CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 80

In the world of pirates, a high bounty doesn’t always mean strength, but a strong pirate will always have a high bounty.

Bounties are set by the World Government to classify the threat a so-called criminal poses. The most important factors, therefore, are the degree of destruction they cause and the level of danger they represent to the World Government.

As Mock, the Overlord of the East Blue, stood with his notes, analyzing everything from bounties to the inner workings of the World Government, the pirates who had gathered for his lecture suddenly had a revelation. The title of his seminar, "The East Blue Overlord Teaches You How To Be A Pirate", had drawn them in, and now they were gaining a much deeper understanding of what destruction and threat really meant.

Given the typical intelligence of a pirate, Mock’s simple but powerful words helped them all grasp a fundamental truth.

If you want your bounty to skyrocket, you have to slap the World Government in the face. You have to make them unhappy.

And how does one make them unhappy?

The Overlord explained that, too, in simple terms.

In the East Blue, there are only two reliable ways to get on the World Government’s bad side: rob nobles from affiliated nations or attack Marine branches.

’What about robbing common folk?’ he asked rhetorically.

The World Government wouldn’t even give it a second glance. How high could a bounty like that possibly go?

Even when robbing an affiliated nation, you had to be strategic. You needed to target those with strong ties to the World Government, like the Goa Kingdom next door, the one that had been named the ’most beautiful nation’ in the East Blue a few years back. Robbing a place like that would send your bounty through the roof.

Mock continued his point-by-point analysis, moving from simple ideas to more complex ones. For the many ambitious pirates hoping to raise their bounties, it felt like a fog was clearing from their minds. They couldn’t help but look at his burly figure with a sigh of admiration.

’He really is the Overlord of the East Blue,’ they thought.

No wonder his bounty had risen so quickly. It turned out there was a science to being a pirate as well.

To foster the growth of piracy in the East Blue, expand the business, and help the region shake off its reputation as the "weakest sea," the Overlord even announced that he would personally fund a gift for every pirate in attendance: a book titled "How to be a Pirate from Scratch." It contained all the key points from his lecture, allowing everyone to review the material later.

It also included detailed information on the various affiliated nations in the East Blue, so that every ambitious pirate could choose the right targets and get on the fast track to a higher bounty.

The pirates were moved to tears. They praised the Overlord’s generosity, declaring him worthy of conquering the world and sitting on the Pirate King’s throne. He hadn’t just limped back from the Grand Line, he had returned to bring hope to all the pirates of the East Blue. It was incredibly touching.

Finally, when the moment felt right, Mock raised a hand to silence the cheering crowd. He brought a Megaphone Den Den Mushi to his lips, his expression solemn, and declared, "Now, everyone, repeat after me!"

"To succeed, you’ve gotta get crazy! Forget the risks, go for the money!"

The crowd roared back: "To succeed, you’ve gotta get crazy! Forget the risks, go for the money!"

"One good fight makes you a millionaire! Risk it all, or you’ll never win!"

"Sleep on the deck tonight, be the Pirate King tomorrow!"

As the last line echoed through the venue, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Watching the impassioned pirates, Mock nodded in satisfaction. He casually tossed the Megaphone Den Den Mushi to a subordinate, said simply, "Lecture dismissed," and then swept his cape around him and turned to leave. He fully embodied the aura of an overlord, leaving everyone to stare at his departing figure with pure admiration.

’As expected of the man with an 80 million bounty,’ they thought, ’the one who defeated a Shichibukai!’

Only one person in the crowd, a man with a red nose, had worn a bewildered expression from start to finish. Staring at the pirates still chanting, "Sleep on the deck tonight, be the Pirate King tomorrow!" he muttered to himself, "Are these guys... insane?"

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"What the hell?! Have all the pirates in the East Blue gone mad?!"

In Fleet Admiral Sengoku’s office at Marine Headquarters, an intelligence report had just arrived from the 16th Branch, the very same branch that had spent years dealing with the Overlord. They had even sent along a copy of the book he’d written, "How to be a Pirate from Scratch."

Sengoku was left utterly speechless.

What was the meaning of this? Not long ago, he had been wondering what Mock intended to do. The man had defeated Crocodile, captured the king of an affiliated nation, and openly challenged the World Government, only to turn around and sail right back to the East Blue. And for what?

To teach classes? To foster the growth of pirates in the East Blue and help them shed the title of the "weakest sea"?

