Is It Inappropriate to Keep the Bounty at 87 Million?

But everyone who saw the result was dumbfounded.

No one read the article personally written by the president of the World Economy News Paper. Everyone's attention was drawn to the two contrasting photographs in the newspaper.

One showed two powerful figures clashing.

And the unidentified powerhouse's face was visible in half-profile.

Yet beside that photograph was a bounty poster.

<The world-shaking powerhouse, Madman Lin Ye—Bounty: 87 million>

If it had been anywhere else, anyone seeing that headline would have probably thought the World Economy News Paper had lost its mind and was making a joke.

What did a world-shaking powerhouse have to do with a bounty of 87 million?

But now?

It did. Very much so. It fucking absolutely did.

If they had seen them separately, perhaps they would not have recognized it. But with the bounty poster placed beside the photograph for comparison, his identity became crystal clear.

The world's top powerhouse who had battled Grand Line overlord Kaido for seven days and seven nights was actually a small pirate with a bounty of 87 million.

Had the world gone mad?

That was what most people thought after reading the report.

World Government, Fleet Admiral's Office.

Many people stood inside the enormous office.

Zephyr, still an admiral but already reassigned as an instructor at the training camp!

The three Monster vice admirals with Logia powers.

Borsalino, wielder of the Glint-Glint Fruit.

Sakazuki, wielder of the Magma-Magma Fruit.

Kuzan, wielder of the Ice-Ice Fruit.

Tsuru, the Marine Chief of Staff.

Marine Hero, Vice Admiral Garp.

Along with several other headquarters vice admirals, everyone was staring at the newspapers in their hands in silence.

"The information has been confirmed. We contacted Morgans—the News Coo flew into the battlefield in Wano Country and took the photographs."

Sengoku spoke solemnly in the silent office.

"I propose that we dispatch forces immediately. While their battle has yet to end, we should capture them both."

Sakazuki said in a low voice, a cigar clenched between his teeth.

"Ooh, how terrifying. Unfortunately, they're too far away. By the time we arrive, it will probably be over already."

Borsalino puckered his lips as he responded to Akainu.

"But your ability can get you there quickly. You can hold them back."

Sakazuki turned and fixed his gaze on Borsalino.

Borsalino, the vice admiral who had already begun practicing Lazy Justice, froze with his lips still puckered.

"Are you trying to get me killed?"

Borsalino was numb.

He would struggle to deal with even one of them, yet Sakazuki wanted him to face two and hold them back?

If he went, he would probably get beaten to death.

"Enough!"

Sengoku looked at the two men, who were about to start bickering.

"It's too late!"

There were not many Marine bases on the Grand Line. Even if there were, sending those people would merely be sending them to their deaths.

If the people from headquarters went, it would take far too long.

Besides, they were not here to discuss capturing anyone.

"Hahaha! I never expected it to really be that brat!"

Garp suddenly burst out laughing so hard that tears streamed from his eyes.

Everyone looked speechlessly at the howling Garp.

Tsuru and Sengoku exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes.

When they had first received the news, they had indeed considered Madman Lin Ye, only to immediately dismiss the possibility.

They had been analyzing who exactly had fought Kaido, never expecting to return to their original conclusion.

It really was Lin Ye.

But now, the words "87 million bounty" were far too glaring.

"Why aren't you all laughing?"

Garp felt awkward when he noticed everyone staring at him.

"Vice Admiral Garp, another Monster has appeared on the seas, and he is so young. This is not good news for us."

Kuzan looked at Garp and spoke with some helplessness.

At this point, Kuzan was still a young man with justice filling his heart.

He wanted to devote everything he had to the Marines' great cause.

A powerhouse on Kaido's level, and so young besides—it was easy to imagine that before long, a pirate who would give the Marines endless headaches would emerge upon these seas.

No, even now, he was already enough of a headache.

Against a powerhouse like that, throwing more people at him was useless. Only truly powerful experts stood a chance of handling him.

And even then, only a chance.

"Based on our previous assessment, Lin Ye is not a Devil Fruit user!"

Tsuru suddenly spoke.

The office instantly fell utterly silent.

Then every gaze turned toward Garp.

Most of those present were Devil Fruit users. By consuming a powerful fruit, one could obtain tremendous strength in a short period of time.

As for top powerhouses who had not eaten a fruit—

Roger and Rayleigh of the Roger Pirates were two examples, while on the Marine side, Garp was one.

"That brat..."

Garp's expression turned solemn.

Even he, as he was now, might not gain any advantage in a direct confrontation with Kaido.

"Judging by his age, this Lin Ye has not yet reached his peak. If he truly has not eaten a Devil Fruit, then that is terrifying. How scary indeed."

Borsalino spoke with his usual punchable expression.

"Enough. I called you here to solve this problem."

After glaring at Borsalino, Sengoku swept his gaze across the others before finally settling on Tsuru.

"At present, we absolutely cannot catch up. Even if we set out now, crossing the Calm Belt with Marine ship speeds would take at least a month."

Tsuru shook her head.

"Is there any possibility?"

Sengoku hesitated for a moment.

Tsuru naturally understood what Sengoku meant. After pondering it, she shook her head.

"It's too late. If we had discovered him a year or two earlier, or even before he set sail, it might have been possible. But now, he has already become a top powerhouse of the seas, and he already carries a bounty poster."

"Then what about the Shichibukai?"

Sengoku's expression grew solemn as he asked again.

Sakazuki's face darkened when he heard the words "Shichibukai."

He believed that pirates should be killed the moment they became pirates. For justice-upholding Marines to join forces with pirates was an insult.

"That is unlikely as well, though we can try!"

Tsuru thought for a moment, then added after speaking:

"In truth, it would be unsuitable. If he truly became a Shichibukai, he might upset the balance between the Shichibukai and the Marines. The Shichibukai might even unite under his call afterward. That would not be good."

The prerequisite for coexistence on equal terms was that everyone was truly more or less equal.

But if the other Shichibukai were all at Gecko Moria's level, while one among them was at Kaido's or Whitebeard's level—or Lin Ye's current level—the balance would be broken.

What would happen after that was impossible for anyone to predict before it truly occurred.

But there were several possibilities, and none of them would lead to a good outcome.

Besides, a powerhouse like that could never be restrained.

"You're right. I was overthinking it."

Sengoku sighed, his voice filled with regret.

"Um, should we adjust the bounty poster?"

The young woman with exceptionally long legs beside Tsuru raised her hand.

"Isn't it a little inappropriate to keep it at 87 million now?"