Chapter 133: One Billion Berries: Reactions from All Sides

Marco's exclamation immediately drew the attention of the other pirates surrounding him.

"One billion Berries?"

"What one billion? Who? Is it Captain Marco?"

"Bai Chi! Captain Marco's current bounty is 1.3 billion Berries! This must be about Captain Jozu; after all, in this war, Captain Jozu Achieved Great Merit!"

"Indeed, Captain Jozu's bounty has risen by quite a lot! Treat us, Jozu!"

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you guessing blindly about?"

Marco turned around helplessly, waving the newspaper in his hand, "It has nothing to do with us; the news of the war's end probably hasn't reached the World Economic News Service yet."

With this motion of his, all the wanted posters inside the newspaper fell out and scattered in the wind, prompting the surrounding pirates to hurriedly reach out and grab them.

【DEAD OR ALIVE】

【Great Sword Hero · Siano】

【$1,000,000,000】

This was the first wanted poster to fall from the newspaper's inner fold, and also the most conspicuous one.

Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, made a grand gesture with his large hand, and firmly grasped Siano's wanted poster, while Marco immediately handed over the rest of the newspaper.

Soon, Whitebeard finished reading the newspaper, and a look of astonishment appeared in his eyes.

"Gurarararara!"

Whitebeard casually tossed the newspaper aside, his heroic laughter echoing across the deck, "No wonder he was bounty-listed for one billion; this kid really accomplished something extraordinary!"

"Pops?" Marco approached curiously, "Are you very interested in this fellow?"

He clearly remembered.

The last time this fellow's bounty was published in the newspaper, Pops had shown little interest in recruiting him, viewing him merely as a newcomer who had made somewhat of a name for himself.

But this time, the situation seemed completely different...

"Gurarararara! Of course!"

Whitebeard unfolded the wanted poster for everyone to see, his thick finger pointing at the confident smile of the black-haired youth in the photograph:

"Look at this smile, Marco; what an arrogant brat, killing two Warlords of the Sea and then straightforwardly rejecting the World Government's invitation to become a Warlord! Even that fellow Garp, going out personally, couldn't bring him in!"

"This courage, this spirit, this unruly appearance—it reminds the old man of Oden back in the day!"

Whitebeard grinned, "If this kid Enters the New World and is willing to become my son, what do you say we make him the Commander of the 2nd Division? Gurarararara!"

Commander of the 2nd Division?

Does Pops think so highly of this kid?

Including Marco, several commanders exchanged glances, all feeling somewhat astonished.

After all, within their Whitebeard Pirates, the position of Commander of the 2nd Division was a very special existence.

Ever since Oden left, this position had remained vacant and suspended, and it had been many years now.

Although many powerful companions had joined afterward, Pops had never once mentioned having anyone fill this vacant position.

But now, Pops actually wanted to make an exception?

"Gurararara! It seems no one objects, so Laozi has decided!"

Whitebeard slapped the armrest of his chair, shaking the entire ship slightly, "Once this kid Enters the New World, Laozi will go meet him personally!"

"If he is willing to become the old man's son, then the position of Commander of the 2nd Division will be his!"

"If he refuses..."

Whitebeard grinned, firmly grasping Murakumogiri in his hand, "Then the old man will show him just how dangerous and cruel the New World is; that fellow Garp cannot represent us remnants of the old era now!"

The deck boiled over once again, with crew members excitedly discussing the matter among themselves.

"Hey! Pops is serious about this!"

"Hahaha, now there's going to be a good show!"

"But, will that kid really agree? I heard he even rejected the Warlords of the Sea..."

"Hmph, what are the Warlords of the Sea? This is Captain Oden's position, ten thousand times more precious than being a Warlord!"

Amidst this atmosphere of lively clamor.

No one noticed.

In the shadows at the periphery of the crowd, Teach had somehow picked up the newspaper that had drifted to the ground and was squatting silently to one side, unfolding it.

His eyes flickered with ferocious light in the firelight, staring fixedly at the high-spirited youth on the front-page headline.

"Zehahahaha..."

Teach let out a low laugh, his voice carrying an indescribable mix of jealousy and longing.

Eighteen years old?

