Chapter 169: The Deceptively Misleading Bounty Amounts

It was no secret among the Sun Pirates that Arlong's strength was inferior to Jinbei's.

But now, hearing the Marines at Enies Lobby announce their bounties in front of everyone, Arlong felt utterly humiliated.

Arlong had always been defiant toward Jinbei, whether it was due to Jinbei's personality or his principles. Otherwise, Arlong wouldn't have constantly been at odds with him.

However, Jinbei, being uninterested in competing with Arlong, only exacerbated Arlong's feelings of inadequacy, leading to the worsening of their relationship.

Jinbei's bounty was an impressive 210 million Berries, while Arlong's was only 80 million. Didn't this imply that it would take three Arlongs to barely equal one Jinbei?

"Just wait—if we run into anyone strong, don't interfere. Leave them to me, Arlong.

I'm going to prove to those Marines how ridiculous their bounty system is!

I showed my prowess at Mariejois, yet my bounty didn't even reach 100 million."

As the Marines of Enies Lobby began to surround them, Arlong's face showed no sign of fear. Instead, he was visibly excited, his eyes gleaming with a predatory gleam.

He saw this attack on Enies Lobby as an opportunity. If he could take down a few high-ranking Marines, there was no reason his bounty couldn't surpass Jinbei's.

Bam!

A sharp, crisp sound echoed through the air, followed by a surge of invisible pressure that erupted around Arlong.

Snapping out of his fantasy, Arlong's blue shark-like face twisted in shock as he noticed a tall, long-legged woman standing in front of him.

The woman, clad in a peach-colored qipao with a Justice cloak draped over her shoulders, had long, straight black hair that flowed with the breeze. She looked even more commanding than most men.

Her mighty sword, Konpira, had been intercepted by Jinbei's fist, but blood seeped from Jinbei's skin where his hand met the blade.

Despite the stark difference in size between Jinbei's bulky frame and the woman's more slender build, her blade left a silver trail in the air, effortlessly sending the large Jinbei flying.

Having just sent Jinbei flying, Gion didn't pursue him but instead stood still, her sword poised as she looked down at Arlong.

"The bounties assigned by the Marines aren't without reason.

Clearly, you don't deserve a bounty exceeding 100 million, and even that 80 million bounty you have is heavily inflated.

If not for that big fish-man over there, your head would already be rolling on the ground. You wouldn't even have the chance to boast in front of us Marines."

Gion's blade had originally been aimed at Arlong, but Jinbei, sensing the danger, had stepped in to take the hit for his comrade.

And with that single strike, Gion had made it clear why Jinbei's bounty was so much higher than Arlong's—it wasn't without reason.

Jinbei truly possessed the strength to match his bounty, but Arlong didn't. His bounty was inflated, boosted by his involvement in the Mariejois incident, and without that, he wouldn't have been worth 80 million Berries.

Arlong, too, had his pride. Gion had just laid bare his inadequacies with her display of strength, and with his fiery temper, Arlong couldn't tolerate it. He was about to launch himself at her, ready to tear her apart.

But before Arlong could act, Tiger stepped in and restrained him, his gaze toward Gion becoming more serious than ever.

Tiger had initially thought that the only threat worth noting was Garp, the Marine hero. But seeing Gion in action made him realize that this female Marine officer was far from ordinary.

Arlong might not have been a concern, but Tiger knew Jinbei's capabilities well. Jinbei's Fish-Man Karate was nearly on par with his own.

Yet, despite Jinbei's formidable strength, he had been sent flying by this slender woman with a single strike. It was clear that if things got serious, Jinbei might not be able to handle Vice Admiral Momousagi.

And if Momousagi, merely a well-known Rear Admiral, was this strong, just how powerful must Garp, the Marine hero known across the seas, be?

Clang!

Before Tiger could ponder further, a figure suddenly shot out from their ranks, and before anyone could react, two swords clashed in mid-air, each emitting a fierce energy.

"Don't waste time. You all go on ahead to the Tower of Justice to rescue Tom. Leave Gion to me.

We've known each other for years. I even know what color underwear she prefers."

This last part was obviously Wood talking big, and Gion responded by angrily lashing out with a powerful kick.

As Tenku clashed with Gion's Konpira, Gion's long leg, now reinforced with Armament Haki, shot toward Wood's lower body.

In terms of "Observation Haki," Wood was far superior to Gion, but when it came to "Armament Haki," he was not as proficient.

Gion had mastered Armament Haki long ago, while Wood had only recently begun to grasp it.

Using Armament Haki to block Gion's strike would only put him at a disadvantage, so Wood drew his sheathed sword, Asatsuyu, with his other hand, using it to block Gion's high kick.

Without a hint of hesitation, the iron-willed Wood, unafraid to hurt Gion, delivered a powerful kick to her abdomen, sending her flying.

Though Wood's kick landed, the sensation that followed told him Gion hadn't taken much damage—she had used the "Iron Body" technique of the Six Powers just as his attack connected.

The sheer force of the blow sent Gion hurtling backward like a cannonball. Even though she planted Konpira in the ground to slow her momentum, she still skidded for dozens of meters.

Seeing Wood suppressing the previously formidable Vice Admiral Momousagi so quickly, the members of the Sun Pirates couldn't help but look at the human with newfound respect.

They thought, "If someone like Wood could be close friends with our own sword saint, Yasuo, he must be no ordinary human."

Judging by the strength Wood had just displayed, his bounty of 120 million Berries seemed far too low—it was deceptively misleading.

Seeing that Wood was indeed capable of holding his own against Momousagi, Tiger rallied his crew and prepared to charge the gates of Enies Lobby.

But before they could advance, an explosion rang out, and several of the fish-men who had led the charge were sent flying back, coughing up blood.

Emerging from the dust and debris was a towering figure in a white suit, wearing a dog-head hat, with a Justice cloak billowing behind him. One hand held a bag of snacks, while the other remained in a punching stance…

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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 295+ at pat_reon.com/Betek.