Chapter 249: The Tables Have Turned — The Cross Guild is Bounty Hunting Marines?

Chapter 249: Chapter 249: The Tables Have Turned — The Cross Guild is Bounty Hunting Marines?

......

A few days later, Momonosuke came to the main hall in high spirits.

He wanted to find Zoro to teach him a few moves. Now that he was the shogun of Wano Country, he had to become stronger!

Although he had used Heat Breath, Momonosuke still wanted to become even stronger. He also wanted to become a true powerhouse like Luffy and the others.

However, when Momonosuke pushed open the door to the main hall with great anticipation, he froze.

The surroundings were completely empty...

The bedding was neatly laid out on the floor, but there were no signs of anyone having slept there.

Not a single person!

Momonosuke’s voice trembled. Suddenly, an ominous thought flashed through his mind: "Everyone...?"

As if realizing something, Momonosuke rushed inside and searched everywhere — every room, every corner, every possible place someone might be.

But there was no one in sight...

Momonosuke’s shouts echoed through the main hall before finally fading into silence.

No one answered him. He began to panic and ran outside like a madman.

His wooden clogs made rapid sounds against the stone pavement: "Everyone! Where are you?!"

The samurai watched in shock as their young shogun ran about in a panic, unsure how to respond.

Until Momonosuke ran into someone in one of the rooms.

Kozuki Hiyori, his younger sister.

She and Toko were there tuning the strings of a koto. When she saw her brother Momonosuke rushing over in such a hurry, a complicated expression flashed through her eyes...

"Hiyori!"

Momonosuke rushed up to her and urgently asked: "Where is everyone?! Where are Luffy and the others?!"

Hiyori looked at him, looked at his eyes filled with panic, and looked at his pale face.

She spoke softly, her tone carrying both reluctance and acceptance: "They... left."

Momonosuke was stunned. The hand gripping Hiyori’s shoulders slowly loosened.

"Left...?"

"Yeah."

Hiyori nodded. Her voice was as gentle as if she were comforting a child: "They’ve already left."

She looked at Momonosuke, her eyes full of heartache: "I’m also reluctant to see them go... but they’ve stayed in Wano Country long enough."

"They have their own adventures too..."

Hiyori looked toward the distant sea and sighed softly: "It’s time for them to leave."

Momonosuke’s hand slowly fell to his side. He just stood there, motionless, like a statue.

At that moment, a figure jumped down from the roof. The landing sound was light, but it still startled Momonosuke.

It was Yamato!

She was wearing that familiar white kimono, and her complexion was also getting better and better!

Momonosuke suddenly looked up. He thought Yamato had come to say goodbye and that she was also going to leave with Luffy — that even his last companion was leaving.

"You... You’re not going with Luffy and the others?"

Yamato was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

That smile contained relief, determination, and anticipation for the future.

Yamato shook her head and then began to talk about her plans: "I’ve thought about it!"

She looked into the distance, at the mountains and rivers of Wano Country, at the land she truly wanted to understand.

"Back then, Oden first traveled around Wano Country before going out to sea for adventure. I want to do the same."

"First, I’ll travel all over Wano Country! Truly understand this country."

"Then..."

Yamato hadn’t even finished speaking before her voice was filled with uncontainable anticipation: "Then I’ll go out to sea!"

Momonosuke stared at her blankly, not knowing what to say.

Just then, an anxious call came from behind...

"Lord Momonosuke!"

Kin’emon’s rough voice came from not far away. He came running over in a hurry, looking anxious, with his topknot even coming loose from running.

"Lord Luffy and the others... They..."

He was panting so hard he couldn’t form a complete sentence.

Momonosuke gave a bitter smile. That smile contained both bitterness and an indescribable emotion.

"I know... They left!"

Kin’emon was stunned: "You... You already knew?"

Momonosuke nodded. Kin’emon was silent for a moment, then suddenly roared, his voice so loud that even the birds in the trees flew away in fright: "What kind of friends are they?!"

"Leaving without saying goodbye! Not even a single word!"

"We went through so much together! We fought together! We bled together! We celebrated victory together!"

"How could they..."

Kin’emon couldn’t continue. Momonosuke was infected by his emotions and also became angry.

All the grievances he had just suppressed and the sadness he had been holding back suddenly surged up at once.

"That’s right!" His eyes were red.

"Kin’emon, let’s go after them!"

Momonosuke clenched his fists. He had to make Luffy give them an explanation!

The two looked at each other and rushed out at the same time. The sound of wooden clogs rang out rapidly, kicking up dust along the way.

Yamato looked at their backs and smiled helplessly, then followed after them as well.

"Wait for me!"

...