A mere eighteen-year-old brat has already gained such a formidable reputation that even Pops looks highly upon him!

And what about myself?

I am still unknown, wasting my years on this ship... that Devil Fruit I have waited so long for still has not shown the slightest sign.

Could it be that I must waste the rest of my life entirely on this ship that does not belong to me?

This damn fate...

It is truly unfair!

New World, Dressrosa.

Inside a massive theater, the golden velvet curtain slowly drew open.

On stage, an ancient Dressrosa court drama was being performed; actors wearing magnificent masks used exaggerated arias to sing praises of the glory of the Wang Zu from nine hundred years ago.

"Oh, great King of the Donquixote!"

The lead actor raised both arms, his voice beneath the mask rising and falling with dramatic flair, "Your brilliance shines upon Dressrosa like the sun~"

Meanwhile, inside the VIP box on the second floor.

Doflamingo lay on the sofa, not watching the play; his attention was completely captured by the newspaper in his hands.

"Fufufufufu... Ten billion Belly? That's truly exaggerated!"

He used his index finger to lift his sunglasses, raised an eyebrow, and stretched his mouth into an exaggerated grin:

"Should I say those old men at Marine Headquarters were scared out of their wits by this kid, or that they're so furious they've made themselves sick?"

"To actually assign such a high bounty to a kid who hasn't even set foot in the New World!"

However...

Doflamingo's gaze shifted to the face of that black-haired boy laughing wildly.

This kid's strength is indeed formidable.

I'm afraid even if I encountered him, it would be difficult to come out unscathed.

Moreover.

After killing two Warlords of the Sea, he rejected the olive branch extended by the World Government?

Fufufufufu, such an arrogant and overbearing personality seems to make him one of my own kind...

"Hey, Doflo."

Trebol dragged his sticky snot closer: "Hey! What are you looking at? Let me see too, come on! Come on! Come on!"

"Take it yourself."

Doflamingo tossed the newspaper over, subtly shifting aside as he casually asked, "What about Kuma? Hasn't he returned yet?"

"You asked at just the right time, Doflo; he just arrived."

Trebol cheerfully held up the newspaper and shouted without turning around, "Hey, Kuma, you can come in!"

The box door was pushed open; Kuma, clutching a Bible, bent down to pass through the doorway and walked in.

"Fufufufufu, you haven't forgotten our deal, have you, Kuma?"

Doflamingo said with a grin, "How is the second task I entrusted to you progressing?"

"Very smoothly; the Axe Emperor Pirates and the Rampo Pirates, who sabotaged your family's transaction, have been eradicated by me; here are the pirate flags hanging from their ships."

Kuma placed two tattered pirate flags on the table and spoke in a deep voice:

"Our transaction is complete; now, is it time for you to fulfill your promise and let Princess Mansherry come out to meet me?"

"No rush, no rush."

Doflamingo crossed his legs, slowly raised a finger, and said, "There is still a third matter; settle this one first before we talk further."

"A third matter?"

Kuma frowned, "Do you intend to go back on your word?"

"Fufufufufu, what are you talking about, big guy? I am a businessman with a reputation; how could I do such a thing?"

Doflamingo chuckled low, "I originally only promised you a meeting with Mansherry, correct? But now, because I feel some sympathy for your plight, I intend to help you a bit more."

"As long as you complete this task, I will allow Mansherry to leave this country with you, and she will return after finishing your daughter's treatment; how about that? This is much better than the original terms, isn't it? You must not mistake my kindness, Kuma!"

A flicker passed through Kuma's eyes; he sized up Doflamingo from head to toe before finally asking:

"What task?"

"Fufufufufu, simple; it's very simple for you! It's just that the journey is a bit long, time-consuming and laborious; otherwise, I would have gone personally long ago!"

Doflamingo threw over a sea chart, "Agatha Island; the islanders there betrayed me. Kill them all, find the so-called Holy Fruit within their clan, and bring it back to report! Once everything is finished, Mansherry will be yours!"

"Agatha Island..."

Kuma's brows knitted together, "So, the people you want me to deal with this time are mostly commoners?"

"Fufufufufu, does it make any difference?"

