Naval Headquarters, Naval Headquarters.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, wearing his seagull hat, looked at the report in disbelief: "Crocodile was actually killed by Reno?!!!"
He was already surprised that Crocodile dared to plot against Alabasta.
He hadn't expected that the Shichibukai would die at the hands of a rookie Pirate.
Although every year a few powerful youngsters rise to prominence in various seas.
Most of them are fleeting, and only a few survive, let alone become famous across the seas.
And Reno, who had just entered the Grand Line, took down a Seven Warlords of the Sea with his first move?!
"It is indeed somewhat incredible." Vice Admiral Tsuru, standing nearby, also expressed her surprise.
This situation was not just rare; it had never happened before.
"It seems we all underestimated Reno." Sengoku's gaze shifted slightly to the bounty poster next to him.
[Reno: Captain of the Reno Pirates, suspected Cloud-Cloud Fruit Ability user, bounty amount 30 million Berries.]
Sengoku recalled a phone call he received from Garp, who was in Loguetown in the East Blue, a few days ago.
At the time, Garp's tone was somewhat subdued.
[Reno's swordsmanship is suspected to be a legacy of Golden Lion Shiki!]
"Could he really be Golden Lion Shiki's apprentice?!!!"
Sengoku pondered for a moment, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt this possibility was extremely high.
Garp and Golden Lion Shiki were rivals of the same era; they had fought dozens, if not hundreds, of times. Garp would never mistake Golden Lion Shiki's famous techniques.
Since Golden Lion Shiki escaped from Impel Down, there had been no news of him on the sea for several years.
It was as if he had vanished into thin air.
He had originally thought that the old lion had died somewhere.
Now it seemed very likely that he had retired behind the scenes and trained an apprentice to continue his evil deeds.
"What a headache." Sengoku rubbed his temples, somewhat annoyed.
Not only was Reynolds a huge problem, but the Crocodile situation was also difficult to handle.
A pirate acknowledged by the Marine, who attempted to usurp a World Government affiliated nation, was exposed by a rookie pirate, thereby saving Alabasta?!
If the public knew the truth, wouldn't they laugh their heads off?!
It would also bring extremely negative consequences to the Marine.
Although, to some extent, Reynolds did help them.
But this credit absolutely cannot be attributed to him.
The moment Sengoku received the news, he immediately sent people to Alabasta.
Their purpose was twofold.
The first was to investigate the current situation in Alabasta.
The second, and most important point, was to help Alabasta with the aftermath and claim the credit for the Marine.
The accompanying reporters would film the entire process and later compile reports favorable to the Marine.
As for the citizens of Alabasta who knew the truth?!
Alabasta is currently in ruins, with a thousand things waiting to be done. They are all busy rebuilding their homes, so how could they have time to pay attention to these matters?!
Most importantly, even if they spread the truth, how many people would believe it?!
East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, North Blue, Grand Line, and New World—the six seas.
The vast majority of the public deeply believes the Marine's reports.
As long as it's printed in the newspaper, black is white.
By then, everyone will only believe one fact.
An unknown pirate attempted to seize control of Alabasta, a World Government affiliated nation, but his scheme was uncovered by a certain Marine officer, who ultimately executed the pirate and successfully saved Alabasta.
Finally, a few photos would be added.
Another perfect image of the Marine would be successfully created!
The Marine's prestige in the hearts of the public would once again be raised.
"Tsuru, has Hina arrived in Alabasta yet?!" Sengoku asked.
Vice Admiral Tsuru put down the bounty poster in her hand and nodded slightly, "She has arrived."
They had now standardized their narrative, attributing all the credit to Hina.
Hina was helpless about this but could only obey.
After all, she wasn't the mad dog Smoker.
"This time, Reynolds's bounty will likely be significantly increased," Vice Admiral Tsuru said, frowning as she looked at Reynolds's photo in the newspaper.
Sengoku nodded in agreement; someone capable of defeating Crocodile must be at least a hundred-million-Berries-level pirate.
"Tsuru, go issue Reynolds's bounty poster. Set it at 500 million Berries."
"500 million Berries?! Isn't that..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru was about to object but remembered that Crocodile was dead and said no more.
Twenty years ago, Crocodile's bounty was 81 million Berries.
Today, if his Shichibukai status were disregarded, he would be worth at least 300 million Berries. (The current Crocodile does not possess Haki.)
Reynolds's 500 million Berries bounty was quite reasonable.
As for the reason for the sudden increase in bounty, they had already thought of it.
They would use Golden Lion Shiki as an excuse, whether it was true or not.
"Sengoku, Reynolds's matter needs special attention, but don't forget these guys; their strength should not be underestimated either."
After resolving Reynolds's matter, Vice Admiral Tsuru handed over a pile of other information.
Looking at the photos on them, Sengoku truly felt a headache and a dull ache.
