Isn't an 87 Million Bounty a Bit Inappropriate?

But this result left everyone who saw it dumbfounded.

No one cared about the article personally written by the president of the World Economy News Paper. Everyone's attention was drawn to the two photos compared side by side on the newspaper.

One showed two powerful figures clashing.

And the unidentified powerhouse's face was half exposed.

But beside that photo was a bounty poster.

<A world-shaking powerhouse, Madman Lin Ye, bounty: 87 million>

If they had seen that headline anywhere else, people would probably have 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 an 87 million bounty?

But now?

It did. Very much so. It fucking did.

If they had seen either one alone, they might not have recognized him. But with the bounty poster placed beside it for comparison, his identity was crystal clear.

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

Had the world gone mad?

That was what most people thought after seeing the report.

World Government, Fleet Admiral's office.

Many people stood within the spacious office.

Zephyr, still an Admiral but already transferred to become a Training Camp instructor!

Three Logia monster Vice Admirals.

Borsalino, wielder of the Glint-Glint Fruit.

Sakazuki, wielder of the Magma-Magma Fruit.

Kuzan, wielder of the Ice-Ice Fruit.

Tsuru, the Marine's chief staff officer.

Marine Hero, Vice Admiral Garp.

Along with several other Headquarters Vice Admirals, everyone was looking at the newspaper in their hands in silence.

"The information has been confirmed. We contacted Morgans. A News Coo flew into Wano Country's battlefield and took the pictures."

In the silent office, Sengoku spoke with a grave expression.

"I propose we dispatch forces immediately and capture them both before their battle ends."

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

"Ooh, how terrifying. Unfortunately, it's too far away. By the time we get there, it will probably already be over."

Hearing Akainu's suggestion, Borsalino pursed his lips as he spoke.

"But your ability would allow you to arrive quickly and hold them back."

Sakazuki turned and stared at Borsalino.

Vice Admiral Borsalino, who had already begun to follow Lazy Justice, froze with his lips still puckered.

"Are you trying to get me killed?"

Borsalino was utterly speechless.

He would struggle to deal with even one of them, let alone two while holding them back.

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

"Enough!"

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

"We're too late!"

There were not many Marine bases on the Grand Line. Even if there were, sending those people would just be throwing their lives away.

If Headquarters personnel went, it would take even more time.

Besides, they had not gathered to discuss capturing them.

"Hahaha! So it really was that brat!"

Garp suddenly burst out laughing, tears streaming from his eyes.

Everyone looked speechlessly at the laughing 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 thought of Madman Lin Ye, only to immediately dismiss the possibility.

They had been analyzing who exactly was fighting Kaido, never expecting it would bring them back to square one.

It really was Lin Ye.

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

"Why aren't you laughing?"

Seeing everyone staring at him, Garp suddenly felt a little awkward.

"Vice Admiral Garp, another monster has appeared on the seas, and he's so young. This isn't good news for us."

Kuzan looked at Garp and spoke with some helplessness.

At this point, Kuzan was still a young man whose heart brimmed with justice.

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

A powerhouse on Kaido's level, and so young at that—one could imagine that before long, an immensely troublesome pirate would emerge upon these seas.

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

Against a powerhouse like that, throwing numbers at him was useless. Only genuine experts might be able to deal with him.

And even that was only a possibility.

"Based on our previous assessment, Lin Ye isn't a Devil Fruit user!"

Tsuru suddenly spoke.

The office instantly fell completely silent.

Then everyone's gaze turned to Garp.

Most of those present were Devil Fruit users. By eating a powerful fruit, one could rapidly gain immense strength.

As for top-tier powerhouses who had not eaten a fruit—

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

"That brat..."

Garp's expression turned grave.

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

"Judging by his age, Lin Ye hasn't even reached his peak yet. If he really hasn't eaten a fruit, then that's terrifying. How scary indeed."

Borsalino said with a thoroughly punchable expression.

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

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

"At present, we absolutely cannot make it in time. Even if we depart now, crossing the Calm Belt and factoring in the Marine ships' speed, it would take at least a month."

Tsuru shook her head.

"Is there a 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 one or two years earlier, even before he put to sea, there might have been a chance. But now, he has become a top-tier powerhouse of the seas and already has a bounty on his head."

"Then what about the Shichibukai?"

Sengoku's expression grew solemn as he spoke again.

Sakazuki's face darkened when he heard the word Shichibukai.

In his view, pirates should be killed the moment they became pirates. For Marines who upheld justice to join forces with pirates was a disgrace.

"That's unlikely as well, though we can try!"

Tsuru considered it before adding:

"Actually, it isn't suitable. If he really becomes a Shichibukai, he may disrupt the balance between the Shichibukai and the Marines. The Shichibukai might even unite under his call, and that would not be a good thing."

The condition for coexisting as equals was that everyone was truly more or less the same.

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

What would happen afterward was impossible for anyone to predict before it truly happened.

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 full of regret.

"Um, should we adjust the bounty poster?"

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

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