The Caesar Pirates reconnected once more, reflecting on the broader pirate world.
As they reviewed the latest bounty updates, Caesar's name stood among the top-tier pirates. It gave him a sensation akin to ranking among the top few in a prestigious school—an acknowledgment of both power and influence.
"Of course," Caesar mused, "a bounty doesn't strictly define strength. Some pirates have higher bounties due to seniority, notoriety, or sheer ruthlessness, not necessarily combat prowess."
Indeed, while some criminals exceeded his bounty, their influence or destructive acts played a greater role in determining their worth. In a real battle, only a select few pirates could match Caesar. The infamous Golden Lion, for instance, ranked above him, as did other feared and tyrannical figures.
Ultimately, bounty rankings combined raw strength with the impact a pirate had on the world.
At the same time, the world was still shifting. Charlotte Linlin, known as Big Mom, remained hidden as she expanded her family. Edward Newgate, the future Whitebeard, still roamed the seas without formally establishing his legendary crew. As for Kaido, he had only recently emerged among the top ranks and was still far from the feared Emperor he would become. Even so, his bounty remained lower than Caesar's.
Curious after their recent battles, Caesar pondered, What are the latest bounty figures for my crew?
He voiced his thoughts, and Wei Na, one of his subordinates, pulled out a stack of bounty posters, reading them aloud.
"Eli, 53 million berries!"
Eli's face lit up with excitement. It was a modest sum compared to the great pirates, but it signified his progress.
Caesar nodded approvingly. "That's an impressive start, Eli. Many pirates take over a decade to reach that number. Keep developing your Self-Healing Fruit—if you master it, the Navy will take even greater notice, and your bounty will soar."
Eli grinned, determination in his eyes. "Thank you, Captain! I won't let you down!"
Wei Na continued, "Arnold, 189.3 million berries."
"That's a huge gap!" Eli exclaimed, envious.
Arnold, however, remained indifferent, uninterested in the numbers.
"145.6 million berries," Wei Na read next. His own bounty was slightly lower than Arnold's, given Arnold's role as a sniper and a Double-Speed Fruit user, both of which increased his perceived threat level.
"Regina, 112 million berries."
As Regina had no Devil Fruit abilities, her bounty rose more gradually. But her potential was undeniable. Caesar never selected crew members based on power alone—talent and reliability mattered just as much.
"Lily, 78 million berries."
Eli chuckled. "Not bad! You've jumped up quite a bit since last time!"
Lily beamed. "It's all thanks to you, Captain."
Wei Na kept going. "Yakesi, 321 million berries."
Yakexi smirked. "Not high enough. I'll need to work harder."
Regina gave him a sideways glance. "It's still more than me."
Next, "Hades, 385 million berries."
Hades leaned back with a cocky grin. "No big deal."
"You guys are ridiculous," Axi muttered, rolling her eyes.
Eli, meanwhile, stared in admiration. "Three hundred million… I can't even imagine reaching that level!"
Determined, he clenched his fists. I'll catch up to them one day!
Wei Na revealed the next name. "Brad, 534 million berries."
Eli gasped. "Half a billion… It still sounds insane no matter how many times I hear it."
Brad simply grinned. "It's just a number."
Then came the second-highest figure. "Gnaly, 876 million berries!"
The crew murmured in awe. Even Gnaly, usually serious, allowed himself a small smile.
Finally, the most anticipated bounty.
"Caesar, 3.285 billion berries!"
A hush fell over the crew before cheers erupted.
"As expected of our captain!"
"Too strong!"
Though Caesar had already anticipated the number, he couldn't help but feel satisfaction.
The crew continued their celebration, feasting and resting before setting out again.
The Journey to Water 7
After days of leisure, the crew decided to move on. Their next destination: Water 7, where they would construct a new pirate ship.
"We'll need high-quality wood for this," Caesar declared. "Luckily, this island has Treasure Tree Adam."
He wasted no time. With precise selection, he located an enormous branch—20 meters thick at its widest and nearly 200 meters long. With a single slash, he severed it.
The islanders watched in silent dismay. That much Adam wood could have sold for a fortune…
Using his Devil Fruit powers, Caesar effortlessly lifted the massive log into the air and carried it back.
Training Lily's Devil Fruit
Rather than carrying the log himself the entire way, Caesar turned to Lily.
"Lily, use your cloud to lift it."
Lily hesitated. "Me? That's way too heavy!"
"You can do it," Caesar assured her.
With effort, Lily conjured a cloud beneath the wood. The strain was immense, but she held on.
"Ugh… it's so heavy!"
"Keep going!"
Though exhausted, she persevered, determined to master her power.
Arrival at Water 7
After a month-long journey—and several minor incidents, including Lily nearly dropping the wood and Gnaly slaying a rogue Sea King—the Caesar Pirates finally sighted the towering silhouette of Water 7.
Excitement buzzed among the crew.
"A new ship… I can't wait!"
On the docks, the shipwrights and residents of Water 7 turned their eyes toward the approaching pirates.
Their reputation had arrived before them.
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