Through a single news report and the Navy's newly issued bounty notice, Maude once again captured the world's attention.
A week passed after that.
The buzz sparked by Maude had not waned.
In the Paradise section of the Grand Line, countless pirates silently committed Maude's name to memory.
Among these pirates were rookies like Cavendish, who shared Maude's generation, but most were the aimless ones who had long abandoned their dreams, content to idle away their days in Paradise.
Even the Seven Warlords of the Sea took notice of Maude's rapid rise.
This young man, who had appeared as fleetingly as a meteor a year ago, was now making waves with one sensational act after another on the starting island and the second island of the Grand Line.
Having stirred such a commotion after passing through just two islands, if left unchecked, it seemed inevitable he would turn an entire route upside down before even reaching Sabaody Archipelago near the Red Line.
Somewhere on the Grand Line.
The sky was clear and boundless.
The Underworld Ferry, Maude's ship, sliced through the deep blue waves.
On the deck, Bailey curled up in a corner, looking dejected.
Carrying a bowl of freshly cooked seafood chowder, Bepo walked over to Bailey. He placed the steaming bowl in front of him.
"Hey, weasel, so what if it's just 10 berries? Your bounty will go up eventually. Here, have some soup and cheer up."
"...…"
Bailey slowly lifted his head, his eyes glinting darkly as he glared at Bepo, who was trying to console him.
"Bear, how much is yours?"
"Huh?"
Bepo tilted his head, puzzled.
"Your bounty!"
Bailey gritted his teeth.
Bepo sighed and shook his head with exaggerated solemnity. "Weasel, trust me, it's better if you don't know. No need to make things worse."
The perfectly chosen words caught Maude's attention.
However, Bepo and Bailey didn't notice Maude watching them.
"Spit it out!" Bailey snarled.
"Fine, since you insist... My bounty is... 200 berries! Haha, shocked, aren't you?"
Bepo, who had seemed so empathetic a moment ago, now laughed triumphantly.
"Two hundred berries!!!"
Bailey's eyes widened in disbelief. He pounded the deck with his tiny fists, wailing, "Damn it! That's twenty times mine!"
His pounding sent ripples through the chowder, causing a few drops to splash out of the bowl.
Immediately, a menacing gaze from Gaya swept over them.
Under her stern eyes, Bailey froze and instinctively bent down to lick up the spilled soup.
Only after cleaning the deck did Bailey cautiously glance at Gaya, who stood not far away.
Gaya smiled, her expression serene and kind, like the gentle light of dawn. Bailey breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't get discouraged, weasel. If you were as active as me, you'd hit 200 berries in no time," Bepo said, trying to comfort Bailey once more. However, the prideful tone in his voice was impossible to miss.
"Stupid bear! I'm stronger than you!" Bailey growled in frustration.
Bepo said nothing more, simply patting Bailey on the shoulder.
Not far away, Maude silently withdrew his gaze from the pair of clowns.
For most pirates, a bounty symbolized their worth. Any increase in their bounty would naturally excite and thrill them.
After the events on Leviathan Island, Maude's bounty had risen to 360 million berries.
However, Maude felt indifferent about it.
He wasn't excited, nor did it bring him joy.
Still, there was no denying that a higher bounty was a crucial bargaining chip for securing a position among the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Captain, here."
Jim approached Maude, holding a bowl of seafood chowder freshly ladled from Jaya's pot.
Maude accepted the bowl and glanced at the white dining table set up in front of the mast.
At the table, Lafitte and Law were already seated.
Maude smiled, took a sip of the steaming soup without hesitation, and turned his thoughts to their next destination.
"Lorre Island..."
Lorre Island was an obscure little island on the Grand Line, governed by a small, impoverished kingdom with little reputation.
It wasn't actually the next island on Maude's route. Instead, it had been mentioned by Law as a place ravaged by plague.
Navigating the Grand Line's ever-changing sea currents and winds made it nearly impossible to rendezvous with Law's crew out at sea.
Since Law's crew didn't have Vivre Cards, they had no choice but to designate Lorre Island as their meeting point.
Although Law had failed to obtain the Suspended Lantern Vine's roots, he reluctantly agreed to the rendezvous for his crew's sake.
After nearly two weeks of sailing, the Underworld Ferry drew closer to Lorre Island.
By evening, the island's silhouette was visible in the distance.
"Is that Lorre Island?"
Standing at the bow, Maude gazed toward the distant island.
"Yes."
Law walked up beside Maude, his eyes fixed on the island ahead.
Nearly two months had passed—he could only imagine what the situation on the island was like now.
As if sensing Law's thoughts, Maude asked at the right moment, "Is the plague on the island really that bad?"
Law nodded. "Yes. If it hasn't been dealt with properly, the entire island could collapse."
"Hmm..."
Maude stroked his chin, then curiously asked, "Can't your Op-Op Fruit abilities resolve the plague?"
Law replied calmly, "I didn't say it couldn't."
Maude paused, puzzled. "If you can use your Devil Fruit to treat the plague, why go through all the trouble to obtain the Suspended LanternVine's roots?"
Law explained, "Treating people one by one with my abilities is exhausting."
"…"
Maude was speechless.
So, it was just a matter of stamina.
"You've given me an idea," Maude suddenly said with a smile.
"What is it?" Law asked warily.
Still smiling, Maude replied, "I've been thinking about how to quickly improve your precision and endurance with your abilities. Now we have the perfect training opportunity."
"…!"
Law's expression changed. He immediately realized what Maude was implying.
This man intended to work him to death on Lorre Island!
"Maude…"
"Overruled," Maude said, deadpan.
Law blinked, stunned.
He hadn't even said anything yet!
Ten minutes later, the Underworld Ferry anchored beneath a hidden cliff on Lorre Island.
Jim stayed on board to guard Baby 5, while the rest of the crew scaled the cliff.
Dressed in protective suits and masks, the group reached the top of the cliff.
The anti-plague gear, crafted by Law using his Op-Op Fruit abilities, was tailored to each crew member—even Bailey had his own custom suit.
Once they reached the cliff's edge, the group didn't linger.
Led by Law, they headed toward the nearest village.
After walking for over twenty minutes, they reached the outskirts of the village, where the sound of shouting greeted them.
On a clearing by the roadside, nearly a hundred people were gathered.
"Burn her! Purge the filth!!"
The crowd, without any protective gear, stood closely packed, their expressions and words full of agitation.
In the center of the crowd, a pile of kindling had been stacked.
A lithe figure dressed in black and wearing a crow-shaped plague doctor's mask was tied to the pyre.
It was clear that the cries to "burn her" were directed at this person.
Newly arrived, Maude and his crew stopped in their tracks, watching the scene unfold.
"Tch..."
Law glanced at the masked figure on the pyre, then at the frenzied villagers.
A disdainful laugh echoed from beneath his own mask.
"Idiots."
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How's that for a mass release? Haha.
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