One day later, the NEO Marines' new bounties were released.
The soldiers who had just joined the NEO Marines all received their own bounties.
In addition, Sakazuki's bounty also soared, rising from the original 3.368 billion to 3.968 billion Berries.
Among these, Sakazuki's newly awakened Conqueror's Haki accounted for a large part of the credit.
However, for powerhouses of their level, the amount of the bounty more often represents a kind of strength and status; very few fools would try to assassinate Sakazuki for the bounty.
Even if there were such rare talents, they wouldn't be able to break through the perimeter and reach Sakazuki.
As the battle between the two came to an end, more former Marine soldiers left the headquarters and joined Sakazuki's NEO Marines camp.
Led by the hawkish Vice Admirals Yamakaji and Doberman, they agreed with the NEO Marines' philosophy of showing no mercy to pirates and deeply sympathized with Sakazuki's experience.
The World Government had not expected that their planned encirclement would turn into a recruitment drive for the NEO Marines.
But what is the Gorosei's style of handling matters?
If an encirclement fails to resolve the issue, what then?
Gather more forces and try again?
NO! NO! NO!
How could the Gorosei's schemes be so simple?
Since one encirclement couldn't resolve it, they would temporarily act as if nothing had happened, and only think about continuing the encirclement when the other party caused trouble again.
That's right! Lying flat is the World Government's secret to ruling the world for eight hundred years.
It doesn't matter if it can't be resolved; maybe Sakazuki will have an accident and die someday.
Or they could just wait until he dies of old age.
In the face of the power of time, any force attempting to resist the World Government will eventually vanish into thin air.
This isn't lying flat; it's a profound state of 'governing by doing nothing.'
Doesn't that sound quite reasonable when you think about it?
It turns out the World Government is playing the long-life script, not contending for a single day or night.
Just like that, the sea returned to its calm.
Several months slowly passed, and Blake was still lingering near the Barrels Pirates, not in a hurry at all.
But others were not as leisurely as he was.
The Red Hair Pirates who remained on the ship were almost driven crazy.
Their Captain's sword broke on the first day he boarded Mary Geoise, and the broken sword was even sent back to their ship by the World Government.
Although the other party adamantly stated that Shanks was fine, this didn't look like 'fine' at all.
Looking at the towering Red Line every day, their hearts grew increasingly agitated.
"It's already been several months, do we have to keep waiting?"
Lucky Roux took a big bite of meat, his voice muffled but filled with anxiety:
"The Captain only went to learn about his background; he hasn't returned for so long, something must have happened!"
Yasopp also scratched his hair in frustration upon hearing this:
"Those guys who brought the sword back only said the Captain was safe, that he found his family..."
Snake quietly interjected:
"If... I mean, hypothetically..."
"Even if the Captain plans to stay with his relatives, he should at least come back and tell us, right?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Hongou glared at Snake:
"Shanks isn't that kind of person! He would never abandon us!"
Everyone spoke one after another, and the atmosphere on the ship grew increasingly tense.
Although the World Government regularly sent ample food and fresh water, and their attitude was polite.
But this feeling of being 'taken care of' still made everyone uneasy.
"We have to go up and see!"
Benn slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly:
"If the Captain is being forced to stay there, we must bring him back!"
The warrior, who was perched on his shoulder, nodded repeatedly, indicating his agreement.
Benn's suggestion immediately received a response from several cadres.
For them, such endless waiting was far more tormenting than facing any powerful enemy.
Seeing the surging emotions, Beckman cleared his throat, his steady voice overriding the clamor:
"Alright! Everyone calm down! Impulsiveness solves nothing!"
He scanned each of his companions present, calmly analyzing:
"Since the World Government still sends us supplies regularly, at least it means they have no intention of harming the Captain."
"Shanks must be held up by something; we need to have faith in him."
Seeing that everyone was still not satisfied, Beckman could only continue:
"Wait one more month!"
"If there's still no news from the Captain after a month..."
"Then no matter what kind of perilous place it is up there, we will charge in!"
"Good!"
Jones looked up, his gaze fixed on their First Mate:
"Then we'll listen to Beckman and wait for one last month!"
The others echoed in agreement. Beckman slowly exhaled a plume of smoke, his gaze directed towards Mary Geoise, thinking to himself:
"Shanks, I can't hold them back much longer, you need to come back quickly!"
What had Shanks, whom he missed so much, experienced these past few months?
If Shanks himself were to evaluate his experiences during these months, he would definitely say it was a living hell.
Every morning, he woke up naturally, lay in bed while maids wiped his body, and several maids even helped him get dressed.
By the time he got up, breakfast with a hundred dishes was already prepared in the dining room.
Yes, it was the kind of life Blake usually led.
The difference was that Blake enjoyed such a life immensely, while Shanks felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
When an unfamiliar maid approached with a professional smile, intending to help him change, Shanks was extremely resistant, his face turning the same color as his hair.
"I... I'll do it myself!"
He recoiled in alarm, waving his hands frantically, almost tripping over the luxurious carpet.
The maids, however, hastily knelt on the ground, stating that it was Garling's order, and if they couldn't take care of Shanks as required, they would be executed by Garling.
Shanks' outstretched hand froze in mid-air; helpless, he could only accept their service in the end.
Shanks felt more exhausted than from the most dangerous battles he had ever experienced.
After breakfast, he expressed a desire to look around, so a servant led him to a winery where fine wines from all over the world were stored.
Shanks was quite restrained at first, until he discovered a bottle of red wine, a specialty from an island in the South Blue from a hundred years ago, and his eyes immediately became fixated.
He couldn't help but drink a few more glasses, and as a result, he only woke up the next morning to find himself on unfamiliar silk bedding, surrounded by respectfully waiting attendants.
For the next period, Shanks' dining experience was elevated to the extreme.
It was no longer just simple delicacies from land and sea, but extravagant meals full of ingenuity:
South Blue fruit jelly wrapped in sky fish swim bladders, served in hollowed-out jewel orchids.
Thin slices of Sea Kings' tenderloin, lightly grilled on a glazed plate, melting in the mouth... "Your Highness, this is coral clam delivered chilled from the South Blue today; the chef added a touch of citrus juice to enhance the flavor."
The maid smiled as she introduced:
"The clear water next to it is made from the morning dew of five hundred different flowers."
When Shanks habitually reached for a bone-in steak with his hand, an attendant would timely offer a ruby-encrusted steak knife.
His previously casual lifestyle habits were completely overturned.
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