ALL NOVEL Chapter 82: CHAPTER 82
The Cypher Pol Aigis Zero (CP0)—the world government's most secretive and powerful intelligence agency—had never failed a mission. Their reputation as assassins was unparalleled, operating in the shadows with ruthless efficiency.
But this time, their target was different.
"Do you think they can take him out?" Sengoku asked, his tone serious.
Aokiji remained silent for a moment, staring at the bounty poster in his hand. "Alastor…" he murmured. "If he escaped the Navy's net and managed to return to the New World, it means he possesses abilities we don't yet understand."
"Also…" Sengoku added, handing Aokiji a fresh bounty poster.
Aokiji's eyes narrowed as he examined it. "880 million berries?" he questioned. "That's high, but for a man who killed a Celestial Dragon, it seems… low."
Killing a Celestial Dragon—those self-proclaimed gods of the world—was an unprecedented crime, one that elevated Alastor to the highest level of criminal classification.
"This makes him a world-class criminal," Sengoku said gravely. "A title reserved for the most dangerous threats to the world government. Only one other person holds this rank: the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon."
Aokiji frowned. "So why isn't his bounty higher?"
Sengoku leaned back, explaining, "The bounty system was initially designed to suppress piracy by incentivizing bounty hunters. But in this era of great pirates, it's become more of a status symbol for pirates than a deterrent. Very few bounty hunters are willing—or capable—of taking down someone of Alastor's level."
He continued, "Giving him a public bounty too high would only inflate his reputation. We don't want the world to see him as another 'Fifth Emperor' like we did with Luffy. That's why we kept his official bounty at 880 million berries. But…"
Aokiji raised an eyebrow. "But?"
Sengoku's tone darkened. "The world government has issued a black market bounty through CP0: 2 billion berries for Alastor's head."
Aokiji's expression remained stoic, but his thoughts raced. A bounty of that magnitude—especially on the black market—was nearly unprecedented. If this information became public, Alastor's notoriety could rival even the Yonko.
"This dual bounty system ensures the government's involvement remains hidden," Sengoku explained. "The official bounty is just a smokescreen. But rest assured, CP0 will eliminate him. They've never failed before."
On Onigashima, deep in Wano Country, Kaido of the Beasts sat atop his throne, drinking heavily. The hall buzzed with reports of Alastor's exploits.
One of Kaido's subordinates trembled as he read the news aloud, "Alastor… killed a Celestial Dragon!"
Kaido's eyes widened like lanterns, his massive form looming over the subordinate. "What did you just say?"
The subordinate swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "It's true, Boss Kaido! The newspapers confirmed it!"
Kaido's laughter boomed through the hall. "Yahaha! That brat actually did it?! I haven't even done that yet! Killing a Celestial Dragon—what a bold move!"
Jack the Drought, one of Kaido's trusted All-Stars, stood nearby, looking confused. "Alastor didn't say anything about this when I last spoke to him. He just said he was returning to Wano."
Kaido grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "Well, he's returning alive, isn't he? That's all that matters. Go pick him up, Jack."
Kaido turned his attention to the two bounty posters laid before him: the official 880 million berries and the secret 2 billion berries black market bounty. His grin widened. "A total of 2.88 billion berries, eh? That's almost catching up to me!"
With a sudden burst of energy, Kaido transformed into his dragon form, flames and lightning swirling around him. His voice thundered as he looked toward the direction of the Red Line.
"World government, Celestial Dragons… You're nothing but prey to me. Sooner or later, I'll crush you under my feet!"
The black market bounty spread like wildfire, catching the attention of underworld brokers, bounty hunters, and mercenaries alike.
"2.88 billion berries!" one broker exclaimed. "That's a fortune—only under the Yonko's level!"
"We should move now," another said. "If he makes it back to Wano, Kaido will protect him, and we'll lose our chance."
"Are you crazy? You want to go against the Beasts Pirates?"
"As long as we don't face Kaido directly, who's to say he'll know it was us?"
The dark forces of the underworld—known for their greed and ruthlessness—mobilized. Their hunger for wealth outweighed their fear of Kaido's wrath.
---
As Alastor made his way back to Wano, unaware of the full extent of the chaos he had caused, forces from all corners of the world converged on him. Kaido, the world government, CP0, and the underworld all had their eyes on him.
But one thing was clear: Alastor's name was no longer just associated with the Beasts Pirates—it was now etched into the annals of history as a man who dared to challenge the gods themselves.
Over 500 assassins from various dark factions gathered, their eyes gleaming with excitement and malice as they waited to ambush Alastor. Their cruel smiles were a reflection of the bloodshed they were about to inflict.
Alastor, standing at the helm of the Beasts Pirates' ship, put his hands in his pockets and casually observed the islands ahead.
