Bounties and Plans

At dusk, a light rain suddenly began to fall.

Just as Van was hesitating over whether to go out and look for the others, Drake returned carrying several large bags.

He had traded the prey he caught for money and spent it all on daily necessities, enough for them to remain in hiding for another half a year.

He had also brought back some bad news: Van now had a bounty of fifty million Berries on his head.

It was his first bounty, and the amount was enough to draw the attention of important figures across the Four Blues and even the Grand Line.

"The photo was taken secretly aboard the warship. The charge is stealing the World Nobles' treasure, and it specifically says he must be captured alive... That makes perfect sense!"

Van looked at the wanted poster with a mocking smile. "They want to conceal the news about the Op-Op Fruit and prevent other major powers from getting involved."

"Brother Van, this wanted poster was issued three days ago. When I was gathering information at the tavern, I also heard that there's a bounty for you in the Underworld."

"They all said the Donquixote Family put up the price. It's as high as one hundred million Berries, and they also want you captured alive."

"Besides that, Vergo has also been wanted, though his bounty is only forty-four million Berries. The charge is desertion."

Hearing Drake's words, Law and Baby-5 went pale with worry.

They had both once belonged to the Donquixote Family. Even if they did not know all the details, they knew Doflamingo was the overlord of the North Blue.

There were countless kingdoms and forces, large and small, throughout the North Blue. The reason everyone shared that understanding was entirely because the Germa Kingdom served so well as a cautionary example.

This war kingdom, led by the Vinsmoke Family, centered on cutting-edge technology and formed the "Evil Army," Germa 66, from countless fearless clone soldiers.

They operated across the world as mercenaries. They had once slain four kings in a single day and briefly ruled the entire North Blue.

Yet in the face of the Donquixote Family's relentless expansion, those former overlords could now only cower near the Red Line, barely surviving in a few remote seas.

Even an affiliated kingdom that had once been so arrogant had been forced into such a sorry state. What chance did the few of them have?

"Brother Van, the Marines and the Donquixote Family both want to capture you now. How about we keep hiding here?"

"Yeah, yeah! Life here is pretty good. It'd be even better if you didn't force people to train."

Baby-5 agreed with Law's suggestion. They had both suffered before, so they did not mind living in poorer conditions.

Drake, however, did not state his opinion. He wore a conflicted expression, as though he was embarrassed to speak.

Noticing his unusual behavior, Van smiled. "If you have something to say, just say it."

"I don't object to Law's suggestion. I just don't know how long we'll have to live here," Drake said with a troubled look. "If it's too long, you won't be able to stand it either, will you?"

"I heard Mr. Cora mention before that Doflamingo had already begun making arrangements in the Grand Line. He might shift the family's focus there in the future."

"Once he and all the family officers leave, their control over the North Blue will definitely weaken. Then we can go out and move around again."

Law paused, then said hesitantly, "The timing is uncertain. It could be one or two years."

"That is indeed too long, and staying here may not keep us safe forever." Van shook his head. "I plan to leave the North Blue as soon as possible. What do you think?"

Relying solely on hard training, his strength would improve far too slowly. He did not know how many years it would take before he could confront Doflamingo head-on.

Only by stirring up trouble and triggering events could he obtain system rewards and rapidly strengthen himself.

So he planned to avoid the Donquixote Family's sphere of influence and find somewhere else to develop peacefully.

As for the Marines, as long as he kept a low profile, they probably would not devote much effort to targeting him.

"I have no objections."

"Wherever Brother Van goes, I'll go."

This time, Drake and Baby-5 voiced their positions first, while Law hesitated somewhat.

"Do you have other ideas, Law? If you don't want to leave the North Blue, I can make a new plan."

As Van spoke, he used the Op-Op Fruit's power to draw and write on the wall.

Perhaps he had not expected to be taken so seriously. Law froze for a moment before clenching his fists.

"I'll listen to Brother Van. As long as I can grow stronger, I can go anywhere!"

"Do you want justice for the tragedy of White Town?" Van saw through Law's thoughts. "Then stay with me from now on."

"Yeah!"

Law nodded firmly, then looked toward the wall and saw a simple map of the North Blue, with key islands and forces marked out.

"You and Baby-5 both stayed with the Donquixote Family. Do you know where their bases are?" Van added. "Any place where they do business counts."

"The headquarters used to be at Spidermiles Port, but it was abandoned before this operation. I only know that there's an auction house in the Nodiss Kingdom."

"Besides the place she mentioned, I went with Mr. Cora to the Deliru Kingdom and the White Land Kingdom. The Donquixote Family has businesses in both places."

Baby-5 and Law listed the places they knew, while Van marked them on the map.

After thinking for a moment, he marked another island close to Reverse Mountain on the Red Line.

"I plan for us to split up. This island called Wikoff will be our meeting point."

Van first stated his decision. Without waiting for Drake and the others to object, he immediately explained his reasons.

"Only I have a bounty. Whether it's the Marines, the Donquixote Family, or the Underworld's bounty hunters, their attention should be focused on me."

"If we leave together, I may not be able to look after you when danger arises. So I'll travel alone and draw everyone's attention to myself."

"That way, you can take a merchant ship normally and go directly to the meeting point to wait for me. There is still a risk of being discovered by the Marines or the Donquixote Family, but I believe you can handle it."

With things said to this point, Drake and Law, as men, could not argue any further. But Baby-5 tightly hugged Van's arm.

She was afraid of being abandoned and could not be bothered to think too much, so she refused to listen to any reason.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you and Law," Drake persuaded her. "Brother Van will definitely be fine too!"

Law put on a fierce expression and threatened, "Brother Van is doing this for our sake. Don't cause trouble!"

"I'll get a pair of Den Den Mushi. We can stay in contact after we split up," Van comforted her. "So you have to behave!"

In truth, he did not want to arrange things this way either, but for the sake of his subsequent plans, he had to.

"Fine, then. We have to contact each other every day."

Baby-5 finally agreed, and a smile returned to her face.

"I'll leave tonight. Wait a while before setting off. I'll notify you then."

After making his decision, Van did not linger. That very night, he headed into town.

He first found the local gang, had them deliver the stolen money and the Den Den Mushi back to the cave, then returned and fabricated the appearance that all four of them had gone to sea.

After reaching the next island, he silenced the three small-framed gang members he had brought with him, completely vanishing without a trace.