On the deck of the Merry Go.
"What?!" Luffy exclaimed, jumping up and leaning towards Nami. "Is it about us?"
Nami didn't say anything, she just unfolded the newspaper. Two familiar faces appeared before everyone, with the following annotations:
Luffy, Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries! Alive Only!
Kai, First Mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, Bounty: 100,000,000 Berries! Alive Only!
Kai's bounty poster showed the Marine's 16th Branch as the background. With black hair and black eyes, he stood on the Marine base, surrounded by unconscious Marines.
An invisible aura seemed to emanate from him, his eyes sharp as knives, and an arrogant dominance between his brows, like a king looking down on all living beings.
"This photo... so cool!" Usopp exclaimed, looking up at Kai, then down at the bounty poster. He couldn't help but marvel, "It's exactly like you!"
"Naturally." Kai leaned against the ship's railing, a slight smile playing on his lips, seemingly unfazed by the description.
Luffy's bounty poster, however, was completely different. His background was the sea restaurant.
In the photo, he was holding his straw hat with one hand and his hip with the other, revealing a wide, bright smile with all his teeth.
"Hahahaha! I have a bounty!" Luffy saw his own photo and instantly started jumping around the deck in delight:
"One hundred million Berries! I'm a one-hundred-million-Berry pirate!"
"Idiot." Zoro frowned, glancing at the text on the newspaper, then his eyes narrowed. "Wait, it says—'Alive Only'?"
"Alive Only?" Sanji also came closer, and after seeing those words, he frowned:
"That's uncommon. Most bounty posters say 'dead or alive,' so why do Luffy and Kai specifically say 'Alive Only'?"
"That means the Marines are particularly interested in us," Kai said softly, his brow slightly furrowed.
Nami also realized the seriousness of the situation at this moment, her hands holding the newspaper trembling slightly:
"Luffy, Kai, do you know what this means? A 100,000,000 Berry bounty... The East Blue has never had one!"
"Hahaha! I'm the man who breaks records!" Luffy, however, didn't take it seriously at all. With his hands on his hips, he laughed and announced to everyone, "I will definitely become the Pirate King!"
"Ah—what a stubborn idiot!" Nami covered her forehead, took a deep breath, and pointed at the text on the newspaper:
"Can't you be serious? This is a dangerous sign!"
"Exactly." Sanji nodded. "The bounties in the East Blue have always been low. You two have broken the record!"
"Yeah, Luffy." Usopp also started to get nervous. "What does 'Alive Only' mean? Could the Marine Headquarters be sending some powerful guys to catch us?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" Zoro drew his sword, a cold smile on his lips. "If strong opponents really come, it'll be a good opportunity for me to spar."
Kai stood by, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "'Alive Only'... I'm afraid it's not as simple as just the Marines being interested."
He looked up at the distant horizon, as if foreseeing the storm that was about to come.
In the distance, the News Coo flapped its wings, gradually disappearing into the sky, and the fate of the pirate crew, along with this bounty poster, quietly entered a new chapter.
The air on the deck was somewhat agitated from the heated discussion about the bounty, but Kai suddenly spoke, breaking the conversation.
"Alright," he said, his voice not loud, but gentle yet firm. "Bounties don't mean anything. True strength is the foundation. Continue training."
Upon hearing this, Luffy immediately stopped his excited jumping, scratched his head, "Okay, Body Forging Technique, continue training!"
Zoro crossed his arms, a slight smirk on his lips. "Rather than looking at bounty posters, I prefer to challenge my body's limits."
"These lunatics." Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, rolled his eyes at their antics, but still briskly rolled up his sleeves:
"I'll start training too!"
On the other side, Nami and Usopp were still panting on the deck. Hearing that they had to continue training, both looked despairing.
"You want us to keep training now?" Usopp drawled, "I don't even have the strength to lift my arms!"
"Me too!" Nami glared at Kai, exasperated:
"The mental stress just now was enough to make me collapse, and now we have to keep exercising? Are you intentionally tormenting us?"
Kai turned around, his gaze calmly fixed on the two:
"You're still not strong enough. You don't even qualify for the basic Body Forging Technique. If you want to keep up with us, you have to put in more effort. Be good, train!"
The two exchanged glances, their faces full of despair, but they dared not say anything more. They could only brace themselves, stand up, and begin their basic physical training.
The deck quickly returned to a busy atmosphere.
Kai, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji stood in different corners, practicing the Body Forging Technique.
Their breathing became regular and deep, their muscles contracting and expanding with the rhythm of their breaths, every movement filled with power.
The sunlight fell on them, and their sweat reflected a shimmering glow.
Luffy impatiently shook his hands, "Kai, can this Body Forging Technique be faster? I want to get stronger sooner!"
"Shut up, focus." Kai didn't look up, his voice steady, his movements meticulous. "The more impatient you are, the worse the effect. If you want to be strong, put your heart into it."
"When the Six Styles Body Forging Technique I taught you starts to have less effect on your bodies, I'll customize subsequent Body Forging Techniques for you!"
"It's still very early now. Our physical fitness and strength are steadily increasing!"
Zoro didn't speak, but his focused expression showed that he completely agreed with Kai's attitude.
Each of his movements was accompanied by a special breathing technique, as if he had already entered a unique rhythm.
Sanji, on the other hand, groaned softly while practicing, "It hurts so much... but I can really feel my physical fitness getting stronger."
Because he had just started practicing the Body Forging Technique, his body was not yet accustomed to the intensity, and the pain made him grimace.
His whole body was red and steaming, but feeling his body slowly getting stronger, Sanji showed a satisfied smile and worked even harder.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the deck, Nami and Usopp were doing push-ups and squats.
"Nami, I think I'm going to die." Usopp groaned weakly while doing push-ups.
"If you die, no one will suffer with me." Nami retorted unceremoniously, sweat dripping from her forehead, but she gritted her teeth and didn't stop.
In the distance, the sun had not yet fully risen, and the rosy glow filtered through the thin clouds onto the sea, like countless golden threads dancing.
Seagulls occasionally flew over the ship's mast, emitting crisp cries, adding a touch of vitality to the tranquil sea.
"There are fish jumping over there!" Luffy suddenly pointed to the distant sea and shouted, "Can we catch them to eat?"
"Shut up!" Sanji immediately interrupted him. "Do you think I'm idle? I cooked the meat soup earlier, and now I still have to train. I don't even have time to rest after eating!"
"Complaining so much about training, you're not much of a man." Zoro curled his lip, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Who are you calling not a man?" Sanji immediately bristled, turning his head to glare at Zoro. "Dare to say that again?"
"Are you two done arguing?" Kai frowned, his low voice instantly silencing them.
His gaze swept over them, finally resting on the distant horizon. "Before we land in Loguetown, our daily training won't be any less than today's."
Immediately, groans filled the deck.