The printing presses did not stop, roaring continuously through the night.
High above the ocean, a blimp floated among the clouds. Inside the main cabin, Morgans sat at a cluttered wooden desk, shuffling through a fresh stack of photographs. Looking at the top photo, a wide grin stretched across his beak. The image captured the boy in the straw hat standing on the ruined wedding cake, throwing a punch that clashed directly against the Emperor of the Sea. Lightning sparked violently in the air around their colliding fists.
Flipping to the next photo, the devastation of the chateau was clear. Big Mom stood covered in dust amidst the ruins of her masterpiece, while the rookie pirate held his ground fearlessly.
"Perfect," Morgans declared, clapping his feathered wings together. "This is absolute perfection. Print it all."
Workers scrambled across the room, loading massive rolls of paper into the machines. Ink splashed onto the pages as the bold headline printed across the front: 'Emperor Humiliated at Tea Party. Straw Hat Fights Big Mom.'
Laughing uproariously, the news baron poured himself a cup of tea. "The world will shake today. Send the birds!"
Doors slid open along the sides of the blimp. Hundreds of News Coos flew out into the crisp morning sky, carrying heavy bags filled with the latest edition.
Whole Cake Island lay in ruins.
The castle walls were gone, leaving the broken marble floor exposed to the elements. Slumped on a chair made of rubble, Big Mom breathed heavily, her eyes staring blankly at the ground.
Walking forward with shaking hands, Perospero clutched a freshly delivered newspaper. He swallowed hard before speaking.
"Mama," the eldest son whispered hesitantly.
Snatching the paper from his grip, Big Mom scanned the front page. The picture of the rubber brat mocked her. The headline screamed her failure to the entire world. Everyone now knew a rookie had invaded her territory, destroyed her castle, ruined the wedding cake, and escaped alive.
Fire ignited furiously atop her head. Prometheus expanded, his flames licking the broken ceiling.
Ripping the newspaper in half, the Emperor tore the pages into tiny shreds and crushed them in her massive fist.
"Straw Hat," Big Mom growled. The vibration of her voice shattered the remaining glass in the window frames. "I will follow him. I will find him. I will end him."
Standing up, she kicked a broken pillar. The heavy stone flew across the room and smashed into a ruined wall.
"Prepare the ships!" the Yonko bellowed over the destruction. "We leave for Wano!"
---
Marine Headquarters buzzed with frantic activity.
Officers hurried down the halls carrying thick mission files and newly minted bounty posters.
In the bounty office, Commodore Brannew stood before a large chalkboard, looking out at the Marines sitting at their desks.
"The tea party was an unmitigated disaster," Brannew stated, tapping the board firmly with a piece of chalk. "The Straw Hat crew invaded the territory of an Emperor, destroyed her castle, and managed to escape."
Keyboard clatter filled the room as the seated marines typed rapidly.
"We must update the bounties immediately," the Commodore ordered, checking a list in his hand. "Monkey D. Luffy. Two billion, five hundred million. Print it."
A marine typed the numbers into the system.
"The cook," Brannew continued. "He fought Commander Katakuri directly. Intelligence also confirms he is part of the Germa family. Change his name on the poster. Vinsmoke Sanji. One billion, two hundred million."
In the corner of the room, a young marine wearing glasses sat quietly at his desk, holding a stack of surveillance photos. Looking down at an image of a reindeer standing in a brave fighting stance with frosting covering its blue nose, the young man sighed.
Resting his chin on his hand, a fond smile appeared on his face.
"So cute," the marine whispered, tracing the edge of the photo. "Look at those little hooves. He is just a pet who got lost in the middle of a massive fight."
Placing the photo onto a scanner, the marine clicked a button. A blank poster template appeared on his screen. Typing the name 'Chopper', he moved the cursor to the bounty amount.
"I will give you a raise," the marine promised the screen softly. "You deserve it for being so brave."
Typing '150 Belli', he sent the file to the printer. Taking the fresh printout, the young man pinned it proudly to a corkboard on his wall.
---
The sun rose over the ocean, casting a warm glow over the Thousand Sunny as waves lapped gently against the wooden hull.
Inside the galley, Sanji cooked breakfast wearing a crisp, clean apron. Cracking eggs into a large bowl, he whisked them rapidly before pouring the mixture into a hot, buttered pan.
Moving to the adjacent stove, the cook flipped thick slices of bacon as the fat popped and sizzled. Opening the oven, the comforting smell of fresh bread drifted through the room.
Out on the grassy deck, a large snot bubble expanded and shrank rhythmically by Luffy's nose. The captain slept soundly, serving as a makeshift pillow for the slumbering reindeer next to him.
Sitting on the railing, Carrot swung her legs back and forth, watching the morning water pass by.
The kitchen door swung open, allowing Bonney to step outside. Stretching her arms above her head, she rubbed her empty stomach.
