Chapter 195: Chapter 195: New Bounties
At the Hell Pirates’ headquarters on Baron Island, the banquet hall buzzed with revelry. The crew gorged on food and drink, with even Angelie and Ashura Jakun joining the feast.
"Brook, the new bounties are out!" Antonio shouted, waving a stack of wanted posters.
"We’re officially one of the Four Overlords now, hailed as the pirates with the most balanced average bounties!"
Though his own name wasn’t among the posters, Antonio’s grin was wide. He’d watched the Hell Pirates grow from a ragtag crew to a powerhouse, step by step.
The crew grabbed their posters, buzzing with excitement. They’d taken down Dawei together, but to cement Brook as an Overlord, his bounty had more than doubled. Since Brook and Redfield were notorious for killing a Celestial Dragon, their bounties edged higher than the rest.
Lord of the Underworld, Brook: 1.5 billion Belly.
Red the Aloof, Redfield: 1 billion Belly.
Golden Lion Shiki, Whitebeard Newgate, Soul Witch Charlotte Linlin: 800 million Belly each.
Shiki and Newgate’s destructive Devil Fruit powers had caught up to Linlin’s early fame, landing them equal bounties.
"Yahoo! My bounty shot up to 200 million!" Shakky whooped, practically bouncing. She’d led the charge against several Sea Siren Pirate officers with bounties over 100 million, fighting alongside Tom and Stussy.
Ashura Jakun, ship doctor Crocus, and sniper Silva had ganged up on the 550-million-Belly Witch Tia. Jakun, a near-great swordsman, debuted at a staggering 250 million Belly. Crocus climbed to 170 million, and Silva hit 190 million.
Stussy earned her first bounty at 50 million Belly. Tom rose to 180 million, while Fisher Tiger, disappointed with his mere 20-million bump, vowed to challenge tougher foes next time.
Scarlet jumped from 100 million to 150 million. If the Navy knew he’d become a Devil Fruit user, it’d likely be higher.
Streusen and Qilin Lion saw slight increases—Streusen still shy of 100 million at 90 million, and Qilin Lion hitting 20 million.
The Memory Seahorse, a pet with basic Armament Haki that mowed down grunts, shocked the pirate world with its first bounty: 10 million Belly. Parrot, sticking close to Antonio, remained bounty-free.
...
Brook eyed his 1.5-billion-Belly poster. By rights, he should’ve been closer to Redfield’s bounty, but the crew had pushed him to the Overlord threshold.
Wilank, still at 1.1 billion, was probably fuming over the Hell Pirates’ soaring bounties. His Ice Demon Pirates had lost their Overlord title. Despite controlling more islands than Saracha or Brook, Wilank’s crew couldn’t hold out much longer. They’d crumble eventually.
No one holds that many islands without the strength to back it up!
"Why’s Redfield’s bounty so much higher than ours?!" Shiki griped, glancing at Newgate and Linlin’s matching 800 million. He could stomach that, but Redfield sticking out stung.
"Maybe you should off a Celestial Dragon," Redfield said coolly, a smirk tugging at his lips. Clearly, the Navy and World Government saw him as the Hell Pirates’ top officer. They had some taste.
"Damn it! Next time, I’ll take out ten or eight Celestial Dragons! I might even surpass Brook! Jahaha!"
Killing a Celestial Dragon spiked bounties fast, but it came with relentless pursuit and schemes.
Ashura Jakun stared at his poster. It had his picture but listed his name as "Unknown," leaving him a bit sheepish. Did this count as making a name for himself?
The "Unknown Swordsman" was noted for his terrifying strength, facing Tia head-on. The World Government and Navy couldn’t dig up info on Brook’s samurai squad, so they went unbountied for now.
Whitebeard Newgate grinned at his bounty. Since awakening his Conqueror’s Haki, he had no weaknesses left. He’d caught up to Shiki and Linlin, and deep down, he felt a full-on burst might outmatch them. But unlike Shiki, he wasn’t one to brag. He knew his own strength and left it at that.
...
At Demon Horn Island, the Butcher Pirates’ stronghold, Saracha’s mood was sour. He glared at his meager crew—small fry compared to the Hell Pirates’ posters, which he’d crumbled to dust.
His top officer, Harvey, a 710-million-Belly pirate, had been taken out by Ochoku, a 700-million-Belly great swordsman from the Rocks Pirates. It was like losing a chunk of his heart.
