After Raiden Ei traveled overnight and arrived at Loguetown the next day, her bounty poster, along with the front-page headline of the World Economic News Report, was delivered by messenger seabirds to all corners of the world. It would not take long before she became famous across the seas.
In a sea area in the latter half of the Grand Line, known as the New World, aboard a ship shaped like a white whale, a man with hair resembling a pineapple lazily took a newspaper from a messenger seabird and handed it the Berries for payment.
As he walked back, reading the report in the newspaper, he approached a tall man sitting in a large chair and handed him the finished paper.
"Old man, an incredible newcomer has appeared in the East Blue."
The tall man was none other than the man known as the World's Strongest Man on the seas, Edward Newgate, and the pineapple-haired man beside him was naturally his son and subordinate, Marco.
Whitebeard took the newspaper from Marco's hand.
"Gurararara, Sengoku actually lost to a brat, hahaha. It seems the East Blue has indeed produced an astonishing figure. And a girl too, she has quite the nerve, gurararara."
Marco looked at his father, who was laughing nonstop, a slight curve on his lips. News like this was merely entertainment. If they lacked the strength to survive further on the seas, this would be the only time they'd encounter such news.
The seas were filled with many capable and unusual individuals, and countless geniuses and strong fighters. Only a few could carve out a name for themselves without being submerged beneath the ocean. If one possessed strength, they would naturally meet others on the seas.
"She certainly has guts, daring to kill a Celestial Dragon. If she doesn't have some ability, she won't be able to withstand the World Government and the Marines."
"Gurararara! That's what a true man of the seas is like!"
On an island in the West Blue, Shanks, who had not yet become one of the Four Emperors, and Benn Beckman were on a deserted island.
Shanks: "Are all newcomers this formidable nowadays?"
"This Raiden Ei is indeed a bit exaggerated. The World Government and the Marines probably won't let her off easily."
"This is the era our Captain has ushered in!"
Shanks's gaze was firm as he looked at the report in the newspaper.
Somewhere on the seas, Dracule Mihawk, who had not yet become the World's Strongest Swordsman, looked at the newspaper in his hand.
"A Great Swordsman? Wait for me, I will find you."
His hawk-like eyes stared sharply at the photo of the Raiden Ei.
Crocodile clenched the newspaper in his hand: "I need to challenge Whitebeard, otherwise I'm even inferior to a newcomer."
Many strong individuals across the seas remembered the name Raiden Ei after seeing the newspaper.
The World Government and the Marines also dispatched stronger personnel to the East Blue to pursue the Raiden Ei, hoping to kill her before she even left the East Blue.
Raiden Ei followed this group of pirates when they landed at Loguetown. The pirates used their own methods, bypassing the crowded port and landing on a secluded shore.
One pirate walked fearfully toward Raiden Ei, terrified of displeasing her. They had witnessed last night how she had effortlessly sliced an attacking sea beast in half.
"Milady, we have arrived at Loguetown. Do you think we can leave now?"
"Don't rush. I will let you go, but I still need to ask you a few things."
"Milady, what else is there to ask? Just say it."
"Do you know where the black market is in Loguetown?"
"We aren't entirely sure, but if you ask the owner of the largest tavern in Loguetown, you should be able to find out where it is."
"Where is that tavern?"
"It's on Northwest Street in Loguetown. There's a very famous tavern called Galdine Tavern there. You'll know where it is just by looking down that main street."
"Let's go! You did well this time, so I'll let you off."
Raiden Ei kept her promise and let the small band of pirates go. Her cloaked figure leaped off the deck, stepping on air as she walked toward the shore.
The dozen or so pirates dared not even breathe loudly. Only after Raiden Ei's figure moved far away did they finally exhale in relief.
"It's a good thing we did as she asked, otherwise we really would have been split in two with one strike."
"Yeah! I wonder what kind of big shot she is."
"It doesn't matter what kind of big shot she is to us. Let's just continue being small-time pirates!"
"Captain, here's the newspaper I just bought. Take a look at what it says."
The Captain took the newspaper handed to him by his subordinate. Among them, only he had some education and could read a few characters; none of the others could understand newspapers.
"This is... a bounty poster. Raiden Ei, real name unknown, suspected Devil Fruit User with some kind of lightning ability. This person is cruel and bloodthirsty. Due to killing a Celestial Dragon, she has seriously threatened world stability. Therefore, a bounty is issued, dead or alive."
"Captain, how much is the bounty! I can't even count that high."
"Uh... let me see. Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions, ten millions... A billion!!!"
Raiden Ei walked through the streets of Loguetown and noticed many Marines patrolling. She wondered if they were looking for her, and not wanting to draw attention, she used the perception of Observation Haki to evade them.
"Why are there so many Marine patrols? Do they already know I'm heading to the Grand Line? I need to find the log pose quickly so I don't get cornered here by the World Government and the Marines."
She headed toward the tavern named Galdine all the way.
The morning street was bustling with people. Although her attire was a bit unconventional, no one paid her any mind. This was the 'Town Where the East Blue Begins and Ends,' near the entrance to the Grand Line. Pirates often arrived here, and they were quite used to seeing people who preferred to stay out of sight.
Raiden Ei arrived at the Galdine Tavern unimpeded. It was indeed easy to find. Even in the early morning, it was still noisy, with many sounds audible from the street.
"Is this that tavern? It's quite rowdy."
To minimize trouble, she took out the demon sword from her system backpack and hung it at her waist.
She pushed open the tavern door, and a wave of alcohol fumes washed over her, mixed with various other smells. The people around were either drunkards or pirates, completely in their cups, boasting loudly to their tablemates.
Suppressing her discomfort with the odor, she walked directly toward the staff behind the bar.
Some people nearby also noticed the cloaked figure who had entered and kept watching her, assessing whether she was an easy target they could profit from today.
Even while wearing a cloak, Raiden Ei's figure was such that people could immediately tell if she was male or female, as the Raiden Ei's physique was too striking.
She didn't care much; if anyone dared to cause trouble, she would simply kill them. She would see whose blade was faster—hers or their necks.
She walked straight to the bar counter. Two muscular men were sitting beside it, their figures already towering over her just by sitting there.
She knocked on the counter with her hand, making a "thump-thump" sound, which attracted the attention of the three.
"Are you the owner here?"
"No, I'm just a waiter here. Do you need to see the owner?"
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