The Bounty Order is Issued

Three days later, aboard the dreadnought Saber.

Pirate Hunter Zoro, Kuro of a Hundred Plans, and Gin the Man-Demon were teaming up to besiege Daide, while El Drago provided long-range support from the sidelines with his Sonic Cannon.

Deliberately refraining from using the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, Daide continuously trained his Observation Haki and Armament Haki within the predicament of this siege, suffering over a dozen slashes and several blasts for his efforts.

He broke through time and again amidst crisis, especially since Kuro and El Drago were the types who held nothing back, aiming for the kill at every turn.

Yet, it was precisely this kind of genuine tempering that allowed Daide to make significant progress.

In the crow's nest atop the massive mast, the petty thief cat Nami was observing their course; she served as both the navigator and lookout for the Big Daddy Pirates.

The Cat Brothers, Buchi and Sham, were the sailors responsible for hauling and controlling the sails of this massive ship, while the hypnotist Jango, a dancer by trade, served as the helmsman. All three had to follow Nami's commands to steer the ship's direction.

The swordsman Gollas had been relegated to the galley, where he helplessly set down his long killing blade to pick up a kitchen knife and chop vegetables, serving as the cook.

Pearl the Iron Wall had become the crew member with the lowest status, responsible for odd jobs, assisting, and cleaning.

These individuals, who should have been officers and wanted criminals in their respective pirate crews, were nothing more than the lowest-ranking apprentice crewmen aboard the Big Daddy Pirates, performing the same menial tasks as common pirate grunts.

However, none of them dared to resist; they could only endure in silence because the captain of this ship was simply too powerful.

Watching Daide hold his own against four officers, they understood just how strong their captain was, especially since he hadn't even used that invincible Barrier-Barrier Fruit ability.

Captain Daide was currently training in the legendary Haki, which the captain claimed was an entry ticket to the New World—a concept that left these small-time pirates, who hadn't even reached the Grand Line, feeling awestruck and intimidated.

They felt as though they had hitched their wagon to a big shot; Captain Daide was a major figure with grand ambitions.

For this reason, their restless hearts finally began to feel a sense of belonging to this pirate crew.

Grand Line, Alabasta, Rain Diners.

Miss Allsunday, the vice president of Baroque Works, looked at the latest intelligence regarding the East Blue in her hands.

"I've finally found you, Big Daddy Babaya!"

Nico Robin looked over the intelligence on the Big Daddy Pirates, who had destroyed the East Blue overlords, the Krieg Pirates. Among them was Sonic El Drago, who had caused the disappearance and death of Mr. 11, and who had since disbanded his own crew to join the Big Daddy Pirates.

Nico Robin was quickly able to analyze the reasons behind this, and looking at Daddy Babaya's latest bounty poster, she knew that the young man on the other side of the Den Den Mushi that day was none other than the murderous captain of the Big Daddy Pirates!

The god of slaughter on the bounty poster, standing amidst a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, was chilling to behold, especially that smile which looked like that of a demon.

[Big Daddy] Daddy Babaya, Captain of the Big Daddy Pirates, bounty 20 million Beli, dead or alive!

"To slaughter one or two thousand men of the Krieg Pirates all by himself—what a murderous nature!"

Nico Robin felt that 20 million Beli was certainly an underestimate, but given that it was the East Blue, the weakest of the seas, receiving the highest bounty in the region for a first-time poster was likely the Navy's way of showing Daide the utmost attention.

For now, she was merely puzzled as to why this man from the East Blue would know her identity and the incident at Ohara.

"With a murderous nature like yours, you should be entering the Grand Line soon."

Nico Robin had little affection for brutal pirates like Daide; she only wanted to find out the source of his information and, if possible, eliminate him to prevent her own identity and that of Crocodile from being exposed.

After all, the plan to usurp the country of Alabasta was still underway, and the secrets of Baroque Works could not be exposed so soon.

She had already prepared to lead men to Whisky Peak, the island at the entrance to the Grand Line, to intercept this threat known as the Big Daddy Pirates.

Because it involved a bit of information regarding Ohara, she did not intend to report this matter to Crocodile.

Back in the East Blue, the release of the Big Daddy Pirates' latest bounty posters left several pirate crews filled with dread; this was a powerful pirate crew composed entirely of elite pirates.

[Big Daddy] Daddy Babaya, bounty 20 million Beli.

[Pirate Hunter] Roronoa Zoro, bounty 18 million Beli.

[Hundred Plans] Kuro, bounty 17 million Beli.

[Sonic] El Drago, bounty 17 million Beli.

[Fallen Swordsman] Gollas, 11 million Beli.

[Hypnotist] Jango, 10 million Beli.

[Cat Brothers] Buchi and Sham, 8 million Beli combined.

As for Gin the Man-Demon, who previously had a bounty of 12 million Beli, and Pearl the Iron Wall, with 8 million, they were unaware that they had joined the Big Daddy Pirates, so they were excluded from this first bounty update.

The bounties of Jango, the Cat Brothers, and Gollas had all increased by one million Beli, which seemed to indicate they hadn't achieved any particularly dazzling feats.

Kuro and El Drago had the same bounty, which made them both unhappy, especially El Drago, who had only seen an increase of 500,000 Beli, while Kuro had gained a full million.

Kuro, too, wore a gloomy expression; he had been in hiding for two years, and the moment he emerged, he had wiped out the overlord of the East Blue, only to receive such a small increase—was this a slight against him?

"Haha~, so number 3 and number 4 are the same? Do you two want to fight again to settle the rankings?"

Zoro the Mosshead laughed triumphantly; he had finally received his bounty, and for the first time, it was higher than those of the two former pirate captains, Kuro and El Drago.

From now on, this number 2 spot shouldn't be mocked or challenged by that bastard Kuro based on bounty amounts.

He was the bona fide second-in-command!

In truth, Daide himself was not satisfied with these bounties; his own initial bounty was significantly lower than that of Straw Hat Luffy.

Straw Hat Luffy had taken down the Arlong Pirates, the strongest in the East Blue, and upon his first bounty, he had been awarded 30 million Beli, shocking many.

There was no helping it; the fame of the Big Daddy Pirates wiping out the East Blue hegemon, the Krieg Pirates, had spread too quickly. If he waited until he had finished off the Arlong Pirates, his bounty would only climb even higher!

Nami was already trembling with excitement; Daddy's bounty was now equal to Arlong's.

Furthermore, with so many powerful crewmates, the success rate for overthrowing the Arlong Pirates had already exceeded sixty percent.

"Daddy, I can't wait to crush the Arlong Pirates! I am very dissatisfied with this bounty!"

The gold-rimmed glasses of Kuro of a Hundred Plans reflected a dangerous white light; from now on, he would no longer yield opponents to that Mosshead.

He had actually been mocked by a greenhorn whose brain was half-filled with muscle!

"I am furious right now! What kind of rank does Arlong think he is, daring to have the same bounty as me!"

Daddy, bare-chested, issued a command, and even his second-in-command, Zoro, was sent off to row and increase their speed, heading at full throttle toward Cocoyasi Village.

Among the pirates of the East Blue, I, Daddy, am the true boss!