His remaining high-bounty officers—Baden at 540 million and Gileka at 510 million—looked like chumps next to the Hell Pirates. Even with Saracha’s own 2.2-billion-Belly bounty, he wasn’t sure he could take Brook’s crew. The news now called the Hell Pirates the third-strongest Overlord crew.
...
Wilank was livid. His territory outstripped Saracha’s and Brook’s, but his Giant Tribe ate mountains of food. Most of his islands were barren, forcing them to hunt Sea Kings for meat. With no top-tier fighters, they relied on the Giants’ mid-tier strength to hold their place in the New World.
They’d lost even the "quasi-Overlord" or "pseudo-Overlord" labels. The mainstream news had locked in the Four Overlords, and the Hell Pirates—newcomers!—had snagged the title so fast it was absurd.
Back in the Three Overlords era, even the mighty Rocks took over a decade to claim dominance. What were these new Overlords made of?
Saracha was only impressive himself; his crew was weak. Wilank’s Giant troops could flatten them. But Brook’s crew? Every officer was a beast, with Conqueror’s Haki wielders galore. They had the makings of the next Rocks Pirates, with limitless potential.
...
At Ten Kings Island, Madagascar, Orion gaped at the Hell Pirates’ bounties overtaking his own. Unbelievable. When he’d met them, they were greenhorns. Now they were an Overlord crew.
Redfield, who’d sparred with him, had surpassed his bounty, souring Orion’s mood further.
Jevalle felt the same. That little Giant, a nobody when they first clashed, had ridden Jevalle’s fame to a 500-million-Belly bounty. After the Dawei fight, he’d outstripped Jevalle entirely.
Were these rookies monsters? Main characters straight out of a story?
It was like Blackbeard Teach in the original tale—scheming for years to claim two Devil Fruits, hitting 2.2 billion Belly, only to see upstarts like Straw Hat Luffy, Kid, and Law rocket to 3 billion each. Were his top-tier Quake-Quake and Dark-Dark Fruits worth less than those kids’?
Vesper read the papers and posters, unsurprised but slightly rattled. He glanced at his own crew. They could still overpower the Hell Pirates, but for how long?
He’d just turned 69, with old battle scars nagging him. Could he make it to 75? Tough call.
"Shirokiri, get your act together!" Vesper snapped at his carefree son. "That attitude’s why you’ll never awaken Conqueror’s Haki. With your talent, you shouldn’t be stuck at this level!"
Shirokiri, 44, was just a year younger than Rocks. Look at Rocks’ ferocity—or even Brook, 38, outshining him. Shirokiri’s bounty had stalled at 1.1 billion for nearly a decade.
Worse, Shirokiri refused to settle down. Despite his playboy ways, he hadn’t produced a single heir, leaving Vesper exasperated. If Vesper weren’t pushing 70, he’d start a new heir himself.
Should’ve raised more kids back in the day. Would’ve saved this mess.
"Pops, Brook’s ignoring me now! Your future daughter-in-law Angelie’s with his crew!" Shirokiri whined, fixated on the stunning woman.
At least he was thinking of marriage, Vesper thought, a small consolation. But why didn’t Shirokiri pursue Angelie when she was around? Now that Brook had her, Shirokiri was all in. Useless.
Salem and the other officers watched Vesper scold his son, their faces blank. As Vesper aged, their own ambitions grew. If Vesper fell, would they strike out on their own, prop up Shirokiri, or join another Overlord?
...
At Hachinosu the Rocks Pirates gathered. Ochoku shone brightest, his bounty jumping from 700 million to 800 million. Most other officers’ bounties stayed static unless they’d soloed a higher-bounty foe.
Newcomers Captain John and Silver Axe had taken down their targets, each hitting the 500-million-Belly mark.
Veteran officers like Warrior Monk Skal, Sandy, Grimm Vane, Rocket Jonas hadn’t defeated their foes, so their bounties stagnated.
"The Hell Pirates are a force now. They’ll be our rivals soon," Rocks mused. "But Vesper, that stubborn old fool, pissed off Brook by stealing his prize.
"Next battle, the Hell Pirates might sit it out. They’re done teaming with Vesper. They could play the third party, watching us fight. But the New World? It’s ours. The Rocks Pirates will rule!"
Rocks had no interest in cozying up to Brook. As long as the Hell Pirates stayed neutral, his crew had the edge. With Ochoku and the new blood rising, the Overlord Alliance’s top fighters wouldn’t hold Rocks back next time.
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