New Bounties

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--xLOVEx--

The rest of the crew settled into an uncomfortable quiet, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Usopp wasn't just some crewmate who had a small spat with Luffy. This was deeper than that—this was about respect, about trust. And unless Usopp could find it in himself to apologize, they couldn't just go back to the way things were.

Luffy stood up, stretching his arms over his head. "I'm going for a nap," he said with a yawn, trying to shake off the heavy atmosphere. "Wake me when there's meat." His voice carried none of his usual carefree excitement, but it was clear he didn't want to dwell on the issue any longer.

The crew watched as Luffy walked away, disappearing into the bedroom without another word. They knew this wasn't easy for him, but no one was going to say anything more. The decision had been made.

Later that evening, Kokoro showed up, instantly cutting through the heavy mood that had been lingering over the crew. Her usual grin spread across her face as she waved her hand, her voice raspy but cheerful.

Kokoro joined the group, casually taking a seat. Her next words immediately catching everyone's attention. "Next island the Log Pose is pointing to... is Fishman Island."

The crew's eyes lit up at the mention of the infamous undersea island. But none of them reacted as enthusiastically as Sanji, who immediately shot to his feet, twirling in place with hearts in his eyes. "Fishman Island? I'll finally see mermaids!" he shouted, already lost in his fantasies.

Coby, lounging nearby with his arms behind his head, snickered and threw a comment at Sanji, "Haven't you seen one already?"

Sanji's excitement instantly turned into fury, his entire demeanor shifting as he glared at Coby with pure murder in his eyes. "I have not!" he declared vehemently.

The rest of the crew looked between Sanji and Coby, confused. They all remembered what had happened at Enies Lobby when Coby had kicked Sanji into the sea, where he'd been rescued by Kokoro in a strange manner. Apparently, Sanji had blocked that part from his memory, unwilling to accept that his first encounter with a mermaid had been with Kokoro.

Kokoro chuckled at the exchange but didn't dwell on it. She shifted the conversation, her tone a little more serious now. "Before you get too excited, there's something you should know," she said, leaning forward slightly. "There's a small hurdle between Fishman Island and Water 7."

"A hurdle?" Zoro asked, narrowing his eyes as he crossed his arms.

Kokoro nodded. "It's called the Florian Triangle. Every year, ships vanish in that area, and no one knows why. Some say it's haunted. There are rumors of ghosts and even a talking skeleton."

Nami visibly tensed, her face paling at the mention of ghosts. "G-Ghosts?" she stammered, her voice shaking slightly.

In contrast, Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement. "A talking skeleton?! I want one to join our crew!" His enthusiasm was clear, his imagination already running wild with the idea.

Nami shot him a horrified look, but Luffy didn't seem to care. The idea of meeting a skeleton was clearly more exciting to him than the danger of disappearing ships. Zoro and Sanji also looked mildly interested, though none of them seemed particularly worried about the supposed danger.

As Kokoro continued to explain the strange occurrences in the Florian Triangle, Nami's discomfort grew. She tried to stay calm, but the thought of sailing through a place full of ghosts clearly didn't sit well with her. The rest of the crew, meanwhile, listened intently, each of them preparing mentally for the strange journey ahead.

As they were talking, Mozu and Kiwi, the square sisters, strolled in with Chimney and Gonbe. Mozu flashed a grin, her voice cheerful. "Big Bro Franky is calling you guys. The Dream Ship is done."

Chimney chimed in excitedly, bouncing on her heels. "And it's amazing!"

Luffy's eyes sparkled, his excitement bursting out of him. "Ehh?! It's done already? That was fast!"

Kiwi nodded, her arms crossed confidently. "Five top-notch shipwrights worked day and night. No breaks!"

The entire crew buzzed with anticipation, the mood shifting from casual to eager in seconds. They got up from their spots in the garden, following the square sisters out of the guesthouse. But as they stepped into the street, Franky's gang was already there, blocking their way.

"Straw Hat-san!" Zambai called out from a distance, waving them down as they approached. "We have something important to show you."

Luffy perked up, curious. "What is it? More good news?"

Zambai shook his head, "We've got a request to make. Have you seen the latest wanted posters?"

Luffy's grin somehow grew even wider, as if that was possible. "Wanted posters?"

Zambai nodded, pulling out a stack of posters. "Yeah, and you've got an outrageous bounty on your head along with Vice-Captain-san. The rest of your crew also has new bounties."

Sanji's eyes sparkled with excitement, already bouncing in place. "Me too?"

Nami looked anxious, "Me too?"

Chopper, always hopeful, squeaked, "Me too?"

Zambai laid the posters on the ground, and the crew gathered around to see. Each poster was revealed one by one, and the crew's reactions varied from stunned to ecstatic.

"Straw Hat Luffy, Dead or Alive, 350 Million Beri," Zambai read out, his tone almost reverent.

Luffy burst into laughter, throwing his hands in the air. "Shishishi! That's awesome!"

Next came Coby's poster. "Coby the Copy Ninja, Dead or Alive, 333 Million Beri."

Coby raised an eyebrow at the price, "Must be Spandam's doing."

"Pirate Hunter Zoro, Dead or Alive, 120 Million Beri."

Zoro smirked, clearly satisfied with his new bounty.

"Devil's Child Nico Robin, Dead or Alive, 80 Million Beri."

Robin gave a small smile, but her expression remained calm, as if she had expected it.

"Cat Burglar Nami, Dead or Alive, 16 Million Beri."

Nami let out a small yelp, "I am wanted too?"

Zambai moved on, showing Usopp's poster, still with the Sogeking mask. "The Great Liar Usopp, Dead or Alive, 40 Million Beri."

"Cotton Candy Lover Chopper (Pet), Dead or Alive, 50 Beri."

Chopper's face fell as he stared at the ridiculously low bounty. "F-f-fifty Beri? Why am I a pet?!"

"Black Leg Sanji, Dead or Alive, 77 Million Beri—photo unavailable."

Looking at the drawing on Sanji's bounty poster, Coby burst into laughter, nearly choking on his drink. The poster had a crude, cartoonish sketch of a man with blonde hair and a curly eyebrow, but otherwise, it looked nothing like Sanji.

Sanji fell to the ground, staring at the poster in disbelief. "What the hell is this?! That's supposed to be me?!"

Zoro couldn't resist. "That is just like you," he teased, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Sanji jumped to his feet, flames blazing around him in pure rage. "How is this like me, you moss-headed bastard?!"

Before Sanji could lunge at Zoro, Zambai interrupted by pulling out another poster. "Our request is about this one." He held up the bounty for Franky. "Cyborg Franky, Dead or Alive, 44 Million Beri."

The crew's attention shifted to Franky's wanted poster, and Zambai continued, his voice suddenly serious. "With this bounty on his head, Big Bro can't stay on land. He'll be hunted down, and there's no place for him in Water 7 anymore."

Zambai fell to his knees, bowing his head deeply in front of Luffy and the crew. "Please, take Big Bro Franky with you! He deserves to sail the seas, not hide like a criminal on land!"

Luffy scratched his head, confused. "Why are you asking us? Franky's the one who decides what he wants to do."

Zambai raised his head, desperation in his eyes. "He won't leave! He thinks his place is here, but with a bounty on his head, he'll never be safe. Please, take him with you!"

The crew gathered their things and made their way toward the junkyard, where they had first anchored the Going Merry. This time, it wasn't to say goodbye but to meet their new ship. Excitement buzzed in the air, though none of them said much as they walked through the bustling streets of Water 7. They were about to see the ship that would carry them into the next chapter of their adventure.

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