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worm novel 200 . xyz '
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"Damn it! You stole all the spotlight this time!"
"My bounty is only one hundred and sixty million. How could it be so much lower than yours?"
"I can't believe Robin's bounty topped one hundred million too. Hmph. If the Marines keep underestimating me, they're going to regret it sooner or later!"
An ivory-white sailboat cut through the deep blue sea. On board were the individuals now recognized as the Worst Generation.
Ace stood at the helm, staring at the brand-new wanted posters in his hand and shouting in indignant frustration. The narrow gap that once existed between him and Lius had, thanks to the recent journey through Alabasta, widened to a distance that left him speechless. Ace simply could not fathom what he was lacking.
Being outshone by Lius was one thing, but now it seemed even Nico Robin's bounty was about to catch up to his own.
"Hey, hey, what's so good about having a bounty?" Nami grumbled from her sun lounger, clutching a newspaper with a look of annoyance. "I have no idea what this exposure is going to do to Cocoyasi Village!"
Lius watched the commotion with a silent, amused smile.
"This is definitely because you were the one who defeated Crocodile. Damn it, I could have done it too!" Seeing the look on Lius's face, Ace felt the urge to punch him. He protested indignantly, "Next time we run into a powerhouse, let's agree right now that it should be my turn to strike first!"
"Hahaha, does it really matter? It's all the same regardless of who strikes!" Lius laughed heartily.
"It is not the same! The difference in our bounties is way too big!"
"Fine, fine. If we run into a strong enemy next time, we'll just stand on the sidelines and watch your performance."
"Now that's more like it!" Satisfied with Lius's concession, Ace finally calmed down.
However, Robin, who was leaning against the ship's railing, frowned slightly.
"The size of a bounty has nothing to do with personal strength. It is determined by the degree of threat an individual poses to the world government." Robin tilted her head toward Lius, a hint of hidden concern flickering in her beautiful eyes. "Captain Lius defeated the Seven Warlord Crocodile, but to the world government, a Seven Warlord is at most just a hired thug."
She continued, "The bounty jumping from seventy-three million to three hundred and eighty million—while not entirely unheard of—is unprecedented for the first half of the Grand Line. I suspect the world government has begun to fix its gaze upon you, Captain."
Her words carried a deeper meaning. Nami, not being slow, immediately connected the dots.
"Is this because of Robin?" she asked in shock.
"Haha, that is part of it, but more importantly, it is the captain's strength that has made the Marines wary," Robin replied with a smile.
"Hey, hey, you don't really see me as someone dangerous, do you?" Ace was still full of questions, wondering why his bounty was so similar to Robin's.
"I am not dangerous in the way you are, but the knowledge I possess is no less a threat to the world government than a powerhouse like you," Robin said with a faint, lighthearted smile.
Though she spoke casually, those few words were enough. Ace immediately had nothing left to argue about.
"Heh, you'll have your chance to shine next time," Lius said, smiling at them both.
He kept one thought to himself: If Ace ever exposed his own true identity, the threat he posed to the world government would likely be second only to that of the Four Emperors.
They sailed across the vast ocean for a week. By the time their food supplies were nearly exhausted, they finally arrived at Jaya Island. It was a bustling town, a gathering place for pirates from the surrounding seas—a melting pot where all sorts of forces held ground.
"It's so beautiful! It's just like a vacation resort!" Nami's eyes glowed as she clasped her hands together.
"Indeed. Although it's known as a pirate haven, it looks quite lively," Robin added, resting her chin on her hand.
"Before we head to the sky island, should we take a little break?" Lius suggested with a grin. Since entering the Grand Line, they hadn't had much of a rest. Between trekking through the desert and drifting across the sea, time spent on land had become really rare.
"I'm in! Vacation time!" Ace responded immediately.
"Vacations cost money!" Nami scoffed, though her attitude softened when she thought about their upcoming journey to the sky island. "Fine. But you two need to keep your daily food budget under one million beli."
""No problem!"" Lius and Ace answered in unison.
The ship soon docked. Its ivory hull, carved with ancient and noble reliefs, immediately drew the attention of many onlookers. To avoid unnecessary trouble, the four of them donned cloaks, shrouding themselves in mystery.
"Which kingdom are these nobles from?"
"Look at the ship they're riding. Those old guys must be something else!"
"Heh, if they're big shots, they must have plenty of treasure, right?"
The moment they stepped onto the pier, which was crowded with pirate ships, Lius and his crew became the target of countless covetous gazes. Everyone looked at them as if they were fat, slow-moving sheep.
"Sigh, why are there always idiots who don't know their own limits?" Sensing the enemies around them with his observation haki, Lius let out a bitter laugh.
Just then, a masked figure darted swiftly past Robin, vanishing into the crowded pier.
"Hmm?" Robin frowned, turning her head to look in the direction the person had disappeared.
"What's wrong?" Lius asked, noticing Robin's odd behavior.
Ace and Nami also looked over, their faces full of confusion.
"It's fine. The person didn't have any malicious intent, and it seems... they recognized us." Robin shook her head, then opened her palm to reveal a slip of paper. "This is what they just gave me."
A note?