The sea carried news faster than ships.
And more quietly.
—
By morning, the Marine ship was already gone.
But the world had already been rewritten.
—
Somewhere far away, ink dried on paper.
And that paper was copied.
Folded.
Stamped.
Distributed.
—
Bounty posters were born.
—
East Blue – Marine Dispatch Office
A clerk adjusted his glasses.
"…These are the finalized amounts?"
A senior officer nodded.
"…HQ approved."
A pause.
"…No corrections?"
The officer didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"…No one wants to correct Arlong Park results."
Silence.
Then the printer started.
—
First Posters – Release Batch
The papers were stacked.
Stamped.
And sent.
—
Kevin
฿ 20,000,000
"Primary combat anomaly – unknown fighting classification"
"Confirmed defeat of Arlong-class threat unit"
"High-risk escalation potential"
Marine note: "Subject displays nonstandard combat behavior and unpredictable engagement pattern."
—
Kuina
฿ 13,000,000
"High-tier swordsman threat"
"Single-combat dominance against elite Fishman unit"
Marine note: "Precision blade user. Dangerous growth trajectory."
—
Tashigi
฿ 12,000,000
"Tactical swordswoman / disciplined fighter classification"
"Efficient neutralization of Fishman ranged specialist"
Marine note: "Stable combatant. High control, low emotional fluctuation."
—
Carina
฿ 7,000,000
"Unclassified support combatant"
"Battlefield disruption and assistance role"
Marine note: "Unpredictable behavior. Not primary threat, but interference capable."
—
Nami
฿ 5,000,000
"Former Arlong navigation asset"
"Strategic intelligence risk (mapping and sea route knowledge)"
Marine note: "Do not underestimate logistical importance."
—
East Blue – Reaction Spread
A shopkeeper stared at the paper.
"…20 million…? In East Blue?"
—
A pirate captain frowned.
"…Who the hell is this crew?"
—
A Marine grunt swallowed.
"…That's not normal for East Blue…"
—
And somewhere in the distance—
the papers reached hands that understood something deeper.
—
On the Ship
Carina was the first to see it.
She unfolded the paper.
Silence.
Then—
"…I got seven million."
A pause.
"…That feels both flattering and insulting."
—
Kuina looked at hers.
"…Thirteen."
She nodded once.
"…Expected."
—
Tashigi adjusted her glasses.
"…Twelve."
A pause.
"…Reasonable classification."
—
Nami stared at her own.
Five million.
—
She didn't react immediately.
Just held it.
Quietly.
—
"…They marked me as support intelligence," she said softly.
—
Carina leaned over.
"…That sounds fancy."
—
Nami didn't smile.
But she exhaled.
"…It means they see my value."
—
Kevin stood slightly apart.
Looking at his own.
Twenty million.
—
He didn't speak at first.
Just stared.
—
"…They don't understand it," Carina muttered.
"…Whatever they wrote about you."
—
Kevin finally spoke.
"…No."
A pause.
"…But they noticed."
—
Kuina looked at him.
"…Does it matter?"
—
Kevin lowered the paper slightly.
Then:
"…It means the world will respond now."
—
Silence.
Not heavy.
Just real.
—
Tashigi spoke quietly.
"…We've crossed a threshold."
—
Nami folded her bounty slowly.
"…Then we can't stay still anymore."
—
Carina groaned.
"…I miss anonymity."
—
Kuina sheathed her sword.
"…Too late."
—
Kevin looked at the sea.
Not tense.
Not excited.
Just aware.
—
"…Now we move forward differently," he said.
—
A pause.
—
"…We are no longer unknown."
—
The wind shifted.
—
Not gently.
Not violently.
Just forward.
—
And the sea—
for the first time—
felt like it had started paying attention to them.