A Record-Breaking Bounty for Fox!

The meeting had barely begun when Sengoku slammed a file containing information on Fox onto the conference table:

"I'm sure you all know why this emergency meeting was called. It's because an utterly vicious villain has appeared in the East Blue-Fox!

"The number of casualties is currently unknown. They include Marines, pirates, and even nobles. As of now, Fox has killed at least five hundred people, including dozens of nobles and the king of an Affiliated Nation!

"This is outrageous, utterly outrageous. That bastard Fox is challenging the Marines and testing the World Government's limits.

"The Five Elders are already paying attention to this matter, and numerous Affiliated Nations are putting pressure on us as well. We must find Fox and bring him to justice as quickly as possible, then lock him up in the deepest level of Impel Down!!

"Now, there is one other priority: settling on his initial bounty. Tell me, everyone, how many Beli would be appropriate for a pirate who has slaughtered a thousand people and dared to assassinate the king of an Affiliated Nation?"

Though they had received the news beforehand, everyone present was still stunned.

Affiliated Nations were under the protection of the World Government. Killing the king of one was second only to killing a Celestial Dragon!

It was one of the worst incidents of its kind in recent decades!

The Marine officers in the conference room began discussing the matter in low voices. After a while, Vice Admiral Tsuru stood and summarized their decision:

"Fox's actions were utterly atrocious, and he must be punished severely. We must therefore set his initial bounty high, to show how seriously the Marines take this and to reassure the Affiliated Nations and the World Government.

"So I have decided that Fox's initial bounty will be 180 million Beli!"

The moment she said it, the conference room fell silent. All that could be heard were a few less serious Vice Admirals sucking in sharp breaths.

Fisher Tiger, who had wreaked havoc in the Holy Land Mary Geoise and freed countless slaves without authorization, had only received an initial bounty of 230 million Beli.

Even Logia users, whose troublesome powers could cause widespread destruction, had never received initial bounties exceeding 100 million Beli.

For a rookie pirate in the East Blue, the Weakest Sea, to receive a bounty of 180 million Beli was beyond imagination.

Still, given that he had killed the king of an Affiliated Nation, 180 million Beli was high but understandable.

The officers, led by Akainu and Aokiji, voiced their agreement one after another:

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

With the decision made, a portrait of a man wearing a fox mask and exuding a commanding air was sent across the world an hour later, accompanied by a bounty of 180 million.

From this day on, even the Four Emperors would remember Fox's name because of his outrageous audacity!

Elsewhere, because Ivan had spent a great deal of Beli on the Orange and used the latest seastone technology, it could cross the Calm Belt alongside the Dog-Head Warship.

He was now close to Marine Headquarters, and it presumably wouldn't be long before he saw Marineford.

During this time, he had often heard system notifications, and the recognition levels of all three templates he possessed had risen to varying degrees.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded.

Tashigi ran up to Ivan with a newspaper in hand and cried anxiously, "Captain Ivan, something terrible has happened in the East Blue!"

Ivan's heart stirred. Several days had passed since his Wood Clone dispersed and he received the information it sent him.

Judging by the time, it was about due. It seemed the series of disturbances he had stirred up in the East Blue had finally begun to spread.

"Don't worry, Tashigi." He stretched, his joints cracking softly. "Whatever it is, take your time and tell me."

Tashigi nodded and handed him the wanted poster she was holding.

Ivan took it and lowered his gaze, finding a familiar figure printed in the center.

The man wore a fox mask with an intricate pattern. He stood straight, a faint chill surrounding him.

At the very bottom of the poster, a conspicuous figure made his eyes burn.

180,000,000 Beli!

"Whoa!" A startled cry erupted beside him. Nami had come over at some point and draped an arm over his shoulder. "Who's this? What on earth did he do to get a bounty of 180 million Beli right off the bat?!"

Tashigi still looked unable to contain her shock as she explained:

"His code name is Fox. He's a pirate who suddenly appeared in the East Blue recently.

"Over the past few days, he has slaughtered Marines and pirates one after another, killing a total of 1,243 people.

"Among them were the king of an Affiliated Nation and dozens of nobles.

"His actions were so brutal that his very first bounty was set at 180 million Beli.

"That not only broke the record for the highest bounty on an East Blue pirate, but also set a new record for the highest initial bounty on any pirate in recent years!"

Nami covered her mouth and said in disbelief, "Hey, hey, hey, that's ridiculous! A bounty of 180 million Beli the first time he's wanted!"

Then her eyes lit up. She immediately leaned closer and nudged Ivan gently with her elbow:

"Ivan, can you beat this guy? That's 180 million Beli! I've never seen that much money in my life!"

Ivan rolled his eyes. Nami really was Nami. The moment she heard the word Beli, she forgot everything else.

She had just been shocked by how high the bounty was, but the next second, her thoughts were completely fixed on the Beli.

He shook his head helplessly and said uncertainly:

"I've never actually fought him, so I can't say for sure that I could beat him. Besides, the hardest part isn't beating him at all. It's finding him.

"After he killed the king of an Affiliated Nation, the World Government immediately ordered an all-out effort to capture him, but they haven't caught even a glimpse of him to this day. That's enough to show that his ability to stay hidden is probably quite troublesome."

What a joke. The Wood Clone was his alter ego. How could he possibly capture his own alter ego?

Besides, that identity would be very useful in the future. He intended to use it to do even more earth-shattering things!

Like slaughtering Celestial Dragons, slaughtering Celestial Dragons, slaughtering Celestial Dragons...

So Nami was bound to be disappointed.

Sure enough, her face fell the next second, and she sighed heavily. "Oh, what a shame about that 180 million Beli."

Thud!

A heavy object hit the ground, followed immediately by Garp's hearty laughter from nearby:

"Hahaha, Ivan, my boy, have you seen the latest wanted poster?

"I really didn't expect it. The East Blue has been lively lately. Not only has a genius like you appeared, but there's also a pirate Supernova who has slaughtered over a thousand people and dared to kill nobles, including the king of an Affiliated Nation.

"Wahahahaha!

"Sure enough, although the East Blue is called the Weakest Sea, this miraculous sea is full of monsters!"