Chapter 22 : Jungle hunting is over!

Kahn had now captured over six pirates, and his direct income exceeded two billion Baileys.

This figure didn't even include the bounties offered by these pirates, which was expected to push the total income to exceed three billion Baileys. This didn't account for the value of the pirate ships that had been secured in his system space.

To accommodate the increasing number of captured pirate ships, Kahn invested in a mid-level system space measuring 10,000 meters in length and width.

This was enough to house all the pirate ships he had confiscated. The price of these ships varied, with some worth several million Baileys and others as much as 100 million Baileys, adding significantly to his gains.

Opening the intermediate space had cost him 300 million Baileys, and the service fees had soared from 10,000 Baileys per day to 1 million Baileys.

The costs were exorbitant, but despite this, Kahn's funds had now exceeded five billion Baileys. He was just five billion away from his ten-billion-Bailey goal.

Kahn had proven that he could amass wealth rapidly as long as he put his mind to it. Challenges could always be surmounted with creative solutions.

Three days later, Kahn's warship left the G18 base. This time, he handed over all the pirates on his ship to the base, including Morgan the axe hand and Colonel Mouse.

These pirates would be transported to the city for further processing. While the Sengoku had initially suggested executing them, Kahn intended to return later for that purpose. He felt it would be more strategic, allowing him to maximize his earnings before he did so.

The benefits of his exposure to strength began to show. The Navy's demands were less severe due to his impressive combat display. At that moment, Pochi's voice echoed once again.

"Report to Lieutenant General Kahn, the information about the Straw Hat crew you requested has been transmitted from headquarters."

"Excellent. Tell me the details."

Pochi provided the details. "Yes, Lieutenant General Kahn. The Straw Hat crew has left Magnetic Drum Island and is heading towards the Kingdom of Alabasta. They are expected to arrive there within a week."

Kahn's eyes gleamed with excitement. Alabasta held significant potential for profit, especially due to an imminent major event. He had been tracking the movements of the Straw Hat crew in anticipation, and now he had the information he needed.

"Very well, Pochi. The Jungle hunting is over. It's time to catch the big fish."

Pochi, while not entirely clear about the metaphor, understood the intent. "Understood, Lieutenant General Kahn."

Although Pochi didn't understand what Kahn meant by "jungle," he grasped the concept of hunting big game.

However, he remained puzzled. The Straw Hat Pirates currently had relatively low bounties, especially considering that only Luffy had an official bounty. They were worth less than the Giant Whale Pirates they had just apprehended.

"Lieutenant General Kahn, the Straw Hat Pirates don't have high bounties," Pochi inquired.

Kahn clarified, "I'm not referring to the Straw Hat Pirates as the 'big fish.' However, we might as well collect a bounty on our way. This incident will likely increase their bounties."

Boqi remained perplexed. "Pochi, don't overthink it. Set course at full speed. You'll understand when the time comes."

"Yes, Lieutenant General Kahn," Pochi acknowledged and left.

Seeing Pochi leave, Kahn's smile widened. The "big fish" he referred to wasn't Luffy, who had just entered the Grand Line and was relatively inexperienced. He was referring to Luffy's brother, Portgas D. Ace, also known as Fire Fist Ace.

Ace was the only son of the legendary pirate Gol D. Roger, and his bounty was an impressive 550 million Baileys. He was a renowned and formidable pirate.

However, Kahn wasn't interested in this relatively low bounty. If Ace hadn't left the New World, he wouldn't have been an easy target.

The Four Emperors' pirates rarely operated individually. Catching Ace was akin to stumbling upon an unexpected treasure.

The Straw Hat Pirates had left Drum Island, which suggested that Ace might have entered Alabasta. Kahn hoped that, with some luck, he might find Ace there.

"I wonder how much Whitebeard will offer as a ransom. But as the heir to One Piece, he's worth 10 billion Baileys," Kahn mused.

Alabasta presented another opportunity for profit—the Baroque Works organization had a strong presence there. Over time, they had likely amassed a considerable wealth. Given the kingdom's role in assisting with quelling the Baroque Works rebellion, Kahn anticipated the Kingdom of Alabasta to show gratitude, perhaps with a substantial monetary reward.

All in all, Kahn expected to earn more than 10 billion Baileys, potentially even reaching close to 20 billion Baileys, if things went well in Alabasta.

Comparatively, the income from his jungle exploits paled in comparison to the prospect of targeting a major player. The risk was certainly higher, but the potential reward was greater.

"Whitebeard, the remnants of the old era, and me, a veteran of the old era—it's time for a substantial interaction," Kahn murmured, gazing out at the vast blue sea.

(End of this chapter)