Chapter 23

Lin Yu shifted his gaze from the system prompt and took the newspaper from Anna's hand.

"Heh, fifteen billion right from the start?"

"Shanks is truly generous."

"However, this is likely an attempt to set me up for a fall and then kill me with someone else's knife."

Seeing the headline on the newspaper, Lin Yu raised an eyebrow.

A huge bounty would scare away some weaklings, but it also meant Lin Yu would now be targeted by individuals with bounties exceeding one billion, and these people were clearly no amateurs.

However!

The fifteen billion bounty amount had already reached the one billion requirement for pirate crew upgrades; as long as he recruited a full crew, he could basically upgrade directly, unlock more crew slots, and receive rewards.

Tsk tsk tsk, Akainu is personally leading the hunt for me.

Is that not overestimating me a bit too much?

Lin Yu chuckled lightly and did not take it to heart.

With the God Slave in hand, it would not be that easy for Akainu to catch him.

Moreover, he still had two Top-Tier Swordsman Experience Cards; clashing with Akainu was still possible.

However, he still needed to strengthen his power quickly.

Thinking of this, Lin Yu looked at Reiju in the distance and said:

"Young Lady Reiju, may I see your Scientific Battle Suit?"

Reiju's poison ability was not obtained by consuming a Devil Fruit, but was a superpower acquired through bloodline modification, so even if handcuffed with Seastone, she would not lose her combat capability to use poison.

For this reason, Lin Yu had been so carefully staying away from her.

After all, although his infamy was notorious, his true strength was merely that of a rookie with the rank of Lieutenant.

So he wanted the Germa Technology Battle Suit; that explained why he wanted us to surrender.

Hearing Lin Yu ask about her Scientific Battle Suit, Reiju suddenly realized and instantly guessed the other party's intentions.

After considering her wording, Reiju looked at Lin Yu and said:

"Since you know about our Germa Technology Battle Suits, you naturally know about our bloodline factor modification technology as well."

"Our Battle Suits require coordination with Germa Technology's bloodline factor modification technology to fully unleash all their functions."

"And bloodline factor modification technology requires over a decade of uninterrupted experimentation."

"Up to now, only the Vinsmoke Family has accepted the modification and succeeded."

So that is how it is.

No wonder Vinsmoke Judge did not equip his cloned soldiers with Battle Suits; there was this reason.

Otherwise, Judge, relying solely on something like Battle Suits, would basically be able to dominate the North Blue; why would he need to seek cooperation with Big Mom?

The combat power of the Germa 66 brothers was not particularly high, only at the level of ordinary officers in a Yonko pirate crew, but if they possessed an army of such clones, it would be extremely terrifying.

Hearing Reiju's words, Lin Yu frowned.

Then, Reiju continued speaking:

"Of course, if you do not pursue using all the functions of the Battle Suit, it is not impossible to forge one for you."

"However, such a Battle Suit would not significantly improve combat ability."

Hearing this, Lin Yu smiled:

"In that case, I hope we can cooperate well later."

"As long as your father is willing to cooperate with me, I will absolutely not make things difficult for the Germa Kingdom."

No matter how much combat ability it could improve, Lin Yu intended to see it for himself.

After all, seeing is believing!

"That would be best." Reiju glanced at Lin Yu and nodded in agreement.

She also wanted to get away from Lin Yu sooner, because she did not want to be punished by him like Anna and Shirahoshi.

Then, Lin Yu looked at Reiju and said:

"Young Lady Reiju, are you willing to join my pirate crew?"

Reiju shook her head: "I apologize."

Seeing Reiju shake her head and refuse, Lin Yu was not surprised.

Although Reiju had not lost her emotions, she could not disobey Judge's orders; at this moment, Lin Yu trying to recruit her was clearly impossible.

However, if he could persuade Judge, then getting Reiju to join the crew would be a piece of cake.

And how to persuade Judge, Lin Yu had already thought of a method.

Taking the Den Den Mushi to contact Judge from the Germa ship, Lin Yu began his pie-in-the-sky plan.

Germa Kingdom.

Judge took the Den Den Mushi from a servant's hand and spoke in a deep voice:

"God-Slayer Lin Yu, what exactly is your purpose in capturing Reiju and Yonji?"

Lin Yu's unhurried voice came out from the Den Den Mushi: