Don't Discuss Such Evil Topics with an Admiral!
<The White Dragon Emperor's Bounty!>
The world's second-highest bounty!
<Tragic news! The World's Greatest Genius has died!>
The World Government and the Marine Headquarters' propaganda machines were equally powerful, sending the bounty for "Vongola Storm" across the entire ocean in a very short time.
At the same time, the World Government pinned the huge blame for "killing Vegapunk" on the head of the new Pirate Emperor, "White Dragon Emperor Pirate Emperor".
After all, Punk Hazard Island did indeed disappear, and Vegapunk did escape from the control of the World Government.
As for whether this "World's Greatest Genius" is dead or not...
The World Government didn't care; they only hoped to use this incident to smear the "White Dragon Emperor."
A ruthless and lawless Pirate Emperor indiscriminately slaughters the World's Greatest Genius, jeopardizing the future development of world technology...
This is what the World Government wants the ocean to be seen by the world.
Whole Cake Island
Storm also saw the news published in the World Government's newspapers.
His first concern was naturally the updated bounty amount.
But after seeing the changes in the bounty, Storm's first thought was --
"Sengoku! The Gorosei! Those old geezers are really wicked!"
Storm looked at the bounty of 4,999,990,000 Beli and his fingers trembled with rage.
To be honest.
Storm is quite fixated on the amount of his bounty.
Or perhaps there are simply very few pirates who don't pay attention to changes in their bounties.
In this chaotic sea.
Only the bounty numbers can offer pirates some solace.
What Storm didn't expect was that the bounty set by the World Government and the Marine Headquarters would be so tricky!
Previously, his bounty had been kept firmly below 100 million Beli.
Now it's all right...
It has to be a whopping [4,999,990,000 Beli]!
They won't even give me 10,000 Beli!
Is it so hard to round up to a whole number?
Storm's obsessive-compulsive disorder, which was almost cured, is now flaring up again.
"That's really scary~"
Kizaru was also flipping through the World Government's newspapers at that moment, and when he saw Storm's new bounty, he couldn't help but marvel.
"I remember your last bounty was only 95 million Beli."
"An increase of over 4.9 billion Beli in the bounty at once, that's really amazing!"
Kizaru's sentiments were entirely heartfelt.
On the high seas today.
Storm's bounty is indeed the second highest in the world.
Only Whitebeard's bounty is higher than Storm's.
Whitebeard's bounty is 5,046 million Beli.
If we only look at the monetary figures, Whitebeard's bounty is less than 50 million Beli higher than Storm's.
This also shows how much the World Government and the Marine Headquarters valued Storm's strength.
However, if we change the metric for "reward amount" from "contemporary" to "all-historical,"...
In the history of pirates that Kizaru remembers, only two people had a higher bounty than Storm at this time.
Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, had a bounty of 5,564,800,000 Beli.
Whitebeard Edward, the Newgate, has a bounty of 5,046,000,000 Beli.
The amount of Storm's bounty can only be described in eight words:
So-so, third in history.
To be fair...
"5 billion Beli" is already considered the ceiling for a pirate's bounty.
Other Pirate Emperor.
Beasts Kaido, Big Mom, Shanks...
Their bounty amounts were only 4.6 billion, 4.3 billion, and 4 billion respectively (rounded down).
There was even that so-called "Red Dragon Emperor".
The Red Dragon Emperor's bounty is only 4.2 billion Beli.
The World Government and the Marine Headquarters will set a maximum bounty of 4,999,990,000 Beli for Storm.
I guess it's because of this guy's ridiculously strong strength...
As for the Pirate Emperor and Whitebeard?
The bounties on their two bodies do indeed exceed 5 billion Beli.
But there were special reasons for that!
Roger had been to Raftel and knew everything.
Whitebeard learned some information about the Laugh Tale from Roger, and was also an insider of the "Great Treasure".
The World Government and the Marine Headquarters set bounties of over 5 billion Beli for Roger and Whitebeard, part of which was due to the reputation of Raftel.
From Kizaru's perspective...
If Storm's bounty were to be "further increased"...
Then his only option is to search for the legendary "Laugh Tale Raftel".
But will Storm go looking for Raftel?