Wano Country Port

Sunlight fell on the sea surface, creating sparkling waves like scattered gold.

Three ships quietly anchored on the sea.

The Thousand Sunny, with its lion figurehead proudly raised, seemed to be declaring to the world that its captain was the newly risen Yonko who had shaken the world!

Kid’s ship, that massive metal-looking vessel, had a ferocious pirate flag hanging from its mast.

Law’s ship, the submarine-shaped Polar Tang, floated quietly on the water.

The three captains were currently arguing...

They had been arguing for a long time, each saying their piece, neither side willing to back down. In the end, they decided to go their separate ways.

"Tch!"

Kid spat and looked at Law and Luffy, speaking fiercely: "Next time we meet, we’ll be enemies!"

Law gave a faint smile. That smile contained both mockery and an indescribable calmness.

"Fine by me!" Luffy grinned, showing his big white teeth.

"Then we’ll fight again when the time comes!"

The three had three different attitudes, but this was how they interacted. They could fight side by side on the battlefield, but go their separate ways off it.

The next time they met, they could also cross blades.

This was what it meant to be pirates. This was the rule of this era. Just as Kid was about to board his ship, he suddenly remembered something.

He pulled out a crumpled piece of intelligence from his coat.

"Oh right."

Kid unfolded the intelligence. A very cold smile appeared on his face: "Do you know... how that clown Buggy became a Yonko?"

Luffy and Law looked at Kid. Seeing their curious expressions, Kid began to explain what had happened in the outside world during the time they were fighting Kaido — the earth-shaking changes that had occurred.

Buggy, the man who had livestreamed during the Summit War. The clown who had been sent flying by Luffy’s punch. The guy countless people had looked down on had established an organization.

It was called the Cross Guild.

And his subordinates were the former Warlord, Crocodile.

The pirate who had once nearly destroyed Alabasta, and the World’s Strongest Swordsman, Hawk-Eyes Mihawk!

"What?!"

Upon hearing Mihawk’s name, Zoro’s brows suddenly shot up. Those eyes that were usually as calm as still water were now filled with surprise...

Mihawk was his master. How could someone like that become Buggy’s subordinate?!

"How is that possible?!" Zoro’s voice was full of disbelief.

Kid sneered: "Believe it or not."

But whether they believed it or not, the intelligence wouldn’t lie. Moreover, the fact that Buggy had become a Yonko was real.

The World Government wouldn’t joke about something like this. Whether they believed it or not, it wouldn’t change anything.

"There’s something even more terrifying."

Kid’s voice lowered, as if afraid someone might overhear: "That Cross Guild——"

He paused and raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "They’re putting bounties on Marines."

"What?!"

This time, everyone was shocked. Bounties on Marines?

Pirates putting bounties on Marines in return?!

This was the world completely turned upside down!

"That’s right."

Kid nodded. Even on his usually wild and unrestrained face, a trace of gravity flashed at this moment: "As long as you bring a Marine’s head to the Cross Guild, you can get money."

"This world has never lacked poor people, nor people who are about to starve to death."

"When pushed to the limit, people will do anything. And now, killing Marines gets you money."

"Do you think people won’t be tempted?"

Everyone fell silent. The sea breeze blew past, carrying a salty scent. From that scent, everyone seemed to already smell the stench of blood.

It was terrifying when you thought about it!

The Marines would have to protect civilians while also worrying whether those same civilians might kill them for money.

Would those people raise their blades against their backs one night?

Outside the light screen, Sengoku’s brows were tightly furrowed.

His eyes were filled with gloom. As a brilliant strategist, he could see the terrifying consequences of this system at a glance.

Unstable morale. Disunity in the ranks. It could even devolve into internal strife and mutual slaughter!

Tsuru nodded. Even on her usually calm face, worry was clearly written.

"No matter what the civilians think, the future Marines will definitely not have peace."

Garp and Zephyr’s expressions were equally grim.

"Pirates putting bounties on Marines..."

Garp gritted his teeth, his voice filled with suppressed rage: "This is simply..."

He couldn’t continue, because the consequences were too terrifying — too terrifying even for him to imagine.

...

The scene returned to the light screen.

At the port.

After the three captains exchanged a few more sarcastic remarks, they prepared to leave.

Kid jumped onto his ship. Law also returned to the Polar Tang.

However, Luffy didn’t move. He just stood there at the edge of the ship, looking toward Wano Country.

It was as if he was waiting for someone.

He simply watched, looking at that forest, at the path leading to the port.

Looking at the figure that would definitely come!

"You guys!!!"

An angry roar came from the forest. Immediately afterward, a pink giant dragon shot into the sky!

