Is an 87 Million Bounty Still Appropriate?

But this result left everyone who saw it dumbfounded.

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

One showed two powerful figures clashing.

And the unidentified powerhouse's face was half exposed.

Beside that photograph, however, was a bounty poster.

<World-Shaking Powerhouse, Madman Lin Ye, Bounty: 87 Million>

If it had appeared 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 was fucking perfect.

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

The world-class powerhouse who had fought the Grand Line's overlord, Kaido, for seven days and seven nights was actually a small-time pirate with a bounty of 87 million.

Had this world gone insane?

That was what most people thought after reading the report.

World Government, Fleet Admiral's Office.

Many people stood inside the spacious office.

Zephyr, still an admiral but already transferred to serve 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 Navy's chief staff officer.

The Navy Hero, Vice Admiral Garp.

As well as several other headquarters vice admirals. At that moment, everyone stared at the newspaper in their hands in silence.

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

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

"I propose we dispatch forces immediately. Before their battle ends, we should capture them both."

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

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

Borsalino pouted as he responded to Akainu's suggestion.

"But your ability would allow you to get there quickly and hold them off."

Sakazuki turned and stared at Borsalino.

Vice Admiral Borsalino, who had already begun embracing lazy justice, froze with his lips still pursed.

"Are you trying to get me killed?"

Borsalino was utterly numb.

He would struggle to deal with even one of them, and now he was supposed to face two and hold them off?

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

"Enough!"

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

"It's too late!"

The Navy had few bases on the Grand Line. Even if there were any, sending those people would only be throwing their lives away.

If headquarters personnel went, the journey would take even longer.

Besides, they had not gathered to discuss capturing anyone this time.

"Hahaha, so it really was that brat!"

Garp suddenly burst into laughter, laughing until tears came out.

The others looked at the laughing Garp speechlessly.

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

When they had first received the news, they had indeed thought of Madman Lin Ye, but immediately dismissed the idea.

They had spent all that time analyzing who could possibly have fought Kaido, only to return 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 stare at him, Garp suddenly felt a little awkward.

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

Kuzan looked at Garp and spoke with considerable helplessness.

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

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

A powerhouse on Kaido's level, yet so young—it was easy to imagine that before long, the seas would produce a great pirate who would give the Navy endless headaches.

No, even now, he was already enough to give them a headache.

Against a powerhouse like that, throwing bodies at him was useless. Only truly powerful fighters had any chance of dealing with him.

And even then, it was only a chance.

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

Tsuru suddenly spoke.

The office instantly fell utterly silent.

Then everyone's eyes turned toward Garp.

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

Top-tier powerhouses who had not eaten Devil Fruits—

Gol D. Roger and Silvers Rayleigh of Roger's pirate crew counted as two. On the Navy's side, Garp was one.

"That brat..."

Garp's expression turned serious.

Even now, if he faced Kaido head-on, he might not necessarily gain the upper hand.

"Judging by his age, Lin Ye hasn't even entered his prime yet. If he truly hasn't eaten a Devil Fruit, then that's terrifying. How frightening 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 across the others before finally settling on Tsuru.

"At present, we absolutely cannot reach them in time. Even if we set out now, crossing the Calm Belt and factoring in the Navy ships' speed 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 briefly, she shook her head.

"It's too late. If we had discovered him one or two years earlier, or even before he went to sea, there might have been a chance. But now, he has already become one of the sea's top powerhouses, and he already carries a bounty."

"Then what about the Seven Warlords?"

Sengoku's expression grew grave as he spoke again.

When Sakazuki heard the words Seven Warlords, his face darkened somewhat.

He believed that pirates should be killed the moment they became pirates. For a Navy that upheld justice to join forces with pirates was an insult.

"That's not very likely either, though we can try."

Tsuru considered it, then added after speaking:

"Actually, it wouldn't be suitable. If he really became one of the Seven Warlords, he might disrupt the balance between the Seven Warlords and the Navy. The Seven Warlords might even unite under his call later on. That would not be a good thing."

The condition for peaceful coexistence was that both sides were truly about equal.

But if the other Seven Warlords were all at Moonlight Moria's level, while one of them was at Kaido's or Whitebeard's level—or Lin Ye's current level—the balance would be shattered.

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

But there were several possibilities, and none of them were good outcomes.

Besides, a powerhouse like that could never be restrained.

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

Sengoku sighed, his voice filled with regret.

"Um, shouldn't we adjust the bounty poster?"

A young woman with extremely long legs beside Tsuru raised her hand.

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