"Is this... the Devil Fruit that both Golden Lion and the World Government consider important?"
"That's right! The Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, White Tiger Model!"
Once everyone in Roy's group had finished examining it, Roy handed the fruit to Bullet.
"It's yours, Bullet!"
"The power in this fruit is a perfect match for both your fighting style and your physique. I believe that in your hands, it'll shine brightly enough to draw the eyes of the whole world."
Bullet calmed himself and reached out to take the fruit. Looking at everyone's smiling faces, he opened his mouth and took a fierce bite.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The atmosphere in the Fleet Admiral's Office was tense.
Fleet Admiral Kong frowned deeply as he read the report Garp had brought back and the intelligence the Cipher Pol department had shared about the mission.
"So what you were protecting this time was a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit?"
"And then those two brats, the pirate Roy and this Bullet, snatched it right out from under your and Golden Lion's noses?"
Admiral Sengoku summed up from the side. He had always known Roy was no ordinary brat, having escaped the Marines on multiple occasions,
but he truly hadn't expected Roy to be so bold. Sengoku pressed a hand to his forehead. "I really have no idea what kind of 'surprise' that kid will bring the Marines next time he shows up!!"
"That's right!!"
"Those two brats are really something. They managed to snatch it right out from under Cipher Pol and Shiki's noses. What an interesting pair of brats!!!"
"Pwahahaha~~"
"Sengoku, you should've seen the look on Golden Lion's face when he found out the fruit had been taken..."
"Bang~~"
"Bastard!! Garp!!"
"Is this the time to be talking about that?!"
Kong sprang angrily from the Fleet Admiral's seat and slammed a fist into Garp's head as he picked his nose.
Sengoku and Tsuru, who had been their friends for many years, had seen this happen more times than they could count.
Once everyone had sat back down,
Staff Officer Tsuru picked up the documents and calmly analyzed them. "'Heavenly Dao' Roy has a bounty of 270 million Beli. He possesses the Paramecia Telekinesis-Telekinesis Fruit and has mastered all Three Types of Haki."
"'Heir of the Demon' Douglas Bullet has a physique unlike that of ordinary people, excels in close combat, and also possesses all Three Types of Haki."
"The threat level of the pirate crew they've formed must be raised considerably. In particular, they've now obtained a Mythical Zoan Fruit. If they give it to this Bullet to eat..."
"And there's their age! Given their potential, the next time those two appear, they're bound to throw the situation on these seas into turmoil."
Sengoku spoke gravely. He knew Roy was unlike the reckless brutes out on the seas. Every move he made had a clear purpose.
"In any case, update their bounties again immediately!"
"Raise 'Heavenly Dao' Roy's bounty to 500 million Beli!!!"
"Set 'Heir of the Demon' Douglas Bullet's bounty at 450 million Beli!"
"Announce to the world that they took a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit from Golden Lion!"
"Sengoku, follow up on this matter. The moment they show themselves again, spare no effort or expense in capturing them!" After hearing Sengoku's suggestion, Kong made the decision from his seat at the head of the table.
"Yes, sir!"
The next day, word of Roy and his companions' exploits quickly spread to every corner of the world through the News Coos, causing an uproar across the seas.
"Five hundred million?! Didn't Roy's bounty just get updated not long ago?!"
"They stole something from Golden Lion Shiki? Is that true?!"
"Hey, hey, hey! How old are these brats?!"
"Captain, they have a Mythical Zoan Fruit! Let's go steal it!" This was a brainless pirate.
The news swept through the four seas and the New World like a storm, and people around the world who heard it discussed Roy and his companions with curiosity.
Somewhere in the first half of the Grand Line, a cry of surprise interrupted the party aboard the Oro Jackson.
"Captain Roger!! Big news!!"
Buggy, wearing a hat and sporting a bright red nose, ran toward Roger with a newspaper held aloft.
"Oh! Buggy, what incredible thing have you seen this time?"
Roger, with his distinctive handlebar mustache, took the newspaper Buggy handed him.
The headline read:
"Shocking! Mysterious youths snatch a priceless treasure from the jaws of danger, taking it from the great pirate Golden Lion."
"Hey, Rayleigh, are these the interesting youngsters you mentioned when you came back last time?"
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Looks like they've caused quite a stir again!"
Aboard the Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick.
"Gurarararara!"
Whitebeard held a huge bowl of sake and let out a hearty laugh.
"That Shiki actually got played by two kids."
He looked at Roy's wanted poster with interest. "Roy, looks like you're not one of Roger's crew. Interesting kid."
Meanwhile, at the Flying Pirates' headquarters.
"Roy!! Bullet!!"
Golden Lion clutched the latest newspaper, its report sending him into a furious rage. Losing a Mythical Zoan was painful enough, but the report had made him lose face in front of the whole world.
"Brrr brrr brrr... click."
"Hey, Shiki! I heard you got played by two brats? Gurararara~"
"Newgate!! Did you call to laugh at me?!"
Golden Lion's roar only made Whitebeard laugh harder on the other end.
"I'm just checking in on an old friend. So, do you need my help finding those two brats? Gurararara~~!"
"Get lost! My business is none of yours! I'll take those two brats' lives with my own hands!"
Golden Lion roared and smashed the Den Den Mushi in his hand. Whitebeard's mockery had undoubtedly brought his hatred for Roy's group to its peak.
At that moment, Roy and his companions, now the focus of the entire world, were sitting in a circle on the deck, watching Bullet in his transformed White Tiger Model.
His body, over ten meters tall, occupied nearly the entire deck. The majestic "king" character on his forehead and the fierce aura of the king of beasts filled the air.
Bullet familiarized himself with his ability, then his body slowly shrank and returned to its original form.
"Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, White Tiger Model..." As he felt the power the fruit had given him, his speed, strength, and recovery had all undergone a qualitative leap, and he also seemed able to control abilities related to "wind" and metal.
Bullet looked up at Roy, his fighting spirit burning high.
"Roy! Let's fight! Let me test out this new power!"
"Bullet, hold on! There's no room to fight properly on the ship, and you've only just gained your ability. You still need to get used to it. This isn't a good place to fight."
Roy understood Bullet's desire to fight after gaining such powerful strength. He walked to the side of the ship and pointed toward the outline of an island just barely visible in the distance.
"We're almost at our destination. There should be a pretty good fighter on that island. You'll have plenty of chances to test your strength there."
Looking at the distant island, Roy's eyes also lit up with a hint of anticipation.
"The future World's Greatest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk!!"