"Food," Bonney demanded, walking directly to the patio table and banging her fists impatiently against the wood.
Stepping out of the women's cabin with a tired yawn, Nami walked toward the ship's railing to check the weather.
A sudden shadow fell over the deck. Looking up, the navigator spotted a News Coo flapping its wings. The bird landed lightly on the railing, tipping its small hat. A leather pouch hung securely around its neck.
Digging into her pocket, Nami pulled out a coin and dropped it into the pouch.
The bird deposited a rolled newspaper into her hands. Three smaller, tightly wound rolls of thick paper fell out of the main bundle, hitting the wooden deck with a soft thud. Giving a quick salute, the News Coo flew away into the clouds.
Unfolding the paper, Nami scanned the front page. The bold headline and chaotic pictures jumped out immediately.
Closing her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"Luffy," Nami called out across the lawn.
The snot bubble popped. Snapping his eyes open, the captain sat up and sniffed the air loudly.
"Breakfast!" Luffy yelled, sprinting toward the kitchen.
Stepping out of the galley door, Sanji carried a massive tray loaded with steaming plates of food. Placing the feast on the table, he pointed a warning finger at the captain.
"Wash your hands first," the cook ordered.
Ignoring the command completely, Luffy grabbed a large piece of meat and shoved it into his mouth.
Walking over to the table, Nami dropped the newspaper onto the wood. She picked up the fallen rolls from the floor and spread them out flat.
"New bounties," the navigator announced.
Movement around the table ceased instantly.
Swallowing his meat in one gulp, Luffy grabbed the pile of heavy paper. Shuffling through the stack, he quickly found the poster bearing his grinning face and laid it on the table.
Pointing a greasy finger at the bottom, he started counting.
"Two," Luffy read aloud. "Five. And a whole lot of zeros."
"Two point five billion," Ben clarified.
Throwing his arms into the air, the rubber captain laughed uproariously. "I went up! Look at that! Higher!" Grabbing another piece of meat, he cheered his victory.
Wiping his hands on a towel, Sanji approached the table and sifted through the remaining pile. Finding his own poster, he checked the bounty amount.
One billion, two hundred million.
A wide, triumphant grin spread across the cook's face. Planting his hands on his hips, he leaned back and laughed heartily.
"One point two billion," Sanji gloated to the open air. Glancing around the deck, his grin widened. "Where is the moss-head? I want him to see this immediately. I am number two. The sniper is number three. The swordsman is number four. I beat him. I finally beat him."
Looking back down to admire his photograph, the cook's eyes caught the text printed directly below the image.
'Vinsmoke Sanji'.
The triumphant grin vanished instantly. His jaw dropped.
Falling heavily to his knees, a dark shadow covered the cook's face. A small raincloud materialized directly above his head, pouring cold water onto his shoulders.
"No," Sanji whispered in absolute despair, punching the wooden deck. "Why that name? Take it off! Print it again!" He began hitting his forehead against the floorboards rhythmically.
Pulling her own poster from the scattered pile, Nami checked the updated number. Six hundred million.
Sighing again, she collapsed into her chair and grabbed a fork.
"It just keeps going up," the navigator complained, stabbing a piece of scrambled egg aggressively. "I can never go shopping in peace again."
Walking over to the breakfast spread, Vivi picked up her bounty. The photograph showed her holding the silver spear in a defensive stance. Ariel: 700 million.
Nodding in quiet acceptance, the princess folded the thick paper, tucked it into her pocket, and sat down to pour a cup of coffee.
Reaching across the table, Bonney pulled a massive plate of eggs toward her chest. Snatching her poster with her free hand, she gave it a quick glance. Seven hundred million.
"Same as the princess," Bonney mumbled through a mouthful of food, tossing the paper casually over her shoulder before grabbing a thick slice of bread.
Sitting in the corner, Ben glanced at the poster resting near his teacup. Seven hundred million. The number had not changed at all. Nodding slightly, the magician went back to enjoying his morning drink.
Hooves tapping rapidly against the wood, Chopper ran toward the gathering. Jumping onto an empty barrel to reach the tabletop, the reindeer dug frantically through the pile of papers.
"Where is mine?" Chopper asked anxiously. "I fought the big guys! I protected everyone!"
Finding his photo at the bottom of the stack, the doctor checked the bounty amount eagerly.
One hundred and fifty.
The paper slipped from his hooves. Tears welled instantly in his large eyes. Falling backward off the barrel, Chopper hit the grassy deck and rolled onto his back, kicking his short legs in the air.
"Why?!" Chopper cried loudly. "A fifty-belli raise?! That is nothing! I am a monster! I am a doctor! I am not a pet!"
Rolling over onto his stomach, he pounded the floor in frustration.
