A Name That Echoed Across the World

Lynn pulled the cork from the Sherry bottle.

With a pop.

Fisher Tiger took out two cups and placed them before himself and Lynn. The two sat cross-legged on the deck.

In the distance, the Sabaody Archipelago gradually became a small black dot.

The calm sea stretched as far as the eye could see, with no pursuing warships in sight.

This meant that Lynn and Fisher Tiger were safe for the time being.

Lynn filled both his and Fisher Tiger's cups, and the scent of grape liquor spread across the deck.

"Where are you going next?" Lynn asked.

Fisher Tiger thought for a moment before answering, "Home."

He had been away from Fish-Man Island for far too long. He truly missed those damn kids from Fish-Man District, and he had no idea how they were doing.

But Lynn merely smiled and shook his head. "Boss of Fish-Man District, you're just like Zephyr. You can't lie."

Fisher Tiger froze at those words, then covered his face and gave a bitter laugh. "I almost forgot. You single-handedly planned the riot at Sabaody Arena. How could you not see through me?"

Lynn listened quietly, waiting for Fisher Tiger to continue.

Fisher Tiger took a deep breath and slowly said, "After I return home, I want to free the slaves."

"Where?" Lynn pressed.

"Holy Land Mary Geoise!"

Fisher Tiger slammed his fist into the deck and stared at Lynn with resolute eyes.

"I can't stand it anymore!"

"Those slaves are living in hell!"

"They've never been treated as people, and that's still true today!"

"Lynn, you don't need to try to talk me out of it. I made up my mind long ago!"

"I'm going to attack that so-called holy land, Mary Geoise!"

Fisher Tiger's furious voice echoed across the deck.

Those words alone were enough to shock the world, yet Lynn's expression did not change in the slightest.

After all, in terms of shocking the world, his declaration of war against the Celestial Dragons had been on the same level.

The sea breeze swept across the deck.

One human, one Fish-Man.

The former had just declared war on the Celestial Dragons, while the latter had resolved to challenge the World Government!

"Fisher Tiger, do you remember what I told you?" Lynn looked toward the distant horizon. "This sea is free. It will not stop anyone in their tracks."

"So follow your resolve, Fisher Tiger!"

Lynn knew well that years of slavery had built up countless flames of rage in Fisher Tiger's heart.

No matter what, that rage could not be stopped.

Leaning against the mast, Lynn burst into laughter. Once it gradually subsided, he suddenly changed the subject and continued, "But I hope you remember today."

Fisher Tiger looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Lynn did not answer. He simply continued speaking to himself.

"I remember it clearly. Back at the harbor, you stepped forward and saved a human mother and daughter."

"And that mother and daughter had been about to face shelling fired by their fellow humans."

"In the days to come, when I tell others about today, I will say—"

"I have seen the noblest Fish-Man, and I have also seen the most despicable humans."

His calm words were carried out to sea by the wind.

Fisher Tiger stood there in silence, as if even time had come to a standstill.

After an unknown amount of time, Fisher Tiger nodded.

"Thank you, Lynn."

"You're welcome, Boss of Fish-Man District."

Lynn raised his cup. "To this sea."

Fisher Tiger raised his cup as well. "To this sea!"

Only then did Lynn return to his usual self, saying with a grin, "Ah, it's really been a long time since I drank!"

Fisher Tiger was a little curious. "The arena didn't allow its gladiators to drink?"

Lynn shook his head. In truth, the food Saint Almace had prepared for him included plenty of alcohol.

"I vaguely remember drinking once a long time ago, but after that, everyone at the arena kept warning me not to drink. I never knew why."

Fisher Tiger thought for a moment. "They were probably afraid drinking would ruin things. After all, your plan was far too risky."

Lynn found Fisher Tiger's reasoning convincing and laughed loudly. "Then today, we drink to our hearts' content!"

"Come on!"

The two raised their cups.

Clink!

The cups collided with a crisp ring.

Fisher Tiger downed a mouthful of strong liquor, and warmth surged up from his throat, bringing him an indescribable sense of exhilaration.

