While the Five Elders were secretly plotting what to do about Amon, far away in the East Blue...
Foosha Village.
Ace was standing in the river catching fish. Ever since the fire at the Gray Terminal and Sabo being taken away by that mysterious person, he had rarely gone back there.
Now, every day, he spent his time training in the back mountain, and training together with Luffy.
Sabo's departure had made him realize how precious brotherhood truly was.
Recently, he had been trying to control and use the Magic Flame.
The results were not bad. By his estimate, he could already draw out a small portion of its power.
...
Pssh~
By the little river, Ace held a homemade spear tightly in hand, eyes locked on a big fish in the water. That fish was going to be lunch for him and Luffy today.
"Ace! Ace!"
Ace had just thought of Luffy when the boy himself came charging over, waving a crinkled sheet of paper excitedly.
"Luffy, what's wrong?"
Watching Luffy come running over, Ace's eyes were full of fondness.
Ever since Sabo left, he had treated Luffy as if he were his own real little brother.
"Ace, you've got to look at this! Mr. Amon got a bounty. It's a hundred million Berries. That's amazing!"
Luffy clutched the wanted poster, grinning wide and showing all his big white teeth.
"What, Mr. Amon has a bounty, and it's a hundred million Berries? Let me see!"
The moment Ace heard that the paper in Luffy's hand was Amon's wanted poster, he grew excited.
Ever since he had obtained the Magic Flame from Amon, he had regarded the jar merchant as the person he respected most in the world.
"Sure enough, that's Mr. Amon's ship, and his back. One hundred million Berries. Mr. Amon is incredible. His very first bounty starts at a hundred million. I heard the grandpa say that even in the New World, there aren't many people with a bounty that high."
"Right, Luffy, where did you get this wanted poster?"
Ace recognized Amon from that single back view at a glance, but he was curious how Luffy had gotten hold of the poster.
"I picked it up in town. Oh, I don't know if Makino knows yet. If she sees news about Mr. Amon, she'll definitely be really happy!"
"Ace, Luffy, what are you two talking about? I brought you something tasty!"
Just as the two were talking about Makino, a pleasant voice suddenly rang in their ears.
Luffy turned around and saw Makino walking toward them, carrying a food basket and looking at the two of them with curiosity.
It seemed she had just heard them mention Amon's name.
Ever since that brief entanglement with Amon back then, Makino had been quietly paying attention to any news about him.
"Food? That's awesome!"
The moment Luffy heard there was something good to eat, his eyes lit up. He rushed over and started inhaling the food.
"Heehee, slow down, don't choke. Oh, right, I heard you mention Mr. Amon just now. What happened?"
Makino watched Luffy stuffing food into his mouth nonstop, her eyes smiling to slits as she gently told him to slow down.
She had always treated Luffy, this adorable little troublemaker, like her own younger brother.
"Oh, right, Makino, if you hadn't said anything I would've forgotten. We were just about to go find you to tell you the news about Mr. Amon!"
Luffy crammed another huge rice ball into his mouth, then mumbled around it.
Makino had only asked casually, but she hadn't expected that Luffy really had news about Amon. Her heart jumped, and she hurriedly asked, full of anticipation.
"What happened? What news about Mr. Amon?"
"Mm-hmm! Here, Makino, this is for you!"
After wiping out all the rice balls, Luffy finally remembered the poster. He handed the sheet with Amon's back printed on it to Makino.
"This back view... yes, it really is Mr. Amon."
Although she had only spent a few days with Amon, his figure had already been deeply carved into Makino's heart.
Even though the poster only showed him from behind, she recognized him at a glance. It was Amon.
"Attacked a Celestial Dragon and got a bounty..."
After taking a look at the text on the poster, Makino's eyes filled with worry.
"I wonder how he is doing now."
"Don't worry, Makino. Mr. Amon is super strong. Last time at the Gray Terminal, we saw him slice a ship that was even, um, bigger than this whole lake in just a few moves!"
As Luffy spoke, he waved his arms around, trying his best to demonstrate how huge that ship had been.
"Mm-hmm. By the way, Luffy, can I keep this poster?"
"Of course. If you like it, you can have it, Makino."
"That's great. Thank you, Luffy."
Makino carefully folded the wanted poster and put it away, joy blooming in her heart. Even though this sheet of paper did not show his face, she was still extremely happy to have it.
"I really wonder how Amon is doing now."
Makino stared absentmindedly at the silhouette on the bounty poster, her heart full of worry for Amon's fate.
...
Shimotsuki Village.
Kuina was also reading the contents of that same wanted poster, and just like Makino, she was deeply worried about Amon's situation.
"Zoro, do you think Mr. Amon will be all right?"
"I heard the Celestial Dragons are World Nobles backed by the World Government. If anyone offends them, the World Government sends the Marines to protect the Celestial Dragons' interests."
"Relax, Kuina. Amon is really strong. Even sensei is no match for him. He'll be fine."
Zoro, who was training by lifting a massive stone pillar, gritted his teeth and answered.
"Mm, I think so too. Mr. Amon won't be defeated so easily. He still has to see us become the world's greatest sword masters."
"I really want to grow up faster so I can go to sea and find him."
Hearing Zoro's firm answer, Kuina's mood brightened.
"Yeah. Come on, Kuina, let's spar again. This time I'll definitely beat you!"
Zoro set the stone pillar down and picked up his wooden sword again, facing Kuina with renewed fighting spirit.
...
At the Revolutionary Army's base, Dragon was in the middle of instructing Sabo when the okama king, Ivankov, rushed over in high spirits holding a sheet of documents.
"Dragon, we just got an interesting piece of news from the East Blue. Want to hear it? It's about Amon-boy."
"Mr. Amon? Hurry up and tell us, Iva!"
Dragon had not even opened his mouth yet when Sabo already jumped in, excitedly urging Ivankov to spill everything.
"What news?"
Seeing how worked up Ivankov was, Dragon grew a bit curious as well.
"Just now, our little pawn inside Marine Headquarters sent word back that Admiral Kizaru has already found Mr. Amon, and they even had a huge battle. Guess who won?"
Ivankov squeezed his huge face together as he clutched the documents, intentionally keeping them in suspense.
"Quit fooling around. How did it end?"
Dragon did not bother guessing and simply told Ivankov to spit it out.
"How boring. Then, little Sabo, why don't you guess?"
"I'm not guessing."
Sabo knew Ivankov would definitely say it in the end anyway, so he refused to play along.
Seeing that neither of them would guess, Ivankov pouted, clearly disappointed.
"You two are no fun at all. Fine, I'll say it. Amon-boy lost. He was killed by Kizaru."
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