Chapter 96: Nami: How much?!

East Blue, Cocoyasi Village.

The sunset’s afterglow spilled over the small house, dyeing the courtyard a warm orange-red.

Genzo rode his bicycle past the gate, the small pinwheel on his head spinning rapidly. He turned his head to look at the empty house with a sense of nostalgia.

Bell-mère had moved out over half a month ago. He wondered if she was happy now.

She must be happy, right?

After all, before that woman left, she had laughed heartily, saying that after laboring in the tangerine orchard for over a decade, she could finally go out and enjoy a proper vacation.

"Sigh..."

Genzo sighed. He was just about to turn and leave when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

"Excuse me."

Two men in black suits and sunglasses stood at the gate, holding a document, their faces wearing polite yet distant smiles.

"May I ask, are you Mr. Genzo?"

Genzo paused, sizing them up: "Who are you?"

"We are members of the World Government's CP3, here on orders to investigate some matters," the man on the left nodded slightly. "Regarding Siano."

Siano?

It was just as Bell-mère had anticipated!

Or rather, it was Siano’s idea over the phone.

That kid really had foresight. Back when his bounty was only around 500 million berries, he had insisted Bell-mère move out immediately. As for where exactly she moved, even he didn't know.

At the time, he hadn't taken it seriously.

He felt the World Government and the Marines wouldn't stoop so low as to harass a retired old Marine in the countryside.

But now...

Genzo’s pupils constricted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He snorted coldly, his tone suddenly turning furious:

"That ungrateful little beast? What do you want with him?!"

"Oh?" The CP3 member on the left raised an eyebrow. "It seems you don't have a very good impression of him?"

"Not just 'not good'!"

Genzo stomped his foot, cursing through gritted teeth, "That white-eyed wolf! Our village raised him for so many years, and what happens? As soon as he came of age, he went out to sea as a pirate and killed so many Marines upholding justice! He’s brought nothing but shame to Cocoyasi Village!"

His voice grew louder, drawing the attention of several nearby villagers.

"Exactly! That bastard!"

"We should have kicked him out of the village years ago!"

"I saw he was no good years ago. He tore down every mountain on the island; now there’s nowhere to go for a spring outing!"

"True, even when he was little, he caused so much trouble that even the village dog, Whitey, almost got eaten by him!"

The villagers gathered around, shouting accusations of Siano’s crimes, each one looking indignant, as if they wanted to strangle him themselves.

A large white dog barked angrily, clearly sharing the intense hatred for Siano.

The CP3 member narrowed his eyes, scanning the faces of the crowd.

"You hate him that much?"

"Hate him? Of course we do!"

Genzo shouted, "That guy corrupted Nami and Nojiko, two perfectly good girls. Now, even Bell-mère can't stand the cold shoulders in the village and has left home. That bastard, he’d better never come back, or I’ll be the first to break his legs!"

"Right! Break his legs!"

"Make sure he never dares to return to the East Blue!"

The villagers were incensed, some even brandishing hoes as if ready for a fight.

The two men in suits exchanged glances and finally nodded: "We understand. Thank you all for your cooperation."

Ten minutes later.

On a small path outside the village, the two men dialed their superior.

"...Everything has been investigated, sir. Siano’s foster mother has moved away, whereabouts unknown. His two sisters are with Siano, and the villagers on the island are all extremely hostile toward him."

"In other words, there is nothing left in Cocoyasi Village that we can use or threaten Siano with."

"Understood. We are preparing to return to base."

Meanwhile, inside Genzo’s house.

The villagers were gathered in the living room, listening to Genzo’s summary.

"Those two are gone."

Genzo scanned the room:

"However, we cannot let our guard down. This was just the surface; there might be more in the shadows."

"For example, they might disguise themselves as ordinary merchants or travelers to probe for information. In short, everyone remember: in front of outsiders, stick to the original plan."

"Understood, Genzo, don't worry!"

"Hmph, want to disguise themselves? The stench of those dogs framing Siano is so strong they couldn't hide it even if they tried!"

Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.

Outside the window, cicadas chirped incessantly. In the midsummer heat, the wind chimes under the dojo eaves tinkled constantly in the evening breeze.

"Dinner's ready!"