Watching Lynn drink as well, he could not help but laugh.

"Lynn Barik is a human, and he is also my friend!"

"..."

Lynn did not answer.

"Lynn? Are you listening?"

Suddenly, Fisher Tiger noticed that something was wrong.

Lynn had only drunk half his cup, yet his face was rapidly turning red. His eyelids drooped, and his whole body swayed unsteadily.

Fisher Tiger shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Lynn, stop joking around. Surely no one gets drunk from half a cup of alcohol?"

Lynn lowered his head and stared at Fisher Tiger for a long while.

"Huh... Fisher Tiger, when did you eat the Clone-Clone Fruit? Why did you become four people?"

Fisher Tiger: "..."

Yes, he was drunk. Drunk completely senseless.

Only now did Fisher Tiger understand why the people at the arena had stopped Lynn from drinking.

Lynn Barik, Big Eater.

And an absolutely terrible drinker—

The kind who got drunk after half a cup.

"Huh... a bed!"

Lynn suddenly rose to his feet and staggered toward the side.

"Hey! Lynn, that's the sea! Don't jump!"

"Bleurgh!"

"Don't throw up on the deck. Throw up into the sea..."

Before Fisher Tiger could finish, Lynn sidestepped with nimble footwork, dodged past him, and leaped over the deck railing.

"A bed!"

Splash.

Lynn fell into the sea.

Fisher Tiger: "..."

Straightening his clothes, Fisher Tiger prepared to dive in and fish him out.

Grand Line Era 1508, October 16.

3:16 p.m.

Fisher Tiger was busy dealing with the trouble caused by drunken Lynn.

Meanwhile, the riot that had occurred on Sabaody Island Three had already spread across the entire world through reports from journalists everywhere.

Along with it, the name of the man who had declared war on the Celestial Dragons spread throughout the world—

Lynn Barik!

Holy Land Mary Geoise.

A photograph of Lynn lay on the Five Elders' table.

"The Hero Fruit? An interesting ability."

"How should we deal with him?"

"It doesn't matter. Leave him to the others. He's just a bandit with a little more nerve than usual."

"Our purpose is to maintain peace under the World Government."

Sabaody Archipelago, the exclusive Celestial Dragon VIP reception room.

Saint Cainmas read the incident report drafted by Tsuru and submitted by Zephyr. His face twisted with rage.

"What does 'the criminals escaped due to chaos caused by the shelling' mean? Are they saying I was in the wrong?"

With a crash, Saint Cainmas kicked over the fruit platter before him. Thinking of his nephew, who was still lying in the hospital in a dying coma, he roared, "Guards!"

"Yes!" Several government personnel pushed open the door and entered.

"Issue a Bounty Poster for Lynn Barik!"

Saint Cainmas ordered, "In addition to the standard bounty, I will personally add a large sum of gold, a noble title, a Grand Line Navigational Chart... and a favor from a Celestial Dragon. Dead or alive, I only want Lynn Barik's head!"

"Th-this..." The government personnel were all stunned.

Setting aside the large sum of gold and the noble title for the moment.

A Grand Line Navigational Chart? A favor from a Celestial Dragon?

If some pirate got hold of those two things, who knew what those vile criminals would do with them!

But Saint Cainmas glared.

"What, do you intend to defy me?"

"Never! Understood!" The government personnel hurriedly nodded and turned to carry out the order.

Inside the room, Saint Cainmas gritted his teeth in fury.

"Lynn Barik, I'll make sure you can neither sleep nor eat in peace. No matter where you go, someone will be hunting you down. You will not have a single peaceful day for the rest of your life!"

"You dare declare war on the Celestial Dragons? Then I'll make sure you die without a burial!"

Grand Line Era 1508, October 16.

4:00 p.m.

Lynn's Bounty Poster was officially issued.

BOSS Lynn Barik—

Bounty: 100 Million Beli!

The name Lynn Barik rapidly spread throughout the entire world!

At that same time, Lynn had yet to sober up.