CHAPTER 28

Reward

The blue sea.

The first half of the Grand Line.

A majestic and colossal naval fortress stands tall, with the Marine insignia fluttering high, symbolizing justice and the world's order.

This is Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines.

Located near the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, Marineford forms a strategic triangle with Enies Lobby and Impel Down, the three great pillars of World Government authority.

Surrounding this special sea area are massive whirlpools, making direct entry nearly impossible. Only those who pass through the Gates of Justice and ride the designated sea currents can reach the fortress.

Towering defensive walls, rows of warships, thousands of cannons, and elite soldiers reinforce its formidable presence. Many Marines and their families reside here, making it not only a military base but a small city of its own.

Marshal's Office

Inside the grand office, Fleet Admiral Kong sat behind his desk, his broad frame tense, his expression grim.

A headache.

Not long ago, a Marine base in the New World had been wiped out. A Rear Admiral and over a thousand brave soldiers perished.

At first, the World Government tried to suppress the news. But that damn bird, Big News Morgans, had leaked everything to the world.

The revelation shook the global stage. The Marines' authority took a severe hit, morale plummeted, and the pirates grew bolder.

And as if that wasn't enough, the remnants of the Rocks Pirates had been stirring trouble from the shadows.

"Those damn pests…"

Even after Rocks D. Xebec's fall, his scattered crew continued to wreak havoc. Golden Lion Shiki and his Flying Pirates were the most troublesome among them, engaging in constant battles and challenging Marine authority.

The current state of Marine high command was dire:

Monkey D. Garp was primarily occupied chasing Gol D. Roger, under orders from the World Government. His presence in the New World was limited.

Admiral Zephyr, devastated by the slaughter of his family a year ago, had resigned from active duty. Though he retained his rank, he now focused on training recruits.

Admiral Sengoku had his hands full monitoring Edward Newgate, the "Whitebeard", while also fending off attacks from Shiki and other notorious pirates.

With their forces stretched thin, Marines stationed in the New World were left vulnerable. The destruction of an entire base was proof of their growing weakness.

And then, there was Shiki's Devil Fruit ability—the Float-Float Fruit (Fuwa Fuwa no Mi).

The ability to make anything float, including himself, made him extremely difficult to catch. Unless he made a critical mistake, no force could easily restrain him.

Despite all this, the Marines remained the most powerful organization at sea. But the sheer size of their domain and the number of threats worldwide made it impossible to fully concentrate their forces for a decisive battle.

A sudden knock on the door broke Kong's thoughts.

A Marine Colonel, panting from urgency, rushed in with a report.

"Fleet Admiral Kong! We have confirmed sightings of Golden Lion Shiki in the New World—specifically, on Lati Island!"

Kong's expression darkened.

"The Flying Pirates again? Bring me the intel!"

The Colonel swiftly handed over a dossier.

Kong flipped through the pages, his face growing grimmer with each detail.

"Summon Vice Admiral Tsuru immediately."

"Yes, sir!"

The messenger sprinted out.

Moments later, a tall, elegant woman with long, dark blue hair tied in a ponytail stepped into the office. Wearing the cloak of justice, she exuded an aura of wisdom and authority.

This was Vice Admiral Tsuru, one of the Marine's greatest tacticians.

"Take a look at this."

Kong handed her the report.

Tsuru read through the details, her sharp eyes narrowing.

Aside from the usual reports on Shiki, a new, mysterious swordsman had been sighted among his ranks—someone who had already gained notoriety.

Upon cross-referencing Marine intelligence, Tsuru quickly made the connection.

"This individual… he is most likely the one responsible for the death of Niskeen, a pirate with a bounty exceeding 500 million berries. Niskeen's death disrupted trade on Island Food City, sending ripples through the underworld."

A serious matter.

For the Marines, a 500-million-berry pirate was classified as a top-tier threat, often warranting direct Admiral intervention.

Though bounties were not an absolute measure of strength, they still carried significant weight.

Kong tapped his fingers against the desk.

"Your thoughts?"

Tsuru, ever composed, responded in a calm voice.

"Fleet Admiral, our forces in the New World are too scattered. With our top officers occupied, the Marines can no longer maintain absolute control. The New World is slipping beyond our reach, and soon, even the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line may descend into chaos."

Kong's fists clenched. His scarred face was grim.

"Right now, the Marines are at their weakest. If we make a misstep, we could suffer catastrophic losses in the New World."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Finally, Kong exhaled deeply.

"For now, we issue a bounty."

He turned to Tsuru.

"What's the appropriate amount?"

Tsuru pondered for a moment before answering.

"130 million berries. That's a reasonable starting point. Anything too high could cause unnecessary panic among the populace. Besides, we lack conclusive evidence tying him to the Food City incident."

Kong nodded.

"Very well. 130 million berries. Alive or dead."

With a final command, the bounty notice for Heberfiler Charlotte was dispatched.

Name: Heberfiler Charlotte

Bounty: 130,000,000 berries

Affiliation: Flying Pirates, Sixth Division Captain

Status: Wanted dead or alive

The bounty poster, carried by News Coo, spread across the world.

---

Elsewhere…

Far from Marineford, in a dimly lit cabin, a young 17-year-old swordsman stared at the bounty poster in his hands.

"...130 million?"

Charlotte blinked.

His first bounty, and it was already in the nine-digit range.

"That's… a bit much, isn't it?"

From what he understood, Marine bounties were issued based on threat level, not necessarily actual strength.

He hadn't done anything too outrageous, had he?

Sure, he fought some strong guys, but to suddenly be labeled as one of the top rising threats?

The real culprit, he suspected, was none other than Shiki.

"Damn it, that old bastard probably dragged me into this mess…"

Looking at the "dead or alive" on the bounty, Charlotte felt an unexpected chill.

"Guess I better lay low for a while. No more drawing attention to myself."

If Shiki didn't personally summon him, he'd never step foot outside again.

Hopefully, for a long, long time.