A hearty voice came from the kitchen, and the children in the dojo cheered, dropping their bamboo swords and rushing toward the dining hall.

Zoro and Sanji were at the front, pushing and shoving to see who could get in first.

"Moss-head! Get out of the way!"

"Swirly-brow! You get lost!"

The two were tangled in a brawl at the door. Just as the commotion grew louder—

"Hey, you two little brats!"

Bell-mère walked out of the kitchen, cigarette in mouth, grabbing each by the ear. "You're half-grown boys now, and you're still making a scene like you did when you were little? Looks like today's training wasn't enough, huh?"

"Ouch, ouch!" Zoro grimaced. "Auntie Bell-mère, let go!"

"What are you saying, Moss-head? So rude! Who's an auntie?" Sanji stood on tiptoes to ease the pain while indignantly defending her. "She's clearly a beautiful big sister!"

"Smooth talker!"

Bell-mère wasn't buying it. She snorted and dragged the two brats into the courtyard.

"As punishment for disrupting dinner, you two, right now, get down and give me two thousand one-handed push-ups! You don't eat until you're done!"

"Two thousand?!" The two brats screamed in unison.

Normally, this training volume wouldn't be much, but their stomachs were growling with hunger!

On the tatami mats in the main house, Koushiro sat with a cup of hot tea, watching the scene with a smile.

Ever since Kuina and Zeff had left, these two boys had become increasingly unruly, and he, with his gentle nature, hadn't known what to do.

But now, ever since Bell-mère arrived half a month ago, the two had become much better behaved.

Was it because they feared Bell-mère’s fierce personality...

Or was it because they feared the big brother who could make them behave with just a single look?

Or perhaps both?

Koushiro’s gaze fell on the newspaper fluttering on the table, and he felt a momentary daze.

Ten billion berries...

It had only been two months since they set sail, right? And the bounty had already reached such a terrifying level.

Even with his extensive experience, among all the people he knew, only one had a bounty higher than this.

If given another year or two, Koushiro couldn't even imagine what kind of heights the child would reach.

Of course, besides that...

Koushiro gently flipped the newspaper, taking out the second wanted poster, quietly gazing at the black-haired girl with the high ponytail.

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

Following that boy, she would surely become the world's greatest swordsman, right?

When she returns home, she can come and slap my face hard, so that I, this muddled old father, can apologize for the words I shouldn't have said that night.

"Kuina..."

Do your best.

Grand Line, Jaya Island.

This was half an island left on the ground after being severed by the Knock-Up Stream.

The town of Mock Town on the island was famous for being a gathering place for outlaws, and many pirates passing through would stay for a while.

It was afternoon, and a certain tavern was filled with noise and chaos.

Pirates were guzzling rum, bragging about their adventures, the air thick with the smell of alcohol and sweat.

"Hey, did you see the latest newspaper? That monster named Siano refused the Warlord invitation, and his bounty has risen to 1 billion berries!"

"Nonsense, that's huge news that shocked the whole world. Every pirate on the Grand Line knows it; you don't need to tell me!"

"Xiong's news is really behind!"

The surrounding companions laughed and teased.

Some pirates sighed: "1 billion berries... There must be nearly a thousand bounty heads on this island, I wonder if they add up to as much as that guy alone."

"Definitely not!"

"Exactly! That's 1 billion berries! I’d say all the pirates in the first half of the Grand Line combined don't have a bounty that high!"

"Huh? That can't be right, it must be over a dozen billion, you math-illiterate!"

"Who are you calling illiterate, bastard! Aren't you also illiterate? If you were really educated, would you be a pirate?"

The two argued, and the surrounding pirates took sides, with supporters of each view accounting for half.

But regardless, one thing was certain.

1 billion was a number far beyond their comprehension.

After all, in the first half of the Grand Line, pirates with bounties over 100 million were rare, and over 500 million was a realm only monsters in the New World could touch!

Just then.

"Creak—"

The door was pushed open, and a tall figure stepped inside.

In an instant, the noise in the tavern ceased.

All the pirates' gazes were involuntarily focused on this man—

A black trench coat, eyes sharp as a hawk's, and... that iconic black cross-blade!

