"Ouch..."
Kizaru tilted his head and said in an odd tone, "Young people these days are quite frightening~~."
Akainu remained dignified, his resolute face expressing utmost seriousness as he spoke.
"For the sake of absolute justice, we must dispatch troops immediately to eradicate these wretched pirates.
Doberman nodded in agreement, echoing, "Admiral Akainu is correct. We cannot ignore these vile scoundrels."
"I propose sending a Colonel from headquarters to East Blue to apprehend these individuals."
With a cigarette in his mouth, Onigumo spoke with a malicious tone, "Pirates are growing more audacious by the day, paying little heed to the Marines."
"In the name of justice, we must strike with full force and not waver."
The other Marine Admirals nodded in agreement.
Aokiji broke his silence, yawning as he spoke, "East Blue is quite a distance away. By the time we get there, the pirates may have already departed."
Yamakaji nodded and added, "Kuzan Admiral is correct; it's not worth sending Rear Admirals. The pirates are far from being eliminated, and waiting for Marine to arrive is impractical."
"This Ethan, despite his potential, is not worth such a major operation orchestrated by headquarters."Momonga looked at the assembled Admirals and spoke seriously.
Momousagi sat silently, refraining from making any comments, yet deep inside, she felt a sense of admiration.
"Ethan has finally come into Marine's view, and now we'll see what kind of bounty he'll receive."
In their last conversation, Ethan had told her that before becoming a Shichibukai, he wanted to make a name for himself. After all, it might seem like a fluke that an unknown person suddenly killed Crocodile.
If Marine used this as a reason to refuse his entry into the Shichibukai, it would be a significant loss.
But now, Ethan had garnered the attention of Marine Headquarters, and it was time to surpass Crocodile.
"Allow me to share my opinion."
At that moment, Staff Officer Tsuru leaned her chin on her hands and, with wisdom gleaming in her eyes, spoke slowly.
As soon as her words were heard, all conversations ceased, and everyone turned their attention to her, waiting for her analysis.
Staff Officer Tsuru is known for her strategic capabilities which are almost on par with those of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Tsuru is about to voice her thoughts again. Hahaha...~"
Garp looked at Staff Tsuru and laughed heartily, without restraint.
Tsuru paid no heed to the old man and continued, "The Ethan Pirates had been planning their voyage for a considerable time."
"The individuals aboard the ship don't appear to be rookies; rather, they seem to have experience in the Grand Line. Each member exhibits extensive combat experience."
"They possess powerful Devil Fruits such as The Logia Miasma and The Paramecia Sonic, which are formidable abilities."
Tsuru lowered her gaze to the table, her tone unwaveringly affirmative. "Based on the data, these crew members display ruthlessness and a willingness to kill without hesitation."
"However, they follow Ethan obediently. This suggests that Ethan must be incredibly powerful."
"What Doberman mentioned earlier, sending a headquarters Colonel to apprehend him, is bound to fail, in my estimation."
"The strength of this group requires at least the assistance of a Rear Admiral from headquarters or even the deployment of a Vice Admiral."
"In my opinion, confronting them with a Rear Admiral would be challenging, and there's a possibility of defeat."
When Staff Officer Tsuru mentioned this, Doberman was the first to respond, expressing doubt, "These rabbles have likely never set foot in the Grand Line."
"Furthermore, Ethan was an unknown figure until now, and he has never been rewarded by Marine."
"Isn't it excessive to deploy officers above the rank of Captain for his first capture?"
Onigumo nodded, taking a drag from his cigarette before saying, "I concur. I believe it's an overreaction. We needn't deploy officers of general rank for newcomers like these."
Kizaru reclined in his chair, crossed his legs, and sardonically remarked, "Youngsters these days are indeed intimidating....I'm shaking with fear."
Aokiji, who rarely spoke, also chimed in lazily, "Staff Crane's analysis is sound, and we should take it seriously."
Momonga nodded, then added, "It's not an overreaction. This group is different."
"Instead of dispatching a risky Rear Admiral, it might be wiser to send a Vice Admiral to ensure their capture."
Garp pounded the table, laughing heartily, "Then send me, the Vice Admiral, over there. I wonder if this old man still has the energy."
Without further ado, Sengoku gave him a stern look and said, "Garp, you're not going anywhere. You're staying at headquarters, and that's final."
Akainu, with a grave expression, interjected, "Indeed, it might be extravagant to deploy a Vice Admiral, but it aligns with the principle of absolute justice."
"To deal with this trash, we should use the mightiest force available and let it be known that challenging Marine is futile."
Sengoku nodded, casting his gaze upon the assembled Admirals as he continued, "…This group is exceptionally strong and possesses immense potential."
"If we allow them to venture further into the Grand Line, we'll encounter even greater difficulties."
"Thus, we must act preemptively before they grow stronger and eliminate any chance they might have."
"Now, let's discuss who is willing to go."
Sengoku turned to Garp, speaking sternly, "You needn't say a word. You'll remain here with me."
Garp laughed uproariously, "Sengoku, you're keeping me on a tight leash. This old man hasn't been in good health lately. How could I return to East Blue? Hahaha…"
The other Admirals exchanged glances, but none of them immediately volunteered for the task.
After all, this assignment was far from desirable.
Rushing from Marine Headquarters to East Blue, a distant and remote location, would require considerable effort, with no guarantee of success.
Moreover, the Ethan Pirates were still at large and could easily relocate.
Arresting them would require catching up to them, which was no easy task.
In short, this mission was tedious and unattractive; no one was eager to undertake it.
"Sister Tsuru is so powerful. It's a shame we're no longer as close as before," Momousagi murmured, gazing at the table while her thoughts turned somber.
This wise old man held her utmost respect and affection.
Though they weren't true sisters, their bond exceeded that of real siblings.
