While Kouta and the others were clashing with the Mad Bull Pirates…
At Marine Headquarters, a meeting was underway—about them.
Inside a grand office at the center of the tall building that towered over the base, nearly all Vice Admirals who were still stationed at headquarters had gathered.
They were seated in two orderly rows on the floor.
At the head of the right row sat Fleet Admiral Sengoku, eyes focused on the only person standing in the center.
"Brannew, go ahead. Tell us what this emergency meeting is about," Sengoku commanded.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!" Brannew saluted crisply.
In private, they might casually call him "Mr. Sengoku," but during formal occasions, it was always "Fleet Admiral."
Brannew adjusted his expression and said solemnly, "There are two main topics today."
"First, a pirate crew from the East Blue."
"Second, something concerning Fire Fist Ace."
"Hold on, Brannew,"
A brawny man with thick brown whiskers, nearly closed eyes, and a double-breasted orange suit with a deep red tie stopped him, chuckling as he puffed on a cigar.
"What is it, Vice Admiral Yamakaji?" Brannew asked, puzzled.
"Nothing big. I'm certainly interested in Ace, but a pirate crew from the East Blue? What's so special about that?"
Yamakaji's blunt question echoed the sentiments of many in the room.
It wasn't that they looked down on the East Blue, but since the days of the Pirate King Roger, no one from that sea had emerged worth taking seriously.
The Vice Admirals all turned their eyes toward Brannew.
"Please be patient, gentlemen. That's what I'm about to explain."
He stepped to the side and pointed to several photographs pinned to the blackboard.
Among them were the ones shown previously in Sengoku's office, as well as some of the Arlong Pirates.
One close-up in particular stood out: the decapitated head of Captain Nezumi.
No one knew exactly when or how these shots were taken.
After all, Kouta and Kuina had torched Arlong Park after collecting the money, so these photos must've been snapped while they were retrieving the treasure with Awa and the others.
Brannew pointed at the photo of Kouta and his crew facing off against the Don Krieg Pirates.
"We first discovered this group during their battle with the Don Krieg Pirates."
He then gestured to the photo showing Kuina, Kouta, and the giant ship cleaved cleanly in two.
"Based on our analysis, their captain, Kouta, appears to be a Great Swordsman, and the young girl, Kuina, is at least a swordsman-level combatant."
"Great Swordsman?"
At that, the Vice Admirals straightened and grew serious.
Brannew glanced at Sengoku and continued, "Since there were no indications of danger last time—and because they hadn't raised a pirate flag—we didn't take further action."
Sengoku nodded, "Yes. That was something we decided then. It wasn't serious enough to alert everyone. We only passed word to the local branches in the East Blue."
But now, his eyes gleamed sharply as he added, "This time is different. The World Government is requesting that we issue a bounty."
He had already sent investigators into the East Blue, uncovering everything.
Including the fact that Captain Nezumi had colluded with the Arlong Pirates.
If Nezumi were still alive, it might be manageable, but since he was dead, this wasn't just a pirate issue anymore.
From the government's standpoint, the public must never learn the truth about Nezumi. Not even the Navy should talk about it.
It would be too disgraceful.
"Go on, Brannew," Sengoku urged, eyes fixed on him.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
Brannew turned and pointed to the remaining photographs.
"These images show that after defeating Krieg, Kouta's crew headed to the Baratie. Based on their route, they originally intended to sail straight for Loguetown."
"But for reasons unknown, they abruptly changed course and sailed to the Conomi Islands, where they directly confronted the Arlong Pirates."
"Arlong Pirates?" Yamakaji asked. "The ones made up of Fishmen from the Sun Pirates, same crew as the Shichibukai Jinbei?"
"Yes, Vice Admiral."
Brannew nodded. "Captain Arlong was once imprisoned in Impel Down, but released due to Jinbei's privileges as a Shichibukai."
He pointed to the images of the Arlong Pirates. "Their officers, Arlong, Kuroobi, Chew, and Hatchan, were all former members of the Sun Pirates."
