Chapter 91: A Modest Reputation

Summer had arrived in Cocoyasi Village.

In this season of cicada songs, from the village entrance to its far end, everyone was hotly discussing the same matter.

"There must be some mistake; Siano and the others have actually been wanted?"

Genzo halted his bicycle in astonishment, staring at the newspaper in his hand.

"This is pure fabrication!"

A villager nearby shouted angrily, "Claiming that Siano attacked Loguetown and that Vice Admiral Onigumo moved to arrest him? I say it's definitely the other way around—they're framing him!"

"Exactly! If anything, I might believe that troublemaker Nami committing petty theft, but Siano? Absolutely impossible!!!"

Another auntie, just returning from buying groceries, spoke with equal indignation.

"Right, right!"

"Seeing this, it seems there are plenty of bad people even within the Navy Headquarters!"

Listening to the voices drifting in from outside.

"Heh." Bell-mère propped her legs on the table, lit a slender cigarette, and smiled as she gazed out the window at the azure sky.

If even the villagers refused to believe Siano had become a vicious pirate, how could she possibly believe it?

However.

He truly was her child; having been at sea for such a short time, he had already caused such a massive stir.

The bounty was frighteningly high; even that little tagalong by his side, Nojiko, was valued at forty million?

Back when she served in the Navy, the combined bounties of all the pirates she had ever encountered hadn't reached such heights!

"Wow~ so much, much money; honestly, when they return, I might as well tie them all up and exchange them for the reward."

She exhaled a wisp of smoke softly.

If this were back then, when she was overjoyed just saving up three hundred thousand, how could she have ever imagined a day like this?

…………

Shimotsuki Village, Isshin Dojo.

Before the candlelight, Teacher Teacher Gengsilang sat on the tatami reading the newspaper, while two heads popping up from his shoulders nearly squeezed his ears out of existence.

"One hundred and eighty million, wow!!!"

"Eighty million Berries, wow!!"

"Eight thousand Berries, wow... hmm?"

Well, let's skip that one; moving to the next sheet, upon seeing that handsome Silver Wolf, the curly-brow and moss-head began shouting "wow" again in great excitement.

"Hmph, Sister Sister Guyina is only at 75 million? She hasn't surpassed Uncle Zeff or Mr. Gin yet!"

After reviewing all the wanted posters, Zoro wiped his nose forcefully. "Nothing special; once I set sail in the future, I'll surely catch up very quickly!"

"What are you dreaming about?"

Sanji sneered, "You guy who lost to her a full five thousand five hundred times still wants to surpass Big Sister Sister Guyina? I think the most suitable bounty for you would be 5,500 Berries!"

"That's still better than you!!"

Zoro flew into a rage. "You don't even dare to challenge Sister Sister Guyina; don't use that excuse about not hitting women, you're just a coward!"

"That was just when I was immature; don't underestimate me!" Sanji's face flushed red.

Memories of these past few years flashed through his mind: being glared at by Sister Sister Guyina, whose imposing presence grew daily, until he shrank like a quail, and all those miserable times of being teased and bullied by that brat Nami—

He suddenly pounded his chest. "My chivalry also updates and improves!"

"Now I have fully realized that refraining from acting against girls is actually a sign of looking down on them; if one truly wishes to express respect, one should be more serious and go all out!!!"

"That's the spirit!"

Zoro's eyes lit up as he gave a thumbs-up. "I never expected you to speak such philosophical words; even your curly brow looks more pleasing to me the more I look at it."

"Is that so!" Sanji beamed with pride. "With your praise, I also feel that calling you 'Moss-head' all this time was too harsh."

The two fools hugged each other by the shoulders, hands on hips, laughing uproariously.

And between them, Teacher Teacher Gengsilang's face retained that same smiling expression, yet a throbbing cross-vein had already appeared on his temple...

In the past, with Zeff and Sister Sister Guyina there to keep them in check, he hadn't felt much of anything.

Only now did he personally experience just how torturous it was when these two energetic brats got together, shouting and clamoring at every turn—

Don't wait until you're adults; why don't you two set sail a bit earlier, please!

…………

Loguetown, the docks.

"Have you really decided to resign, Tashigi?"

The Sergeant Major who had come to see her off looked regretful. "You must know that your probationary period will end very soon; with your swordsmanship skills, once you officially become a Marine, it would likely take only a few months for you to become a commissioned officer. Giving up like this is too regrettable."

"I have no regrets, Mr. Sergeant Major!"

The black-haired young woman shook her head. "Previously, I was inspired by Mr. Siano and joined the Navy to follow justice, but now I understand—"

She pointed to her chest. "Justice resides in the heart, not in outward forms!"

"As long as you can uphold the path of justice in your heart and strive to practice it, it does not matter where or in what capacity you roam the seas; conversely, even if you remain within the Navy, which claims to represent justice, you will only degenerate into an unforgivable villain!"

"In fact, the Headquarters, which turns black and white upside down and lists Mr. Siano as a heavily wanted criminal, has already become unforgivable in my eyes!"

Tashigi's gaze was firm. "One day, I will step foot on Marineford, point at the coats of the Fleet Admiral and Admirals, and demand clearly: what exactly is their path of justice!"

"Then turn around and say that to me!"

The Sergeant Major roared, baring his sharp teeth. "Standing so close and staring at someone like that, you're spraying saliva all over their face; don't you know that's very impolite!"

"Ah, sorry!"

Tashigi flusteredly took out her glasses and immediately bowed in fright; only then did she see clearly that the person she was facing was a strange man carrying a massive black sword on his back.

"It's fine."

Mihawk inconspicuously wiped his forehead, paid it no further mind, and under the apologetic gazes of the two, tucked away the newspaper in his hand before boarding a small boat to depart from the dock.

Still too late?

Mihawk silently gazed at the receding Loguetown; he had only arrived here last night, yet after making inquiries, he learned the other party had already departed several days ago.

By now, they should have already crossed the Reverse Mountain, no?

Under normal circumstances, he would likely give up right here; he had no interest in chasing a swordsman who was probably inferior to himself across the vast ocean for so long.

But coincidentally, the major Loguetown incident erupted over these past few days.

Based on the residents' descriptions, the information in the newspapers, and what he had witnessed with his own eyes—that execution platform which had vanished without a trace—

"Siano," Mihawk murmured to himself.

Regarding this man who had shone like a star the moment he set sail, his interest was growing stronger by the day...

New World, a certain stretch of sea.

A bonfire crackled behind a massive rock, roasting half an elephant tuna that sizzled with dripping fat, while the crew of the Red-Haired Pirates lay sprawled haphazardly on the grass, surrounded by empty wine bottles scattered everywhere.

"Hmm?"

The wanted poster was blown by the sea breeze, fluttering loudly against Ben Beckman's face; drunk, he fixed his eyes on the bottommost sheet:

"Four, five, six... Eh? Seven zeros? That's not eighteen million, but one hundred and eighty million Berries?!"

(End of Chapter)