Chapter 426

Oh no, I was so busy remembering Zoro's funny face yesterday that I completely forgot about the wanted posters.

"Wanted posters?" Luffy tilted his head.

"Especially you! Straw Hat Brother! Your bounty is an enormous sum! And Zoro Brother and Sima Di too! Plus, everyone else is wanted too!" Zanbai said, "Nine people total! All of you are wanted! Better than me explaining it—let me just show you the posters!"

Zanbai pulled out a stack of wanted posters and scattered them on the ground.

Sima Di swiftly scanned the wanted posters.

The first was Luffy's: bounty 300 million, photo unchanged, annotation at the bottom: "Loves meat, always wears a straw hat, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, known as Straw Hat Luffy."

The second was Zoro's: bounty 120 million, photo unchanged, annotation at the bottom: "Fighter and swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates, specializes in three-sword style; formerly a pirate hunter with notable achievements, known as Pirate Hunter Zoro."

The third was Sanji's: bounty 77 million, photo unchanged, annotation at the bottom: "Chef and fighter of the Straw Hat Pirates, exceptional leg techniques learned from Redfoot Zefu, famed for speed, precision, and brutality, known as Blackfoot Sanji."

Sima Di found this strange—how could Luffy and Zoro's photos remain unchanged, but Sanji's was still that badly drawn wanted image? This had to be a joke!

Actually, it wasn't Ma Lien's fault—he developed the photos and found every shot of Sanji was either blurry, or he was standing behind a smoky barbecue grill skewering meat, or facing away from the camera. He finally found a close-up solo shot, but it was a candid: Sanji's face was twisted into a grotesque, lewd expression. Taking a risk of being scolded by his superiors, Ma Lien drew Sanji's wanted poster from memory.

No matter how bad the drawing, it had to be better than that candid shot, right?

The fourth was Nami's: bounty 16 million, photo changed.

In Nami's photo, her hair was temporarily curled into large waves, she wore a light-colored, diamond-embellished evening gown with a deep V-neck, and she applied makeup to enhance her appearance. Compared to the original wanted poster, she now looked far more sensual and alluring. This poster would likely double the number of fans plastering her face on walls.

Annotation at the bottom: "Navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates, skilled in theft, known as Little Thief Cat Nami."

The fifth was Chopper's: bounty 50, photo unchanged, annotation at the bottom: "Pet of the Straw Hat Pirates, loves cotton candy, known as Cotton Candy Chopper, other details unknown."

The sixth was Usopp's: bounty 3,000 Beri, photo changed.

It was taken during the banquet when Usopp was telling everyone about his "glorious exploits," his face beaming with pride.

Annotation at the bottom: "Sniper of the Straw Hat Pirates, long nose, once shot through the Marine flag, calls himself King of Snipers."

The seventh was Merry's: bounty 5 million Beri, photo taken when Merry picked up the crew at Enies Lobby—Merry was hovering midair, caught by chance glancing toward a Marine warship.

Annotation at the bottom: "Affiliated with the Straw Hat Pirates, suspected to be a ship spirit, other details unknown, suspected to be a new lifeform. Bounty doubled if captured alive."

The eighth was Robin's: bounty 80 million, photo changed.

Robin wore a sleek, black motorcycle outfit, photographed outside a nightclub. This was a set of edgy photos Sima Di and Nami forcibly dragged her to take. Fortunately, Robin couldn't pull off a thug's expression, so in this wanted poster she looked serious and stern—more like a KGB elite agent than a gangster.

Annotation at the bottom: "Archaeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates, born in Ohara, extremely dangerous! Known as the Daughter of the Devil."

The ninth was Sima Di's: bounty 100 million, photo taken beside the Swan Fountain in Water 7, wearing Luffy's straw hat.

The Swan Fountain was built three years ago by a renowned sculptor; its swan, neck arched as if about to fly, was so lifelike it quickly became a local landmark. When taking the photo, Sima Di immediately chose this spot. But as for the straw hat on his head… Sima Di remembered Ma Lien swearing that the straw hat matched his long skirt better, so he borrowed it—never imagining it would cement his identity.

Annotation at the bottom: "Vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, formerly the tenth leader of the Black Ace, the highest research division of the Marines, known as Red Heart."

The wanted posters caused mixed reactions.

Luffy, Zoro, and Merry were delighted; Nami was alarmed; Sima Di was stunned; Robin simply smiled.

Usopp was both stunned and delighted—he was glad his bounty wasn't low, but terrified he might get captured by the Marines at any moment.

Of course, the two who completely broke down were Sanji and Chopper.

"Only fifty Beri… even Merry's bounty is higher than mine…" Chopper froze in shock.

"Who the hell is this guy…" Sanji struck the Scream pose.

