'Rustle, rustle…'

  Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

  A small, inspicuous navy ship slowly made its way toward the Red Line.

  "Five me, Tsuru... I broke my promise."

  From the imposing naval building, Fleet Admiral Hammons William looked out through a rge window at the small navy vessel, which had just departed with only a few Marines aboard. His lips pressed tightly together, his gaze resolute. "Don’t bme me… it’s all for the sake of justice."

  Before her death, Tsuru had taken poison, trusting William's word that he would cremate her body and scatter her ashes into the sea. But, to appease the Celestial Dragons' wrath, Fleet Admiral Hammons William ultimately promised.

  However—

  William had no idea that on that very ship, tasked with discreetly delivering Tsuru’s body teoise, Captain Merkel, who had received his orders, was looking back toward Marine Headquarters with a sly smile.

  "You all, e with me!" he ordered.

  Ohey were far enough from Marineford, Captain Merkel led a handful of Mario the ship’s .

  "Sir?" one of the Marines asked, hesitating at the ued, secretive orders to transport a simple wooden crate teoise, unaware of its tents. They wondered if it held something important, given that so few Marines were sent to guard it. But, following orders, they obediently trailed behind him.

  Captain Merkel looked at them, an amused smile on his face. "Curious to know what's inside, aren't you?"

  "What is it?" they asked, eager to know.

  Suddenly, with blinding speed, Merkel extended his right hand, his fingers ed in Armament Haki, sharp and elongated like deadly tendrils.

  'Swish!'

  The attack was swift and ruthless.

  "Ugh—Captain... Merkel! Why...?"

  Each Marine, clutg their pierced throats, stared at him in shod fusion as they fell to the ground.

  'ch!'

  Captain Merkel then stepped forward and pried open the wooden crate with ease, tearing off its nailed-down lid.

  Inside y a frail, elderly figure with graying hair. Though she appeared lifeless, her chest faintly rose and fell with each breath.

  "Tsuru, Tsuru," Merkel cooed, brushing her wrinkled face. His voice transformed into a woman's tone, with a hint of amusement. "Poor Tsuru... I went through quite a bit of trouble to deceive those Navy fools just for you."

  "You're lucky to have survived, so you should be thanking me," she whispered.

  She then pulled out a transponder snail and made a call. "Mission plete. You e aboard now—make it quick, though. I still o reach Mary Geoise afterward."

  "Uood, heading there now!"

  She hung up the phone and, taking out a stack of bounty posters, looked at one in particur, showing a face both familiar and captivating.

  "Two billion belly... El-sama, yetting even more handsome!" she said, a smile creeping onto her face.

  "And even Linlin, that natural-born monster, has earned herself a 500 million bounty..."

  Pressing her face briefly, her entire appearance shifted in an instant, revealing the strikiures of a beautiful woman. For aeran members of the Fallen Angel Pirates, this face was unmistakable—that of the "Shapeshifting Witch," Sally. Years ago, she had been rescued from the bck market by the Hell Trading pany, joihe Dream House, and finally, the Fallen Angel Pirates.

  The bounty posters she held were fresh, detailing the Wover's test wanted list for the Fallen Angel Pirates.

  [“Fallen Angel” Kukulkan El, bounty: 2 Billion Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  [“Vampire” Charlotte Linlin, bounty: 500 Million Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  [“Pet Doctor” Nef, bounty: 200 Million Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  [“Little Devil” Oars Jr., bounty: 150 Million Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  [“Flea Man” Rock, bounty: 100 Million Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  [“Sea Tiger” Jien, bounty: 80 Million Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  [“Minotaur” Uthan, bounty: 50 Million Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  [“Griffin” Moss, bounty: 50 Million Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  [“Mirri” Barry, bounty: 50 Million Belly, Dead Or Alive.]

  "Quite surprising that Nef earned a bounty of 200 million belly…" Sally chuckled, leafing through the bounty posters. "Judging by her strength at Sabaody, she was only on par with Rock…"

  "It must be because she's a Pet-Pet Fruit user and influesuru to attack the Celestial Dragons."

  It was remarkable how the Shapeshifting Witew so maails about the Sabaody i, almost as if she had wit herself.

  "And Uthan... He’ll be furious they listed him as ‘Minotaur,’" she smirked, flipping through the posters.

  A faint roar broke through the distance as a giant seabird, like an albatross, cut through the sky and flew toward the ship at incredible speed.

  …

  "Tsk!"

  "Two billion berries!?"

  "Big Bro El is amazing!"

  "Linlin, you're amazing too! You’ve got a bounty of 500 million berries!"

  "Even Nef has a bounty of 200 million!"

  "Little Oars is awesome, with a bounty of 150 million!"

  "But… why is Nef’s bounty higher than Little Oars and the others?"

  "It’s probably because Nef was the one who ordered Tsuru to harm the Celestial Dragons!"

  "Rock, you’ve got a bounty of 100 million berries too!"

  Meanwhile, in an undisclosed area in the first half of the Grand Line, Linlin, Nef, and the Three-Eye Tribe girl, Lillian, were huddled together. They eagerly flipped through the freshly printed neer and the newly issued bounty posters, feelied and a bit proud.

  They all enthusiastically discussed their newfound fame, although her El nerd, the Soul-Soul Fruit user, were present.

  "Tsk, ‘Griffin’ Moss?"

  Looking at Moss’s bounty poster, Jien the Sea Tiger Fish-man ented in surprise, "As expected from the all-seeing CP. Even though Moss flew out of Sabaody Archipego with Uthan toward Navy Headquarters, they were still spotted from afar!"

  Seeing their bounties, none of them were particurly shocked. Now that the Fallen Angel Pirates had stepped into the spotlight, they anticipated not only attacks from the Navy but also from tless bounty hunters, opportunistic pirates, and those seeking fame.

  The crew members had mentally prepared for these challenges long ago.

  “These random niames…”

  Rock shook his head. "The Navy really has no creativity in naming us."

  Unlike Jien or Moss, his alias didn’t sound cool at all. They were called “Sea Tiger” and “Griffin,” hat exuded power. Even Barry, a Snakeneck man, had the respectable alias “Mirri.” But he… was just “Flea Man”? What even was that?

  'Ugh…'

  pared to Rock, Uthan was dht miserable. Clutg his bounty poster, he muttered in frustration, "If they’re so bad at ing up with niames, they shouldn’t even try!"

  "Hahaha… Minotaur!"

  Jien and Barry couldn’t tain themselves and burst out ughing, gng at Uthan’s horns and his rugged face. His nose pointed slightly upward and turned slightly outward, and with his distinctively oversized lips, he indeed resembled a bull’s head.

  Even Linlin, Nef, and Lily couldn’t help but chuckle. At least Rock’s niame came from his Devil Fruit ability, but Uthan’s “Minotaur” was just too spot-on.

  "You all… are going too far!"

  Uthan’s frustration boiled over.

  "Hah!" With a shout, he charged toward them.

  "Mirror… Spiral!"

  "Whoa, you’re serious?"

  "Take that! How dare you ugh at me… Wide Stance Kick!"

  "Wait, hey! Py fair!"

  'Boom… boom… boom…'