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Hearing Usopp's exclamation, everyone's eyes widened as they all looked at Luffy.
A bounty in the billions already exceeded the normal range, especially in terms of the pirate hierarchy—this marked entry into the upper echelons of the New World.
That's precisely why they found this new bounty so incredible.
"Why is Luffy's bounty suddenly so high? Is Doflamingo worth that much?!"
"That's right, we caused a huge commotion at Marine Headquarters before, and even when Luffy's heritage was exposed, his bounty only increased by 100 million. This ti it jumped by so much!"
"Maybe it has sothing to do with the information in the newspaper."
While everyone was puzzled, Hughes directed their attention to the newspaper. The Straw Hats looked expectantly at their navigationally and tactically minded crewmate.
Facing his companions' stares, Hughes shrugged, then spread the newspaper on the deck like a wanted poster. He pointed to the headlines and began to read.
"I think Luffy's skyrocketing bounty must be connected to this—after all, we're now considered the biggest contenders for the position of fourth Emperor."
[A powerful force that cannot be underestimated in the New World is willing to join as allies?! In less than three months at sea, a Straw Hat Grand Fleet with 5,000 mbers has been established!!]
[The Straw Hat Pirates defeated Shichibukai Doflamingo! Ready to return to sea with great power, they may beco the fourth Emperor of the New World!!]
Seeing the key information Hughes highlighted, the Straw Hats began to understand.
If they were being considered for Emperor status, then this massive bounty increase indeed made sense.
After all, the three current Emperors all had bounties of billion. Even the current Sky King Alex had a bounty that surpassed Gol D. Roger, the forr Pirate King, reaching six billion—a status symbol recognized by the entire world.
"So, we're going to beco Emperors? One of the Four Emperors! That sounds magnificent!"
Usopp said excitedly as the realization dawned on him, happily putting his arms around Luffy and Chopper.
"It just says we're the strongest contenders, not that we're there yet," Sanji remarked, looking at the three.
"That's right," Hughes nodded. "Besides, since it's a competition, there must be quite a few pirate crews vying for that position. Being an Emperor in the New World ans that, apart from the Marines, we'll face many more hostile pirates."
With these words, Usopp and Chopper were imdiately dejected.
"Then what should we do?! It's so dangerous! Can we decline?"
"What nonsense!" Enel frowned. "Haven't we faced troubles all the way here? If pirates are going to co after us, then we'll just deal with them head-on. Maybe we can use these challenges to improve our fighting strength so we won't be as helpless as before."
These words resonated with all the Straw Hats. Although they had mastered Haki and grown stronger, they were still far from Admiral-level combatants.
If they continued as they were, how could they ever challenge the Sky Kingdom? The power gap was so vast that they had avoided thinking too deeply about it, lest despair before the battle crushed their inner resolve and faith in Luffy.
"If you're considering this, perhaps we should head toward Zou on our next voyage?" Kin'emon suddenly suggested. "Our allies are waiting there, and they will provide powerful support to our alliance... And there's sothing about a different type of Haki that you might learn."
"More different types of Haki?!!"
Seeing everyone's increasingly eager expressions, Kin'emon nodded. "I'm not certain, but watching Lord Luffy's intense battle with that villain, I noticed that this Haki differs from what we practice in Wano Country."
"As for our allies in Zou, so have experience sailing with Lord Kozuki Oden, so they should be able to answer questions about this matter... At the sa ti, we need to explain Lord Momonosuke's situation..."
Momonosuke, standing nearby, imdiately wore an expression of misery upon hearing this, and the samurai frowned at such childish behavior from soone who appeared to be a grown man.
No one truly understood what Momonosuke was feeling at that mont.
Though he looked like a middle-aged man, his actual ntal age hadn't changed at all!
Because of his adult body, he now had to endure all kinds of samurai training from his retainers—a huge blow to Momonosuke, who had always been pampered. Except during rest periods, he was constantly being trained by his retainers! Even Luffy and the others joined in to help!
Not only had he lost the benefits of childhood, but even showing expressions of frustration earned disapproval from his retainers. All these changes made Momonosuke suspect that the people from the Sky Kingdom might be deliberately targeting him.
But Momonosuke sensed that even if he explained, his retainers might not sympathize. His adult appearance now ant he was expected to stand up and take on the responsibilities entrusted to him by the Kozuki clan.
Where he once could occasionally shirk duties by using his youth as an excuse, now he had to face battle as an adult lord leading the restoration of his country.
This was the worst possible news for the cowardly boy whose temperant hadn't changed from the original tiline.
While Uncle Momonosuke's inner turmoil continued, news of the Dressrosa incident spread rapidly. The Straw Hat Pirates had once again erged as leaders of the new era, but with increased fa ca greater trouble.
At the far edge of the New World, a soaring green dragon stood among the clouds. Looking at the wanted poster in his hand, which was barely the size of one of his scales, Kaido let out a thunderous laugh. "So this guy is that man?"
"What? Do you want to et the reborn Joy Boy?" Alex asked cheerfully from beside him.
"That's not urgent. What interests more right now is the great secret treasure you ntioned!"
Looking at Alex, Kaido's eyes burned with unprecedented enthusiasm.
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