Doflamingo laughed strangely, "Does the great pirate known as the 'Tyrant' care about such things? Think about your daughter; do you want to leave her without medical treatment for the sake of a group of unrelated outsiders?"

Kuma stared at the sea chart before him, remaining silent for a long time.

Onigashima, top floor of the Skull Castle.

Kaido, drunk and reeling, coiled upon the main throne, clutching the latest newspaper, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Boss Hua Zha... is dead?"

A low voice echoed through the empty hall; the air seemed to freeze.

"Y-yes, my lord Kaido..."

The Beasts Pirates executives kneeling prostrate below the steps sweated profusely, no one daring to lift their heads.

Queen, cigar in mouth, shrank to the side daring not to make a sound, while King stood silently at Kaido's right, eyes closed and speechless, the flames behind him swaying slightly.

"Killed by that brat I wanted to recruit...?"

Kaido's voice grew softer, yet it caused the temperature in the entire hall to plummet.

Queen wiped his cold sweat and spoke:

"Uh, well... Big Brother Kaido, although Boss Hua Zha had considerable strength, that guy is after all a monster rookie who escaped from Akainu; it's only reasonable that he got taken out without even getting a fight in—"

Slap!

Before Queen could finish his sentence, Kaido pulled out his spiked club and swept it horizontally!

Boom—!!!

Queen let out a miserable scream; his obese body was instantly smashed into the wall, the entire castle shaking violently as gravel rained down.

"Shut up, idiot!"

Kaido began to wail like a child, "Boss Hua Zha is dead! Laozi's good brother, my former subordinate, died in a place like Paradise like this!"

"Uro-ro-ro-ro!"

Suddenly he clapped his hands again, laughing uproariously: "Not bad at all, truly impressive, Siano! As expected of a rookie chosen by Laozi, your strength has actually reached such a level!"

"But, but..."

The next moment.

Kaido suddenly leaped to his feet, his eyes red as blood, his Conqueror's Haki erupting like a tsunami; instantly, the sky over Onigashima filled with dark clouds, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling!

"In the end, you're just a brat messing around in Paradise... a mere brat from Paradise! How dare you kill Laozi's people!"

Boom!

Just then, a bolt of shocking lightning struck outside the window, illuminating Kaido's ferocious face.

"—Such behavior is absolutely, absolutely unforgivable!!!"

Several newly joined executives trembled with fear, completely unable to gauge what Lord Kaido's attitude toward that Siano actually was.

And beside the main seat.

King remained expressionless; having followed Kaido for many years, he was long accustomed to his boss's drunken loss of composure and capricious moods.

As long as it wasn't "drunken coquetry" polluting everyone's eyes, any other reaction was fine.

"Big Brother Kaido."

King slowly raised his head and said in a deep voice: "Do you need me to take people to Paradise and deal with that brat called Siano?"

"No."

Kaido's voice suddenly grew calm, yet that suppressed killing intent became even more terrifying.

"Laozi will go personally."

He grabbed his gourd flask, tilted his head back to drink heavily, liquor flowing with a gushing sound from the corners of his mouth, soaking the dragon-scale tattoos on his arms.

"Hua Zha is Laozi's brother; his vendetta must be settled by Laozi's own hands!"

"But, Lord Kaido..." Queen swallowed hard and couldn't help speaking up, "Our war with Whitebeard just ended; the situation hasn't stabilized yet—"

"Shut up!"

Kaido violently smashed the gourd flask onto the ground, shards flying in all directions.

"Laozi is Kaido! I do whatever I want! Who dares stop me?! Even that old geezer can't!"

He strode toward the window, looking down at the surging sea in the distance, fierce rage burning in his eyes.

Boom!!!

Before his words had even faded, Kaido had already leaped, transforming into a massive azure dragon, roaring as he charged into the clouds!

"Siano... Siano! Laozi will make you know what fate awaits those who kill members of my Beasts Pirates!!!"

The dragon's roar shook the heavens, and Onigashima trembled.

The figure of the azure dragon rapidly receded, soon becoming a blurry black dot in the field of vision.

King sighed.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall, the rest of the Beasts Pirates' executives looked at each other in dismay, their eyes full of shock.

Lord Kaido actually intends to go to Paradise personally?!

Isn't that taking things far too seriously?

