If possible, Nami naturally wanted a powerhouse to come and completely destroy the Arlong Pirates.
After all, her adoptive mother Bell-mère had died at Arlong's hands. After Cocoyasi Village was ruled by the Arlong Pirates, even more conflicts were incurred.
But for Nami, seeking revenge had become an impossibility based on her past attempts. No one could defeat Arlong and his incredibly powerful Fishman pirates.
Even the Marines feigned ignorance about the Arlong Pirates being entrenched there and ruling over twenty-plus villages with cruel exploitation.
Hiroto.
This man she had met less than half a month ago, had repeatedly shown unexpected strength but Nami had no confidence at all in whether he could defeat the Arlong Pirates who had driven her to despair.
But she also understood what Carina meant. Hiroto might be the only powerhouse she would ever meet who had a chance of defeating Arlong.
So, she wanted to believe, but didn't dare to.
Hearing the answer, Carina pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "Captain Hiroto caused quite a stir this time. I think his bounty will definitely skyrocket."
Nami asked, confused, "What do you mean?"
"Let's make a bet."
Carina said seriously, "If the Captain's bounty doubles this time, you should talk to him about this matter."
Nami did the math, her eyes widening. "Doubled? 14 million berries?!"
Normally, a pirate's bounty only increases once every few years, and only by a small margin each time. Let alone doubling, even a fifty percent increase is very rare.
And 14 million berries is a terrifying figure, even Arlong only has a 20 million berries bounty.
It's been a long time since a pirate with a bounty in the tens of millions has appeared in the East Blue.
For Hiroto to reach this level...
Nami instinctively wanted to deny it, but then she suddenly thought of that ship-cleaving slash she had witnessed.
The denial on the tip of her tongue turned into a different question.
"And if it doesn't?"
Carina said, "If it doesn't, I'll give up this opportunity to prove myself and tell you the location of one of my emergency stashes. There should be a few million there, which would make it easier to gather 100 million berries."
"You're actually willing to go that far?"
"I trust my judgment, and I trust Hiroto." A flash of determination appeared in Carina's eyes.
"Well? Do we have a bet or not?"
"Fine, I'm definitely not turning down free money." Nami agreed immediately.
"That's not a given."
Carina stood up, not intending to stay any longer.
Bonding as sisters or whatever was meaningless between them. She had come this time specifically to prove herself and demonstrate her value.
If she could bring Nami under Hiroto's command ahead of time, it would surely be a credit to her performance.
However, she really hadn't expected Nami's situation to involve the Arlong Pirates. She couldn't make decisions for Hiroto, and she could see Nami's indecisiveness.
The so-called bet was just a nudge to get Nami to take the initiative and talk to Hiroto, giving him the ultimate upper hand.
As for whether the bounty would double...
Carina had full confidence in Hiroto's ship-cleaving slash.
Click.
The door closed.
Nami looked at the sunlight outside, her gaze drifting.
If... if that man could really reach that level and take care of the Arlong Pirates...
What would she have to pay?
No, if he could do it, even giving him her life would be nothing to hesitate about.
...
A few days passed in a flash.
East Blue, Marine Branch Meeting.
Among the invited East Blue branch officers, some were branch commanders, while others were officers attending in their stead. Everyone who needed to be there had arrived, and a meeting with a somber atmosphere began.
The small meeting room was filled with smoke as the branch officers puffed on cigarettes and looked forward with serious expressions.
A bounty poster hung on the front wall, clearly displaying Hiroto's face.
[Beheader Swordsman Hiroto]
[Bounty: 7 million berries]
[Dead or Alive]
Below it were several photos taken by den den mushi pinned to the wall.
With the vision of the branch commanders present, the contents of the photos were clearly visible.
The first one showed a sunken warship, split down the middle as if cut by something, floating on the sea.
The second one was of the left side of Morgan's body, the commander of Marine Branch 153.
The third was a close-up of the sunken warship's wreckage, showing an incredibly smooth cross-section.
Brannew cleared his throat and began, "The reason everyone was invited to this meeting today is because of the individual represented by this bounty poster."
"Beheader Swordsman Hiroto. You've all seen his bounty: 7 million berries. It's neither high nor low."
"But that was nearly two weeks ago. The current problem is as you see before you."
"A flying slash."
A Marine branch commander retired from Headquarters said in a low voice while chomping on a cigar, "That warship was sliced open by a flying slash."
Brannew nodded. "Exactly. According to reports from surviving Marines and den den mushi footage, it can be confirmed that the one who killed Captain Morgan and cut the warship in two is Beheader Swordsman Hiroto."
"I can say that the situation in the East Blue is now very grave. This man is the most threatening pirate to emerge this year."
Brannew looked solemn as he slammed his palm onto the bounty poster. "His strength has already far exceeded the average level of the East Blue."
"We don't know why the Beheader Swordsman was previously content to serve as a bodyguard for a wealthy merchant. But the fact that he killed his employer, stole the goods, and went to sea as a pirate has been established. This is an error that must be corrected."
"In the World Government's annual propaganda, our East Blue is always presented as the most peaceful of the four seas. Even Arlong of the Arlong Pirates, who retreated from the Grand Line, only has a 20 million berries bounty."
"There are very few pirates with bounties in the tens of millions. Most are just small-time pirates with bounties of a few million. The emergence of such a figure will break the balance of power in the East Blue."
"Headquarters doesn't mean for us to conduct a suppression operation, does it?"
One of the Marine branch Captains in the meeting, a man with a sinister face and a rat-like appearance, spoke up.
He was the commander of Marine Branch 16—Captain Nezumi.
He said with a sour expression, "Our branch might not be able to contribute to a suppression operation against someone like that."
"Watch your words, Captain Nezumi! You are a Marine!" The Marine branch commander chomping on a cigar slammed the table.
He glared coldly at Nezumi. "Don't think this matter is the same as the dirty business you do in private."
He had long heard various rumors about Nezumi, and now it seemed he truly lived up to his appearance—he was a rat.
"Bode, you're the one who needs to watch your words. I'm just telling the truth."
Nezumi said coldly, refusing to back down, "Marine forces in the East Blue are limited, every loss counts."
"A suppression operation against a swordsman of this caliber using only our branch forces would result in massive losses and might even destabilize the East Blue afterward."
"That is a fact."
"If you have any issue with me, you are more than welcome to report me to the Marines Bureau of Investigation."