All the documents contained information on new rookie pirates who had recently emerged in the four seas.
Surgeon of Death Trafalgar Law.
Magician Hawkins.
Capone Bege.
Captain Kid.
Straw Hat Pirate Crew Captain, Straw Hat Luffy.
"By convention, only one or two difficult individuals would appear in the four seas in previous years. What's going on this year?!"
"Powerful youngsters are emerging one after another; it seems we'll be busy in the future," Sengoku said, helplessly rubbing his forehead.
Was it easy for him to be the Fleet Admiral?!
Sengoku looked at the guy grinning widely on the last newspaper and instantly flared up in anger.
He was exactly like that old man when he was young.
"Where's Garp? Didn't he go to discipline his grandson? His grandson is about to turn the East Blue upside down!" Sengoku fumed, uncontrollably enraged.
Vice Admiral Tsuru shrugged, saying helplessly, "Who knows?! That family is destined not to be quiet."
His grandfather is Marine Hero Garp.
His father is Revolutionary Army Leader Dragon.
Luffy is a pirate.
Three generations, three different factions.
Especially Dragon and Luffy, who both stand against the Marine and the World Government.
"Where's Garp? Where is he now?!"
The more Sengoku thought about it, the angrier he got. If he didn't give Garp a good talking-to, his grandson would cause who knows what kind of trouble in the future.
"I heard Garp brought two people back from the East Blue and is currently at the training grounds," Vice Admiral Tsuru replied truthfully.
Sengoku, without another word, stormed out of his office in a fit of rage.
His grandson was about to go wild, yet he still had the mind to train others.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, looking helpless, quickly chased after him.
Under the efficient actions of the Marine, Reynolds's bounty poster quickly flew to all corners of the world.
They thought their plan was flawless, but they overlooked one person.
Morgans, the president of the World Economic News Publishing Company, whose eyes and ears were spread across all the seas of the world.
Reporters in Alabasta received firsthand news, immediately drafted articles, and submitted them to Morgans.
Morgans was overjoyed and ordered the entire news agency to work overtime, with all printing presses running day and night.
The next day, countless News Coos departed from the newspaper office, carrying freshly printed newspapers to all parts of the world.
In the six seas, all factions gradually learned the truth of the matter.
Reynolds's name began to spread.
The sea was completely shaken!
In the Grand Line, a small coffin boat glowing with ghost fire was sailing through the waves.
"500 million Berries?!" Mihawk looked at the amount on the bounty poster and shook his head disdainfully.
How could a man he couldn't even defeat be worth only 500 million Berries?
The Marine still had too little information on Reynolds.
However, Reynolds's speed was truly impressive.
He had just sailed from the East Blue to the Grand Line, and Reynolds had already dealt with Crocodile.
"I wonder if, once you truly grow, you will turn the world upside down."
With a light chuckle, the coffin boat continued to sail, and Reynolds's bounty poster disintegrated into countless flying scraps, carried away by the wind.
In the latter half of the New World, this was the territory of Emperor Whitebeard.
On the main ship, the Moby Dick.
"Pops!!!" A loud shout came from afar, and several Division Commanders on the ship looked up at the sky.
A figure enveloped in blue flames descended from the air onto the deck.
"Marco, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?!" The massive Diamond Jozu asked in a booming voice.
Flower Sword Vista, Fifth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, suddenly brightened, "Marco, did Ace catch that scoundrel Teach?!"
Marco shook his head, walked up to Whitebeard, and unfolded the bounty poster in his hand.
"Pops, Crocodile has been killed."
Hmm?!
The surrounding air suddenly froze.
The tall Whitebeard Edward Newgate, with his crescent-shaped mustache, frowned deeply as he looked at the newspaper.
The other Division Commanders were equally astonished and quickly gathered around.
"Hahahahaha, how embarrassing! He tried to usurp Alabasta and failed, only to be killed instead."
"Pops, Crocodile hasn't improved at all since twenty years ago."
"He tried to steal a chicken and lost a handful of rice!"
"What a disgrace to pirates!"
"..."
The Division Commanders burst into laughter, all gloating at the news in the newspaper.
Years ago, Crocodile, not knowing his place, challenged their Pops, but with one Airquake from Pops, his eyes instantly cleared.
Later, Crocodile disappeared.
Hearing his name again after so many years, they never expected him to be killed.
A mournful song for him.
"Where did this rookie Reynolds come from?!"
"I never thought new pirates nowadays were so fierce; they can kill Crocodile as soon as they set sail."
"Indeed, at his age, we probably weren't as strong as him."
"Hahahahaha, Pops, do you want to adopt him as a son?!"
"..."
After a round of sarcastic remarks about Crocodile, everyone's attention shifted to Reynolds.
Although they regularly followed the latest news of the sea, too many pirates emerged every day.
