One Piece: I Can Repel Everything

Beckman took the newspaper, a cigarette between his lips, and said nothing.

He was exceptionally calm and rational, and rarely spoke much.

"Captain, something interesting happened in the East Blue. Aren't you going to get up and hear about it?"

After a while, Beckman gently set down the newspaper, took a drag on his cigarette, and spoke to Shanks.

Curiosity spread across Lucky Roux's round face. "What happened? Come on, tell us."

"Oh, right, I remember now. There's that kid in the East Blue. Are you talking about Luffy?"

Rockstar looked at Lucky Roux and asked, puzzled, "Lord Lucky Roux, who's Luffy? How come I've never heard of him?"

The words "East Blue" caught Shanks's attention at once.

He sat up quickly, looked at Beckman, and laughed. "Come on, tell us already. Why keep us guessing?"

"The Luffy you're talking about isn't in the paper."

Beckman exhaled a stream of smoke, his face expressionless. "Something big happened in the East Blue yesterday."

"A young man named Chris received a bounty of one hundred million Beli. He shocked all four seas and became their most wanted criminal."

Everyone froze, unable to believe it.

Yasopp came from the East Blue and knew it better than anyone there. He immediately shook his head. "How is that possible?"

"The East Blue is the weakest sea. Only a handful of pirates there have bounties over ten million."

"How could this Chris kid have a hundred-million-Beli bounty? Beckman, did you read it wrong?"

Lucky Roux nodded. "Yeah. When has anyone in the four seas ever had a bounty of one hundred million? That doesn't happen."

Shanks looked at Beckman, equally incredulous. "Is it really one hundred million Beli? Then this rookie is something else."

"If I remember right, no one in the four seas has ever had an initial bounty that high."

Beckman took a drag on his cigarette. "I can hardly believe it myself, but it's true."

"You all know how seriously the Marines take bounties. They only push the amounts down. They'd never inflate one."

"So this young man's true bounty must be even higher."

Beckman's sharp mind was already working through the implications. He exhaled smoke and said steadily,

"For the Marines to set his bounty this high, Chris must have enormous potential."

"If I'm right, they've already sent men from Marine Headquarters to capture his crew."

"And the officer they sent is probably no lower than a Rear Admiral."

Rockstar spread his hands and smiled. "Lord Beckman, he's just a rookie from the four seas. Surely they wouldn't send a Rear Admiral."

"He hasn't even been through the Grand Line. No matter how much potential he has, he can't be that strong yet."

"He surely can't use Armament Haki or Observation Haki. He's pitifully weak."

Lucky Roux took a bite and spoke around his food. "Exactly what I think."

"Beckman, your analysis is usually spot-on, but aren't you exaggerating this time?"

Yasopp nodded and frowned. "Why would the Marines waste a Rear Admiral from headquarters on one rookie?"

"A hundred-million-Beli bounty is astonishing enough."

"But sending an officer of that rank after him would be overkill."

"Still, there's no denying the Chris Pirates are impressive."

"They've caught the whole world's attention. Everyone will be keeping an eye on them."

Shanks burst into hearty laughter. "Just like us. They certainly gave us a shock!"

"And this Chris kid must be pretty strong."

Shanks studied Chris's picture in the newspaper, meeting his gaze. His expression turned serious. "You don't get eyes like those by being ordinary."

"No one without real strength or potential could look that way."

"Looks like another big name is about to rise on the seas. Hahaha..."

Beckman breathed out smoke, as calm and unsmiling as ever. "Now we'll see whether they can escape the Marines."

"If they do, their names will go down in this era's history. No one will be able to stop them."

The move by Marine Headquarters had thrust Chris straight into the spotlight of the age.

His name spread across the entire sea!

Hancock, Whitebeard, and Shanks were far from the only pirates who saw the shocking news.

It seemed the whole world was talking about him.

"Incredible! He hasn't even entered the Grand Line, and he's already worth a hundred million Beli? That's terrifying!"

"I'm going to sea too! I'm going to make a name for myself!"

"Damn it... Even the lousy East Blue produced a pirate with a bounty over a hundred million. What am I still doing in the North Blue? I'm setting sail for the Grand Line right now!"

"When has the East Blue ever had a wanted man with a bounty this high? Amazing! Now our sea's going to be famous!"

"Are the Marines idiots? They put a hundred-million-Beli bounty on someone who hasn't even entered the Grand Line! What the hell are they thinking?"

