Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Red Earl's Bounty
Chapter 81: Red Earl's Bounty
Reading the newspaper is a very pleasant activity.
You can learn information from the outside world and pass the time—killing two birds with one stone.
When Paul opened the newspaper, two wanted posters fell out.
Everyone was used to it, as newspapers often included wanted bounties from the Navy.
Paul picked up the posters from the ground and took a look.
His pupils suddenly widened because the bounty figure on one of them was jaw-dropping.
When the others came over to take a look, they were equally stunned.
"One, ten, a hundred... a hundred million, four hundred million... Eight hundred million... A billion!"
Paul stared at the string of numbers in shock and shouted in disbelief.
"One billion! Boss, your bounty has broken through! It has reached one billion!"
When Paul saw the figure, he immediately ran to Charlotte, shouting.
"Hmm? What's all the fuss about?"
Charlotte opened his slightly closed eyes while lying on the recliner and looked at Paul.
"Boss! Boss, look quickly—there's a bounty poster for you!"
Paul quickly handed the newspaper to Charlotte.
Charlotte took it and looked at it—it was indeed his bounty poster.
"Ugh! It's only a 50-million increase. What's so surprising about that?"
Charlotte threw the newspaper back to Paul and said lightly.
His tone revealed disdain for the bounty figure.
Paul quickly caught it.
"Boss, you must know that surpassing a billion makes you a true pirate, known across the entire world!"
Paul exaggeratedly spread his arms wide.
Charlotte chuckled.
"Do you think I care about that kind of thing?"
Charlotte raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to look at Paul.
"Uh..."
Paul scratched his head awkwardly after hearing this.
In his impression, his boss wasn't someone who cared about fame or recognition—except, of course, for beautiful women.
Paul sighed internally, thinking about how Charlotte's ship was filled with nearly an entire crew of beauties.
Most pirate ships were armed to the teeth with cannons and rough pirates.
Charlotte's ship, by contrast, was practically a floating beauty salon.
The few cannons they had were almost afterthoughts.
Charlotte noticed Paul's odd expression.
"I feel like you're thinking about something you shouldn't."
Charlotte's sharp gaze fell on Paul.
Paul broke out in a cold sweat.
"No! How could I? You're the boss I respect the most!"
Paul forced a respectful tone and gave an awkward smile.
Charlotte rolled her eyes and closed his eyes again.
Just as Paul was about to leave, another bounty poster slipped out of the newspaper.
Paul curiously picked it up from the ground.
It depicted two individuals—one of whom had their back turned, but Paul recognized him immediately.
It was his boss, Charlotte.
The other individual?
Paul scrutinized the poster carefully.
"Red Earl Patrick Redfield!"
Paul read the name aloud.
But what truly shocked him was the number printed below.
"Nine hundred million berries!"
Paul shouted in astonishment, his eyes widening like saucers.
Charlotte, who had been lounging on the recliner, instantly sat upright.
He snatched the newspaper from Paul's hands and glanced at it.
For a long time, he was silent.
Then:
"Hahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahaha!"
Charlotte burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The loud sound attracted everyone's attention.
All eyes turned toward Charlotte.
It was the first time anyone had seen their boss laughing so heartily.
What had happened?
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks.
Whatever it was, Charlotte's laughter suggested it wasn't bad news.
"Hahahahaha! Redfield, you're still beaten by me after all! Hahahahahaha!"
Charlotte exclaimed, holding the newspaper aloft.
His laughter echoed across the sea.
---
Elsewhere on the Ocean
A small boat drifted across the vast expanse of the sea.
Its lone occupant, cloaked in a purple-red robe, clutched a newspaper tightly.
Veins bulged on his forehead and hands as anger consumed him.
"Damn the Navy!"
The man was none other than the Red Earl, Patrick Redfield.
Sitting alone in his specially constructed boat, his enraged voice resonated across the ocean.
His Conqueror's Haki flared uncontrollably, creating massive waves around his vessel.
"Navy!"
Redfield muttered darkly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
Ahead, the Sabaody Archipelago came into view.
---
With Charlotte's and Redfield's bounties released, the news shook the world.
Patrick Redfield's name became a hot topic among those concerned with maritime affairs.
The staggering bounty of 900 million berries ignited a frenzy among bounty hunters worldwide.
The Navy, deliberately vague about Redfield's background, merely labeled his crimes as "extremely evil."
That was enough to spur countless bounty hunters into action.
"Hahaha! Red Earl! I'm coming for you!"
Such boasts rang out simultaneously across countless taverns.
By contrast, Charlotte's billion-berry bounty was treated with awe.
Few dared to tangle with someone like him.
---
On the Open Sea
"Hahahahaha! Rayleigh! That officer from the Rocks Pirates has stirred up trouble again!"
Roger's laughter boomed across his ship as he waved a newspaper.
Rayleigh didn't share Roger's amusement.
"Roger, don't you think the Rocks Pirates are growing too powerful?"
Rayleigh frowned, his tone serious.
Roger took a swig from his bottle.
"Hahahaha! So what? I'm not afraid of them."
Roger exuded confidence, his Conqueror's Haki subtly flaring.
Rayleigh sighed. He admired Roger's unshakable spirit.
"But don't you think the people under Rocks' rule live miserably?"
Rayleigh pressed on, his brows furrowed.
Roger fell silent, placing his bottle down.
As they traversed the New World, Roger had witnessed firsthand the chaos under Rocks' dominion.
Islands ruled by Rocks were marked by endless strife and wanton slaughter.
---
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