This tarnishes the Navy's reputation, but the World Government doesn't care about such matters. After all, no one is deliberately publicizing it, and even if those within the Navy who are in the know feel disgruntled, they won't take it to heart.
The Navy is a violent agency under the World Government but not the entirety of it. They're just a bunch of ordinary soldiers, and being able to distribute all the pensions properly already makes them better than some remote branches.
In the remote areas under the Four Seas, an ordinary branch major truly can dominate the regime of a region.
"Sengoku, this is the arrangement of the World Government, but we are not without countermeasures. Most of the funds this time will be handed over to the Navy. You can handle the allocation as you see fit."
Sengoku has always complied with the World Government's orders, and Saturn doesn't want to make it too ugly. After giving a warning, he also provided subsidies for military expenses.
"There will be no large-scale battles this time. If you want to gather intelligence, you'll have to do it yourselves. We won't interfere in this area."
Infiltrating pirates with undercover agents is a common tactic used by the World Government and the Navy. Whether it's various departments of the CP or the Navy Headquarters' special secret unit SWORD, they are all professional espionage units.
However, the Hundred Beasts is an exception. The low-level operatives have no value because they can't access internal intelligence, and to enter the core of the Hundred Beasts, they must have strength.
It's not that the CP Department doesn't have such individuals, but the problem is, they can't deploy them. Among the Hundred Beasts is a CP Department traitor—Who's-Who, who knows all those capable of infiltrating the core as undercover agents.
Each CP department has its division of labor. Although CP0 has the greatest overall strength, they mainly undertake protection, escort, and arrest tasks. Compared to them, CP9 is more adept at clandestine operations.
Who's-Who, once a CP9 prodigy, is thoroughly familiar with those capable of this task.
Sending these people as undercover agents is not intelligence gathering; it's purely delivering merit to Who's-Who. Therefore, the World Government has no intention of continuing to insert undercover agents and instead entrusted this matter to the Navy.
The decision of the World Government not to launch a large-scale operation is set in stone. Sengoku had no choice but to take the substantial military budget back to the headquarters. The reconstruction of G-1, the compensation for soldiers, all these require money, and it would be foolish not to take it.
Meanwhile, a brand new wanted poster belonging to Kaidou was also issued.
Hundred Beasts Kaidou.
Governor of the Hundred Beasts Pirate Group
Bounty of 4,670,000,000 Belly
The person selecting the wanted poster photo couldn't resist their occupational habit and gave Kaidou a new photo depicting him summoning lightning while attempting to unleash Tenma Daijizaitenjin.
The single-handed lightning-calling portrayal not only depicted Kaidou's terror but also garnered him a new batch of fans.
---
Demon Dragon - Hydra
Kaidou's Mount
Bounty of 300,000,000 Belly
Due to the eight dragon heads and regenerating nature, the Navy's Intelligence Department referred to the eight-headed evil dragon as Hydra, giving it a special code name.
The eight-headed evil dragon became the only giant Pokemon to be bountied. Emboar and Tyranitar were born earlier, but to the Navy, they were just special large weapons with no need for individual bounties, and they hadn't caused significant impact.
At least they hadn't inflicted damage on the Navy, but the eight-headed evil dragon was different. It caused massive casualties to the Navy the day it appeared and emerged as Kaidou's mount.
Its free-flying ability also meant a greater threat, which is why it was specifically given a bounty.
---
Meanwhile, there was another unfortunate victim.
Plague Disaster-Queen
Bounty of 2,000,000,000 Belly
ONLY ALIVE
Below the wanted poster, there is usually a brief biography that summarizes what the person has done, how vicious they are, and for certain special targets, their abilities and background are also mentioned.
The narrative on Queen's wanted poster had been updated, and looking at the record above, Queen himself didn't know he was considered so excellent.
"Brother Queen, you live up to your name. A full two billion Belly, even Brother King and Big Sis can't match you."
"Not only them, but even Katakuri and Marco can't compare to you, Brother Queen. Except for Lord Arceus, you are practically the number one under the Sea Emperor, only Beckman can be compared to you."
"Heh... Get out of here! Get out of my sight!"
Listening to his subordinates' flattery, Queen felt no joy, only irritation.
What is there to be happy about with an increased bounty? It only raises the level of danger and is utterly meaningless.
Recently, he's been working overtime and has completed the identity card system for the Wano Kuni. Now, even a street gangster can have something to prove their identity.
Looking back, his overtime efforts have been quite meaningful.
After chasing away the group of subordinates, Queen flipped through the newspaper, trying to figure out what's going on. After filtering out the Navy's propaganda, he understood how this misfortune had come about.
"No, I have to think of a way. Continuing like this is like waiting for death..."
Queen began contemplating how to save himself. Either limit Kaidou and have him stop making these grand moves, but this holds no viability as Kaidou wouldn't listen to him.
Or let Arceus step to the forefront, which would fundamentally end his pot-carrying career.
But in the end, nothing would change. If Arceus indeed had this idea, Queen wouldn't even be necessary.
"Well... I might try to manipulate Shaina and Misu somehow. These fanatics might have some solutions..."
Queen looked towards the clear sky, yet felt the future was bleak.
While he gazed blankly, some people's eyes lit up.
...
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Your intelligence department must be flawed. There's no way this could be Queen's creation. That guy couldn't possibly have such technology! Absolutely impossible!!"
At Punk Hazard, Caesar Clown furiously looked at the experimental data and analysis reports in his hands, his eyes almost ablaze. The three severed heads of the eight-headed evil dragon were sent here for new research after being frozen.
Through analyzing the blood contained within, Caesar discovered something unbelievable. This blood contained a very special power.
Creatures contain bloodline factors within their bodies, and these bloodline factors are the carriers of Devil Fruit powers. This is a component they discovered from the blood of ability users, a point that both Caesar and Vegapunk have certain research results in.
However, in these frozen blood samples, the Devil Fruit power component was severely overstocked.
Rather than some animal having eaten a Devil Fruit, it seemed more like the Devil Fruit itself had come to life.