Kizaru glanced at Storm, who was gritting his teeth, out of the corner of his eye.
He knew perfectly well that this guy was a former navy officer.
Moreover, his family had been in the navy for three generations.
Even if a navy with such "pure blood" were forced to rebel by the World Government and Marine Headquarters, they probably wouldn't dream of becoming the "Pirate King," right?
Just as Kizaru's thoughts were wandering...
Storm suddenly looked over, his gaze carrying a dangerous, malicious glint.
"Kizaru, do you think my bounty will increase if I take down an Admiral?"
"... Um?"
Kizaru's eyelids twitched, and he said seriously.
"Don't discuss such wicked topics with Admiral, White Dragon Emperor."
"You bastard!"
Storm scoffed and tossed aside the newspaper he was holding.
"I'm not locking you up right now, so why are you still shamelessly staying in Whole Cake Island?"
"I'm just thinking of my good friend."
Kizaru gently stroked his stubble a few times, using Vegapunk as a shield.
He would never say that the reason he stayed in the Totto Land was simply to observe Storm up close.
Kizaru was also a little worried that Storm would completely "turn to the dark side" after becoming the Pirate Emperor.
After all, the World Government and the Marine Headquarters' previous "righteous betrayal" was just too ugly...
However, based on Kizaru's observations...
Storm is still Storm.
After defeating Charlotte Linlin, destroying the BIG MOM Pirates, and occupying Whole Cake Island.
Storm ordered his men to quickly restore order to Whole Cake Island, and even waived the "housing fees" for the residents of Whole Cake Island.
As is widely known.
According to the "National Laws" of Whole Cake Island, all citizens of Totto Land must pay one month's life every six months as a fee for receiving Big Mom's protection, or they will be expelled.
Moreover, "expulsion" is merely a euphemistic way of putting it.
In fact, Big Mom never allows any citizen to leave the Totto Land.
Anyone who attempts to leave Whole Cake Island will be sentenced to death by Big Mom.
However, to be fair...
In the chaotic waters of the New World.
The "protection fee" paid by the BIG MOM Pirates was quite worthwhile.
However, after Storm occupied Whole Cake Island, he directly abolished the "life protection fee" system.
He maintained the same attitude.
On this perilous sea, ordinary people must fight with all their might just to survive.
Storm wouldn't impose any extra burden on these ordinary people.
Certainly.
Taxation is still necessary.
However, this was because the brutal rule of the BIG MOM Pirates had just ended.
With his substantial wealth, Storm simply waved his hand and exempted the people of Whole Cake Island from taxes for three years.
To be fair...
Storm is very optimistic about the founding principles of the Whole Cake Island.
The world Totto Land nations and species, all living together in equality and harmony, without distinction of rank or status.
This is the Whole Cake Island.
Unfortunately, under Big Mom's rule, Whole Cake Island was ultimately just a "Pirate King kingdom".
Equality? Equality my ass!
Harmony? Harmony my foot!
Storm didn't have the ambition to "change the world," but at least he hoped and could improve the living environment around him.
That's enough.
For Whole Cake Island.
Storm didn't intend to transform it into a true "dream utopia."
He simply hoped that the country could truly become what it had envisioned when it was founded.
Prosperity, civility, harmony, and equality.
Storm is working in this direction to transform the Whole Cake Island.
And his various actions...
How should I put it?
Kizaru has read many books.
In his view, Storm was somewhat like the kind of person described in storybooks...
A wise and virtuous king, a rare find in a century.
This might sound a bit strange.
However, Kizaru felt that if he had met such a good king when he was a child, he might not have necessarily joined the Navy...
An ordinary civilian, as long as they can live peacefully and safely.
Who would want to be a pirate or a marine?
In all the years since I left my hometown of North Blue.
Kizaru has come into contact with Hundred Plans of "kings".
It's no exaggeration to say that...
The vast majority of so-called "kings" on the high seas today are incompetent and tyrannical Tyrant.
Arrest all these kings.
Shoot all ten of them. That might be a bit excessive.
However, even if nine out of ten are executed, there will inevitably be some who slip through the net!
Of all the "kings" that Kizaru has encountered, Storm's actions can be described as the most "wise and kind".