"More of these low-tier scum?" Alastor sneered. "If they want my head, they should've sent someone with real power."
As the ship cut through the water, the islands loomed ahead, densely covered in thick jungle. At first glance, they appeared deserted, but Alastor knew better—these islands hid deadly traps, perfect for an ambush.
"Hmm... One hundred, two hundred, three hundred... over 500 this time. But none of them are worth my time," he muttered under his breath.
Alastor's Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) flared to life, rapidly sweeping the area to confirm the enemy's position. His range had increased dramatically, far beyond what it was before, though the strength of his Haki itself remained unchanged.
He glanced at his subordinates. "There are over 250 on each side of the island. You've got ten minutes to take care of them."
"Understood, Master Alastor!" His crew responded with enthusiasm.
They had encountered similar ambushes before—bounty hunters and mercenaries eager to collect bounties on their heads. This was nothing new, though this time, the number of enemies was larger than usual. That only made the challenge more entertaining for Alastor's crew.
Shimotsuki Onimaru, his black sword Shusui gleaming, immediately leapt from the ship and dashed toward the island on the left.
On the other side, Sai, known for his towering strength, sprang into action and made his way to the island on the right.
Brook, ever the philosopher, couldn't resist joining the fray as well. "Well, fighting seems inevitable in every age. Yo-ho-ho-ho!"
Despite his lack of courage, Brook's combat prowess was formidable. Since his return from the Underworld, he'd developed a chilling aura that enhanced his already deadly swordsmanship.
As soon as the ambush was triggered, the killers were thrown into a frenzy.
"They found us?!" one of them exclaimed.
"Well, even if they did, we've got more than 500 of us, and they only have a handful of people. The advantage is ours!" another shouted. "Let's get their heads—worth 2.8 billion berries!"
One of the ringleaders, a vile figure named Jigula, the boss of an organ trafficking syndicate, cackled. "Don't waste his organs! 2.8 billion berries is a fortune. We can sell them off piece by piece!"
Before Jigula could say more, Onimaru appeared before him like a shadow, his sword Shusui cutting through the air. With a swift motion, Onimaru decapitated Jigula, his blood spilling onto the ground in a spray of crimson.
"Someone like you doesn't even deserve to utter Lord Alastor's name," Onimaru said coldly.
The remaining killers stood frozen in disbelief. "Who are you? How did you get here so fast?"
Onimaru's eyes narrowed. "Go to hell and find out."
With brutal efficiency, Onimaru swung his sword again, cutting down another assailant in one clean stroke. His black blade, Shusui, didn't even have a speck of blood on it.
His swordsmanship was now even fiercer than before. Rather than fully copying Ryuma's style, Onimaru had blended it with his own, creating a deadly, distinct form of combat.
Two killers tried to ambush Onimaru from behind, but he didn't even flinch. In the blink of an eye, two massive snake heads shot out from behind him, their mouths opening wide to unleash Haki-charged swords, which pierced the hearts of the attackers.
This was no longer a mere battle—it was an execution.
The dark factions, blinded by their greed for profit, had underestimated the Beasts Pirates. Not only could they not touch Alastor, but they were utterly crushed by his subordinates. In a matter of minutes, over 500 killers were wiped out. The island was bathed in blood, a testament to the overwhelming strength of the Hundred Beasts Pirates.
Alastor, unbothered by the chaos unfolding around him, gave a brief order: "Let's go."
As the Beasts Pirates' ship set sail once again, they encountered Jack the Drought, one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates. He was aboard his own massive ship, heading toward them.
"I was sent by Kaido-sama to meet you," Jack rumbled.
Alastor smirked. "No need. It was just a bunch of ignorant fish. They were no match for us."
Jack's intense gaze never left Alastor's face. The stare was so piercing it made even Alastor feel uncomfortable for a brief moment.
"Alastor…" Jack suddenly said, his voice low. "What's it like... to kill a Celestial Dragon?"
The question caught Alastor off guard. It was not something that could be answered easily.
Jack's expression softened slightly as he answered, "My boss has slain many enemies, but he's never killed a Celestial Dragon. However, when Kaido learned what you did, he was thrilled. He said he'd love to try it himself."
Alastor let out a chuckle. "There's plenty of time for that. The Celestial Dragons have been around for 800 years, breeding like pests on the Red Line. We'll take our time taking them out, one by one."
Jack gave a rare, rumbling laugh. "I'll be waiting for that day, then."
With the encounter finished, the ships of the Beasts Pirates continued their journey toward Wano. Their infamy continued to grow, and Alastor's reputation as an unstoppable force only solidified. The dark forces learned the hard way—underestimating Alastor and his crew was a fatal mistake.
Visit patreon.com/shirokendama for more chapters