"I thought he looked familiar. So it's Fishman Arlong," Yamakaji nodded. "Sorry to interrupt. Continue, Brannew. I was the one who captured him and sent him to Impel Down six years ago. Just curious how he ended up back in the East Blue."
As a Vice Admiral of the New World, he didn't usually bother with what happened in the four seas—especially not for a pirate worth just 20 million berries.
So he hadn't even known that Arlong had been released and formed a new crew.
"Understood, sir," Brannew replied.
He hesitated briefly, then continued, "Based on the evidence, either they were specifically targeting Arlong, or they learned something en route that changed their plans."
"As for the exact reason, we don't know."
He actually did know. But he couldn't say it out loud. How could he explain that a pirate went there to liberate the villagers?
"And the matter of Captain Nezumi's death?"
Another Vice Admiral spoke up.
"As for Nezumi…"
To be honest, he couldn't care less about the death of a disgrace like Nezumi. If Kouta hadn't killed him, headquarters would've done it sooner or later.
But since he was dead, it had become a whole different issue.
The World Government would never let Kouta's crew off the hook. They had to save face.
After all, what was one more pirate crew to them?
Brannew gave it some thought, then stuck to the official script.
"The World Government's position is that Nezumi was acting under orders to suppress the Arlong Pirates. He encountered Kouta's crew in the process and was killed."
"I see…"
The Vice Admirals weren't fools.
One look at Nezumi and you could tell he was a coward. No way he had the guts to challenge the Arlong Pirates.
They clearly didn't buy it, but no one pressed the issue.
There were many things in the Government and Navy that were simply not to be questioned.
Brannew pointed to the final photo. "Here is the most recent one. Their ship now flies a pirate flag, which means they've officially formed a pirate crew."
Adjusting his glasses, he turned to the group and declared firmly, "The killing of a Marine officer by pirates is a direct challenge to the Navy—and to the dignity of the World Government. We must respond."
He paused and looked around.
"This meeting is to decide the bounty we should place on their heads."
Silence fell over the Vice Admirals.
This was clearly a directive from the World Government.
So how were they supposed to "discuss" anything?
They didn't know a damn thing.
A Great Swordsman who hadn't done anything overly heinous—set the bounty too high and it didn't make sense. Too low, and it was meaningless.
After a long moment of collective thought, the Vice Admirals glanced at each other… then all turned toward Sengoku.
"Your move, Sengoku-san."
Feeling the weight of their stares, Sengoku's lips twitched.
He had called them all here because this was a pain to handle. And now they were tossing it right back to him?
But he knew he couldn't dodge it.
After some thought, his sharp gaze landed on the photos on the board.
"If the bounty is too low, the Government will be displeased. But if it's too high, it won't be logical."
He closed his eyes and murmured, "Let's go with… 70 million."
Then his eyes shifted to the photo of Kuina. "As for the girl, give her 30 million. That rounds their total up to a clean 100 million."
The Vice Admirals all nodded.
With Sengoku's decision, it was official: the starting bounty of this pirate crew would be 100 million berries.
One hundred million.
No pirate crew had ever started out with such a high bounty.
Most Vice Admirals weren't especially shaken. After all, it didn't affect them directly.
But the Vice Admirals stationed in the first half of the Grand Line were paying attention.
Judging from their route, Kouta's crew would be entering the Grand Line before long—and they might cross paths soon enough.
Even ignoring the bounty, the fact that this was a pirate crew led by a Great Swordsman was reason enough to take them seriously.
"Oh, right. Fleet Admiral," Brannew said, "Since we're giving them bounties, shouldn't we also assign them titles?"
"Why does everything fall on me? What do I need you guys for?" Sengoku sighed, suppressing the urge to vent.
Then he muttered indifferently, "Call the boy 'Silver Hair,' and the girl 'Blue Hair.'"
Everyone around him twitched.
"Come on! That's way too half-baked!"
"Could you try to be a little more serious?"
But sensing Sengoku's gloomy aura, no one dared to say it out loud.
They simply stared at the photos of Kouta and Kuina.
And couldn't help but marvel.
"Incredible…"
"Looks like the Grand Line is about to get a whole lot livelier."
*********
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