Chapter 19: First Bounty

Two days later.

Grand Line, Marine Headquarters.

In the morning, the Marine generals convened a meeting.

Mid-ranking Marine officers sat around the conference table, puffing on cigars. Brannew, a Marine Major with green curly hair, wearing a floral-patterned shirt and a Justice cloak, was in charge of explaining the meeting's agenda. He stood on the platform, and a photograph was hung on the blackboard.

Brannew said: "This young pirate is extremely insane. As soon as he arrived at Xiu Mao Zhen, he killed the former Marine Colonel Hanke. Even though Hanke had been inactive for many years, the fact that he could defeat him shows his strength is not to be underestimated. Besides Hanke, he also murdered many townspeople, with the death toll reaching hundreds, and he ransacked the treasures of Xiu Mao Zhen. His actions are extremely heinous!"

In the photo, a young man stands at the bow of a ship, with the explosion of a cannonball landing in the background, laughing wantonly.

"Hmph! A mere pirate brat; if he dares to come to the Grand Line, I will make him feel true justice!" Vice Admiral Onigumo, wearing a helmet engraved with a double-headed dragon pattern and sporting a fierce expression, said disdainfully.

"We cannot let our guard down. Hanke was a former Marine supernova; no matter how much he fell, he is not someone an ordinary person can deal with. Since he could kill Hanke, his strength won't be poor." Vice Admiral Momousagi said with a determined gaze: "It really hasn't been peaceful lately. Not counting the Grand Line, the other four seas are not peaceful either. We must stay alert."

Brannew nodded: "Half a month ago, Eustass Kid of the South Blue destroyed a non-affiliated country, and last week a large-scale mafia gang war occurred in the North Blue, causing hundreds of casualties. Their bounties have already been issued. Next, we will set a bounty for this guy named Luo Di."

After some discussion and reaching a decision, Brannew announced: "Luo Di, born in the Goa Kingdom of the East Blue, is the culprit behind the Xiu Mao Gang tragedy. Bounty: 35 million Berries!"

World Economic News Paper.

"What a wonderful world, what an interesting young man. This month is truly my lucky month; big news is appearing one after another, hahahaha..."

A News Coo stood inside the newspaper office, spreading its wings, and said with an excited look.

"Boys, hurry up and print the bounty, let's announce it to the whole world!"

Following the order from President Morgans, the employees immediately began printing, and then the News Coo took the newspapers with the bounties in their beaks and flew to all parts of the world.

East Blue.

A goat-headed sailing ship was sailing slowly; there were many cracks on the ship, as well as craters from being shelled.

"Those bastards actually damaged the Going Merry like this, it's truly unforgivable. If we run into them again, I, Captain Usopp, will definitely show them what I'm made of!" Long-nosed Usopp said with a look of resentment.

Nami said speechlessly: "Speaking of which, who are those guys? The one leading them was dressed like Buggy, just without the red nose. We don't even know him, and they started firing cannons at us without saying a word, talking about handing over the woman. I don't know him at all!"

"Who cares who they are? As long as they start a war with us, they are enemies. As for enemies..." Green-haired Zoro stroked the three swords at his waist, his eyes cold: "Just send them to hell."

"I will not forgive any creature that poses a threat to Nami-san." Sanji's eyes flickered with flames.

"Ah, what strange guys. At first, I thought it was Buggy's brother coming to take revenge for him." Lu Fei, wearing his Straw Hat, laughed: "But that guy's strength is no good; he's not our opponent at all, haha..."

Bang!

Nami smashed a fist onto Lu Fei's head: "Lu Fei, can you be serious? We were almost blown to death by cannons!"

"Didn't we not die? We are the winners, let's have a banquet, hahahaha..." Lu Fei, with a large bump on his head, laughed heartlessly.

Elsewhere.

Jack the Clown stood at the bow of the ship. The makeup on his face was smeared, there were several bruises on his face, and there were two sword cuts on his body.

"Damn it, I didn't expect these guys to be so strong. That woman was even hiding and didn't dare to see me, how cowardly!" Jack the Clown narrowed his eyes: "But as long as they provoke our Poker Pirates, no matter who it is, they must pay the price!"

At this moment, a News Coo suddenly flew over in the sky. The clown beckoned to it, and a bounty flew out of the News Coo's beak, which the clown caught with his hand.

After browsing, the clown curled his lips: "Another bounty. It really hasn't been peaceful lately. Interesting."

Suddenly, his face stiffened, and he froze on the spot.

There, in the very corner of the photo, was half of a blurry, purple-haired head.

"It's her, it's that woman!"

The clown's face became increasingly ferocious.

Clang!

He drew his sword toward the sky.

"Motherfucker, so it was you!"

After a long while, he calmed his emotions and took out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket.

"Everyone go take a rest, we'll prepare to eat in a while."

On the deck, Xiao En said to the crew members who had just finished drilling.

Hearing that they could eat, the crew members were all excited. Ever since they ate the food A Nuo cooked, they thought about it every single moment.

Except for those few rules, Luo Di didn't demand anything else from them. They could sleep whenever they wanted, and as long as they didn't encounter a crisis, they could sleep until they woke up naturally.

However, Xiao En still had them drill collectively on the deck in the morning, mainly for physical fitness and combat technique practice. The crew members had no objections to this; after all, they knew what they were going to face next.

The sea is free but dangerous. Although they hadn't been to the Grand Line that Luo Di spoke of, the East Blue was already so terrifying, and the horrific existences there were beyond their imagination.

Luo Di had just finished exercising and was currently sitting at the other end of the deck, shirtless, letting the sea breeze blow on him.

Ka Li Na stood to the side, wearing a tight-fitting, navel-baring white T-shirt. Her chest was plump, and the straight lines of her legs under her short skirt tapered toward her ankles, glowing with a porcelain luster under the sunlight.

Her fair, pretty face looked at the sky earnestly to observe the weather, her gaze occasionally glancing at the graceful and relaxed Luo Di, carrying a trace of resentment.

Plop.

A figure suddenly leaped out of the sea and landed steadily on the other side of Luo Di.

Accompanying Luo Di, Gai Ou waved his palm, and a transparent air wave carrying water droplets smashed toward the sea.

"Fish-Man Karate: Water Shot!"

The sea was instantly smashed into waves. Gai Ou said with dissatisfaction: "Still not good enough, far from my father's."

Xiao En, who had just come over, stopped in his tracks upon seeing this scene. He thought to himself that it was fortunate he had conceded quickly earlier; if he had angered this Fish-Man and continued fighting, he would definitely have been injured and would have become a laughingstock to the crew.

Fish-Man Karate is a unique move of the Fish-Man race. Of course, it does not mean that only the Fish-Man race can learn it. If one masters the practice method and has sufficient ability, it can also be used.

But Fish-Men have a natural advantage in wrist strength, and the effect they produce is much stronger than other races.

"Lord Luo Di, the drilling is finished. The enthusiasm of everyone has been very high these past two days, and their obedience is also good," Xiao En reported.

From Xiao En's words over the past two days, Luo Di had already learned that his father was originally a Marine. From the age of four, he had been subjected to strict training by his father. Later, his father died in the war, so he took the Marines as his goal and worked hard with ten times the sweat of an ordinary person.