Chương 56: Whitebeard’s new bounty
Inside the confines of a warship turned makeshift meeting room, the aftermath of the Summit War of Marineford had left Fleet Admiral Sengoku grappling with a myriad of issues. Several Admirals from Marine Headquarters found themselves stationed in this impromptu office, summoned by the urgent calls from their leader.
As the Admirals gathered, the atmosphere in the room crackled with a sense of anticipation. Vice Admiral Garp, munching on a rice cracker, casually voiced his curiosity, "Crack~ Tsuru-chan, any idea why Sengoku called us here?"
"Yeah, it's probably about Whitebeard," responded Vice Admiral Tsuru, her expression marked with a hint of concern. The news of Marineford's defeat had triggered a surge in pirate activities on the Grand Line, adding to the already burdensome responsibilities on Sengoku's plate.
While Garp chuckled carelessly, suggesting that Whitebeard was a source of headache for Sengoku, Tsuru expressed her frustration, "If you had taken the Summit War of Marineford seriously, things wouldn't be like this."
"Bwahahaha~" Garp laughed, dismissing the gravity of the situation. "No way, it was my grandson who got executed. You should show some understanding towards an old man like me."
As the banter between Garp and Tsuru unfolded, the rest of the Admirals entered the meeting room one by one – Aokiji, Kizaru, and the newly appointed Admiral Akainu, who bore a gloomy expression. In the recent battle, although Akainu had survived, Whitebeard's relentless assault had cost him an arm, transforming him into a one-armed Admiral.
"Now that everyone is here, let's discuss the purpose of this meeting," declared Sengoku, cutting through the informal chatter. The room hushed as the Admirals focused on the gravity of the situation, their expressions serious and brows furrowed. Sengoku proceeded to relay the World Government's orders, the weight of the word "Whitebeard" hanging heavily in the air, casting a solemn shadow over the gathered Admirals.
The Summit War of Marineford had left a lasting impact on the Marine Admirals, especially with Whitebeard's daring confrontation with the three Admirals, inflicting injuries and successfully rescuing Ace.
Even after several days had passed since the war, the events remained almost unbelievable, replaying in their minds.
"After the Summit War of Marineford, news of Whitebeard's feats spread worldwide, and his reputation skyrocketed," remarked Sengoku.
Noticing the Admirals' silence, he questioned, "So, the previous bounty is no longer valid. The World Government has ordered an increase in Whitebeard's bounty. Any suggestions?"
The Admirals began discussing the matter.
"Do we raise the bounty?" questioned one.
"Considering the disaster Whitebeard caused for the Marines, it's fair to increase the reward," another Admiral chimed in.
"Whitebeard's bounty is 5,046,000,000 Billion Berry. I suggest raising it by 200 million to 5,246,000,000 billion Berry," proposed Vice Admiral Onigumo.
Garp burst into laughter, suggesting, "If we set it at just 5.2 billion, we'd be underestimating Whitebeard. It's better to keep the current bounty!"
Upon hearing this, many Admirals instinctively agreed.
The aftermath of the Summit War of Marineford was compared to the gravity of Roger's final words at his execution.
Merely increasing the bounty by 200 million seemed foolish. Kizaru suggested, "Why not increase it to 5.6 billion?"
"5.6 billion?!" The surprise was palpable, realizing that Roger's bounty was only 5.5 billion.
Setting Whitebeard's bounty at 5.6 billion would imply he was even more dangerous than Pirate King Roger.
"Inappropriate!" objected Vice Admiral Tsuru, shaking her head. "The Summit War of Marineford defeat has had a tremendous impact on the Marines. Reports indicate that thousands of pirates emerged on the Grand Line within a few days."
Creating an enemy more dangerous than Roger would not yield good results and could complicate the situation in the New World.
"That makes sense," the Admirals nodded in agreement as they listened.
"Then let's set it at... 5,564,800,000 bellies, shall we?" At that moment, Admiral Sengoku, who had remained silent, finally spoke up.
His words hung in the air, and the meeting room fell into a sudden hush. All eyes turned towards Sengoku, and astonishment painted the faces of those present.
5,564,800,000 bellies! This bounty might seem exorbitant to ordinary folks, but for the Admirals, it carried a weighty significance.
Because of this bounty... it matched the infamous Pirate King Roger's bounty!
Once Whitebeard's bounty was proposed at 5,564,800,000 Bellies, it signaled to the world that Whitebeard's level of danger equaled that of the legendary Pirate King Roger. Some might even go so far as to claim that Whitebeard was already the second Pirate King.
The conference room descended into an unusual silence. Whether it was the ordinary Vice Admirals or the three Admirals themselves, their expressions turned solemn, refraining from nodding too hastily. They understood the gravity of this decision.
Once this bounty became public, it would undoubtedly create a sensation, potentially amplifying the upcoming pirate era several times over.
"The impact of Whitebeard has far exceeded Roger," sighed Sengoku.
If Roger's death marked the beginning of the first era of great pirates, then Whitebeard's victory over the Marines and his triumph in the war could be seen as the dawn of the second, even fiercer era.
This era, initiated by Whitebeard, went beyond encouraging people to set sail in search of treasure. Instead, it exposed the vulnerabilities of the Marines and the World Government for all to witness. In the Summit War of Marineford, Whitebeard shattered the aura of invincibility surrounding the Marines, laying bare their weaknesses.
"People are always more afraid of power than morality," reflected Sengoku.
Having lost its invincible aura, the Marines struggled to suppress people's spirits. The forthcoming era would be a dreadful one, unprecedented since the establishment of the World Government. And the man who kickstarted this era? It was none other than Whitebeard.
If it weren't for the potential adverse consequences of setting the bounty too high, Sengoku even contemplated raising it to... 6 billion!
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