That massive figure blocked out the sky and sun. Its scales shimmered with pink light under the sunlight. Tears welled in its dragon eyes, and its tail left a long trail behind it.

Kozuki Momonosuke still wasn’t very good at flying like a dragon. He carried Kin’emon and Yamato, who were running on the ground to catch up...

He was tightly holding Kin’emon and Yamato on his back, standing steadily on the dragon’s back.

The three landed at the port. Momonosuke returned to human form and stumbled, but in the end, he directly threw himself into Luffy’s arms.

"You... You..."

He wanted to question them, wanted to scold them for leaving without saying goodbye, wanted to say they weren’t good friends, and wanted to ask how they could do this!

But when those words reached his lips, they all turned into tears.

"Don’t go, okay..." Momonosuke’s anger turned into grievance. Tears wet his cheeks.

His voice was filled with grievance and reluctance: "I’m so sad! Please!"

"Waaah..."

Momonosuke cried loudly in Luffy’s arms like a child. His tears even soaked Luffy’s chest.

His body was trembling. He cried heartbreakingly, without any dignity.

Everyone watched him. Watched this twenty-eight-year-old body. Watched this new shogun of Wano Country.

Watched this eight-year-old child.

No one mocked him, because everyone knew that inside, he was only eight years old.

He had endured too much. He had carried too much. He had grown too much.

At this moment, he was simply a child who didn’t want to part with his friends. A child who was afraid of being alone.

A child who had just found someone to rely on, only to lose them again.

Luffy lowered his head and looked at him. Looked at that face covered in tears, those red and swollen eyes, that trembling body.

Then he smiled. That smile was filled with big-brotherly gentleness.

"Idiot..."

Luffy’s voice was very different from before. Now it was very soft, as if he were coaxing a child: "It’s not like we’ll never see each other again. We’ll meet again!"

Momonosuke looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. Those eyes contained tears, expectation, and a nervousness that didn’t dare to believe too easily.

"Thank you all for avenging my parents and bringing smiles back to the people of Wano Country! I am foolish and don’t know how to express my gratitude!"

Momonosuke knelt in front of Luffy and began to thank them for all the help Luffy and the others had given throughout this time!

From meeting at Punk Hazard to liberating Wano Country now, Luffy and the others had helped the Kozuki Family far too much...

Although Momonosuke had said he would protect Wano Country on his own, now that Luffy and the others were leaving, Momonosuke’s heart began to feel somewhat panicked. He began to feel afraid and even doubt himself!

"Usopp..."

Luffy listened carefully to Momonosuke expressing his feelings. Then he waved toward Usopp on the deck. Immediately afterward, a huge black cloth was pulled down from the Thousand Sunny!

"I was waiting for you just to give you this! What kind of shogun are you?! Momo... Even if you’ve grown that big, you’re still a kid!"

"But I still see you as my little brother!"

Luffy put on his hat and smiled. What he gave Momonosuke was a pirate flag — the Straw Hat Pirates’ flag!

The moment they saw the pirate flag, Momonosuke and Kin’emon instantly understood Luffy’s intention.

Although they saw each other as friends, when this pirate flag was placed in Wano Country, anyone with eyes could understand its meaning!

Wano Country was under the protection of Straw Hat Luffy, one of the Yonko. If anyone dared to invade, they would be making an enemy of Luffy and his crew...

This was a form of protection Luffy was giving to Momo. Now that he was a Yonko, he had to show the authority of a Yonko!

The two looked at each other. Their gazes met, filled with too many emotions that couldn’t be put into words.

There was reluctance at parting, anticipation for their next reunion, memories of fighting side by side, and determination to move forward on their own paths!

Then they both smiled at the same time. Sunlight fell on the port and on the two smiling people. The two of them were destined to meet again. They were destined to fight side by side once more in the future!

Light fell on the ship that was about to set sail and on this land that had finally welcomed the dawn. The anchor of the Thousand Sunny slowly rose.

The sails unfurled and filled with sea breeze. The lion head raised its head proudly, facing the distance.

The sea was boundless. The tide of the new era was surging.

Parting was always bittersweet.

But it was also a new beginning. Because true companions, even if separated by ten thousand miles, would always be together in heart.

The ship set sail.

It sailed toward that sea filled with the unknown and hope.

After everyone exchanged a few more words, Luffy and the others smoothly set off. Momonosuke waved goodbye while looking at the pirate flag in his hands.

Outside the light screen, after seeing Luffy and the others leave, many people began to feel deeply moved. During the Summit War, Luffy was still a boy who needed protection...

Now Luffy had also become a ruler of his own domain. His every action, even the weight of his words, could make the entire world tremble!

...