Grove 17 of the Sabaody Archipelago!
Before the sign of the Justice Guild...
Ryuuto stood in the center, with Vivi clinging to his right arm. Flanking them were Foxy, Buggy, Hamburg, Cabaji, Alvida, Mohji, and Richie the lion!
"Excellent! Don't move, hold it!"
Morgans, camera in hand, stood before Ryuuto and the others, his voice trembling with excitement as he shouted at the group.
"PERFECT!"
With a click of the shutter, Morgans let out a triumphant cry.
The photo was taken, capturing a moment that would go down in history.
"Ryuuto, are you sure you've thought this through?" Morgans walked up to Ryuuto, his earlier excitement replaced by a grave tone.
Ryuuto looked at Morgans, understanding his meaning perfectly. Putting a bounty on pirates was one thing.
But putting a bounty on Marines? That was tantamount to declaring war on the World Government!
"I'm leaving it to you," Ryuuto said with a nod, his voice calm and unreadable.
"Then I'm sending it out! This is truly a BIG NEWS!" Hearing Ryuuto's confirmation, Morgans could no longer contain his joy. His feathers stood on end, his eyes bulged, and he was completely overcome with ecstasy.
At this moment, Buggy's gaze was fixed on Ryuuto, his heart pounding violently in his chest. It was as if something dormant within him had finally awakened!
"Bounties on the Marines!" Buggy clenched his fists, his face hidden beneath the brim of his captain's hat. He suddenly threw his head back, his expression turning manic and thrilled. "Let's do something huge!" he roared. "Let's make this world even crazier!"
"Hahahahahaha, Buggy, I officially welcome you to the Rising Dragon Pirates!"
Seeing this, Ryuuto extended his right hand toward Buggy!
As their hands clasped, Buggy's eyes were wild yet resolute!
"Let's turn this whole world upside down!" Ryuuto bellowed. An indomitable will surged toward the heavens, and in an instant, dark clouds gathered, and thunder rolled across the sky.
Vivi, Foxy, and the others watched Ryuuto and Buggy, a wave of heroic passion surging within them. They felt as if they were witnessing history in the making!
"That's our Captain Ryuuto!!"
A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd!
"This is insane! But it's so exhilarating..." Vivi couldn't help but gaze at Ryuuto. Her face was flushed with excitement, and she pressed her thighs together tightly, feeling almost faint!
Foxy looked at Ryuuto with eyes full of pure adoration!
"Morgagagaga, BIG NEWS!!" Morgans's excited shouts accompanied the scene.
Behind him, Crocus watched Ryuuto, a glimmer in his eyes.
"I feel like I'm witnessing something incredible! Yohohohoho..." Crocus stroked his chin, murmuring to himself before being swept up by the fervent atmosphere and bursting into laughter himself.
...
The next day arrived.
Thanks to Morgans's frantic printing efforts, countless newspapers were dispatched to every corner of the world.
[The Existence that will Overturn the World—The Justice Guild!]
[There is only one justice in this world, and that is MY justice! Whether you are a Marine or a pirate, prepare to face the judgment of the righteous!]
Below this was a complete list of the new bounties!
Marine Bounties:
Ensign rank and below: 100,000 Belly
Commander rank and below: 1,000,000 Belly
Captain, Commodore: 1 Star
Rear Admiral: 2 Stars
Vice Admiral: 3-5 Stars
Admiral: 3 Crowns
Fleet Admiral: 5 Crowns
Pirate Bounties:
Pirates of the Four Blues: Below 100 million Belly
Powerhouses of Paradise (Supernovas): 1-3 Stars
New World Officers: 5 Stars
First Mates / Calamities: 1 Crown
Four Emperors: 3-5 Crowns
Note: 1 Star equals 100 million Belly. 1 Crown equals 1 billion Belly!
In an instant, this world-shaking news landed in the hands of people everywhere.
...
Baltigo, the windswept, barren island that served as the headquarters of the Revolutionary Army.
Monkey D. Dragon, the enigmatic man himself, held the newspaper. Before him stood a young Sabo and the formidable Belo Betty.
"Hah... hah... hah... hah... hah, how interesting! I knew I wasn't wrong about him, that young man..." Dragon let out a deep, pleased laugh.
The paper then found its way into Belo Betty's hands.
"Gahahahaha, Captain Ryuuto is really going to turn the world on its head!" Belo Betty said with a grin, a cigarette dangling from her lips. Her short, red military jacket was no match for her ample bosom, which looked ready to burst free!
"What? He put bounties on both Marines and pirates?!" a young Sabo exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock as he read the article.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stared at the newspaper, the rice cracker in his mouth suddenly losing all its flavor.
"It's just one headache after another lately!" Sengoku scratched his head in frustration. First, it was Ace's capture, and now this Justice Guild nonsense.
"Kuzan, take a look at this!" Sengoku tossed the paper to Aokiji, who was leaning back with his feet up, seemingly dozing.
"Ara-ra-ra... what an audacious kid! But I have to say, he might just make this world a bit more interesting!" Aokiji glanced at it, a slow smile spreading across his lips as he spoke softly.
"Kuzan, you're always like this!" Sengoku snapped, rubbing his throbbing temples.
"Let me think," Sengoku said, his gaze returning to the newspaper as he dismissed Aokiji.
The door clicked shut...
Leaving Fleet Admiral Sengoku alone in the room.
Aboard the Red Force.
Red-Haired Shanks sat cross-legged on the deck, taking a swig of sake and laughing heartily. "Looks like an interesting rookie has appeared on the Grand Line!"
Benn Beckman snatched the newspaper and began reading it himself.
"Heh heh heh heh... I wonder how long this kid will last," Benn Beckman said, his tone skeptical.
"Shanks, your bounty is four Crowns!" Lucky Roux suddenly pointed out, having spotted a key detail. That was a higher bounty than a Marine Admiral.
Monkey D. Luffy, who had yet to leave the Sabaody Archipelago, also received the news about Ryuuto.
"So cool!! He even put a bounty on the Marines!" Luffy's eyes turned to stars as he read the paper.
"Wait, what? How am I only 1 Star?!" Luffy then found his own bounty poster. Staring at the single, lonely star, he was thoroughly dissatisfied.
"Next time I see Ryuuto, I'm gonna make him add a few more stars!" Luffy declared with a completely serious expression.
"What? How does he dare!" Zoro and Sanji stared at the paper in shock. They had never imagined someone could be so bold.
People from every corner of the world saw the paper. The most excited were the pirates, who were thrilled to see someone else willing to directly challenge the World Government!
Others mocked Ryuuto for his arrogance. After all, his own bounty was only 500 million Belly, yet he dared to take on the entire world.
Most, however, were just watching to see what would happen. Being bold was useless; only those who survived could be called truly strong.
Some began to wonder if this might rewrite the very structure of the world. Now, Marines too would have to constantly watch their backs for assassinations from pirates and bounty hunters alike.