That brat called Siano... is dead for sure!

Calm Belt, Kuja.

Deep within the palace of Amazon Lily, the Empress lazily leaned against her Wang Zuo.

A sea breeze drifted in through the window, carrying the distinctive floral scent of Kuja; her slender fingers lightly tapped the armrest, yet her gaze drifted into the distance, as if pondering something.

"Hey, Hancock, Hancock!"

Granny Nyon heavily struck the marble floor with her cane, the sound echoing through the spacious hall.

This former-former-former Emperor of Amazon Lily was now looking up, her face full of displeasure as she glared at the current Empress on the Wang Zuo.

"What kind of attitude is this, Hancock!"

"This old body worked hard to collect these newspapers, yet you threw them all out the window!"

"Paying attention to the overall situation at sea is your responsibility as Emperor! Even though we Kuja are a nation isolated in the Calm Belt and need not worry too much about foreign invasion, we must still keep an eye on these major events!"

"Those newly risen powerhouses, their titles must be remembered as much as possible, especially strong and young fellows like the one in today's newspaper! They are very likely to become existence that dominate the entire sea in the future!"

"Here, look over here!"

Annoyed beyond measure, Hancock finally glanced at the wanted poster unfolded in Granny Nyon's hand.

So this is Siano, the one with a bounty of one billion, hailed as the strongest rookie in history?

A black-haired brat, with delicate features, even barely qualifying as handsome, but, that was where it ended...

In the face of her beauty, what difference was there between a fellow of this caliber and an ordinary person?

It failed to stir the slightest interest in her.

"Truly nonsensical."

After merely one glance, Hancock withdrew her gaze with utter lack of enthusiasm.

"From now on, do not bring such things to bother me; this one has no interest in boring newspapers, nor does this one wish to know news about people unrelated to this one."

"Guards."

She pointed at Granny Nyon: "Throw this long-winded ugly monster out the window!"

"Hancock!!!"

Held fast by the female warriors, Granny Nyon immediately flew into a rage: "If you continue being willful and arbitrary like this, sooner or later this country will fall into crisis because of you!"

"Fall into crisis?"

Hancock rose gracefully and looked down upon Granny Nyon: "So what if the nation perishes? In any case, no matter what I do, everyone will forgive me."

"Because—"

She tilted her exquisite chin backward, revealing a neck line like a swan's:

"I am simply too beautiful!"

"Ahhh!"

"My lord Snake Princess!"

The Kuja female warriors guarding beside the Wang Zuo immediately screamed, their weapons clattering to the ground, with some even fainting outright.

………………

New World, Marine G-1 Branch.

The ten surveillance ships at the front line had just transmitted news that the war between the Beasts Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates had ended.

The atmosphere within the branch base instantly became much more relaxed.

And Akainu, who had been temporarily stationed here for the past few days to respond to any variables in this war, now boarded the warship returning to Headquarters.

At this moment, he stood alone at the bow, pinching the newly delivered newspaper in his hand, his gaze fixed upon the photograph on the front page.

That brat Siano...

Did he refuse the invitation to become a Warlord of the Sea?

The corners of Akainu's mouth curled into a grin.

This is truly—

Wonderful.

It suits his intentions perfectly!!!

A few days ago, upon hearing that the World Government was pressuring Headquarters to send someone to invite Siano to become a Warlord of the Sea, his face had immediately turned iron-green.

On what grounds?

A villain who had killed two Marine Vice Admirals and openly provoked the Marines' dignity was not only not eradicated but was instead to be amnestied?

Simply absurd!

Just thinking that in the future, during a Warlord of the Sea conference, he would likely encounter Siano at Headquarters yet be unable to act made his belly fill with fire he could not vent.

But now, such worries no longer existed!

That arrogant brat, truly unaware of the height of the sky and the depth of the earth, had actually thrown away this protective talisman himself!

"Heh..."

Akainu closed the newspaper and gazed toward the distant end of the horizon, his expression indifferent.

I will return to Headquarters immediately; do not let me catch another opportunity, brat... By then, I will certainly make you understand—

Refusing to become a Warlord of the Sea will be the stupidest and most regrettable decision of your entire life!

(End of Chapter)