Sima Di was satisfied with his 100 million Beri bounty, but the line at the bottom of the poster was far from friendly—it had once simply read "Red Heart," but now it was explained in excruciating detail.

He recalled Lucas's words.

【The Terror Triple-Masted Ship…】

【Someone is eagerly awaiting your arrival.】

It seemed his next stop with Black Ace would be there.

He just didn't know which one of them it would be.

"Besides you all being wanted, that purple-haired kid you're with is wanted too," Zanbai said, pulling out Zi Zi Busheng's wanted poster.

The photo was taken at an unknown time, likely still during his CP9 days, with a bounty of 60 million Beri.

Annotation at the bottom: "Revolutionary Army member, former CP9 trainee, proficient in Marine Six Powers and skilled in Fighting Technique, known as Evil Demon."

"That kid Zi Zi Busheng…" Sima Di smiled and tucked away his wanted poster.

To reach such a bounty without a Devil Fruit ability—he must have trained incredibly hard over the past year.

Counting up, he was the fourth among the thirteen to be wanted.

The first one wanted for arrest was Alice?

The second and third were Cheng Yu and Xue Lihong, wanted simultaneously; at the same time, Ace's bounty also rose significantly.

Sniper Cheng Yu, bounty 35 million.

Mad Bull Xue Lihong, bounty 30 million.

Calling Cheng Yu "Sniper" doesn't mean he's skilled with a sniper rifle—it means his subordinates usually eliminate enemies without him needing to fight. As for Xue Lihong's nickname "Mad Bull," no further explanation is needed.

Compared to each other, Cheng Yu's strength might be slightly inferior to Xue Lihong's, but if they fought, Cheng Yu would win—that's why his bounty is slightly higher.

The fourth was naturally Zi Zi Busheng.

And next… Sima Di believed more of the "Thirteen" would be wanted.

"I understand how you feel about the bounties—there's much you want to say—but… we have something we must ask of you!"

Zanbai pulled out Franky's wanted poster from his chest.

Franky, bounty 44 million, photo unchanged. Annotation at the bottom: "Suspected member of the Straw Hat Pirates, shipwright, hot-tempered. Known as Cyborg."

Fearless, a man must charge forward.

Stand at the crest of the tide, a lion faces a hundred beasts.

After Luffy agreed to Franky's family's request, this absurd pants relay race began—the first ever in Water 7.

Just as Merry was curiously tilting his neck to look, a pair of hands covered his eyes.

"Merry, this scene isn't for you to see," Usopp said.

"Eh? Why?" Melly asked sweetly.

"Well, because Franky is a boy, only boys can look." Usopp thought for a moment and said.

"But Mommy is looking too? Why can't I?" Melly asked.

"This..."

Sima Di stepped forward, lifted Melly's small hand, "I heard there's delicious jelly in the ship. Go eat it quickly, or Dad will eat it all!" Hall.

"Ah! Jelly! Then I have to eat it fast!" Melly rushed to the cabin at a speed Usopp couldn't hold back.

Usopp sighed in relief, "Thank you, Sima Di... Hmm? Sima Di! Your eyes! Why are you dressed like this!"

At some point, Sima Di had actually wrapped his eyes with bandages several times.

"The single best measure to prevent styes is one! Pretend to be seafood!" Sima Di declared solemnly, "Pretend to be blind!"

"Then put away the silver on your head!" Usopp said helplessly.

"Haha, really? Silver or whatever, I have no idea..."

"You are pretending to be blind and pretending to be stupid!"

Amidst Usopp's complaints, a shriek rose, sounding as if a thousand screaming chickens were pressed at once, a tragic cry that shook heaven and earth.

"Ah—!!!"

Regardless of what happened in the process, the result was good.

Franky finally agreed to board the ship.

In this Water Seven City, they once lost two companions, Robin and Usopp, but eventually found them again. The bond between companions became even harder to sever.

In this Water Seven City, they witnessed the destruction of Melly and saw her rebirth. Although the Going Merry was cremated, turned to ash and vanished between heaven and earth, Melly became a new companion, and the figurehead transformed into 087, another small boat placed in the dock of the Sunny.

In this Water Seven City, they also gained two new companions. One was Franky, whose temper was fierce but who was extremely easily moved. And... their new ship.

When everyone boarded the ship, it meant they had left Water Seven City. And Vice Admiral Garp's pursuit officially began.

The ship set sail in haste; Melly smiled, turned, and merged into the hull, and the ship automatically turned and moved forward.

Melly herself is a ship spirit; besides being able to move in mid-air, she can easily merge into any ship and control their navigation. Melly herself has no attack power, but with this ability alone, she can play a huge role in this Age of Pirates.