Chapter 14: 60 Million Berries? Who Are You Looking Down On?

While Marshal Kong was busy discussing important matters with the Five Elders, the Donquixote Pirates finally entered the Grand Line, heading towards Whiskey Peak, the very spot where Luffy and Vivi would first meet.

An essential item for navigating the Grand Line was the Log Pose. The Log Pose records the magnetic fields between the islands of the Grand Line, guiding pirates correctly to the next island. Each island has a unique magnetic field, and the Log Pose needs to record at the current location for a certain period to store the magnetism before pointing to the next island. If a ship arrives at a different island than the one indicated by the Log Pose, the magnetic record will be overwritten.

Some islands take an excessively long time to fully charge the Log Pose (like Little Garden, which takes a full year – and Doflamingo had no intention of wasting that much time). If one doesn't want to wait, the solution is to use an Eternal Pose to reach the island it points to, overwriting the Log Pose and allowing travel to the next island.

Doflamingo, well aware of the Log Pose's importance, had thought of this long before setting sail. He'd specifically gone to the black market, spending a fortune to find Eternal Poses for islands along the future Straw Hat Luffy's route. He hadn't managed to find one for Jaya Island, but he had acquired an Eternal Pose for Drum Island. After all, as a renowned medical kingdom with advanced technology and many patients seeking treatment, Drum Island's Log Pose was relatively easy to obtain.

The pirate ship sailed steadily, unhurried, towards its destination.

Whiskey Peak, the future Straw Hat Pirates' first stop. On the surface, it appeared to be a town welcoming to pirates, but the truth was far darker: it was a haven for bounty hunters. Located at the entrance to the Grand Line, Whiskey Peak was infested with bounty hunters from the four seas. They preyed on newly-arrived, overconfident pirates, beheading them for their bounties. It was also, later, a branch of the secret criminal organization Baroque Works.

Onboard, everyone carried out their duties meticulously. Doflamingo continued his physical training, laying a solid foundation for the future awakening of his Armament Haki.

They were nearing Whiskey Peak. Having finished his workout, Doflamingo thought about soon entering this paradise for bounty hunters. His calm heart began to race; he could almost feel his blood heating up.

"Am I a battle maniac? No, I'm just grieving for my own weakness. They're merely… nourishment. I just want them to rest. They're so tired," Doflamingo muttered to himself. He absolutely refused to admit he was a battle maniac. The world was such a beautiful place; why waste it on fighting? He'd rather spend that time chatting with beautiful women and enjoying life. After all, Doflamingo always claimed to be a lover of world peace. If he could avoid a fight, he would. Who wanted to fight all the time? This world was too beautiful. Chasing girls and enjoying the scenery was far more appealing. Alas, he was a victim of circumstance, a victim of circumstance.

The dangers of the Grand Line were naturally incomparable to those of the four seas. He had to be fully prepared; capsizing would be a disaster.

The pirate ship slowly sailed into Whiskey Peak. The bounty hunters in the town were like flies drawn to a scent, gathering in groups of three or five, their eyes greedily fixed on their new prey.

Patty Ryder had been a bounty hunter for over ten years. He'd faced countless dangers, both big and small. He was considered a skilled member of the bounty hunter teams in Whiskey Peak. Thanks to his caution and foresight, he lived a relatively prosperous life. He never touched those with excessively high bounties, deeply understanding his own limitations. He cherished his life and wouldn't risk it on targets he couldn't handle. However, there were so many naive rookies entering the Grand Line, most of whom became victims under his blade. Occasionally, he'd encounter a few tough ones, but he'd always managed to escape unscathed. Eventually, he earned the nickname "Clever Ryder" within the bounty hunter circles. Having successfully made a name for himself, Ryder began to recruit, gathering a group of skilled bounty hunters under his command. They gathered in this place to make a fortune, too afraid to venture further into the Grand Line.

In a certain tavern at the foot of Whiskey Peak, a relaxed Ryder was embracing a scantily clad woman. Half-drunk, Ryder flirted with the woman while shamelessly taking advantage of her, the atmosphere thick with a rosy hue.

Creak. The tavern door opened, and a travel-worn man walked in, approaching Ryder and the amorous scene.

It was one of Ryder's subordinates. He leaned close to Ryder's ear and whispered a report.

"Boss Ryder, another fat sheep has arrived."

Ryder immediately sobered up. "Have you found out the details? Are they troublesome?"

"I've checked very thoroughly. They're absolute rookies. I heard the captain's just a brat."

"Oh, is that so?" Ryder instantly felt that the drink in his hand had lost its flavor. He pondered for a moment, then apologized to the woman beside him. "My dear, I'm sorry, but business calls. It seems I won't be able to keep you company tonight."

The woman gave Ryder a flirtatious glance and cooed, "Oh, you're going to do big business. Just don't forget about me." She then gently stroked Ryder's broad chest with her delicate hand, pressing her exquisite face against him to express her reluctance to see him go.

"Wow, this woman is really something. Boss, you should take it easy. Are you sure you're up to it? Sigh, I'm still young, let me handle it," the subordinate thought to himself, though of course, he wouldn't dare say such words to Ryder.

The gentle caress nearly ignited Ryder's fire. He released the beauty from his embrace and smiled. "How could I ever forget a little treasure like you?"

