Troublesome Bounties

As news of the Luo Ji Pirates attacking the Marine fleet spread back to Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

The entire Marine Headquarters was shocked.

How could this rookie pirate crew, with a bounty issued by the Beasts Pirates, possess such terrifying strength?

A single ship with two users of Conqueror's Haki, and moreover Yamato as the vice-captain had even mastered the advanced application of Conqueror's Haki—Conqueror's Coating.

This was a terrifying power rumored to be wielded only by the Four Emperors.

Even Katakuri, who had awakened Conqueror's Haki for over thirty years, had not mastered it.

How had this unknown Yamato mastered such a terrifying power?

Most arrogantly, after snatching Hanafuda away, the Luo Ji Pirates also threatened Marine Headquarters, demanding a high bounty for themselves along with the titles designated by Luo Ji.

Otherwise, he would likely attack the Marines once again.

Faced with these two powerful pirates, Luo Ji and Yamato, it seemed that apart from the Fleet Admiral, Marine Admirals, or legendary vice-admirals like Iron Fist Garp, other Marine commanders simply could not withstand an attack from the pair.

Even Admiral candidates probably wouldn't cut it.

After all, they lacked the confidence to battle someone strong in Conqueror's Coating.

Furthermore, this fellow Luo Ji seemed capable of storing a powerful ultimate technique of someone's into a scroll.

He only needed to release it during battle.

The blazing mini-sun and icy frost that appeared this time were already powers that Marine vice-admirals could not handle.

The strength of the monsters summoned by Luo Ji could not be underestimated either, proving extremely troublesome.

Sengoku quickly summoned the higher-ups of the Marines for an emergency meeting.

This Luo Ji Pirates crew was simply too arrogant, and they had to be dealt with seriously.

However, Admiral Kizaru was currently at Egghead in the second half of the New World, protecting Dr. Vegapunk's safety and ensuring the execution of various relocation missions.

Admiral Akainu was also holding down G-1 Branch in the New World, keeping a close eye on the somewhat frantic Beasts Pirates recently, as well as the Whitebeard Pirates who wanted to butt heads with the Beasts Pirates.

Even the Marines and the World Government were searching for those individuals wanted by Kaido.

Could it be that Admiral Aokiji, who was patrolling the Grand Line, had to be transferred into the New World as well!

"Latest intelligence, this Yamato should be the son—or rather, daughter—of Beast Kaido."

"He has always worn a demon-faced mask on Onigashima and been addressed as young master."

"Who would have thought she's a woman."

"This Luo Ji seems to have coaxed Kaido's daughter out and even turned Wano Country upside down."

"This man is very dangerous; he actually managed to win over Yamato, a powerhouse with Conqueror's Coating, making her his vice-captain."

"According to intelligence from Momonga and Onigumo, Luo Ji has just awakened Conqueror's Haki. Their potential is immensely strong!"

"Also, Luo Ji specifically mentioned his last crewmate, a little girl of only four or five years old."

"The title Luo Ji chose for her is Beast-Taming Princess, and she is suspected of possessing the power to control monsters."

Under the continuously updated intelligence from Sengoku and Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, powerful commanders like Iron Fist Garp, Gion, and Chaton all sensed the massive threat posed by this pirate crew.

"The trickiest part is that Luo Ji can summon flying animals, sending the difficulty of capturing them straight up."

Tsuru tightly furrowed her brows. According to what Momonga and the others stated, they hadn't even caught a glimpse of the Luo Ji Pirates' ship.

They appeared suddenly, fiercely attacked the Marine fleet, and finally flew away cleanly and decisively.

"Garp! Make a trip to the New World and see if you can drag the Luo Ji Pirates and the Spade Pirates all back here!"

In the end, Sengoku still dispatched Iron Fist Garp, who constantly shouted about capturing his grandson.

The next step was to assign a suitable bounty to the Luo Ji Pirates.

Thinking of Luo Ji's threat, Sengoku felt a bit irritated.