Even Neferutari Cobra, who was known as the "wise king" of Alabasta.
Kizaru also felt that his opponent was inferior to Storm...
"You 'miss' Vegapunk? Vegapunk hasn't even had time to see you! You just want to slack off here! You pay thief!"
Storm's words clearly reached Kizaru's ears.
The Admiral twitched his lips, slightly changing his previous opinion.
Well, at least in terms of being "friendly to apes," King Cobra is better than Storm.
Just then...
A cacophony of shouts drifted over from afar.
"Lord White Dragon Emperor! The World Government is slandering you! They are slandering you—"
Big News Bird Morgans rushed over to Storm.
But when this Dark World King saw Admiral Kizaru standing next to the White Dragon Emperor, the last word of his sentence involuntarily rose in pitch.
"Ah?"
No matter how many times I've watched it.
Whenever Morgans saw Storm and Kizaru "friendly exchanges"...
Big News Bird always felt that the world had gone so crazy that he could hardly recognize it anymore.
Can Pirate Emperor and Admiral really sit together so calmly?
Even the World Government doesn't do anything about it!
Oh, it's none of their business...
"Morgans!"
Storm frowned and looked impatiently at the Big News Bird.
What nonsense are you spouting now?
Upon hearing Storm's words, Morgans immediately abandoned his strange feeling from just moments before.
Forget about Admiral...
Let the White Dragon Emperor do whatever he wants, as long as he's willing!
"Your Majesty the White Dragon Emperor! Your Majesty the White Dragon Emperor!"
Morgans, in a fawning manner, held up the newspaper with both hands.
"The World Government is slandering your reputation!"
"Dr. Vegapunk came to Whole Cake Island, at your special invitation."
"The World Government, however, has falsely accused you in the newspapers of murdering Dr. Vegapunk!"
"I can't stand this kind of stigmatizing behavior!"
In the end, Morgans even managed to squeeze out a few feigned tears.
Because of the previous "mistake in choosing sides".
Morgans has not only moved the headquarters of the World Economic Journal to Whole Cake Island during this period, but has also been doing everything he can to curry favor with Storm.
During the time that Storm occupied Whole Cake Island.
Morgans relentlessly distributed advertorials about "White Dragon Emperor" throughout the entire Totto Land Island, praising the new Pirate Emperor from every angle and using the power of "news and public opinion" to make the people of Totto Land quickly accept this new "King".
This is just one of the many things Morgans did, big and small.
No way.
Morgans needs to hurry up and kowtow to the White Dragon Emperor.
He estimated that he would soon be able to reunite with the Major Undertaker and the Sea Transport King in hell!
Stop talking.
Licking people is the priority!
Storm felt a little uncomfortable with Morgans's mindless fawning.
The main reason is that he had never encountered someone so much like a "treacherous minister" before...
"Your Majesty the White Dragon Emperor"...
Storm waved his hand, signaling Morgans to leave quickly.
"The World Economic Journal is the number one news newspaper in the ocean! Since the World Government want to wage a war of information, then you fight them!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Morgans eagerly accepted the order and left.
Fawning over the White Dragon Emperor was merely a hobby for him.
Text DJ, that's Morgans' true identity!
Morgans will be the first to object to the World Government's attempt to smear His Majesty the White Dragon Emperor!
"The mighty Dark World King looks like a dog..."
Kizaru watched Morgans's disappearing figure and shook his head.
"How utterly uncivilized!"
Storm glanced at Kizaru and said in a low voice.
"Aren't you also comfortably acting as the World Government's dog?"
Kizaru's eyes widened, and he pointed a finger. "Hey! That's a bit too much!"
"A shameless, heartless, and unjust... wage thief!"
Storm, standing on his moral high ground, unleashed a barrage of attacks on Kizaru.
"Instead of wasting your time slacking off here, why don't you go and do research with Dr. Vegapunk!"
Kizaru was almost being called "Red-Hot" by Storm, but when he heard the second half of the other's sentence, he couldn't help but be stunned.
"Do research? What do I research?"
"Of course it's for people to study!"
Two updates.
It's nine o'clock...
Goodnight everyone, go to sleep early.