Chapter 344
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
In the East Blue, on a small, unassuming island, lies a place called Taoli Town. They, too, had just announced their allegiance to the Spark Alliance.
On the familiar streets of the village, a group of children were locked in a heated debate.
"The Ship's Spirit, Merry, is a literal legend! There's no way she's weaker than some raccoon dog!" a chubby boy declared indignantly.
"What did you say? Chopper said he's a reindeer, so you better remember it!" another boy with a runny nose shot back, clearly upset. "Besides, Chopper can turn into a giant! A creature like that has to be way rarer than a ship's spirit!"
"Merry is stronger!"
"Chopper is stronger!"
The argument quickly escalated as the other children picked sides, their voices rising in a chaotic chorus. For a moment, the supporters of Chopper and Merry were evenly matched.
The stalemate was broken by a little girl in a skirt, not because she was pretty, but because she was clutching the latest wanted posters fresh from the World Economic Journal.
The others crowded around, their eyes scanning the bounties for Chopper and Merry, along with the news agency's brief descriptions.
[Ship Spirit] Merry: A legendary being, the spirit of the Sunshine Merry, capable of materializing a human form. Wielder of the Door-Door Fruit ability.
BOUNTY: 230,000,000 Berries!
The picture showed the Sunshine Merry itself, cutting gallantly through the waves.
["Monster Racoon Dog"] Tony Tony Chopper: A creature claiming to be a reindeer, suspected to wield Devil Fruit powers that grant him monstrous strength.
BOUNTY: 230,000,000 Berries!
The photo captured Chopper in his Monster Point form, the exact moment he sent a giant Vice-Admiral crashing to the ground.
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Navy G-1 Branch
"If Saul could see you now, he would be so proud."
Aokiji muttered to himself in his quiet office. A sharp knock came at the door.
"Admiral Aokiji, Fleet Admiral Sengoku requests your presence."
Aokiji sighed, stood, and placed the bounty poster he was holding down on his desk.
["Devil Child"] Nico Robin: A woman who has mastered the reading of the Poneglyphs. User of the Flower-Flower Fruit.
BOUNTY: 300,000,000 Berries!
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As the saying goes, it takes all sorts. Just as there were fans of the cute and legendary, there were those who appreciated the... unconventional. On a unique island in the West Blue, a place known for its peculiar aesthetics, two pirates in particular were celebrated as heroes. For these people, the Straw Hats who truly shined at Marineford were the skeleton, Brook, and the cyborg, Franky.
Some had even gotten tattoos of the duo to show their devotion. The moment the new bounties were released, they rushed to have the posters framed.
["Soul King"] Brook: Acting captain of the Rumbar Pirates fifty years ago. Reborn through the power of the Revive-Revive Fruit.
BOUNTY: 440,000,000 Berries!
His picture captured the epic moment he defeated Vice-Admiral Momonga.
["Cyborg"] Franky: A world-class shipwright in possession of the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton. User of the Munch-Munch Fruit with enough firepower to decimate an army.
BOUNTY: 490,000,000 Berries!
The photo showed Franky in his "General Franky" form, the instant he blindsided Admiral Kizaru.
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"Captain Usopp, you were incredible!"
"Yeah! And that photo on your bounty poster is so cool!"
"Totally! In the middle of all that cannon fire, kneeling down to fire the single shot that decided the whole war… That's our Captain Usopp!"
Now that Syrup Village had joined the Spark Alliance, the three members of the "Usopp Pirates"—Piiman, Tamanegi, and Ninjin—were back home. They marched through the familiar streets, loudly singing the praises of their captain for all to hear.
After they passed, doors creaked open and villagers stepped out, chuckling.
"Those boys… Usopp said a few harsh words to them years ago, and they still hero-worship him for it."
"Hahaha, you get used to it. They're good kids, really. They just can't help but show off every time new Usopp news comes out."
"Still, he really is something else. It hasn't been that long since his last bounty, and this one is several times higher."
["God"] Usopp: A sniper of almost supernatural skill, and the son of Yasopp – a member of the Red-Haired Pirates.
BOUNTY: 500,000,000 Berries!
The poster captured the legendary moment he fired the sea-stone shot that saved Ace.
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In the Land of Wano, atop the island of Onigashima, a terrible racket echoed from the fortress. Someone was venting their rage.
"What's wrong with Master Jack?"
"I heard he saw a new bounty poster and lost it."
"A bounty?"
"Yeah, for the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Did their captain's bounty break ten billion or something? Is that why he's so pissed?"
"It's not just that. I think this one made him even angrier."
"Ah, I see. No wonder he's unhappy."
["Cat Burglar"] Nami: Navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates. User of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit with the power to command natural disasters.
BOUNTY: 600,000,000 Berries!
The photo showed her wreathed in lightning, calling down a storm of divine punishment.
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Outside Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, chaos reigned.
"ZORO! SANJI! STOP IT, YOU GUYS!"
Chopper and Merry pleaded anxiously, but they were helpless against the force of nature that was their crewmates' rivalry. When Rayleigh had first presented the new bounties, everything had been fine. Even Merry wasn't upset that her poster featured the ship instead of her.
But when Zoro's and Sanji's bounties were announced, the peace shattered.
["Black Leg"] Sanji: A master of superhuman martial arts, confirmed to wield two forms of Haki and kicking techniques of the highest caliber.
BOUNTY: 890,000,000 Berries!
["Pirate Hunter"] Zoro: A swordsman of the highest order, confirmed to wield two forms of Haki and the mysterious, demonic power of Asura.
BOUNTY: 910,000,000 Berries!
That meager twenty-million-berry difference was all it took to reignite their daily ritual of loving hatred. The argument quickly devolved, old grudges were brought up, and soon enough, both men had ripped off their bandages and taken the fight outside, leaving the final two bounties completely forgotten.
Inside the bar…
"One, ten, hundred, thousand… hundred million… billion…"
Usopp stared at the number on the poster in front of him, his finger tracing the digits. It was the fifth time he had counted.
"Yohohoho! It appears to be true! A number like that truly makes my blood boil!" Brook laughed. "Even though I'm a skeleton and have no blood to boil! Yohohoho!"
By now, everyone else had, like Brook, accepted the staggering reality. On this day, the Straw Hat Pirates gained two members whose bounties had surpassed the one billion mark.
["The Priest"] Bai Ye: Vice-Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. A calculating figure who orchestrates chaos from the shadows.
BOUNTY: 1,688,800,000 Berries!
["Straw Hat"] Monkey D. Luffy: Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. The man who turned the world on its head.
BOUNTY: 1,800,000,000 Berries!