"The... World's Greatest Swordsman, 'Hawk-Eye' Mihawk?!"

Someone recognized him and whispered in terror, the wine glass in their hand shattering on the floor.

The others who didn't know him were also shocked, and some of the sharper ones had already quietly dragged their partners out the back door.

Hawk-Eye ignored the commotion and walked straight to the bar, while behind him followed Tashigi, looking nervous and uneasy.

"A tequila, on the rocks."

He ordered a drink for himself, glanced at Tashigi, and ordered the tavern's best-selling cherry pie for her.

The two sat in an inconspicuous corner, and Tashigi finally calmed down.

"Mr. Mihawk," Tashigi asked in a low voice, "do you really think Siano and his crew will come here?"

"Just trust me."

Hawk-Eye sipped his drink and said indifferently, "If Siano doesn't arrive here within three days, I'll spell my name backward from now on."

He was too confident in this.

The route of Siano’s crew had been traceable so far.

From Whiskey Peak to Little Garden, then to Alabasta—following this pattern, the next stop was undoubtedly Mock Town.

"Speaking of which, your mood has been very low since arriving on this island."

Hawk-Eye glanced at the girl opposite him. "It's very strange. His fame has risen, shouldn't you be happy like last time?"

"I, I am very happy for Siano, but, but..."

Tashigi lowered her head, frustrated, "Siano’s pace is just too fast, and it makes me feel like I'm getting further and further away from him."

"..."

Hawk-Eye watched the girl silently, offering no comfort.

In his view, Tashigi’s talent for swordsmanship was only average, far behind the swordsman girl with the similar appearance by Siano’s side.

But Tashigi’s obsession with swordsmanship and her state of mind when practicing were indeed something he admired.

What a pity.

Hawk-Eye shook his head slightly and withdrew his gaze indifferently.

If this little one had stayed under his guidance, she might have achieved something in swordsmanship.

But the original agreement was that he would only be responsible for temporary guidance, and he would part ways with Tashigi once he met Siano.

And now, Siano was about to arrive on this island.

Their fate was coming to an end.

Why should he worry about a passerby he met by chance?

Meanwhile.

On the *Lomuz*.

Siano pushed open the training room door and walked out, rubbing his sore fists with some frustration.

"Failed to grasp it, Conqueror's Haki coating."

He sighed with some regret.

During his sparring with Garp, he had kept a special eye on how Garp used Conqueror's Haki coating, firmly memorizing the method.

This was practically a must-have skill for the finals, and it was rare to have a chance to learn it.

Unfortunately...

"It really isn't that simple."

He glanced at the Poneglyph in the training room and shook his head.

He had been practicing hard since parting ways with Garp the day before yesterday, but he had tried every method, and his Conqueror's Haki still couldn't be applied to physical attacks.

This was within expectations.

Siano was only slightly regretful, not discouraged.

After all, he had only awakened Conqueror's Haki for a mere two months.

This kind of top-tier combat technique was only known to a few old monsters in the world; how could it be mastered so easily?

Even Luffy, under Rayleigh’s careful guidance, hadn't learned it after two years.

As for Yamato? She was able to use it freely in her youth all thanks to Kaido’s harsh, day-after-day guidance.

The road is still long; he couldn't be too impatient!

Siano comforted himself.

However, he hadn't come away empty-handed; in fact, he had gained a lot.

Garp had fought him with full force this time, which was incomparable to their play-sparring in the Goa Kingdom years ago.

The old man’s powerful control over Armament Haki, especially the technique of constantly compressing and increasing the intensity of Armament Haki, had enlightened him a lot.

By specializing in this aspect and practicing more with the help of the Poneglyph,

he believed it wouldn't be long before his Armament Haki intensity reached another level.

"Phew..."

He stretched, cast aside his distracting thoughts, walked through the corridor, and arrived on the deck.

He happened to see Nami holding the newspaper high, shouting everywhere: "Hey! Everyone! Come look! Our new bounties are out!"

"The new newspaper?"

Siano raised an eyebrow and walked over.

"Big brother!" Nami’s eyes lit up when she saw him. "Look! The front page is all about you! Your bounty has already risen to 1 billion berries!"

1 billion, huh?

Siano glanced at the photo on the front page and couldn't help but chuckle.

