"Huh?!"

  "Bounties on the Navy?"

  "You’re putting bounties on the Wover?"

  "Even the Five Elders, the highest authorities in the Wover, are included?"

  "Oh, oh, now this is going to be iing…"

  "It’s true—why should only the Wover and Navy be allowed to pce bounties on us while we remain silent?"

  "It’s about time we taught those arrogant fools a lesson!"

  Upon hearing El’s annou, everyone in the room wideheir eyes in shock, barely able to process the audacity of what they had just heard. They stared at their bold, battle-ready leader, momentarily stunned.

  Once, only pirates had bounties pced on their heads by the Wover. Now, the tables were turning. It was easy to imagihe chaos that would erupt if Totto Land officially issued these bounties. A storm unlike anything the seas had ever witnessed would be unleashed.

  "Ma-ma-ma-ma, this is something no other pirate crew could pull off…" Linlin grinedly. "But our Fallen Angel Pirates don’t fear the Wover. And with our vast wealth, we afford it!"

  "If a there dares t us the heads of those naval officers over officials, we’ll gdly pay the bounty!"

  "The seas are never short of greedy people," said Sally, the intelligence officer, with a sly smile. "But if we gh with this, it’ll make the Navy restless. They might even turn on each other."

  "One moment they’re risking their lives to protect civilians, and the , they could be stabbed in the back."

  "Or worse, they might be betrayed by their own trusted subordinates."

  She chuckled softly. "Even the impoverished oners, crushed by the burdens of Heavenly Tribute, might take the risk for such a reward."

  "El-sama, I have a suggestion," Sally tinued. "We should add another iive—those who eliminate high-ranking gover personnel seek asylum with us. That will surely tempt even the greediest pirates to act."

  For turies, the Navy had issued bounties on pirates. Now, El’s bold decration to reverse the roles electrified the room. The officers were brimming with excitement, their imaginations running wild as they discussed the implications. Some even began proposing additional strategies to El.

  "This is about openly telling the Woverhat the roles have reversed," El said calmly, his imposing figure radiating authority. Looking down at the officers, he tinued evenly, "If they pce bounties on us, ce bounties ohe rules and order of the seas o be rewritten."

  What stitutes legitimacy? What defines authority? In this world, where only the fittest survive, power dictated legitimacy. Those with ons, wealth, and strength were the true rulers.

  The room fell silent as Rock, Moss, Jien, Bangi, Afar the Fire Camity, and Cyril Oka the Thunder Camity fixed their fiery gazes oheir expressions filled with fervor.

  "Coo-coo~~~ coo-coo~~ Truly worthy of El-sama…"

  Francis Bangi of the Longarm Tribe raised his hand curiously. "But if we’re pg bounties on the Navy, how much should we set for the Fleet Admiral?"

  "The Fleet Admiral?" murmured someone else. "A figure like that would need a hefty bounty, right?"

  At this, even Linlin, Lillian, Gerd, and the other women, along with Rock, Moss, Jien, and Hajrudin, turheir attention to El, eager to hear his decision.

  "Hammons William?" El smirked, answering without hesitation, "Set his bounty at 5 billion Berries."

  "Five billion?"

  "Isn’t that a bit excessive…?"

  "Even El-sama’s own bounty, raised to 4 billion Berries five years ago, is only at 4.565 billion now!" gasped Rod Moss.

  They were visibly stunned. After all, El himself—leader of the Fallen Angel Pirates and King of Totto Land—was worth only 4.565 billion Berries. What qualifications did a mere Fleet Admiral like Hammons William have to deserve 5 billion?

  "If we’re talking about strength, Hammons William isn’t eveely parable to El-sama," said Sally, the Shapeshifting Witch, immediately uanding El’s reasoning. Smiling, she tinued, "But as the Fleet Admiral of the Navy, anding millions of troops, 5 billion Berries isn’t too far-fetched."

  "Ultimately, the point isn’t that this bounty will realistically result in killing someone like Hammons William—almost zero ce of that. What we want is the shock value, the bold statement it sends!"

  "It tells the world that Totto Land isn’t short on money. If someone dares to kill a member of the Navy, we will not only pay the bounty but also offer prote!"

  "True enough…"

  "Five billion Berries? Oh, now I’m tempted!"

  "Ha! Do you even have the strength to take down the Fleet Admiral?"

  "’t a guy dream? Hahaha!"

  As Sally expihe officers finally uood El’s reasoning, though they remained astonished.

  "Five billion Berries sounds eous," they muttered, "but Sally’s right. Money motivates people. Totto Land has the funds, and even if we ’t ht kill these naval officers with bounties, it’ll at least ule them."

  If they mao eliminate even one powerful Navy figure, it would be a major blow.

  "Hmm, Sally’s expnation is correct," El nodded, smiling faintly. "If someone does mao take down the Fleet Admiral, the damage to the Navy would be catastrophic. What’s 5 billion Berries pared to that?"

  In short: totally worth it.

  El’s wealth ensured he could afford such a move. Flooding the seas with inftionary bounties would not only disrupt the Navy but also irritate the Wover. While the overall impact remained uain, the ripple effects would be signifit.

  Even a bounty of 1 billion Berries in this era would be enough to drive many people mad with greed. While it might n down the Admirals or the Fleet Admiral, it could very well lead to the assassination of other officers and anders.

  "So, El-onii," Linlin interjected curiously, "what about the Admirals? How much will their bounties be?"

  "Admirals?" someoed.

  "At least 1 billion, I’d say."

  "In terms of strength, 10 billion Berries would be reasonable."

  "But if the Fleet Admiral is 5 billion, maybe the Admirals should be 1.5 billion?"

  "Why not 2 billion? That seems fair too!"

  The officers turo El, eagerly debating and discussing the matter.

  "Let’s keep it simple," El decred decisively. "o bother with precise is—we’re not short on money. Set the bounty for Admirals at 3 billion Berries."

  "As for Vice Admirals, start them at 500 million Berries. For any hy anders, we assign additional bounties individually."

  Five hundred million might seem exorbitant, but the Navy only had so many Vice Admirals. Losing even one would be worth the cost.

  Suddenly, Linlin g Tsuru, who had remained silent throughout the discussion. Her eyes gleamed mischievously.

  "What about people like Sengoku arp?" she asked.

  "Hmm?" El raised an eyebrnizing her pyful i. He looked at Tsuru, who maintained a calm, unreadable expression, then replied nontly, "For Admiral didates, set their bou 2 billion Berries."

  "Hiss—!"