The Sunagakure Pirates were currently hailed as the most terrifying pirate crew of the post-Roger era. The Battle of Loguetown had sent a crystal-clear signal to the entire world: a new era had arrived.
During this period, an uncountably vast surge of pirates flooded into the Grand Line, placing immense pressure directly onto the shoulders of the Marines.
Fearless and reckless, these waves of newly minted pirates caused widespread turbulence and anxiety across the Grand Line and the Four Seas.
In response, the Marines were forced to expand their forces continuously, forming new warship battlefleets to cope with the immense strain.
Following the Loguetown Incident, the threat index assigned to Shiraishi and the Sunagakure Pirates within Marine Headquarters shot up several tiers.
They were dangerous not only because of their overwhelming personal combat power, but also due to their potentially terrifying global influence.
Given the extreme threat posed by the Sunagakure Pirates, Marine Headquarters spent several days in intense deliberations before officially announcing the updated bounties for the entire crew.
When the new bounty posters were released, the entire world was thrown into shock!
"Even Whitebeard and Golden Lion Shiki didn't start with bounties like these... Are the Marines officially acknowledging the Sunagakure Pirates' elite standing?"
On the primary poster, a high-definition photograph showed Shiraishi dressed in elegant silver-white attire, holding his silver blade with a cool, arrogant expression as he stood aboard the Shukaku. Beneath his portrait was an extraordinarily astronomical sum!
Ice Bird · Aokiji Shiraishi, Leader of the Sunagakure Pirates. Cunning, ruthless, and battle-hungry. Possesses suspected powers of the Mythical Zoan Ice Bird Fruit alongside specialized venomcraft.
Bounty: 1,225,000,000 Beli (Dead or Alive).
On the second poster, Uchiha Madara stood beneath a roaring, dark giant, his entire form exuding an icy horror. Though endowed with striking features, his terrifying gaze sent a chill down the spine of anyone who looked upon it.
Asura · Uchiha Madara, Vice-Leader of the Sunagakure Pirates. A ruthless, bloodthirsty executioner. Suspected possessor of the Mythical Zoan Dark Nine-Tails Fruit.
Bounty: 1,000,000,000 Beli (Dead or Alive).
However, the truly spine-chilling poster was that of Unohana Retsu. With her hair unraveled and draped loosely, she resembled a vengeful demon freshly stepped out of hell, flicking her tongue across the edge of her Zanpakuto. The image alone evoked a visceral tremor of impending death.
Great Sword Demon · Unohana Yachiru, Master Swordsman of the Sunagakure Pirates.
Bounty: 800,000,000 Beli (Dead or Alive).
By contrast, the priestess Kikyo's poster appeared remarkably serene. Dressed in her traditional shrine maiden robes, Kikyo possessed a devoted following even within the Marines themselves; the air of classic Japanese grace (Yamato Nadeshiko) surrounding her proved to be a fatal charm for certain Marine personnel.
White-Robed Shrine Maiden · Kikyo, Master Archer of the Sunagakure Pirates.
Bounty: 650,000,000 Beli (Dead or Alive).
Finally came Ace. Replacing his previously laughable cloth mask, he now wore a specialized Flame Monkey mask, paired with a crimson battle cape that gave him a majestic, imposing presence.
Masked Warrior, Crew Member of the Sunagakure Pirates. User of the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit (Mera Mera no Mi).
Bounty: 550,000,000 Beli (Dead or Alive).
Moyade, Navigator of the Sunagakure Pirates.
Bounty: 56,000,000 Beli (Dead or Alive).
News of the Sunagakure Pirates' staggering bounty totals spread across the globe at terrifying speed. In this era, Beli inflation had not yet reached modern levels, making a 1.2 billion Beli bounty a clear reflection of how heavily Marine Headquarters weighed Shiraishi's threat.
It was not just Marine Headquarters; even the World Government took deep notice of this development.
"Fuffuffuffuffu... I didn't expect Lord Shiraishi's evaluation within the Marines to already match the likes of the late Pirate King and Whitebeard."
