Two days later.
Above the boundless blue of the East Blue
A pirate ship glided steadily over the calm sea, its black sails fluttering, and a Jolly Roger bearing a new emblem waved proudly in the wind.
Rin sat cross-legged on the deck, calmly honing his observation haki Kenbunshoku Haki which had awakened two days earlier during the battle against Arlong's crew.
As he meditated, his senses suddenly sharpened he looked up toward the sky.
A newspaper seagull flapped overhead, carrying a bag slung over its body.
The corners of Rin's lips curled into a smirk. He raised his hand and waved.
The seagull circled once, then descended, landing neatly on the ship's figurehead.
Rin took out a 100-Berry coin and offered it. The bird nodded, exchanged the money for a copy of the latest World Economic Journal and a small bundle of bounty posters, then flapped away toward the horizon.
Rin unrolled the newspaper, scanned it briefly, then turned his attention to the stack of bounty posters.
After a moment, his eyes lit up as he found three familiar faces.
"Oi! You two! Get over here haha! We've made it onto the wanted list!" Rin called out to the ship's cabin.
Within moments, Casa and Artoria stepped onto the deck.
"No way? Captain, lemme see!" Casa grinned, hurrying over.
Rin smirked and laid the three posters on the deck between them.
[Captain of the Pandora Pirates – Rin "Pandora"]
Bounty: 50,000,000 Berries
[Pandora Pirates – Artoria]
Bounty: 40,000,000 Berries
[Pandora Pirates – Casa]
Bounty: 30,000,000 Berries
"Whoa! That's way higher than I expected…" Artoria blinked, slightly surprised.
"Kinda flattering, huh?" Casa shrugged, though his grin betrayed his pride. "Guess our pasts are catching up to us."
"Mm." Rin nodded in agreement.
Among them, Artoria was the most mysterious. As the founding monarch of the Kingdom of Knights, her historical identity was too iconic to be ignored even if the Navy lacked exact intel, her name alone carried weight. The Marines had no way to gauge her actual power, but her long lifespan suggested incredible potential.
A 40 million bounty was issued simply from caution.
As for Casa his origins were even more sensitive.
The son of a Marine commodore, who had turned pirate and reportedly held a personal grudge against the Navy, Casa was a walking embarrassment for Marine HQ. His father had mastered the Rokushiki (Six Powers) and was skilled in both Busoshoku and Kenbunshoku Haki. The Marines naturally assumed Casa had inherited his father's talent.
That alone justified a 30 million bounty.
And Rin?
No detailed intel existed about him. But if Artoria and Casa had chosen to follow him, the Navy concluded his threat level must be even greater.
Hence 50 million Berries.
What the trio didn't know was that at that very moment Marine Headquarters was holding a secret strategy meeting over their bounties.
———
Marineford – Navy HQ.
Inside the central strategy chamber, a long table was surrounded by the most powerful men and women in the Navy.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at the head, flanked by Vice Admiral Tsuru, Vice Admiral Garp, and the three Admirals Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru. Several senior Vice Admirals stood nearby.
The mood was tense.
Akainu spoke first, his voice like molten lava.
"Casa… that brat—I recognize him. I personally sent his parents to the next world. He'll grow up with nothing but hate for the Navy."
He clenched his fist.
"His father was a master of the Six Powers, highly adept in both Armament and Observation Haki. That kind of bloodline is dangerous. I recommend we eliminate him before he becomes a true threat."
"Agreed."
"Makes sense."
Several Vice Admirals nodded.
But Sengoku remained calm.
"Let's not rush. Casa will need years before reaching Admiral-level combat strength."
He tapped the desk and pulled a poster forward.
"Right now, the one we need to watch… is him."
He pointed at the bounty poster:
> Rin "Pandora" – 50 Million Berries
"Artoria the historical sovereign of a forgotten kingdom, older than even most of us now follows this man as a subordinate. That speaks volumes."
"Absolutely," Vice Admiral Tsuru nodded, voice grave. "Anyone capable of earning her loyalty… is not ordinary."
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Garp was munching loudly on senbei and picking his nose.
"What's the big deal? Just another kid with an ego."
"GARP!" Sengoku roared, veins bulging. "Can you take this seriously for once?! And STOP STEALING MY SENBEI!"
"C'mon, it's just a snack…" Garp muttered. "Besides, you've got dozens of bags."
"IT'S NOT ONE BAG! YOU'VE EATEN DOZENS OVER THE YEARS, YOU DAMN FREeloa—!!"
Chaos erupted briefly in the room.
Unaware of the conversation at Marineford, Rin, Casa, and Artoria simply sailed onward—heading toward their next destination, unaware that the Navy's eye had already fallen on them.
—————
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