Staff Officer, Tsuru had always taken great care of her, treating her like a younger sister.
But now, he had betrayed Marine and joined the pirates.
They were now adversaries!!
Nevertheless, Momousagi had no regrets and believed fervently that her actions were justified.
Celestial Dragons were perpetrating evil, arrogance, and oppression worldwide.
In this era, change was imperative, and the status quo could no longer persist.
Everything she did was for justice…
"I'll go," Onigumo declared.
He took a puff of his cigarette and spoke earnestly, "Don't worry, everyone. For the sake of absolute justice, I'll apprehend them all."
Akainu turned to his subordinate, nodding gravely and offering his assurance, "If you're going, I have complete confidence that these criminals won't escape."
Polusalino leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and tilted his head, as always, displaying his provocative nature. "Ouch…"
"Even Vice Admiral Onigumo is being dispatched. Youngsters these days are quite terrifying. I'm positively terrified."
Sengoku watched Onigumo and commented with utmost seriousness, "Your willingness to undertake this mission puts my mind at ease. It's settled, then."
"Now, let's discuss the bounties, especially Ethan's."
Garp laughed heartily, raising his voice, "So, what's the reward? Tell me, how much is my bounty?"
Momonga glanced at Garp and smiled faintly, "The Ethan Pirates haven't entered the Grand Line yet; they're newcomers with enhanced abilities."
"Offering them too high a bounty would inadvertently raise their status among pirates. I don't find it appropriate."
Doberman snickered, casually remarking, "In any case, they'll soon find themselves in Impel Down. The bounty doesn't matter."
Tokikake shrugged, offering a rare perspective, "I think, despite their potential, they're still newcomers."
"No matter how high their first bounty is, it shouldn't exceed 100 million. It should be less than that."
Yamakaji smiled politely and stated, "Setting bounties for pirates depends on various factors."
"Their threat to Marine, their impact on civilians, and their potential…"
"Based on the current situation, the Ethan Pirates haven't caused significant harm to civilians. Their influence is limited."
"However, their potential poses a substantial threat to Marine, so their bounty can be relatively high."
"A bounty of exactly 100 million would strike the right balance between not too high and not too low."
The doves among the Admirals nodded in agreement.
At this point, Staff Officer Tsuru spoke up, nodding slightly and displaying wisdom in her eyes as she said, "Yamakaji is correct. I believe 100 million is an appropriate figure."
Hearing her statement, the hawk faction Admirals refrained from further comment, falling into silence.
"Then it's settled: Captain Ethan will have a 100 million Beli bounty."
Sengoku knocked on the table, finalizing the decision.
Kizaru grinned, commenting playfully, "Youngsters these days are something. They're scaring me~~."
Momousagi gazed at the table silently, feeling a sense of awe. "Ethan is truly remarkable; his initial bounty is so high."
The meeting continued, and bounties were assigned to the members of the Ethan Pirates one by one…
The next morning, aboard the ship's deck, news birds continued to deliver newspapers.
"A testament to the Vice-Captain's watchful eye, keeping a keen eye on world events and changes in the seas."
Ajin ceased his training and addressed Lafitte, his voice carrying a hint of admiration.
Burgess glanced at him, mocking, "I heard you want to be Vice-Captain a man like you, do you have the strength? Dont make me laugh WiiiHahahaha…"
Doc Q glanced at Gin, his weathered face bearing a cryptic smile, "Once I become Vice-Captain, you can challenge me again. I find you quite intriguing, hehe…"
Hawkins engaged in a card game, commenting quietly, "You haven't changed your expression at all; you won't become Vice-Captain like this."
Lafitte smiled slightly at the news and spoke softly, "Excellent. Our Captain is in the headlines. Finally, we've been awarded bounties."
Upon hearing his words, the entire crew became eager, abandoning their activities and gathering around.
Burgess couldn't contain his excitement and blurted out, "How much is it? Tell me, tell me, how much is my bounty?"
Even the usually stoic Luo displayed curiosity, inquiring, "I wonder how much the Captain's bounty is."
"Many bounties, one hundred million Bellys!"
As the newspaper was revealed, Ah Jin, who usually maintained a composed demeanor, showed a look of shock, as though he had witnessed a ghost.
He was astonished.
This news was staggering.
In East Blue, the highest known bounty was merely 20 to 30 million Bellys.
Yet here was the first-time bounty of his Captain, standing at an unprecedented 100 million Bellys.
This was beyond belief.
"Indeed, our Captain is extraordinary," Hawkins acknowledged, remaining calm. "To my knowledge, no pirate in the world has ever received such a high bounty for their first Reward."
Burgess raised his arms triumphantly and proclaimed, "I've received a 50 million Bellys bounty for the first time. I find it quite amusing. Wiiihahahaha…"
Doc Q, perusing the newspaper, wore a sly smile and commented, "I've got more than you a 70 million Beli bounty."
"Looks like 110 million in total. My strength must surpass all of yours. Hehehe~~"
Law sneered, unreserved in his response. "Don't forget Lafitte."
"Our Vice-Captain is awarded an 85 million Beli bounty, 15 million more than you."
Gin, unfazed by their conversation, shook his head and expressed his feelings, "You're all so strong."
"Our Captain has a bounty of 100 million, and the rest of us have tens of millions each."
"Collectively, it exceeds 400 million."
Gin gazed at his crewmates and spoke with earnestness, "400 million—it's an incredible sum. The combined bounties of all pirates in East Blue can't match ours."
"I want to learn from you, I want to become stronger, and I want to have such a high bounty!"
Determination shone in Gin's dark eyes as he made his resolve known.
He felt fortunate to have these people around him, knowing they would help him grow stronger.
To reach even greater heights, to make his name known throughout the entire ocean…
....
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