Inside a high-end reception lounge somewhere in the Grand Line, Shiraishi—dressed in formal attire—was enjoying his meal with impeccable elegance. By contrast, his host, Donquixote Doflamingo, looked thoroughly unrefined and swaggering, exhibiting no manners whatsoever.
Shiraishi's refined dining etiquette caught Doflamingo and his executive crew completely off guard. They hadn't expected a legendary pirate of his caliber to eat with such quiet composure.
There was not a single trace of rough, boisterous pirate behavior in him.
"It seems Lord Shiraishi is quite satisfied with the food here."
Setting down his fork and knife, Shiraishi picked up a cloth and gently wiped his mouth. "Heh. I didn't expect the famous Heavenly Yaksha, currently making such a splash, to invite me for a meeting. I assumed you'd be like those rookie Supernovas and try to pick a fight with us directly."
Outside on the sea, Uchiha Madara was resting aboard the Shukaku. Ever since a flood of new pirate crews emerged across the Grand Line, chaos on the open waters had become a daily occurrence.
Naturally, quite a few arrogant rookies had attempted to challenge the Sunagakure Pirates to make a name for themselves.
Shiraishi showed no mercy to such insects. After completely wiping out several waves of provocative rookies, the Sunagakure Pirates had finally enjoyed a period of peace and quiet.
"Fuffuffuffuffu... I'm not some ignorant rookie pirate. The fact that Lord Shiraishi was willing to meet with me means you're open to doing business."
Doflamingo was an extraordinarily peculiar pirate. Though he had only recently set out to sea, he had already personally destroyed multiple towns.
Beyond his pirate crew and commercial enterprises—which dabbled in arms trafficking, drug trade, and various illicit operations—he had even planted sleeper agents inside the World Government's Marines.
"I hear your main business revolves around Devil Fruits."
Shiraishi's comment caused Doflamingo to grin widely. "I see. Is Lord Shiraishi interested in Devil Fruits?"
Looking at Doflamingo's smirk, Shiraishi narrowed his eyes and issued a flat warning: "Mind your smile, Doflamingo."
An invisible wave of icy chill instantaneously enveloped the room. Doflamingo gasped cold air involuntarily, shocked by how terrifying Shiraishi's elemental control was—he had been suppressed by frost before he could even react.
Has his Devil Fruit already awakened?!
After a brief, tense silence, Doflamingo nodded with a grim expression. "May I ask what kind of Devil Fruits Lord Shiraishi is looking for?"
"I'm looking for Devil Fruits with unique utilities. But besides that, I'm quite fond of collecting rare gems with special lusters. I trust you have the means to source them for me. Money is not an issue."
"Gems that correspond to the ones on your gauntlet?"
Doflamingo was sharp. Shiraishi admitted it without hesitation.
"It's a breathtaking work of art, isn't it?"
Over the past few years, Doflamingo's underworld and legitimate networks had been expanding at a rapid pace.
Doflamingo boasted an elite background. Eight hundred years ago, the Donquixote Family was one of the twenty royal bloodlines that founded the World Government, ruling over Dressrosa before renouncing their throne to reside in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
As a descendant, Doflamingo possessed the innate privileges of a World Noble (Celestial Dragon).
Over the next decade, leveraging both his official lineage and underground influence, Doflamingo would rapidly rise to become one of the most powerful figures among the Seven Warlords of the Sea (Seven Warlords).
His decision to seek out Shiraishi for a partnership mirrored his canon collaboration with Kaidou—he was actively seeking powerful backing.
Devil Fruits were merely a cover. What Shiraishi truly needed were gems with specialized elemental attributes.
After years of collaborating with the Vinsmoke Family without finding gems of other elemental properties across the seas, Shiraishi decided to utilize Doflamingo's underworld network instead.
Hearing that Shiraishi only required certain gems and specific Devil Fruits, Doflamingo breathed a sigh of relief and readily agreed.
The brief exchange had placed immense pressure on Doflamingo.
The sheer dominance of the Sunagakure Pirates—demonstrated through the Battle of Loguetown—had already burned a formidable impression into the hearts of every major pirate across the world.