately spotted Gasha; seeing Gasha's tattered clothes, her eyes filled with tears.

"Young Lady~"

"Waaah~"

The two embraced tightly, weeping together.

Gao Wen's gaze fell on the Cat Brothers, their faces twisted in despair, and he frowned slightly:

"What's wrong?"

"Captain, we… we ate several hundred million Berries…"

Sam looked ready to cry, while Buzhi burst into tears on the spot—until Fan Fan Aoka waved to Gao Wen and explained:

"They accidentally ate two Devil Fruits—likely the ones consumed by the two who attacked Raven Port."

"Huh?"

Gao Wen stared, baffled.

Then he realized: each Devil Fruit, especially an Animal-Type one, possesses its own consciousness and can, to some extent, choose its own master.

The most obvious example is Luffy's Nika Fruit, which even evaded the World Government's pursuit on its own—absurd beyond absurdity.

The Cat Brothers most likely encountered this very situation.

Gao Wen, having no other choice, tossed a 【Scan】 at the two:

【Name - Sam】

【Potential - Bronze】

【Rating - Iron: Zoan-type - Cat-Cat Fruit - Leopard Cat Form User!】

【Name - Butch】

【Potential - Bronze】

【Rating - Iron: Zoan-type - Cat-Cat Fruit - Maine Coon Form User!】

As expected.

After consuming the Devil Fruits, their own potentials had broken through their original limits, reaching the Bronze level, consistent with Akkin.

As long as they develop normally, their future combat power will inevitably not be weaker than the original owners of these two fruits.

Gao Wen reached out and rubbed the tops of their heads, comforting them:

"Don't act ungrateful after getting a bargain. After gaining abilities, if you put in the effort, your strength will see a massive increase."

"Just remember to bring a few more lifeguards on the ship when we set sail in the future."

The two finally snapped out of their dejected mood, scratched their heads, and wore foolish grins on their faces.

Gao Wen asked:

"When did you two eat the fruits?"

"Three or four days ago."

"That doesn't sound right."

Gao Wen frowned:

"Labute and Rachet died over ten days ago. Is there a buffer period for Devil Fruit regeneration?!"

After some thought,

Gao Wen found no answer in his memories.

He simply stopped dwelling on it, turned his gaze to Van Augur standing nearby, and cast another 【Scan】.

Van Augur's status panel appeared before Gao Wen:

【Name - Van Augur】

【Potential - Silver】

【Rating - Iron: Sniper Specialization, Immense Potential!】

Although Van Augur's potential did not reach the Gold level as Gao Wen had expected,

Gao Wen was not surprised; after all, the potential calculated by the System is based on the maximum possible improvement of the character's current abilities.

Once he later comprehends Haki or obtains a matching Devil Fruit, this potential will immediately skyrocket.

Moreover, even with his current abilities, he is already more than sufficient to serve as a sniper.

The corners of Gao Wen's mouth curled up slightly:

"Those two cats have been slain by me. From today on, you are my man."

"Ah-leh ah-leh~"

Van Augur pretended helplessness and said:

"Although I never agreed to your bet, since the pirate crew distributes shares based on strength, please take care of me."

"Captain!"

"Hmph!"

Gao Wen let out a light snort and was about to say something more when his gaze was drawn to a newspaper falling from the sky.

Whoosh!

The newspapers scattered all over the ground.

Among the scattered wanted posters, a familiar face made Gao Wen's eyelid twitch, but the skyrocketing bounty below it made anyone who saw it hold their breath in suffocation.

"One, ten, hundred, ten million... hundred million?"

"Two, two, two... two hundred and forty-eight million?!"

"The Captain's bounty has exceeded one hundred million?"

Nami, her arm trembling, picked up Gao Wen's wanted poster from the ground; her palm was instantly soaked in sweat.

When Van Augur saw this wanted poster, he simply shook his head directly:

"Just joined the crew, and the Captain's bounty has already exceeded one hundred million? Is it too late for me to quit now?"

Xiang Keluo glanced at him, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth:

"What do you think?"

"If you cannot accept even this amount of bounty, then you should prepare yourself mentally for the journey ahead."

"That guy..."

"... is determined to become the King!"

The Cat Brothers were so excited they began dancing awkwardly in place;

"The Captain's bounty has gone up again!"

"Wooooooo~~~~~"

The crowd looked at Gao Wen's skyrocketing bounty, all thrilled, for the bounty could, to a great extent, reflect a pirate's strength.

And in terms of bounty alone, Gao Wen had already left the vast majority of pirates in the Eastern Sea a full zero, or even two zeros, behind.

They knew all too well what this meant.

Only Gao Wen, surrounded by the crowd in the middle, was momentarily dazed, for the familiar system prompt sounded again:

"Congratulations on unlocking the badge: Bounty Over One Hundred Million!"

"You shall receive the ocean's favor!"

(End of this chapter)