"To think someone could now kill the Sea Emperor..."
The blond Five Elders took a deep breath, speaking solemnly, "Ever since that man from the Davy Race was eliminated, it's been so long since we've felt such a degree of threat..."
Holding Kitetsu, the kimono-clad Five Elders also looked grim, "Fellow Stars, what do you think, does this guy have the capability to break through that barrier?"
"Hard to say..."
The white-bearded Five Elders shook his head, "But over on Lord Imu's side, it seems he's finally taken an interest in this man, and has ordered that we send over the latest warrant photos."
"Finally..."
The kimono-clad Five Elders showed a shocked expression, even Pirate King Roger had not reached the level to make Lord Imu issue such an order specifically.
For a moment.
The power among them fell into a dead silence.
"Our master's thoughts are beyond our comprehension."
Saturn Satan Saint leaned on his cane and slowly spoke:
"Let's not overthink it, for now, what we can do is instruct the Navy Headquarters to increase their focus on this guy, and also, we need to quickly reassess the threat level and increase his bounty."
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
—————
Chronology of One Piece, May 16, 1517.
Under the focus of countless eyes, the War of Ten Thousand Nations finally came to a close.
Countless News Birds spread their wings to the Four Seas, the World Economic News Agency's urgent bulletins delivered this explosive news to the Four Seas in headlines!
On the front page of the newspaper, a giant photograph occupied the entire layout.
—In the dawn's early light, Shano gazed wearily into the distance in the drizzling rain, lying at his feet was BIGMOM's corpse.
In the text report below.
It was written by the news agency's president Morgans himself, with exaggerated strokes:
"Without a doubt, everyone! This is a battle significant enough to enter the annals of the Great Pirate Era! The world's No.1 Sword Master Shano, at only 19 years old, used absolute strength to kill the queen of Ten Thousand Nations, who had ruled the New World for decades, in less than a day!"
"From today onward, no one can deny—the Endgame has become one of the strongest powers in the world, and Shano himself is the man closest to that supreme throne on this ocean! Hundred Beasts Kaido's title of the strongest solo fighter may need to find a new owner!"
This news was indeed too shocking, coupled with Morgans' various pushes and behind-the-scenes maneuvers.
In just a day or two.
It spread like a storm, shaking the entire world!
Sold out!
Reprint!
Sold out again!
Reprint again!
Practically reaching the level where everyone had a copy, not only did it create a new sales record for the World Economic News but also pushed Shano's reputation to unprecedented heights!
If previously, there were still many people skeptical or holding a wait-and-see attitude toward "Shano," the newly risen Sea Emperor.
Believing this guy hadn't officially fought the other Sea Emperors, and his bounty reaching the forty billion Belly level was just thanks to killing Heavenly Celestial Dragons, ultimately still incomparable to the veteran Four Emperors...
Then now, all doubters have been given a hard slap, and all voices of skepticism have completely vanished!
Defeating a Sea Emperor isn't something that hasn't happened over the past few decades.
But a monster capable of killing a Sea Emperor...
Is entirely unique, just this one!
——————
In the New World, on the Moby Dick.
"Gurarara! Come look, sons!"
Whitebeard put down his wine glass and held up the latest newspaper, his hearty laughter echoing across the deck, "That little brat really did it!"
"Dad, what's happening?"
Marco rubbed his sleepy eyes and emerged from the cabin, with other captains curiously gathering around as well.
Upon seeing the bold title on the newspaper's front page and the content in the photo, the entire ship fell silent, then erupted in commotion!
"Am I seeing things?"
"Is this for real!"
"Hey hey..."
Izou stared at Shano's blood-stained side profile in the photo, his throat tight, and involuntarily swallowed, "If I'm not mistaken, this monster is still under twenty, right? He actually took down the Four Emperors..."
"Hey! You guys look at this!"
Diamond Jozu, sharp-eyed, noticed something, pointing to the item's inclusion with the newspaper, "The Navy also updated the warrant! Shano's bounty went from around 41 billion, to... Hey, don't shove, it's about to fly off!"
