Bounty Issued

Three days have passed since the battle on Sabaody Archipelago, and Cifer and Jinbe are adrift on the sea with no particular destination in mind.

"Cifer-kun, we've been wandering the sea for three days now, still no idea where we're going?"

Jinbe had heard about the events on Sabaody Archipelago a few days prior. He could understand Cifer fighting Aokiji to a standstill; he had witnessed Cifer's strength long ago.

What Jinbe couldn't comprehend was that for three consecutive days, Cifer had spent all his time, aside from eating and sleeping, sitting at the bow of the ship fishing.

"Jinbe, you're too impatient. Since we haven't decided on our next stop, why not let fate guide us and see where the boat takes us?"

As he spoke, Cifer yanked his fishing rod, and a palm-sized fish flew out of the water with the hook, landing on the deck.

"Lunch is on you, Jinbe."

Jinbe suddenly felt his fists itch, wanting to punch the guy. Not only was Cifer drifting aimlessly, but he also couldn't cook. Here he was, a Shichibukai, having to serve as Cifer's navigator and chef.

"Chirp~ Chirp~"

The cry of a news bird in the sky attracted their attention. Jinbe immediately waved it down, bought the latest newspaper for 100 Belly, and began flipping through it with disbelief.

New World, Moby Dick.

"Old man! Big news!"

Diamond Jozu, holding a newspaper, excitedly rushed towards Whitebeard, who was applying medicine while sitting in a chair.

"Hmm?" Marco and the others looked confused.

"It's that Cifer guy! He's incredible! He killed a Celestial Dragon on Sabaody Archipelago and drove off Aokiji!" Jozu handed the newspaper to Whitebeard.

Marco and the other captains weren't particularly surprised that he drove off Aokiji; after all, Cifer was a man who could withstand Old man's full-power attack. However, the fact that he dared to kill a Celestial Dragon was something none of them had ever imagined.

"He really is a guy who does whatever he pleases!"

"Klahahahahaha~" Whitebeard habitually reached for his sake flask but was slapped away by Marco. "Honestly, if that brat Cifer's bounty is up, how can we not hold a feast to celebrate?"

"Alright!!!" The members of the Whitebeard Pirates responded with loud cheers.

"Old man!!!"

Only Marco's angry world still existed.

Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace.

"What an extraordinary fellow~"

Neptune and the princes sighed in awe upon seeing the newspaper. However, Neptune began to doubt whether he had made the right decision in entrusting Shirahoshi to such a "free" individual.

"Mekaro, look, it's Lord Cifer!" Shirahoshi excitedly held up the newspaper, sharing her joy with her beloved shark.

"Lord Cifer is so amazing! He actually defeated a Marine Admiral! And that Celestial Dragon must have been a terrible villain. Lord Cifer is the good guy!"

Grand Line, Amazon Lily.

"Someone actually dared to do that?!"

The queen, who had just returned from a long voyage, the only female Shichibukai, the Empress known as the world's most beautiful woman—Boa Hancock—was reading the information from the newspaper, her eyes filled with disbelief.

The Celestial Dragon's brand on her back seemed to ache faintly. The shadow that the so-called world nobles had cast upon her and her two sisters was something that would be difficult to erase in a lifetime.

At such a time, someone actually dared to kill a Celestial Dragon near Marineford and repel that Aokiji!

Hancock no longer seemed so afraid. So, Celestial Dragons could die too! So, even Marine Admirals could be powerless!

"Prepare yourselves, we're setting sail!"

"Where are you planning to go now?!" Elder Nyon, leaning on her cane, tried to stop her. She had just returned from a voyage and wanted to set sail after reading the newspaper. What was she thinking!

"To meet that legendary Cifer!"

At this moment, the Empress no longer possessed her usual unattainable coolness and pride. Instead, her cheeks were flushed, and her expression was shy.

The world was abuzz because of this newspaper. The Four Emperors, the Revolutionary Army, the Shichibukai, and the World Government—everyone was watching Cifer.

Time returns to three days ago, Marineford, Marine Headquarters.

"Kuzan, are you saying you couldn't defeat that guy even with your full power?!" Sengoku was furious. The Gorosei were constantly pressuring him to handle this matter, but even a Marine Admiral had returned without success.

"That wasn't a deserted island, so I naturally couldn't exert my Devil Fruit abilities to their fullest." Aokiji, with a bandage wrapped around him, sat opposite Sengoku with his legs crossed.

"Moreover, he might not have used his full strength either. He was injured first, but he seemed to possess some kind of power, a self-healing ability that is simply unheard of."

Aokiji recalled Cifer's right hand. In the short time it took him to be blown away and return, it had already healed. The ice blade had been imbued with Armament Haki!

"As you can see, I was also injured. In an exchange of blows, I might not have been able to defeat him. Strength, speed, he's an all-around monster!"

After a lengthy argument, Sengoku could only report to the Gorosei that Aokiji had been outmatched by Cifer. After all, Cifer had never done anything wrong before. As for killing a Celestial Dragon...

Sengoku felt a headache coming on. Such powerful combat strength would have been excellent at Marine Headquarters, but he had to go and offend a Celestial Dragon.

After meeting the Gorosei and enduring a severe scolding, Cifer's wanted poster was finally issued.

"Cifer-kun, your bounty has been issued!" Jinbe's expression was grave. "Black Winged Great Demon - Ulquiorra Cifer, bounty of 1,348,000,000 Belly! Dead or alive!"

The bounty poster showed Cifer in his usual form, as if he were in an icy world. It was likely taken after he had released his Resurrección following his fight with Aokiji.

"Oh? It seems the World Government is quite persistent about this head of mine." Cifer didn't seem bothered. Honestly, if they really wanted to put a bounty on him, this amount was far too low.

"Are you leaving?"

After a moment of silence, Cifer suddenly spoke.

"Yes!"

Jinbe, who hadn't known how to bring it up, breathed a sigh of relief when Cifer asked first, but he also felt a bit embarrassed.

He had promised to stay with Cifer-kun until he found his navigator before leaving, but now he had to say goodbye after only a few days of sailing.

Cifer simply felt a pang of melancholy, realizing he would be traveling alone again. He knew Jinbe had to leave and even intended to push him away.

One of the reasons Jinbe became a Shichibukai was to ease relations between the World Government and Fish-Man Island, which was why he had always hesitated to openly associate with the Whitebeard Pirates.

Even more so now, if it were discovered they were on the same ship, the World Government wouldn't just turn a blind eye; they might even strip him of his Shichibukai title. Cifer didn't want to make things difficult for him.

"Are you leaving now?"

"Let me prepare a few days' worth of meals for you in advance, Cifer-kun!" Jinbe turned and headed into the ship's cabin.

It's time to find a nakama!