"What? The Navy is panicking over a future image? And they've issued a bounty on a crew no one's even heard of?"
Doflamingo laughed, his grin as crooked as his sense of humor.
To him, mere images of the future meant nothing. The world was chaotic and full of unpredictable twists—who's to say such a future would even come true?
And yet, the Navy… the mighty World Government… was rattled enough to put out a 100 million bounty on a group of nobodies?
[Whitebeard: @Sengoku, why so anxious to place a bounty on an unknown pirate crew?]
From aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard's deep voice rumbled out.
He and Sengoku had clashed many times over the years. But this time was different. Whitebeard could tell—Sengoku's reaction wasn't just political; it was personal.
There was more going on than anyone realized.
Around the world, viewers debated this same question:
Was the Fleet Admiral overreacting? Or… had he seen something that truly terrified him?
Then the voice of the mysterious announcer returned:
[After this explosive question, many of you must be wondering—what exactly is the Straw Hat Crew capable of? Let's watch their actual combat footage.]
The screen changed.
The live feed shifted to a small corner of the East Blue—Arlong Park.
The Straw Hats were mid-standoff, facing the fish-man tyrant Arlong and his crew.
"Luffy! Look, there's another giant screen here, and it's showing us!"
Usopp pointed, astonished.
Sure enough, just like the other islands, a giant screen hovered over Arlong Park, projecting the live scene to the world.
"Sugoi! Are we being broadcast live? Hello everyone!"
Luffy waved cheerfully, jumping in place.
"Stop acting like it's a festival. We're wanted criminals now—100 million berries, no less,"
Zoro muttered, exasperated.
"Tch… looks like we've already made a name for ourselves, huh."Sanji lit a cigarette, taking a long drag.
"Though I can't say I'm unhappy being labeled a criminal… if it means I get to crush scumbags like that."He glared at Arlong, venom in his eyes.
Their crew was barely known, and yet they'd already caught the attention of the entire world.
"A bunch of punk brats. Hmph… I'll capture you and hand you to the Navy myself!"
Arlong sneered, his sharp teeth gleaming.
He'd already heard rumors of their arrival and prepared accordingly.
His nose bandaged and his pride wounded, Arlong wanted revenge—and he saw an opportunity for profit.
"Arlong! You cheated me!"
A squeaky voice screeched as Captain Nezumi (Mouse) stormed into the park with a dozen navy soldiers.
"The 100 million berries I stole from that thief—gone! You promised it would all belong to me!"
Nezumi and Arlong had long worked together in secret. Arlong ruled with brute force, and Nezumi looked the other way, earning his share from the suffering of others.
But now that his ill-gotten treasure had vanished, the alliance was crumbling.
"That's not my problem! I told you what you needed to know. What happened next is on you!"
Arlong roared, clearly irritated.
Nezumi's face twisted in frustration.
"I don't care! That 100 million was mine! And it's gone—all because you failed your quiz question!"
Their argument played out in full view of the world.
Then Arlong turned, grinning sinisterly.
"You see that crew? The Navy just placed a 100 million berry bounty on them."
"Capture them, and the reward is yours."
Nezumi blinked.
"Them? Those kids? They're worth 100 million??"
He quickly waved to his men.
"Capture them! Don't let them escape!"
That very scene—Arlong and a Navy officer conspiring—was now being shown on screens all across the world.
The public's reaction was swift and furious.
[Is this the Navy's justice?]
[They're working with pirates to rob innocent civilians!]
[So this is what goes on in the East Blue? Disgusting!]
[Navy and pirates, two sides of the same coin!]
The screen filled with outrage. Viewers everywhere, especially civilians, were livid.
They had believed in the Navy… but now that trust was crumbling.
"Bastards!"
Sengoku slammed his fist onto the table, furious.
This broadcast—this invasion of narrative—was cutting deep into the Navy's pride and image.
The Navy wasn't just being exposed. They were being humiliated.
"Tsuru! What's the status of the investigation? Can we trace the signal?"
Sengoku turned to the calm woman beside him.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed and shaked her head in refusal.
"We've completed our sweep of Marineford's internal systems. No foreign Den Den Mushi have been detected. There is no signal source we can trace."
Sengoku stared at her, stunned.
"You're saying… we can't cut the feed?!"
"Yes, for now we can only monitor and wait. There's no point of control from within Headquarters."
Sengoku gritted his teeth.
This wasn't just surveillance—it was control.
And worst of all…
Nico Robin remained the greatest threat in the unfolding future.
If she truly joined the Straw Hats—if she truly survived…
Then the World Government's darkest secrets might no longer stay buried.