Chapter 35: Bounty of One Billion

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

The high command, led by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hero of the Marines Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, with the exception of Akainu and Aokiji who had gone to Ohara to execute the Buster Call, were all gathered in the conference room.

Kizaru, who was currently escorting Saint Elaine, participated remotely via a Den Den Mushi.

"Brannew." Sengoku spoke to signal him.

Meeting King Brannew took a deep breath, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being the focus of the entire room.

If not for his skill in hosting meetings, how could Brannew, a Lieutenant Junior Grade at Marine Headquarters, become the brightest star in the room, how could he stand on the stage?

Everyone seated below him held a higher rank than he did.

"Colleagues."

"Today we discuss the bounty of Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, a former member of the Luo Jie Pirates."

"Barzab, hailing from the East Blue."

The assembled Marine officers silently turned their heads, looking toward where Vice Admiral Garp sat.

Wasn't the East Blue said to be the weakest sea?

Why first the Pirate King Luo Jie, and now a madman who kidnapped a Celestial Dragon and successfully demanded a ransom from the World Government?

If we count Vice Admiral Garp, the East Blue is simply teeming with talent.

"According to information returned by former CP9 agent Lu Bianyi: Barzab awakened Conqueror's Haki at eight years old, and at nine was invited to join the Luo Jie Pirates."

Inside the conference room, the sound of sharp intakes of breath spread like an infection, rising and falling one after another.

"Eight years old... the quality of a king."

Among the entire Marine high command, only Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Hero Garp possess Conqueror's Haki; one can see how scarce the quality of a king truly is.

An eight-year-old child... so terrifying.

Brannew cleared his throat lightly.

"In the following five years, Barzab followed the Luo Jie Pirates to participate in the Battle of Edd War, collected the Poneglyphs, and journeyed to the final island, Laugh Tale."

"Two years ago, he briefly appeared in Loguetown... to see off the Pirate King Luo Jie."

"Two months after that, he attacked CP9 at the port of Saintting Island and raided the World Government prisoner."

"At the same time, Barzab is, aside from Douglas Bullet who was arrested by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, and Vice Admiral Sakazuki, the only member of the Luo Jie Pirates currently active on the Grand Line."

"According to reports from the Sabaody Archipelago, his Conqueror's Haki..."

Brannew paused for a moment, still unable to find the words to describe it; Conqueror's Haki far exceeded the understanding of a Lieutenant Junior Grade at Marine Headquarters.

The Den Den Mushi spoke, mimicking Kizaru's tone.

"He has mastered Conqueror's Coating, possesses strength no less than a Giant, and uses a purple-bladed katana as his weapon, suspected to be an unknown Supreme Grade Blade."

After saying this, the Den Den Mushi fell silent.

Sengoku's expression grew increasingly Serious, and even the usually unprofessional Garp sat up straight slightly, explaining in a deep voice.

"Conqueror's Coating can only be mastered by top-tier powerhouses; for specifics, please refer to pirates like Luo Jie, Whitebeard, and Shiki."

As the words fell, the assembled Marine officers felt their mouths dry and their heads buzzing.

"He's only seventeen, right?"

Brannew hurriedly spoke, pulling everyone's focus back: "He is exactly seventeen this year."

"Mastering Conqueror's Coating at seventeen."

"Truly a monster."

Kizaru, far away on the Celestial Dragon's luxury yacht, silently curled his lip: Your information is outdated; he mastered Conqueror's Coating at fifteen.

Sengoku slapped the table, cutting off the crowd's discussion: "Now, let's discuss, what bounty should be set for Barzab?"

"Five hundred million."

"Saint Saint Saiwen hundred million."

The Marine conference room was like an auction house with bids rising higher and higher, though none had yet exceeded two billion.

The Den Den Mushi mimicked Kizaru's voice again.

"I personally suggest three billion; it is said that Barzab has an extremely good relationship with the Marine Hunter Mihawk, and I suspect Mihawk has already boarded the ship."

Some words were not appropriate for the timing.

Kizaru didn't know how to bring it up; he couldn't possibly reveal his deal with Barzab, could he? If he did, would he still be an Admiral?

But if he didn't speak, he worried that the Marines would pursue Barzab too aggressively in the future, making it hard to resolve the situation.

After a brief silence.

The noise erupted with a hum.

"Three billion? What kind of joke is that!"

"The Marines have no such precedent."

Vice Admiral Tsuru tapped the table with her pen: "Borsalino, is the information reliable?"

The Marine officers only then realized they had just heard that Hawk Eyes Mihawk was on board.

The Den Den Mushi wore a sly, disheveled face.

"Two years ago, I heard the news on Saintting Island; this time, while rescuing Saint Elaine, I casually asked Barzab a question."

"He said: Guess."

The Den Den Mushi fell silent again.

Vice Admiral Tsuru furrowed her brow.

"Three billion... is not suitable; rashly setting a three billion bounty for Barzab would likely make the Marines a laughingstock, even if it is true."

"Let's tentatively set it at one billion." Vice Admiral Tsuru made the final decision.

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

The bounty order for Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, issued by the Marine Headquarters, was sent to every Marine branch across the Four Seas and the Grand Line.

Upon hearing the news, Morgans, the president of the World Economic News who had been strictly ordered to keep silent, immediately put his hands on his hips and laughed uncontrollably.

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, I indeed did not misjudge you."

Being unable to publish the story of the Celestial Dragons being kidnapped became a pain in Morgans' heart.

The Morgans of now is not yet the news maniac of later generations who would probe the World Government's bottom line step by step; the World Government's warnings still hold weight for now.

"We must print more newspapers immediately!"

Pirate King Luo Jie was executed, the Emperor of the Sea Whitebeard played house on the seas, and Golden Lion and Barrett were locked up in Impel Down—

In these two years, newspaper sales have plummeted again and again.

For the sake of newspaper sales, Morgans decided to turn Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen into a new top-tier pirate star.

Sabaody Archipelago, the Rip-Off Bar.

Lei Li stared at the newspaper in his hand and sighed with emotion: "A billion so quickly."

Not long ago, Saint Saint Saiwen exchanged gold for Belly, paid Xia Qi his commission, and simultaneously lent Lei Li three hundred million Belly to repay his gambling debts.

Lei Li was now debt-free and light as a feather.

"Perhaps I should tell Saint Saint Saiwen the location of the Golden Jackson... so it won't be buried in obscurity..."

After all, it was an old companion of over ten years; Lei Li truly felt reluctant to part with it, and now it seemed Saint Saint Saiwen was fully qualified to inherit Luo Jie's will.

However, Lei Li knew.

When they reached the Final Island, someone secretly recorded a permanent log pose; after Luo Jie discovered it, he threw the permanent log pose into the sea.

But it was not Saint Saint Saiwen.

Saint Saint Saiwen recorded the permanent log pose with Luo Jie's permission; in fact, he recorded several of them.

Saint Saint Saiwen simply did not care about Luo Jie's will.

"Strange indeed, why has business been so bad these past two days? Usually, by this time, the bar would be at least half full."

Xia Qi blew a smoke ring.

"The little guy kidnapped a Celestial Dragon on Island One, successfully extorted ransom money from the World Government, and the pirates who heard the commotion were all scared away."

Lei Li was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.

"That's the kind of money-making scheme he would think of."

When he was on Luo Jie's pirate crew, Saint Saint Saiwen was already famous for his mind-bending logic, often discussing with Buggy and Shanks: "How can we make a fortune?"

Buggy: Obviously, dig up treasure.

Shanks: Find the One Piece.

Saint Saint Saiwen: Whoever has money, rob them.