Fifty Million Belly Bounty

East Blue, Unknown Waters.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, and the sea breeze was no longer gentle, but carried a dry heat.

A full three days had passed since they left Cocoyasi Village.

The Merry sailed alone on the vast sea, with nothing around save for the occasional flying fish leaping out of the water.

However, the atmosphere on deck was even more heated than the midday sun.

"Bang--!!"

An extremely dull impact sound shattered the tranquility of the sea.

A figure in a white shirt, like a kite with a broken string, slid several meters across the deck, only stopping when he crashed into the main mast.

"Cough... cough cough..."

Sanji curled up in pain, his once crisp and clean shirt now covered in dust, and his handsome face bore several bruises.

He gasped for air, sweat dripping from the tips of his golden hair, forming small dark patches on the deck.

"Get up, Sanji."

Ronan, holding the Zhangba Iron Spear, stood tall and steady, his breathing as calm as if he were merely taking a stroll.

He looked at Sanji not far away, his eyes devoid of any pity, only the sternness of a strict teacher:

"Observation Haki isn't something you think up with your brain; it's something you 'hear' with your body.

When your five senses are shut down by pain, your sixth sense is forced to awaken."

"If you fall at this level, you'll never even get a foothold in Observation Haki."

"Shut... shut up!"

Sanji gritted his teeth and shakily pushed himself up, leaning on the mast.

Sanji trembled as he braced himself on the deck with shaking hands, struggling to get up.

He panted heavily, his lungs feeling like they were on fire, but the eyes that were visible burned with an unyielding flame.

Ever since witnessing Ronan, Luffy, and Zoro's inhuman "Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Refinement" training three days ago, the proud chef had been spurred by his competitive spirit.

He didn't want to be the weak link on the ship, and he certainly didn't want to lose to that moss-head he disliked.

Thus, he too joined this hellish special training.

"Again!"

Sanji roared, his leather shoe stomping hard on the deck. His body shot forward, launching a fierce "Sausage" kick towards Ronan.

Ronan stood his ground, not moving an inch.

Only when the shoe was three inches from his cheek did the Zhangba Iron Spear in his hand suddenly tremble.

"Collapsing Force!"

The spear shaft instantly bent, then sprang back straight like a spring, the side of the spear fiercely striking the front of Sanji's shinbone.

"Crack--!!"

With this strike, Ronan used a clever force. Though it was bone-deep pain, it wouldn't actually break the bone, perfectly stimulating the periosteum and muscles to the maximum extent.

"Aaaah--!!"

Sanji let out a pig-like scream. This heart-wrenching impact twisted Sanji's face, and his attack instantly dissolved.

Immediately after, Ronan swept the tail of his spear across Sanji's waist and abdomen, mercilessly slamming him onto the floor once more.

"Too slow."

Ronan retracted his spear and stood, evaluating calmly, "Your kicking techniques are flashy, but the killing intent is too obvious the moment you launch your attack."

"In front of Observation Haki, that's like telling your opponent exactly where you're going to kick."

Not far away, Nami and Usopp, hiding in the shade of the orange trees, felt their scalps tingle.

"Too... too brutal."

Usopp swallowed, feeling his own bones ache:

"Is that Ronan guy a devil? Sanji's a chef, what if his hands get hurt?"

"Don't worry, Ronan knows what he's doing; he's avoided his vital spots and his hands."

Although Nami said this, she couldn't help but shrink her neck and sigh helplessly:

"The men on this ship... they're all incorrigible masochists."

In the center of the battlefield.

Ronan looked at Sanji, who had fallen to the ground again, his chest heaving violently, and nodded, "Let's stop here for now."

"Observation Haki isn't something you can learn in two or three days; Luffy and Zoro also took a week. Your body has reached its limit; continuing to train will damage your foundation."

Ronan pointed towards the kitchen, his tone returning to gentleness:

"Now, rest well for a bit, and circulate the breathing technique of the Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Refinement with all your might. In half an hour... go cook for us, everyone is hungry."

Sanji, who was lying on the ground, stiffened.

Usopp's mouth twitched wildly beside him, and he couldn't help but complain:

"Hey! This is too pathetic! Beaten half to death, and you still have to get up to cook?!"

However, to everyone's shock, Sanji actually struggled to get up.

"Tch... You don't need to tell me."

Sanji patted the dust off his body. Although his steps were a bit shaky, his eyes held a stubborn glint. "Letting the crew go hungry is a chef's dereliction of duty."

After speaking, he dragged his battered body, limping, towards the kitchen.

Luffy and Zoro, who had been waiting impatiently nearby, immediately darted over.

Luffy twisted his neck, making cracking sounds, his face full of excitement:

"Ronan! It's our turn! It's our turn! Sparring with Zoro always feels a bit lacking. Your guns hurt more, and I improve faster!"

Zoro, meanwhile, unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his well-defined muscles, and taunted Sanji's retreating back:

"Hey, perverted cook, how does it feel? If you can't take it, just cry. No one will laugh at you."

Sanji, who had just reached the doorway, instantly exploded. He jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Zoro and roaring:

"You damn moss-head!! Don't get cocky! Don't think you're stronger just because you trained a few days before me!"

"Just you watch, tomorrow... no, tonight, I'll master Observation Haki! Then I'll kick you away with one foot!"

"Huh? Wanna fight? Curly eyebrows!"

"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who!"

Seeing the two about to fight again, Ronan shook his head helplessly.

This was the Straw Hat Pirates' daily life: chaotic, noisy, yet full of life.

Just as a "fierce battle" was about to break out on the deck.

"Everyone--!! Come quickly and see!!!"

A sharp, shocked cry rang out.

Nami was seen waving a brand-new newspaper and a Bounty Poster, jumping directly over the railing.

"Something big has happened!"

Ronan, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, who was about to enter the kitchen, quickly gathered around.

"What's wrong, Nami?" Luffy asked curiously.

Nami slammed a Bounty Poster with Luffy's picture on it onto Luffy's chest. "Look at this!!"

Everyone took a closer look.

It was a standard Bounty Poster.

Luffy in the photo was still grinning carelessly, with the battlefield ruins of Arlong Park in the background.

And below the photo, a dizzying string of numbers was clearly written.

"Five... Fifty million?!"

Usopp counted the zeros, his eyeballs almost popping out:

"Tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands... It really is fifty million Belly! Luffy! You've become a super-wanted criminal!"