The destruction of the Gate of Justice was not merely an act of war; it was an act of cosmic defiance that resonated across the Grand Line and beyond. The structure had stood for centuries, an immovable symbol of the World Government's judicial absolute power. Its sudden, silent vaporization was terrifying.
News spread via the reorganized network of the CP organization—the official news was carefully censored, but the truth traveled through the shadows. The culprit was unequivocally the "Straw Hat Crew's Guardian," the pirate known only as Kenji 'Apex' Tanaka.
The resulting frenzy at Marine Headquarters was unparalleled. Admirals were summoned. The Five Elders—the shadowy rulers of the world—sat in grim silence.
"The Gate is gone," Fleet Admiral Sengoku roared, slamming his fist down, sending tremors through the headquarters. "The greatest strategic bottleneck in the world is GONE! And we have no idea how!"
"It was an energy signature unlike anything we've ever recorded," a Marine scientist reported, trembling. "It wasn't a Devil Fruit. It wasn't a cannon. It was a localized Absolute Annihilation, Sir. The air itself was vaporized."
The orders were clear: the Straw Hat crew must be categorized as a Supreme Threat. Their bounties were immediately updated.
The numbers were staggering:
Kenji Apex Tanaka: 3 Billion Berries, supreme threat, to be captured alive
Monkey. D. Luffy: 300 million berries. Captain. Captured alive
Roronoa Zoro: 120 million berries
Kenji's new bounty broke all existing records for a non-Emperor. The Navy didn't even use the term "dead or alive." The simple directive to 'Capture Alive' indicated their desperate need to study, understand, and perhaps weaponize the source of his power.
Kenji, relaxing on the reinforced deck of the Going Merry, simply looked at the poster and sighed.
"Three billion," Robin noted, tracing the number with her finger, a proud, soft smile on her face. "You're single-handedly redefining piracy, Kenji-san."
"It's an annoyance," Kenji admitted. "It means they will send something far worse than an Admiral next time. But it also buys us time. The world is now paralyzed by the fear of the unknown."