With that, he downed the remaining wine in one gulp and strode away, leaving behind the woman, who was still covering her mouth and giggling.

Ryder escaped the entanglement, his face regaining its coldness. "Do we have his bounty poster? Let me see."

The subordinate immediately understood, reaching out and handing over the bounty poster. "It's the rookie pirate Doflamingo, with a bounty of 60 million Berries. And he's wanted alive only."

Ryder looked at the young Doflamingo on the poster and exclaimed, "He really is young! I was probably still playing in the mud at his age. Tsk tsk, are there no real pirates left? Even kids like this are setting sail now."

"Boss, I reckon others are eyeing them too," the subordinate said.

"Hmph, the other bounty hunters are no concern. I don't give them a second thought. Except for that 'good guy' Wendell. That deceitful bastard pretends to be all friendly, tricking many newcomers into losing everything. And he's quite strong, but he prefers to disguise himself and deceive others, enjoying the look on their faces when they realize they've been tricked but can't do anything about it. He gets his twisted satisfaction from that, all while claiming to be a 'messenger of justice.' But he still takes the money, of course," Ryder nodded, as if recalling something unpleasant.

And right on cue, the very Wendell Ryder had just mentioned was approaching the newly disembarked Doflamingo and his crew.

Playing tricks on people was Wendell's hobby, especially deceiving pirates. It not only brought him money but also a sense of psychological satisfaction. What could be more satisfying than that?

It was a sickness that needed curing.

The moment Doflamingo's group entered the town, they immediately caught his interest. Looking at the young face on the bounty poster and comparing it to the approaching Doflamingo, Wendell couldn't help but grin excitedly. Deception was just so much fun.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen! Is this your first time here? Is there anything I can do for you?" Wendell greeted them warmly.

Seeing Wendell's overly familiar approach, Doflamingo found it amusing but remained vigilant. Ordinary residents would avoid pirates like the plague, fearing disaster. This person, however, is so kind, without a trace of fear, and even a bit presumptuous. It's likely a trap.

Doflamingo had no interest in playing his little games. He would simply deal with whatever came his way. He didn't want to see what tricks he had up his sleeve. If it weren't for the need for supplies, he would have already set course for Drum Island. Every wasted moment increased the risk of losing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. That was something Doflamingo couldn't allow.

He immediately interrupted the "good guy's" self-absorbed performance. "Don't waste my time. Get us the food and water we need, and you have half an hour. Otherwise, I'll kill you."

Wendell, suddenly interrupted, pretended to be flustered. "Yes, sir! I'll go prepare it right away."

"I don't care if you're a bounty hunter or a pirate. Just get what I need ready immediately," Doflamingo said, unmoved by his expression, ruthlessly exposing him.

This actually stunned the "good guy." Wendell prided himself on his impeccable acting skills. Unfortunately, he was far from a certain ape actor's level.

Not all pirates are as thick-headed as Luffy, and even rookie pirates wouldn't be so easily fooled.

"Hahaha! Wendell, even a 'good guy' like you can stumble sometimes!" A loud laugh erupted while Wendell was still stunned.

Wendell's face instantly turned red. "Well, well, the newcomers are getting harder to deal with these days," he said helplessly.

"Rookie pirate, Donquixote Pirates, Doflamingo with a 60 million Berry bounty, right?" Ryder walked towards Doflamingo's group.

"Ne, Doffy, you have a bounty," Trebol said, ignoring the others, speaking to Doflamingo.

The rest of the Donquixote Pirates were quite excited.

"Um, do you have a bounty poster? I want to see mine," Doflamingo asked, looking at Ryder.

"Hahaha, you're from the boonies, aren't you? Since you want to see your bounty poster so badly, take a good look. It's your last chance, after all," Ryder said, tossing the bounty poster from his subordinate to Doflamingo.

Having only seen bounty posters in anime and manga before, Doflamingo was genuinely curious. He took the poster and carefully examined the image of himself: with flamboyant blond hair, a slender build, and perfect muscle lines. Even his sunglasses added to his aesthetic. He was, indeed, a handsome devil.

"Finished looking? Hurry up and come with us. We won't hurt you, unless you want to suffer a bit," Ryder said, his mood excellent, excited about the soon-to-be-acquired bounty.

"Hey, hey, hey, that's my prey! Clever Ryder, you're celebrating too early," Wendell complained.

Doflamingo, immersed in his own stunning appearance, was brought back to reality by their bickering. He glanced at the conspicuous bounty amount and instantly became displeased.

"Fuffuffuffu! 60 million Berries? Who are you looking down on? So, I'm only worth two Luffys (East Blue arc) now?" Doflamingo's forehead bulged with veins, and accompanied by his arrogant laughter, a terrifying Conqueror's Haki burst forth, spreading in all directions. Dark red lightning crackled continuously, and the intense pressure sent Wendell and Ryder flying.

The blown-away Wendell and Ryder were shocked, exchanging a glance, their faces filled with panic.

60 million Berries truly didn't match Doflamingo's strength.

Marshal Kong, considering Doflamingo's Celestial Dragon status, had, after much deliberation, set the bounty at this amount to avoid a major scandal. Little did Kong know, Doflamingo would be secretly angered by this.