Something about launching another attack on the Marines if the bounty was lower than Fire Fist Ace's—wasn't this defying the Marines?

While the Marines were troubled, the Five Elders at Mary Geoise also held a brief meeting.

"Gol D. has actually gotten mixed up with Kaido's daughter."

"Mastering Conqueror's Coating at such a young age, Kaido's offspring is quite strong."

"This Gol D. Luo Ji has just awakened Conqueror's Haki and is also a huge potential threat."

"As long as they are given enough time, Kaido's daughter will definitely teach Conqueror's Coating to this fellow."

"Then find a way to eliminate him! The saplings of the Clan of D. must be regularly cleared out."

"Have you all noticed that Luo Ji's Devil Fruit ability seems a bit strange, as if it's not simply the power of the Maki Maki no Mi..."

"Could this ability even have that kind of development direction."

"Sengoku's side has set a bounty amount for these two fellows. Take a look and see if anyone has any objections."

"1,399,000,000 and 550,000,000? This isn't much higher than Kaido's underground bounty."

"Kaido's daughter is just a tiny bit higher than Kaido's second-in-command, King the Conflagration? Is this mocking Kaido for failing to even protect his own powerful daughter?"

"Let Sengoku decide for himself!"

While deliberating, the Five Elders simultaneously prepared to mobilize more forces to wipe out the Luo Ji Pirates.

The next day, the "exploits" of the Luo Ji Pirates indeed made major news.

Snatching food from the jaws of the Marines, they took away the former Shichibukai Hanafuda, heavily damaged the Marine fleet, and left a Marine vice-captain's fate unknown.

Moreover, the terrifying strength displayed by the Luo Ji Pirates shocked countless powerhouses.

The term Conqueror's Coating was something many pirates had never even heard of.

A powerhouse possessing Conqueror's Haki was already the kind of strong man many pirates wished to follow.

On the third day, the Marine bounties finally flew to all corners of the world along with the newspapers.

When Luo Ji received this bounty poster, he felt even more miserable than Buggy the Clown owning two Emperor fathers.

"Damn it! Did you really have to make the difference that huge!!"

Luo Ji cursed angrily. He had said he wanted a bounty higher than Fire Fist Ace's, and the Marines actually handed him a bounty just a fraction higher than Fire Fist Ace's.

The gap between his bounty and Yamato's was actually two to three fold.

Yamato's bounty had surged far beyond the underground world's bounty.

What was the meaning of this!

"Marines, you're forcing me to target the Celestial Dragons!"

Luo Ji couldn't take it anymore; even if he had to artificially inflate the bounty, he was going to slaughter a Celestial Dragon.

"My bounty is even higher than King the Conflagration's! Let's see what else those two bastards, King and Queen, have to be arrogant about!"

"The bounties for those Tobi Roppo are even lower!"

Yamato looked at her bounty poster with immense joy, her bounty exceeding those of Fire Fist Ace and King the Conflagration.

Sure enough, listening to Luo Ji and just unleashing her strongest blow was all it took.

"Haha, Luo Ji, don't get discouraged! Once you master Conqueror's Coating, your bounty will be just as high as mine."

Yamato offered a form of comfort that was hardly comforting at all, which only cemented Luo Ji's resolve to stir up trouble.

Slaughter a Celestial Dragon, and he refused to believe the bounty wouldn't top 2,000,000,000 Beli.

"I've been put on the wanted list too!"

Tama looked at her bounty poster in disbelief.

Beast-Taming Princess Tama, bounty 20,000,000 Beli.

With so much money, how much white rice could she buy?

Luo Ji's bounty was 550,000,000 Beli, and Yamato's bounty was 1,399,000,000 Beli.

The titles demanded by Luo Ji remained unchanged, at least.

It seemed the Marines were truly worried about targeted retaliation from the Luo Ji Pirates.

Those two pets failed to make the wanted posters, perhaps because the Marines assumed they were summons just like any other monsters.