"What do I have to do?" the reindeer moaned miserably. "Do I need an eye patch? Do I need to bite a marine? Maybe I should roar more. Yes. Next time, I will roar very loudly." Sniffling sadly, he rested his fuzzy head on his hooves.
Bounding across the deck, Sunny happily joined the commotion. He grabbed a loose poster of his.
The number read fifty million.
"Yay, I got a bounty. I have to show this to sis Merry."
Sunny jumped high into the air and completed a perfect backflip.
Waddling over from the bow, Karoo inspected the remaining scraps of paper. Pecking one with his beak, the duck flipped it over to reveal a bounty of ten million.
Standing incredibly tall, the giant bird puffed out his chest. Raising a feathered wing to salute the mast, Karoo quacked with immense pride.
Dropping down from the railing, Carrot landed softly on the deck and approached the table. Picking up the very last poster, she stared at it in silence.
The picture captured her wearing the electrified gauntlets, a fierce smile on her face. The text below officially named her as the newest member of the Straw Hat crew, carrying a bounty of fifty million.
The rabbit mink's ears twitched. She blinked twice.
Gripping the edges of the heavy paper tightly, she crouched low. Springing upward, Carrot launched herself into the air, clearing the breakfast table entirely.
"I have a poster!" the mink yelled in pure elation.
Landing directly next to Nami, Carrot tackled the navigator to the floor.
Dropping her fork in surprise, Nami tumbled out of her chair.
Hugging the navigator tightly, Carrot rubbed their cheeks together at blinding speed.
"Garchu!" Carrot cheered happily. "Look at it! I am a wanted criminal! I am a real pirate now!"
"Get off me!" Nami grumbled, pushing the energetic rabbit away and fixing her tangled hair.
Refusing to stay still, Carrot bit the edge of her bounty poster and held it firmly in her mouth. Sprinting toward the main mast, she scaled the thick ropes effortlessly. Reaching the crow's nest in mere seconds, she stood on the edge and held the paper high up to the sky for the entire ocean to see.
Pointing at the crow's nest, Luffy laughed. "She likes it!"
Remaining on the floorboards, Sanji continued to suffer under the personalized raincloud. "Vinsmoke," the cook muttered repeatedly. "They completely ruined my victory."
Picking up a crispy piece of bacon, the captain threw it directly at the cook's head. It bounced harmlessly off the blonde hair.
"Stop crying, Sanji," Luffy commanded through a mouthful of food. "The breakfast is getting cold."
Standing up instantly, the raincloud vanished from above Sanji's head. The cook kicked the air angrily.
"Don't tell me how to serve food, rubber brain!" Sanji yelled, taking his seat at the table and grabbing an empty plate.
The morning chaos settled into a comfortable rhythm as the crew ate their breakfast. The Thousand Sunny sailed forward over the waves, carrying the newly minted billionaires and their fifty-belli doctor toward their next destination.
---
Fierce wind blew hard across the flight deck of the massive heli-carrier. The steel-gray vessel cut through the turbulent sea, its wide deck slick with sea spray and surrounded by nothing but open ocean. Far below the railings, violent waves crashed relentlessly against the carrier's reinforced hull.
Standing on the elevated observation platform overlooking the churning water, a man in a dark green cloak faced the wind.
Dragon held the morning newspaper firmly, keeping the wind from tearing the pages away. Staring at the front page, his eyes traced the picture of the young pirate and the massive bounty number printed below it.
He did not smile. He did not frown. The hard lines of his face simply softened. Standing in silence, the revolutionary leader stared at the photograph for a long time.
Folding the paper carefully, he tucked it safely inside his heavy cloak.
Approaching footsteps rang against the metal grating behind him.
Turning his head slightly, Dragon acknowledged the arrival.
An officer of the Revolutionary Army walked up the steel staircase. Stopping a few feet away, the uniformed soldier stood at attention and offered a crisp salute.
"Sir," the officer spoke, raising his voice to be heard over the rushing wind.
Turning around completely, the Supreme Commander faced his subordinate.
"The king has officially surrendered," the officer reported. "He ordered the royal guards to drop their weapons. The castle is fully secure, and the citizens are waiting in the plaza."
Nodding once, Dragon adjusted the collar of his green cloak.
"Let's go meet the ruler," Dragon said, his calm voice carrying undeniable authority.
Walking past the reporting officer, the revolutionary leader started down the metal steps toward the main deck.
"We will give him our terms," Dragon finished.
Descending toward the command area, the heavy green cloak billowed wildly in the wind. The officer followed closely behind, marching across the windswept deck of the carrier as the ocean continued to crash against the hull.
At that moment, a deep rumble echoed through the vessel. The massive heli-carrier slowly lifted off the sea, its powerful engines roaring to life. The ship began ascending steadily into the sky, turning toward the distant rocky island on the horizon.