You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon, and I've also activated a (date-to-date) subscription model on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
Then, they witnessed a rather spectacular scene.
Countless seagulls flapped their wings as they soared over the sea and into the small town, each carrying what looked like miniature newspapers, white sheets fluttering in the wind.
Like a snowfall of paper, the sky rained down these pages.
Flocks of seagulls passed over the island, scattering the papers with eerie precision. Wherever there were people, they aimed their claws and let go.
"What the hell is this?"
One of the papers smacked straight into Jason's face. Annoyed, he peeled it off and flipped it over.
What he saw made him freeze.
"This photo... looks exactly like me!"
Rojen turned his head and narrowed his eyes. "That's because it is you, Jason."
Jason took a step back, staring at it in disbelief. "Wait... This is really me?"
WANTED: Armor-Crusher Jason – 110 Million Berries – DEAD OR ALIVE – EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
Jason stared at the poster, dumbfounded.
"I... I actually have a bounty from the Marines?"
"Yeah," Rojen replied with a shake of his head. "Not sure if I should congratulate you or console you."
Just then, another sheet floated by. Rojen reached out and casually snagged it mid-air.
"Oh? Looks like I've got one too." He smiled, not particularly surprised.
After what they'd done, it would've been weirder not to be on the Marines' radar. He'd expected them to conceal his identity, but it seemed they'd gone ahead and made it public.
Then he saw the number, and his pupils narrowed sharply.
ROJEN – 150 Million Berries
"I've got one as well," Rouge chimed in, holding her own wanted poster with interest.
"And it's not small, 50 million."
She remained calm, even calmer than Jason, offering only a faint smile.
Rojen frowned, eyes shifting between the posters, something not quite sitting right.
Based on what they'd accomplished, defeating a Marine Admiral no less, the bounty should have been far higher. Yet, his listed amount matched his actual combat strength to the dot.
Did the Marines figure something out?
His gaze sharpened. A heavy feeling settled in his chest. These Marines… they weren't easy to deal with. No bluffing with inflated numbers, no lowballs either. Just a bounty that pegged him exactly for what he was. Which was… unsettling.
"Good thing you disguised yourself, Captain," Jason said, patting his chest in relief. "Walking into town right now would've been asking for death!"
"You scared of being wanted?" Rojen teased.
"Not really. I've fought Marine Rear Admirals before, I'm not afraid. It's just, y'know, it's my first time. Takes some getting used to."
His cheeks turned red as he spoke, leaving Rojen both amused and exasperated.
Eager to prove himself, Jason added, "Seriously, Captain! You should've seen it! That Rear Admiral, Kuzan, he didn't stand a chance! I smashed him with a single punch! Didn't even fight back!"
Rojen chuckled and shook his head. "All I saw was you turned into an ice sculpture."
Jason's face twitched. He opened his mouth to protest, but couldn't find a single good comeback.
"But you've got nothing to be ashamed of. That guy's a Logia-type." Rojen patted Jason on the shoulder, speaking calmly. "Without Haki, specifically Armament Haki, it's almost impossible to land a real hit on him."
"With just raw physical strikes, he's completely immune."
Jason frowned, still trying to wrap his head around it.
"Immune to physical attacks? I mean, I hit him so many times! Even a small mountain would've been pulverized by now, but that guy came out untouched!"
Rojen nodded slightly, understanding his frustration.
"Haki... Armament Haki, right? I think I've heard of it somewhere before." Jason muttered, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Rojen casually stacked the wanted posters and tucked them into his coat pocket. Then, with a quick greeting to the others, they began heading into the town.
Bateria Island's layout was relatively simple: a jungle path close to the shore, leading into the town nestled at the base of a range of small, rugged mountains. The terrain rose in layered waves, giving the landscape a majestic yet dangerous aura.
They slipped into town without drawing attention, blending effortlessly into the crowd thanks to their plain disguises. After a few casual conversations with locals about the "giant birds" rumored to inhabit the island, Rojen's eyes glimmered with interest.
Apparently, these birds had been part of the island's lore for generations. The people spoke of them with hushed awe, as few dared venture near the mountains behind the town.
It was said that these colossal birds lived deep within those peaks.
An old man playing chess on the roadside gave them the most detailed account. "Once they reach maturity, their wingspan can stretch nearly thirty meters," he said, tapping the board with a calloused finger. "They fly high in the sky without issue, but when they land, they block out the sun. People flee in terror."
He took a puff from his pipe, lips smacking thoughtfully. "They're not just big, they're carnivorous. Mean too. Wild and bloodthirsty."
According to him, the mountains had become a haven for all kinds of dangerous beasts, thanks to the presence of these apex predators. Few who ventured in ever returned.
"The locals call it Tedoria," The old man added, exhaling smoke. "In our island's dialect, that means 'mount of the gods.' A bad omen."
"Anything tied to the gods is best left alone. That's how we see it. That's why we've forbidden villagers from climbing the mountains for years now."
"Too dangerous," he said again, shaking his head gravely.
Rojen exchanged glances with the crew and offered a polite smile in thanks before turning his gaze toward the mountain range.
"Captain, are we really going up there to catch a bird?" Jason asked hesitantly, voice low. The phrase "mount of the gods" still echoed in his head.
Besides, he'd never even seen a bird with a wingspan that wide. There was something unnerving about confronting the unknown.
"We are," Rojen said with a nod. "If we want to get to the Grand Line, we need that bird."
He was absolutely confident in Bai Feng's abilities. They had already scouted a route up the mountain during their inquiries. So after a brief rest in town, they set out for the trail without delay.
Just as their figures began to disappear into the distance, a pair of cold, calculating eyes watched them silently from the shadows of an alley near Bateria Island's edge.
"Have we locked onto the target?"
A voice crackled through a Den Den Mushi hidden in the figure's collar, quiet and sharp.
"Yes. We've got eyes on them. Still tailing closely," the figure replied in a low tone.
"Stay on them. I'll report to HQ right away."
"That cat…"
"We can't afford any slip-ups this time."
(End of This Chapter)