Extra! Extra! One Piece crew member Buggy the Clown becomes a Warlord of the Sea!
New World Breaking News: Supernovas Challenge Big Mom Pirates' Executives, Suffer Crushing Defeat.
Legendary Missing Pirate Reappears.
Kabe Kingdom Seized by Pirates.
Blackbeard Challenges Whitebeard's Remnants, Invades Former Emperor Whitebeard's Territory; Displaying Overwhelming Power! Conflicts Escalate.
...
The shouting newsboys clamored for attention, and it indeed sped up their sales considerably.
As soon as they returned to the sea and set foot on an island, Rosen and Hathaway heard the latest news from around the world.
This also indicated that the entire world was currently in a state of chaos. Rosen couldn't conveniently keep Bartholomew Kuma with him. He had already used a Den Den Mushi to contact Sabo, who said he would send the nearest person to take Kuma back.
Of course, the Den Den Mushi conversation included many thanks.
Rosen didn't mind. Actually, it would have been easier for Kuma to find his own way back, but since Kuma currently lacked his memories, having him contact the Revolutionary Army on his own seemed unrealistic.
Rosen didn't go to meet the Revolutionary Army himself. Instead, he had Kuma go to some inconspicuous Revolutionary Army outpost on this island by himself.
Rosen and Hathaway went ashore to understand the current situation and prepare to purchase an Eternal Pose to the Andia Kingdom so they could reunite with Robin and the others.
After wandering around the island, they found it lively and prosperous. Many people, upon recognizing Rosen and Hathaway, gasped and scattered.
In the eyes of the public and ordinary pirates, the Dawn Pirates were currently the most unstoppable and powerful pirate crew. Their recent exploits had truly shaken the world.
Not a single foolhardy person came looking for trouble. Wherever the two of them went, people scattered like birds.
"Why is Crocodile here? Shouldn't he be in the New World?" a pirate captain muttered, sweating and trembling.
Whether due to preconceived notions or not, when that man brushed past him, he felt like he was suffocating, utterly unable to muster any will to resist.
"It's really him!!"
"A new Four Emperors crew! Please, Lord Crocodile, is your crew still recruiting? I'm from the South Blue, bounty 75 million Berries. I'd even do menial chores if it meant boarding your ship!" An aged pirate captain rushed out from the side, incredibly excited and speaking incoherently.
Hearing this, Rosen immediately frowned. New Four Emperors? What was this about? Though puzzled, looking at this aged pirate captain trying to cling to a powerful crew, he immediately refused, saying, "You're in my way."
"Ah?! S-sorry..." The captain was startled and quickly moved aside. Then, watching Rosen and Hathaway walk away, he couldn't help but feel dejected. It seemed he still had a long way to go.
Rosen and Hathaway arrived at the island's lawless district and drank at an old saloon that served as a hub for underground intelligence.
Seeing the entire saloon fall silent upon their arrival, Rosen realized the impact of the Paramount War on them was far greater than he had imagined.
Rosen asked for a newspaper; it was about the Paramount War. Looking up, he noticed Hathaway's wanted poster pinned to the saloon wall. He glanced at it instinctively and was a bit stunned: "1.2 billion Berries!?"
"You're quite valuable." Logically, Hathaway's bounty was already high, but the primary culprit this time should have been defined as him, the captain.
Moreover, Marine Headquarters was usually conservative in its bounty assessments. He hadn't expected Hathaway's bounty to break through one billion Berries this time.
It had even reached 1.2 billion Berries. That meant, in the Marines' eyes, Hathaway was more dangerous than Big Mom Pirates' Katakuri. After all, the Big Mom Pirates ruled a country, whereas Hathaway was merely part of a single pirate crew.
But from any perspective, Hathaway was worth that price.
"That's good." Hathaway was quite satisfied with her new bounty. She was in a pretty good mood. After all, the higher the bounty, the greater the losses she had inflicted on the World Government.
That was good.
"My bounty? Huh? 1.88 billion Berries?! Have the Marines lost their minds? I only have two small pirate crews under me. Have they raised my personal bounty to nearly half that of an Emperor? Isn't that overestimating me a bit?" Typically, Admiral-level combat power was valued around 2 billion. Rosen felt that was about right.
Powerful Marines like Akainu being valued starting at 2 billion was reasonable, with adjustments based on their dangerousness and sphere of influence.
As mentioned, Marine estimates were usually conservative. Plus, aside from the small crews of Law and Urouge, Rosen's crew currently didn't possess a massive army or vast territory.
At least, according to Marine intelligence, they didn't.
So, no matter how high an individual's danger level, there was usually a ceiling. For example, Hathaway's 1.2 billion bounty. If she had territory as a backing, her danger level would be higher and harder to eliminate; setting her at 1.7 or 1.8 billion wouldn't be excessive.
But since Rosen ostensibly didn't control a powerful nation or major pirate force—Law and the others weren't that strong yet—Marine Headquarters, at least, hadn't yet seen them as a genuine threat.
That's why they set Hathaway's bounty at 1.2 billion, which was nearly the peak for her individual strength and threat level.
As for himself, Rosen originally thought a bounty of 1.4 or 1.5 billion would be about right. He didn't expect it to be several hundred million higher. This showed Marine Headquarters placed a very high level of importance on him.
They almost regarded him as an Admiral-level combatant with significant backing, extremely dangerous.
"Four Emperors?! I see. If the Marines are orchestrating this, it's quite the wolfish ambition. Trying to set me up for a fall?" Through the newspapers, Rosen quickly understood the current situation.
Afterward, they purchased some daily necessities and an Eternal Pose, planning to set sail for the Andia Kingdom.
But just as Rosen and Hathaway were about to leave, the newsboy from earlier burst into the saloon, shouting loudly: "Latest news! Latest news! Pirate Empress Hancock defeated by the legendary pirate World, now captured! The former 'Evil Governor' and 'World Destroyer' are using this to provoke the Marines and the Warlords, daring them to send any Warlord of the Sea to rescue her!"
The boy wasn't eloquent, but his message was clear.
"What?!" This news caused an instant uproar throughout the saloon.
Pirate Empress Hancock, the world's most beautiful woman, Queen of Amazon Lily, a Warlord of the Sea—captured by some legendary pirate? Impossible! She's a Warlord of the Sea.
Many found it hard to believe. Aside from a few, most people had no memory of legendary pirates like 'Evil Governor' and 'World Destroyer.' After all, they were figures from decades past.
After their imprisonment, the World Government erased their existence from public knowledge. After their escape from Impel Down, the World Government considered covering it up, but that would leave the public unaware of the danger, potentially causing massive destruction.
So Fleet Commander Senji made an independent decision, reinstating their wanted posters and informing the world.
Between saving face and saving lives, Sengoku chose the latter.
Hence, some people knew about these escaped legendary pirates, though most people's focus remained on the Dawn Pirates, the Blackbeard Pirates, and the Marine Admirals.
"Kid, which island are they on now?" Hathaway grabbed the boy and asked. The boy hesitated, then Rosen handed him a 10,000 Berry note. The boy rattled off everything he knew in a flurry.
For example, facing the provocation of these pirates, the Marines simply couldn't spare any more combat strength to deal with them. Their only option was to assemble the Warlords and send them to hunt the enemies down.
(End of Chapter)