"I worked my ass off for a bounty of just over ninety million. Why does some rookie get over a hundred million? Fuck that!"

"Where are the Chris Pirates? I want to join them! I want to be famous too! Hahaha..."

Three days later.

Inside the Training Room aboard the Chris.

"Everyone's been in such high spirits these past few days," Honey Queen said with a gentle smile, smoothing her pale-gold hair. "They're all so excited."

Belo Betty took a drag on her cigarette. "For pirates, nothing beats a bounty worth celebrating."

Carina nodded, mischief glinting in her eyes. "We're talking hundreds of millions of Beli. So much money! How could they not be excited?"

"We haven't even entered the Grand Line yet. Give it a little time and our bounties will climb even higher. Horo horo horo!"

Perona floated in the air, laughing happily.

Nami had been on edge for days. Chris and the others had shaken her so badly that she still hadn't recovered.

She looked at the women, blinked her bright eyes, and gave an embarrassed smile. "You're all so amazing. I'm the only one who falls short."

"Honestly, being around you puts so much pressure on me."

Nami shrugged with a rueful smile. "The East Blue is such a small place, and the pirates here are all weak."

"Standing beside you, I feel like a country girl seeing a bustling city for the first time. It's embarrassing."

Reiju sat with her legs crossed, her chin resting on one hand. She gave Nami a warm smile. "Not at all. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

"I envy you, actually. You speak your mind and never hide what you're feeling. That's wonderful!"

Baccarat brushed back her dark-red hair, her eyes smiling. "I like how open Nami is too."

Just then, a lookout's call sounded from outside the door.

"Report!"

"Cocoyasi Village is just ahead! Cocoyasi Village is—"

Nami was the first to react.

Her eyes lit up. "We're here! We've finally reached the village!"

"With Chris here, the villagers will be saved. They won't have to suffer anymore."

"I'm so happy!"

Of all the women there, Carina was closest to Nami.

She looked at Nami, delight brightening her face. "That's right. Those Arlong Pirates are finished."

Perona swooped back and forth through the air, giggling. "Exactly! I'll help Nami get even with them too."

"I'll show those awful Fish-Men what this princess can do! Horo horo horo!"

Belo Betty exhaled smoke, as composed as ever. "Enough talking. Let's head out!"

Honey Queen nodded, then looked toward the man still hard at work ahead of them. "Chris, aren't you coming ashore?"

"Tell Lafitte to finish it quickly."

Chris kept swinging the Blood Red Saber. He didn't even turn around as he gave the order.

The women exchanged glances, shook their heads, and smiled wryly.

"I knew he'd say that."

Carina gave a helpless shrug. "Chris is obsessed with training. Of course he doesn't want to leave."

Perona nodded with a giggle. "That's not quite fair. These Fish-Men are just too weak to interest him."

"Well, if Chris isn't coming, let's get going."

With that, Belo Betty headed straight for the door.

Honey Queen gave Chris one last look. "I'd be bored out of my mind. I don't know how he keeps it up."

"Every day, all he does is train. He's like a machine, all cold and unfeeling."

Reiju rose and walked toward the door with graceful steps. "He's under a lot of pressure."

"Everyone aboard is working hard to get stronger. If Chris doesn't push himself, they'll surpass him."

She turned to Nami with a gentle, reassuring smile. "Chris may not be going ashore, but you don't need to worry."

"Lafitte and the others are more than enough."

Baccarat nodded with a smile. "You can rest easy. Nothing will go wrong."

"The men aboard are unruly, but they're genuinely strong. You can count on them."

Nami nodded quickly and waved a hand. "Oh, I'm not worried at all."

"Every one of the division commanders is incredibly strong. I trust them."

The women chatted and laughed as they filed out...

On deck.

Burgess looked at the island ahead and raised both arms with a laugh. "So this is our navigator Nami's hometown? What a rundown place! Wehahaha!"

Doc Q leaned against a chair, smiling strangely. "Should I release a miasma later and poison all the Fish-Men and villagers?"

"Go ahead. That sounds fine."

Luo rested Kikoku on his shoulder and said coldly, "Then I can visit your grave this time next year."

Hawkins played with his cards, his expression as lifeless as ever. "Judging by his face, he won't die that soon."

"Gin's the one working hardest. He's almost keeping pace with the captain."

Lafitte glanced at the dark-skinned man beside him and twirled his cane. "If we don't put in more effort, he'll catch up with us before long."

"After all, the captain said he has excellent potential. His progress in training is astonishing."