Today, a certain pirate in the East Blue massacred a village.
Tomorrow, a mafia in the West Blue seized a certain regime.
Such news was endless.
Perhaps they had seen Reynolds's bounty poster before, but only in passing.
"---However, a guy who can defeat Crocodile is worth their attention."
"Kurokurokurokurokuro, that sand-playing brat probably never imagined he would become a stepping stone for a rookie."
Whitebeard laughed heartily and joyfully, casually picked up a wine bottle from the table, and gulped it down.
This is what made the sea interesting.
Even if you have been famous for a long time, no one can predict what will happen tomorrow.
Just like Crocodile, didn't he still end up dying at the hands of a rookie?
Thinking of this, Whitebeard suddenly lost his interest in drinking and put the newspaper aside.
"Marco, is there any news of Ace?!"
Ace.
Upon hearing this name, the lively atmosphere on the ship suddenly paused.
Marco's face darkened: "Not yet, but I've already contacted all the affiliated Pirate Crew Captains. Once Ace is found, they will notify us immediately."
The burly Diamond Jozu immediately chimed in: "Don't worry, Old Man, with Ace's strength, he'll definitely be fine."
"A despicable scoundrel like Teach would only run if he saw Ace."
The other Division Commanders nodded in agreement.
Whitebeard's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed upon hearing this. He hoped so.
Wano Country, Onigashima.
This is the headquarters of Yonko Kaido.
Inside the skull palace, Kaido was staring with his large, bell-like eyes, intently reading the contents of the newspaper.
"Worororororo Reno, well done!"
Seeing Reno kill Crocodile, Kaido happily downed a jar of rum.
He had no grudges with Crocodile, but it just felt good... "Lord Kaido, since Reno could take down Crocodile, his strength must be considerable. Should I snatch him over and have him join the Beasts Pirates?!"
Beside him, a brawny man with two tusks spoke fawningly.
He was Jack, one of the three Beasts Pirates' calamities.
The Four Emperors' Crews each had their own style.
As the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, Kaido had a soft spot for strong individuals.
As long as you had strength, you could rise to a high position in the Beasts Pirates, and he would even disregard past grievances.
Take Ashura Doji, one of the Nine Red Scabbards, for example.
He was clearly a subordinate of the sworn enemy Kozuki Oden, but because of his considerable strength, Kaido had always tolerated him.
"Hmm?!" Kaido's eyes squinted sideways at Jack.
"That's a good idea, but let's wait until he makes it to the New World alive," Kaido tossed the newspaper aside, picked up the rum next to him, and started chugging it down again.
Jack chuckled awkwardly and said no more.
Totto Land, Cake Island.
"Mama, big news, big news!" The eldest son, Perospero, shouted in his raspy voice, scurrying back and forth across Cake Island, searching for Big Mom's whereabouts.
"What's with all the fuss?!" Katakuri, one of the three Sweet Commanders, walked over from the side and asked with a frown.
"One of the Shichibukai, Crocodile, has been killed! I need to tell Mama this news quickly." Perospero continued to look around.
At this time, shouldn't Mama be enjoying her delicious afternoon tea?!
Where did she go?
"Don't look, Mama just found a man today, and she's busy with him right now." Katakuri said with a grim face.
He was too embarrassed to even mention it!
Perospero was stunned, then looked at Reno's photo in the newspaper, his eyes darted around, and he immediately had an idea.
A certain deserted island in the New World.
"Hahahahaha" A burst of hearty laughter came from deep within the shade of the trees.
"Crocodile is truly useless, to be taken down by a rookie."
The chubby Lucky Roux gnawed on a chicken leg while scoffing.
Indeed, apart from the Yonko who were as steady as old dogs, most other pirates were merely famous in name.
What about Crocodile, who had dominated the seas for decades?!
He was still taken down by a rookie.
"Reno?! Another brat who appeared out of nowhere."
The sniper Yasopp looked at Reno's photo, shaking his head with a smile.
He was still unknown when he was Reno's age.
"Killing Crocodile certainly proves his strength, but it's not necessarily a good thing." Benn Beckman calmly exhaled a smoke ring from the side.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
That was indeed the case; a bounty of 500 million Berries right after setting sail would inevitably attract the attention of many major powers.
Just like them now.
"This is... Luffy's bounty poster?!" Everyone continued flipping through and saw a familiar figure.
"It's really Luffy!"
"Hahahahaha, I didn't expect this brat to have a bounty too, well done!"
"Shanks, he's truly the one you picked!"
"..."
The Red Hair Crew's executives all started shouting excitedly.
The brat they watched grow up was now making a name for himself.
Looking at Luffy's somewhat goofy photo, Shanks also burst into laughter, waving his hand, "Lads, let's have a feast to celebrate Luffy!"
"Oh oh!"
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