The Holy Land Mary Geoise, the Hall of Power in Pangaea Castle.
The atmosphere was even more oppressive and cold than the last meeting. The virtual screen replayed the final scenes of the battle to intercept the outer edge of the Coruscant Ring — Pluton successfully broke through the encirclement despite the intrusion of Abyss creatures and Allen's earth-shattering attack; the Three Admirals failed to achieve their interception objective, and the fleet suffered heavy losses.
The Five Elders ' faces were so gloomy they could drip water.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" The Shodai Kitetsu in the hands of the Environmental War God Marcus Saint Mars hummed incessantly, his killing intent almost tangible. "We dispatched three Admiral, the full force of CP0, and they still managed to escape! They were even... even forced back by that monster of unknown origin and a brat! The Navy has utterly lost face!"
The voice of the Scientific Defense God of War Lucy Saint Saturn, was deep. "That Allen... the Time-Time Fruit's ability is troublesome enough, and now he's displayed what appears to be a higher-level Mythical Zoan spatial ability... Torch Dragon? This ability, which only exists in myths and legends, actually exists... We must reassess his threat level; his priority must be raised to the highest!"
Financial War God Zambaron V. Saint Nusjuro looked at the loss report, his heart aching. "Fleet losses, compensation, post-war repairs... this expenditure is enormous! More importantly, the majesty of the 'Absolute Order' has been challenged like never before! Those forces in the universe that have been watching from the sidelines will likely begin to stir!"
The Warrior God of Justice, Topman Saint Warcury fingertips on the table. "Although we have forcibly suppressed public opinion, the truth about the Gold City and the failure of the Coruscant Ring cannot be completely concealed. We must take stronger and more direct measures to restore authority!"
Shepard X. Saint Ju Peter, the God of Political Defense, spoke last, his tone cold and resolute. "Since we can't eliminate them secretly, let's definitively designate them as the most heinous criminals in the universe, and unleash the power of the entire cosmos to deal with them! Increase the bounty! Increase it to a level that would drive any power, any desperado, mad! At the same time, order the Marine Science Unit (SSG) to accelerate 'that project'! We need a new force capable of absolutely suppressing Ancient Weapon and that bizarre ability!"
"Seconded." "Seconded." "..."
The highest directive was swiftly issued to the Marine Headquarters and the Space Force Headquarters.
Marineford (Interstellar Edition), Fleet Admiral's Office.
Akainu Sakazuki had recovered, but his face was still ashen, and his lava arm, shattered by Allen's spatial powers, still seemed to ache slightly. He looked at the orders from the Five Elders, feeling extremely resentful for not being able to personally eliminate the enemy, but he also understood that this was the most effective strategy at present.
"Hmph, a bunch of pirate scum relying on Ancient Weapon and bizarre abilities..." He sneered, then said to the messenger beside him, "Notify the World Economy News Paper to issue a new bounty! Immediately! Simultaneously worldwide!"
Soon after, a brand-new bounty, with an astonishingly high reward, spread like wildfire across the world through the channels of the World Economy News Paper, causing an unprecedented and massive earthquake in the universe!
[The Universe's Most Dangerous Criminal - The Time-Space Controller] Allen. Bounty: 2.223 billion Beli (ALIVE ONLY) <!-- Note: The World Government desperately wants his abilities and demands to capture him alive--> Image: Profile of his Awakening Torch Dragon Model, with dark purple vertical pupils, phantom dragon horns, and a distorted spacetime Severed Realm in the background. Crimes: Attacking World Government officials, destroying government facilities, stealing Ancient Weapon, controlling forbidden spacetime power, extremely dangerous, and intending to overthrow the world order.
[ Straw Hat ] Monkey D. Luffy Bounty: 1.5 billion Beli (DEAD or ALIVE) Image: Gear Fourth Snakeman form, roaring and throwing a punch, with burning lava and shattered Pacifista in the background. Charges: Attacking Celestial Dragons, Enies Lobby incident, participation in the Paramount War, causing chaos on Whole Cake Island, mastermind behind the Wano Country incident, currently a core member of the Ancient Weapon Pluton, extremely dangerous.
[ Fire Fist ] Portgas D. Ace. Bounty: 1.33 billion Beli (DEAD or ALIVE). Portrait: His entire body is engulfed in the Flame of World Purification, his eyes are sharp, and the background is a battlefield where ice and fire intertwine. Charges: Bloodline of the Pirate King, Whitebeard Pirates, wreaked havoc in Mary Geoise, currently a core member of the Ancient Weapon Pluton, extremely dangerous.
[ Chief of Staff the Revolutionary Army ] Sabo. Bounty: 1.17 billion Beli (DEAD or ALIVE). Image: Holding a steel pipe, in the starting stance of Dragon Claw Fist, with the aura of his Omniscient Domain faintly visible. The background features the Revolutionary Army flag and explosions. Charges: Second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army, attacking Celestial Dragons, stealing state secrets, leading multiple subversive activities, currently the strategic commander of the Ancient Weapon Pluton, extremely dangerous.
(Other members such as Tesoro, Robin, Zoro, and Sanji also saw significant increases in their bounties, but none as dramatic as these four.)
This unprecedentedly high bounty, like four bombshells, has caused a huge uproar throughout the universe!
Countless pirates, bounty hunters, and underworld forces went mad for it! Major kingdoms and powers were shocked by the World Government's high assessment and began to re-evaluate the power and threat of this " Pluton Alliance." Ordinary citizens felt deep fear—2.2 billion Beli! What a terrifying existence!
The World Government's objective is clear: to use money to mobilize the power of the entire universe to besiege Allen and his group, while simultaneously declaring to all forces—this is the consequence of challenging the "Absolute Order"!
Meanwhile, aboard Pluton, which was heading towards the unknown " The Lethe Stream," the crew also received this new bounty.
"2.2 billion...23 million?" Luffy stared wide-eyed at Allen's bounty poster. "Wow! Allen, you're amazing! Higher than me!" "1.5 billion, not bad." He glanced at his own, grinned, seemingly oblivious to the deadly threat behind the number.
Ace looked at his 1.33 billion and shook his head. "It's really... getting more and more valuable." His tone carried a hint of helplessness and sarcasm.
Sabo glanced at the 1.17 billion bounty poster, adjusted his glasses, and said, "It seems we've truly become the World Government's number one threat. The road ahead will be even more difficult."
Allen looked at his Torch Dragon Model, and a flicker of emotion flashed in his dark purple eyes. 2.223 billion Beli... This was not just a number, but also the World Government's fear and desire for his abilities.
He put away the bounty poster, gazed at the deep starry sky outside the window, and said softly, "No matter what lies ahead, we have no way back."
Bearing a new, astronomical bounty, Pluton, like the brightest target in the night, resolutely sailed into the legendary " The Lethe Stream," a place said to bury everything. Greater challenges and more ancient secrets awaited them ahead.