The Solar Rift Pirates arrived at the island's harbor, the sea wind gently brushing against their cheeks. The battle with the Crimson Reaver Pirates was done, but its aftereffects were still being felt. Wounds ached, exhaustion settled in their bodies, and most of all—their names had begun to spread.
Solian led at the front, eyes narrowed as the island came into view. Cliffs rising high, a dense coastal jungle, and a port town clinging to the shoreline. It looked peaceful from a distance, but he knew that peace was usually an illusion.
"Sounds like a decent place to lie low," Kael growled, adjusting his rusty sword.
Vance chuckled. "Assuming the natives don't slaughter us first."
Jorin leaned against the railing, looking out over the port. "They may not. Something tells me they've already heard about us."
Solian trailed after him with his eyes. Strangers standing around the docks stood motionless, gazing at their vessel in shock. Some huddled with each other and spoke in whispers, while others turned and fled. A cluster of dockhands who had been unloading crates abruptly froze, their hands shaking.
It wasn't the usual reaction to some random pirate crew. They were afraid.
"We're getting attention," Drayce noted.
Milo, the quietest of the crew, finally spoke. "They must have seen our bounties."
Solian's stomach tightened. He had expected his bounty to increase after taking down Dagon, but he hadn't given it much thought. Now, the reality of it was setting in.
"We should check the bounty board," Solian decided. "See what's changed."
No one protested.
As their ship docked, Rock Lee marched ahead, arms crossed. "If our names have gone everywhere, then we should prepare for rivals!" His enthusiasm wasn't extinguished in the presence of tension. "True strength is tested when everyone knows you!"
Vance grinned. "You never sleep, do you?"
Lee bobbed his head. "A warrior never sleeps!"
The crew exchanged smirks before heading into the dock.
A Name That Bares Weight
The streets of the port town were more full than expected, but there was a distance between the townspeople and the crew that was felt. Solian and the others walked down the street, quiet speech, and people stepped aside.
Jorin grinned. "I could get used to this."
Kael, ever the practical one, growled, "It's not fear. They're calculating."
Solian wasn't in doubt. The port wasn't just filled with merchants and traders—there were pirates too. Some of them were staring at them suspiciously, whispering to each other.
Then, they saw it.
A large bounty board stood in the town square, covered in wanted posters. Some had been ripped down, others pinned up again.
And at the center were their faces.
The crew approached, reading every poster carefully.
Solian Flare – 110,000,000 Berries (Previously 65,000,000)
Kael "Rustfang" Deyn – 75,000,000 Berries (Previously 48,000,000)
Jorin "Crimson Fang" Vael – 68,000,000 Berries (Previously 42,000,000)
Vance "Ironfist" Rhoan – 61,000,000 Berries (Previously 38,000,000)
The Twin Tempest – 38,000,000 Berries (Previously 22,000,000)
Milo "Silent Shot" Trenn – 32,000,000 Berries (Previously 19,000,000)
Rock Lee didn't have any to his name yet, as he hadn't been terribly active in the battle.
A weighty silence loomed over them.
"This is insane," Vance complained, glowering at his poster. "We just made it out of that fight with our lives, and they're already raising our bounties?"
"It's because of Dagon," Kael said blithely. "He was 80 million. Taking him out made us priority targets."
Jorin exhaled. "Shit. This puts things in perspective."
Solian frowned. It wasn't the bounties—it was what the bounties were worth. The greater the sum on their heads, the greater attention they'd draw. Greater pirates would regard them as competitors. Bounty hunters would be competing to collect their heads. The Marines.
"Let's go," Solian said finally. "We must buy provisions."
As they began to exit, a group of pirates near the bounty board was noticed by Solian. They were not heading in their direction, but their eyes were on them.
Whispering. Thinking.
Solian felt this island wouldn't be so peaceful for long.
The Marines Are Watching
And elsewhere in the West Blue, in an undercover Marine outpost…
In a dimly lit room, a group of Marine officers sat around a table, reading intelligence reports. Maps covered the wooden table, red ink marking pirate activity.
Vice Admiral Volcus stood at the head of the table, arms crossed as he read the latest bounty news.
"A 110 million berry bounty… Already?" he growled.
A Marine officer swallowed hard. "Sir, the Solar Rift Pirates have dropped anchor at an island near where they were last spotted. Rumor is they've begun to draw significant attention."
Volcus smiled. "Good. Let them. The more attention they draw, the easier it will be to track them."
Another officer stumbled. "Do we attack?"
Volcus shook his head. "No. Not yet." He leaned forward, tapping a finger against the map. "They're heading toward the Grand Line. That's where we'll crush them."
The officers exchanged glances, nodding in agreement.
Solian and his crew thought they had time.
But the Marines were already setting their trap.