Sengoku's eyes glinted sharply, his face grave as he stared at the Den Den Mushi. "Alright, Admiral Borsalino, report your findings."
"Got it," Kizaru replied, pausing briefly before adopting a rare serious tone. "It's confirmed: Golden Lion Shiki is dead. As for Sora, our brief clash suggests he's eaten a space-based Fruit—teleportation, flight, that's all I've got so far."
His chin tilted up, signature quip slipping out: "Pretty terrifying, huh?"
"Marshal Sengoku, if there's nothing else, I'm requesting permission to head back."
"Well done, Admiral," Kizaru hung up.
Despite bracing himself, Sengoku was still stunned by Shiki's confirmed death.
"Seventeen years old, world-class strength, and a pirate. This Silver-Haired Sora could be more dangerous than Shiki," he muttered, recalling another prodigy at seventeen: Douglas Barrett, the "Devil Heir" of the Roger Pirates.
"Hahahaha!" Garp's laughter erupted. "What a guy! Killing Shiki? That's an East Blue man for you!"
Grinning, he flashed a thumbs-up at Sora's bounty poster on the board behind Sengoku.
Truthfully, Garp didn't mind Sora. From what he'd seen, Sora posed no clear threat to the Navy.
If anyone should worry, it was the World Government.
And their problems weren't the Navy's, were they?
"Garp!" Sengoku snapped at the cackling Vice Admiral.
He scanned the room, his gaze settling on Tsuru. "Tsuru, since Shiki's death is confirmed, combine that with Silver-Hair's threat level and tell us the Staff Office's latest bounty recommendation."
Sora's bounty wasn't a solo call—it required Staff Office consensus, World Government approval, and a final ruling.
Tsuru, hands propping her chin, her hunched frame belying sharp eyes, spoke calmly. "Based on our prior discussions, we recommend for Silver-Haired Sora…"
She paused, then dropped it: "…5 billion Belly."
"Five billion?"
"That's insane!"
"Wasn't his bounty 70 million just days ago?"
"Unbelievable!"
Though the room expected a high bounty, 5 billion stunned them.
Silver-Haired Sora had become the fastest-rising bounty in pirate history.
In mere days, he'd leapt from 70 million to 5 billion.
One thing was certain: Sora's name would soon echo across the world.
Thud!
Sengoku's fist slammed the table, drawing all eyes.
"Given Silver-Haired Sora's strength, no one in the Great Line's first half can stop him," he declared, scanning the room before adding grimly, "Including our Navy."
"Sengoku—" Tsuru began.
He cut her off, hand raised. "It's not that we lack the power to arrest Silver-Hair's crew. His ability to fly means we'd need overwhelming force."
"To catch him, we'd need at least two Admiral-level fighters for a chance at success. But with the New World's delicate balance, we can't spare two Admirals to chase him."
Pushing up his glasses, wisdom gleamed in his eyes. "So, our strategy is to push Silver-Hair to the New World quickly. Let him clash with its monsters."
He turned to Tsuru. "Tsuru, isn't Silver-Hair in Loguetown now?"
"Yes."
"Call Loguetown's Colonel Smoker immediately. Tell him not to act rashly—turn a blind eye if needed, and let Silver-Hair's crew reach the Great Line."
Smoker, a notorious troublemaker, wouldn't have been sent to guard Loguetown—a Natural-type user and Zephyr's student—if not for his defiance.
Sengoku didn't want Smoker making a pointless stand against a pirate beyond most Navy officers.
Rising, he waited for the others to stand. "That's all for today. Inform all first-half branch commanders: if they encounter Silver-Hair's crew, let them pass. That's Headquarters' orders."
"Yes, sir!"
The officers saluted in unison.
Sengoku scanned them, then bellowed, "In the name of Absolute Justice, I declare this meeting adjourned!"
He strode out, bound for Mary Geoise to report to the Five Elders and finalize Sora's new bounty.
…
Within two hours, Sora's new bounty poster reached Loguetown's Marine base, then spread to all Navy bases.
Finally, it hit the World Economic News Agency.
At the agency's headquarters, in the president's office:
Morgans, a portly figure draped in a black cape, sporting a top hat with a red-and-white feather, stared at a bounty poster on his desk, eyes gleaming with excitement.
A "Bird-Bird Fruit, Albatross Model" user, he stayed in beastman form, his true face a mystery.
Big news was his obsession.
The poster, paired with covert photos from his staff, was the biggest scoop the world had seen in years.
"What a guy! He killed Shiki!" Morgans crowed, trembling as he eyed snapshots of the floating island, Shiki, and Sora's battle.
"And this bounty—terrifying! Five billion on his second poster!"
Even knowing Sora earned it, Morgans was floored.
He'd never seen such a jump.
He'd already crafted the headline: "The Fastest, Largest Bounty Surge in History: Silver-Haired Sora, Slayer of Legendary Shiki, Rises as the New Pirate Legend!"
"Gahahaha!" he cackled, grabbing the poster and photos.
Storming out, he roared to his staff, "Get moving, you lot! I want Silver-Hair's bounty and our story hitting the world at record speed!"
At Morgans' command, the agency sprang into action.
Soon, news birds took flight, carrying papers set to shock the globe.
…
(End of Chapter)