Miracle Surgery, Massive Bounty

Not long after Roya left, Vice Admiral Tsuru arrived with a large force of Marines and directly surrounded the island, leaving behind only Corazon, who had just been revived by Roya and awakened.

"Corazon!!!"

"Where's the medical team? Hurry over and examine him!"

"You have to save Corazon!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru looked nervously at Corazon. As Sengoku's old friend, she had only just learned of Corazon's existence from Sengoku.

He was not only a Marine spy, but also Sengoku's adopted son!

He had to be saved!

Vice Admiral Tsuru hurriedly summoned the medical team to examine Corazon while she used the time to inspect the island for clues.

Vice Admiral Tsuru arrived beside a building and reached out to lightly touch the burn marks on it.

The burn marks stretched as far as the eye could see, too numerous to count. Thinking of the flames that had soared into the sky earlier, Vice Admiral Tsuru felt her heart tremble. "What terrifying power!"

Just as Vice Admiral Tsuru voiced her amazement, the medical team finished their examination and immediately reported to her. "Vice Admiral, Corazon's body has been fully examined."

The medical team captain's expression was strange as he continued, "It's just... very, very strange. Corazon's body was clearly covered in fatal injuries, yet he's no longer in danger. His blood circulation is normal. It feels... it feels as though someone performed a miraculous surgery on him!"

Upon hearing the medical team captain's words, Vice Admiral Tsuru's eyes darkened, and she murmured, "A miraculous surgery? It seems the Op-Op Fruit has been taken and eaten by someone."

With that thought, Vice Admiral Tsuru walked over to Corazon.

Corazon lay on the ground. When he saw Vice Admiral Tsuru arrive, he tried to sit up, but she stopped him.

"Corazon, I'll ask you a few simple questions."

"Yes."

Though Corazon was no longer in mortal danger, his breathing was still weak, and his voice was very quiet.

"Do you know the identity of the powerful individual who suddenly appeared on the island?"

Corazon shook his head.

"Then did you see his face?"

Corazon shook his head.

"What about the Op-Op Fruit? Where is it? Do you know?"

Corazon shook his head.

He knew Luo had saved him, but he could not tell the Marines that Luo had eaten the fruit.

This was a form of protection for Luo. He only hoped that Luo could grow stronger upon the seas and find a place of his own in the world!

Vice Admiral Tsuru looked into Corazon's eyes, but no matter how closely she examined him, she could find nothing.

After a long while, Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed. "Someone, take Corazon back to the ship and let him rest properly."

Then, Vice Admiral Tsuru took out her Den Den Mushi and called Sengoku.

Marineford, Sengoku's office.

Sengoku had been standing by the window. The instant the Den Den Mushi rang, he answered it.

"Sengoku, Corazon is fine."

Upon hearing Vice Admiral Tsuru's words, Sengoku finally let go of the worry that had been hanging over him.

"That's good, that's good! Then what about the Op-Op Fruit? And Doflamingo?!"

Hearing Sengoku's question, Vice Admiral Tsuru gave a bitter smile. "The Op-Op Fruit was most likely taken by the mysterious powerhouse on the island. As for Doflamingo, he probably fled the moment that mysterious powerhouse made his move."

Vice Admiral Tsuru recounted everything she had witnessed to Sengoku in full detail.

Sengoku clenched his fists tightly. Especially when he heard of the Heaven-Raging Flame burning away the snow, shattering the Birdcage, and stretching for thousands of miles, a cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"I understand. Search the island one more time. If you find nothing, return."

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku relayed the intelligence to Steel Bone. Steel Bone then went to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, where the Five Elders resided.

"Steel Bone, I hope you've brought us good news!"

One of the Five Elders, who held a sword, spoke to Steel Bone.

Steel Bone was not affected in the slightest by the Five Elders' words.

Standing before them, he said in a deep voice, "The Op-Op Fruit has been taken."

As Steel Bone's words fell, the old man who had been polishing his beloved sword stopped moving. His overwhelming pressure surged toward Steel Bone. "What did you say?!"

Enduring that crushing aura, Steel Bone repeated, "A mysterious powerhouse appeared on Seagull Island, the island where we conducted the transaction, and took the Op-Op Fruit."

Having received confirmation from Steel Bone once more, the Five Elders all fell silent.

A tense atmosphere began to spread through the room.

After an unknown length of time, one bald Five Elder said to Steel Bone, "Issue a bounty of two billion Belly! Find that person at all costs. I'll have every intelligence department assist in investigating this mysterious person's identity. The Op-Op Fruit must be in our hands."

Steel Bone nodded heavily, then withdrew from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

The Marines moved very quickly. Before long, a completely blank bounty poster appeared across the seas.

This bounty poster was plastered across every island under Marine control. They even partnered with the news magnate Morgans, dispatching countless News Coo birds in an effort to deliver the bounty to everyone.

The Moby Dick, Whitebeard's massive ship.

Marco was looking over the latest bounties. When he saw this blank poster, he was clearly stunned.

"Pops, the Marines issued a completely blank bounty poster. It only says that the target can use Heaven-Raging Flame, with no other information. The bounty is two billion Belly!"

Marco's voice drew the attention of the other crew members.

"What?! Two billion Belly?! And it's for a mysterious person we know nothing about!"

"What kind of guy is this? What did he do to make those fossilized old Marines so furious?!"

"Gurararara! I really want someone like that to become my son!"

His hearty laughter echoed across the Moby Dick. Seeing Whitebeard so delighted, the crew could not help but laugh as well.

Marco complained from the side, "Pops, here you go again!"

On Whole Cake Island, Charlotte Linlin, who was preparing for her first tea party, also saw the newspaper.

"Two billion Belly! Those mad dogs in the Marines really will do anything!"

Katakuri stood beside Charlotte Linlin and said, "Mama, for the Marines to make such an irrational decision, that person must have done something that touched upon their interests."

"First, make sure the first tea party is a success. If that person dares to come, I'll turn his soul into pastries and eat it. I imagine it'll be very delicious!"

"Yes, Mama!"

On a small island, Luo looked at the blank bounty poster in his hand and felt warmth fill his heart. That nearly invincible figure filled his mind.

"Once I grow stronger, I'll definitely follow you!"

Luo's voice echoed across the small island.

Meanwhile, the owner of that blank bounty poster had discovered a woman out at sea...