It seemed the World Government was truly provoked and furious this time.

This bounty, even in the New World, should only be second to the top commanders of the major Emperor crews—that is, King, Katakuri, Marco, and Beckman.

Among the new generation, he was directly leading the pack by a wide margin.

"What about the others?" he asked casually. "Did everyone go up? And Nami, the Marine Headquarters should have cleared up the misunderstanding about Gin, right?"

"I, I haven't looked at the back yet." Nami muttered softly, "I was waiting for you, big brother, and everyone to be here together."

"Everyone is here now." Nojiko said with a smile, holding the little creature.

She stroked the little creature's head. When they had breakfast yesterday, everyone finally discovered the change in the little guy.

The originally snow-white rice ball had turned pale yellow and grown a tail. This direction of growth was too strange.

Could it be that it had been in Alabasta for too long and had changed color from the scorching sun in the desert?

That was everyone’s initial judgment, but fortunately, the little creature was still very cute, and the extra fluffy tail made it even more fun to pet, so its status as the crew’s pet was unshakable.

"I know, I'll look at the back... No, wait! Let's wait a second!"

Nami suddenly gritted her teeth and threw the newspaper to Smoker. "Smoker, you read it. I, I'll just listen."

"Huh?"

Smoker took the newspaper subconsciously and looked at her in confusion.

Nami had been snatching the newspaper to look at it secretly every time it arrived for the past few days.

Now that the new wanted posters were really out, why was she acting so timid?

"You care too much about this." He shook his head and shook the newspaper open.

"Who, who cares!" Nami retorted stiffly.

"..." Smoker couldn't be bothered to argue. He scanned the reports on the back and compared them with the wanted posters, sighing in amazement. "Hey, Kuina, your bounty has gone up quite a bit, you've pulled away from the others."

"How much?" Kuina was polishing the Wado Ichimonji and glanced over.

"Lomuz's 'Rain-Cutting Swordsman' Kuina, according to the latest intelligence, has officially taken the position of Vice-Captain of the Lomuz Pirate Crew, bounty increased to 200 million berries..."

Smoker grinned as he read. "In short, you're the first one besides Siano to break 200 million berries. That's very rare in the first half of the Grand Line."

Kuina nodded slightly and continued to lower her head to polish her sword, not showing whether she was satisfied or dissatisfied with the bounty.

"What about me, what about me!"

Nojiko asked curiously.

"You're right behind Kuina, and you're one of the crew members with the biggest bounty changes."

Smoker pulled out a wanted poster and handed it over. "Your title has changed too. Now it's 'Winter Fist' Nojiko, Snow-Snow Fruit user, bounty 130 million berries."

It had directly doubled!

Nojiko’s eyes lit up, and she happily took the wanted poster. Before, besides Nami, she had been the one steadily at the bottom of the crew!

"Me, me!"

Nami finally couldn't hold it in anymore and asked impatiently.

"After that is Gin, no change in bounty."

Smoker said, looking surprised, "It seems the Marine Headquarters really did find out that the fire wasn't Gin’s ability. Let me flip back... Hmm, Zeff, and myself... This last one must be yours. The bounty is..."

Nami held her breath.

"100 million berries!"

"How, how much!" She widened her eyes in surprise.

"Congratulations!" Smoker shrugged and pulled out this last wanted poster. "The Flame-Flame Fruit ability no longer belongs to Gin. Wait, hold on!"

He suddenly stopped in confusion.

And the others looked at the wanted poster being pulled out, all stunned, looking at each other with strange expressions.

I saw on the photo...

It was indeed Nami, but only half her head was showing at the bottom, while the main part was a white rice ball, lying on top of her head, smiling innocently at the camera.

Below the text, it clearly read—

[Flame White Ball, Mochi, bounty 100 million berries!]

————————

————————

PS: I haven't asked for monthly votes since the book went on the shelves. Starting after midnight tonight, there's a double monthly vote event on Qidian; votes cast will automatically be doubled.

I'm weakly asking for your support here. By the way, although I only have one update a day, the word count isn't small. When there's a lot, it's seven or eight thousand, and when there's less, it stays at five thousand, which is actually equivalent to two or three updates.