Side Story 1: Three Years Later

"What a handful."

"He'd only just set sail, and he'd already defeated quite a few well-known pirates. Now his bounty was over a hundred million."

The latest newspaper and wanted poster had just come out and were pinned to the wall beside them. In a tavern in the East Blue, a group of pirates lounged around and discussed the news.

"Another one from the East Blue. I wonder how he compares to Flame King Ace three years ago?"

"How can you compare them? Flame King is a Great Pirate in the New World now, and a Logia Flame-Flame Fruit user. He was a monster whose bounty exceeded three hundred million berries in his first year at sea."

"While Straw Hat Kid is only a Rubber-Rubber Fruit user."

In the eyes of most people, some abilities were simply better than others.

"I heard his head is worth a lot in the underworld—up to five hundred million berries, five times his official bounty."

"Why is it so high?"

"Straw Hat Kid has a rather special background. He's Marine Vice Admiral Garp's grandson, and now the son of the Great Government Supreme Executive. I never thought he'd become a pirate. No, I suppose you'd call him an adventurer. His style is just like those adventurers."

"So what? Without an Adventure Badge issued by the government and a record on file, hoisting a Skull Flag without authorization makes him a pirate, doesn't it? Maybe he did something wrong and they covered it up."

"Forget it. A bounty of a hundred million berries only means he's barely made a name for himself on the sea. Maybe he just wants to play at being a pirate. He might get caught and forced to join the Marines one day." The Old Drinker beside them tapped his glass