Flap!
A fresh warrant was blown onto the deck by the sea breeze, and everyone lowered their heads, focusing on it—
[DEAD OR ALIVE]
[Endgame Pirates Captain, World's No.1 Sword Master Shano]
[$ 5,020,000,000]
"Fif... Fifty billion two hundred million Belly?!"
A chorus of gasps echoed across the deck.
"Hey, hey, hey, isn't that too exaggerated?!"
Marco's jaw nearly hit the floor in shock, "This instantly surpasses the other three Sea Emperors, huh? And it's very close to Pops too, you could even say there's no difference at all!"
"After Roger's death, Pops was always the only one with a bounty exceeding fifty billion Belly."
Vista wiped the sweat from his brow, "And now, a second person has finally appeared?"
Forty billion Belly marks the Emperor level that reigns over the seas, enough to make the world tremble with fear.
But breaking through the fifty billion Belly threshold is a whole new level of significance!
Reaching such a level, their influence almost transcends their own era, marking a true legend in the Chronology of One Piece!
Rocks, Roger, Whitebeard!
They're all like that!
"Raising the bounty to this level all of a sudden is quite normal; someone out there is scared."
Whitebeard put away his smile, gazing deeply into the distance, "The value of killing a Sea Emperor is far greater than just defeating one... Moreover, it's that kid's age and potential that truly terrifies the World Government."
As for Lingling, the once-partner on the same ship who is now dead...
It seems worth a moment of sorrow, yet not really...
Whitebeard paused, then suddenly broke into a booming laugh:
"Gurararara! Whatever, it's more interesting this way! The so-called tidal wave of a new era was just something we talked about, but now, it's really starting to overturn the old era's ship!"
——————
"Over fifty billion???"
On the Black Spade Pirates' ship, Ace's eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he repeatedly confirmed the number, utterly incredulous: "The bounty just increased by another nine billion Belly? That means…"
"In one fell swoop, it comfortably rose by three yous."
Dius came up from behind, smiling widely:
"You once made a bold declaration, saying you'd surpass Lord Xiano's bounty within a year and then challenge him…"
Can that really be surpassed?
Ace blushed deeply.
However, that was just boasting to begin with; reaching Brother Xiano's level isn't so easy, so it's better to set it aside for now.
In comparison, he's actually more concerned about those Super Rookies who joined Endgame at the same time; what level they've reached now...
"Hey, Dius, stop with the sarcastic remarks and help me look."
The two of them flipped through the newspaper, quickly finding the stack of warrants belonging to Endgame.
Besides Xiano himself, it seems that a good half of his subordinates have their bounties increased—
['Wind Erosion' Kuina]
Endgame Deputy Captain, highest-ranking officer.
Bounty: 1.52 billion Belly, dead or alive!
...
['Star Fall' Issho]
Endgame Headquarters, highest-ranking officer.
Bounty: 2.53 billion Belly, dead or alive!
...
['Thunder Meteor' Bartholomew Kuma]
Endgame Headquarters, highest-ranking officer.
Bounty: 1.447 billion Belly, dead or alive!
...
['Defector Hunter' Smoker]
Endgame Headquarters, combatant and boatman.
Bounty: 830 million Belly, dead or alive!
...
"Wait a moment!"
Ace quickly raised his hand to stop, scratching his head in confusion:
"Aren't Endgame's top four the 'Four Calamities'? That's only three highest-ranking officers here, so why skip straight to Smoker... Speaking of which, wasn't this guy originally a Navy officer in the East Sea? Man, his bounty more than doubled suddenly, that's really scary."
"The remaining highest-ranking officer is 'Earthquake' Jack."
Dius pushed up his eye patch, smiling as he explained:
"According to the detailed reports in the newspaper, it seems this guy is one of the unlucky ones among Endgame's officers who couldn't win three matches, and got beaten quite badly, so his bounty didn't increase at all, still just a flat ten billion."
"Huh! There are actually three this embarrassing?"
Ace was taken aback, "Who are the other two?"