’What kind of pirate is this?’ Sengoku wondered. Not even the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had been this outrageous. He scratched his head as he stared at the report, then rubbed his temples in frustration.

Though he had to admit, the Overlord’s analysis was disturbingly accurate. If you wanted your bounty to rise quickly, robbing nobles from affiliated nations was indeed the fastest way.

Of course, these small-time pirates didn’t worry him. Their combined bounties wouldn’t even come close to Mock’s. No matter how much trouble they stirred up, how bad could it really be? Besides, did they really think they could provoke the Marines time and again and get away with it, just like their new mentor?

What truly gave Sengoku a headache was trying to figure out what the Overlord was planning. As the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, he suddenly realized he had no idea what the man was thinking. Was he genuinely trying to bring the glory to the East Blue pirates?

Just then, as Sengoku was massaging his temples, a Marine rushed into the office.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, we’re getting non-stop calls from the affiliated nations in the East Blue," the Marine said anxiously. "They’re reporting pirate attacks. Many kings and nobles have suffered heavy losses and are demanding that we apprehend the criminals and raise their bounties."

"I know," Sengoku said, waving a hand and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Tell them the Marines will arrange something as soon as possible."

In truth, Marine Headquarters was under orders from the World Government to focus all its resources on finding Vegapunk. They had no time for such trivial matters. And after reading the report from the 16th Branch, he knew that apart from Mock, the rest were just small fry. There was no need to make a big fuss.

Sengoku considered his options. "Have Captain Smoker coordinate with the 16th Branch to capture the pirates robbing the affiliated nations. At the same time, raise the bounty for the East Blue Overlord, Mock, to... 100 million Berries. Increase the bounties for the other pirates involved as well. That should attract some bounty hunters to the East Blue."

That ought to be enough for now. As for the Overlord himself, it was only a matter of time before he caused real trouble again. First, he throws a pirate feast, now he’s trying to revitalize piracy in an entire sea. Who knew what he would come up with next?

He thought for another moment, then looked at the Marine. "Wait, I remember that the 16th Branch recent report also said that one of the Shichibukai, Bartholomew Kuma, is establishing a territory in the East Blue?"

"Yes, sir. And it’s very close to their base. It’s giving Captain Dante a major headache. He said having a Shichibukai for a neighbor makes him feel incredibly insecure. He hasn’t been sleeping well and hopes Headquarters can allocate more funds to the 16th Branch to strengthen their armaments and deter him."

"First the Overlord, and now a Shichibukai. That poor kid Dante really has his hands full," Sengoku sighed. "Who knows what Kuma is thinking, becoming a Warlord and then setting up a base in the East Blue instead of returning to his own kingdom?" He nodded. "Alright, tell the finance department to approve a little extra. Also, relay a World Government order to Bartholomew Kuma." He added, his expression turning serious, "Tell him to cooperate with the 16th Branch in the capture of the East Blue Overlord, Mock."

"Yes, sir!"

After dealing with the mess in the East Blue, Sengoku let out a slow breath. He noticed some movement in the corridor outside and frowned. "What’s all that?"

"A delivery, Fleet Admiral. It’s a gift from the 16th Branch."

"Another one for Zephyr? That boy may have been reassigned to the East Blue, but he’s certainly grateful." A faint smile touched Sengoku’s lips. "He sends Zephyr a gift around this time every year. Of all the Marines who’ve been reassigned, he’s the only one who still remembers his old instructor. No wonder Zephyr looked out for him so much back in the day. But..."

He looked at the corridor with confusion.

"This year’s delivery seems a bit larger than usual. He’s always complaining about being poor. Did the boy save enough this year?"

"Uh..."

"Spit it out."

"This year, it seems there are gifts for Admiral Kuzan and Vice Admiral Garp as well, sir," the Marine said, hesitating as he glanced at the Fleet Admiral’s frowning face. "That’s why it’s a bigger delivery."

"Garp and Kuzan, too? The boy does understand how these things work. He has some talent, even if he doesn’t use it for anything important," Sengoku coughed. "So, what about mine?"

"Uh, I’m sorry, sir. It seems... there wasn’t one for you."

As the words hung in the air, Sengoku fell silent.

So, Zephyr got one. Garp got one. Even Kuzan got one. But he, the Fleet Admiral, didn’t? After all the extra funding he’d just approved for that kid.

That boy didn’t understand how these things worked at all.

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