“Oh my, how frightening.
Even Sakazuki came back empty-handed?”
News of what had happened in the West Blue quickly reached Marine Headquarters, as well as the Marine branches stationed throughout the Grand Line.
Sakazuki was one of the Marines’ brightest rising stars and an Admiral Candidate.
Naturally, the entire Marine organization paid close attention to anything involving him.
When Sakazuki departed for the West Blue, he had done so with considerable fanfare.
Yet in the end, not only had he failed to capture his target, even the warship he traveled on had been destroyed by the enemy.
For a time, Marine Headquarters was thrown into an uproar.
“According to the battle report Sakazuki sent back, Gadile Yuri should be a magnetic Devil Fruit user.
He specializes in controlling iron sand.
Under his control, the iron sand vibrates and circulates at extremely high speed, becoming as sharp as a chainsaw.
Gadile Yuri used precisely this technique to block Sakazuki’s attack,” the Marines’ Chief Strategist, Tsuru, explained.
“A magnetic human, huh?
What a troublesome ability.” Sengoku frowned.
He immediately thought of some of the applications of magnetism.
Marine cannonballs, firearms, and practically every weapon containing iron would probably be useless against him.
“Aside from that, Gadile Yuri has also demonstrated an extremely fast offensive technique.
He launches a single coin at more than three times the speed of sound, producing terrifying destructive power.
Gadile Yuri used this very technique to destroy Sakazuki’s warship.
Based on the nature of his Devil Fruit ability, this move should be an electromagnetic cannon.”
“An electromagnetic cannon?
Isn’t that still only a theoretical concept?” Sengoku asked in surprise.
“According to Marine scientists, an electromagnetic cannon is theoretically achievable.
However, it comes with many limitations.
The research and development costs are enormous, the materials required are extremely expensive, and the equipment itself is easily damaged.
Gadile Yuri’s electromagnetic cannon, on the other hand, is extremely convenient to use and seems to have none of those limitations.
He can unleash an extraordinarily powerful electromagnetic cannon using nothing more than a single coin.
Theoretically speaking, it has already surpassed an ordinary electromagnetic cannon.
It would be more appropriate to call it a Railgun,” Tsuru said.
“A Railgun, huh?
Issue a bounty for Gadile Yuri, the Railgun.
One hundred and thirty million Berries!” Sengoku ordered.
“One hundred and thirty million Berries?
Isn’t that a little too high for a pirate’s first bounty?”
“You can’t really say that.
He’s a pirate capable of blocking Vice Admiral Sakazuki.
A bounty of one hundred and thirty million Berries isn’t excessive.”
“A vicious criminal like that should be executed as soon as possible.
I support that bounty.”
The Marines discussed the matter among themselves.
“Tell Sakazuki that he must capture him.
We absolutely cannot allow Gadile Yuri to grow any stronger,” Sengoku said with a grave expression.
Originally, Sengoku hadn’t wanted Akainu to remain in the West Blue for too long.
After all, the pressure on the Marines in the Grand Line was currently enormous.
But after learning about Yuri’s abilities and strength, Sengoku decided to keep Akainu in the West Blue and place him in charge of capturing Yuri.
Yuri’s ability was already powerful, but the most important thing was his age.
Despite being so young, he already possessed this level of strength.
More importantly, he had developed his magnetic Devil Fruit to the point where he could create an attack like the Railgun.
If someone like that were allowed to fully mature, he would become an enormous threat to the Marines.
…
“Give me a newspaper.”
Out at sea, Robin spotted a News Coo flying overhead and called out to it.
Strangely enough, the News Coo seemed to understand her.
It flew down in front of her, and after Robin handed over the money, it dropped a newspaper before flying away again.
“Huh?
Yuri, your wanted poster is out,” Robin said in surprise.
“Hahaha!
So I’m finally a man with a bounty on his head.
How much did the Marines put on me?” Yuri asked with a grin.
“One hundred and thirty million Berries.
In the West Blue, your bounty is probably the highest.”
“One hundred and thirty million Berries?
Not bad for a first bounty.
Looks like the Marines have pretty good judgment after all!” Yuri laughed smugly.
“But things are going to become troublesome from now on.
A bounty this high is practically unheard of in the West Blue.
By now, every bounty hunter in the entire sea is probably sharpening their blades and thinking about trading your head for Berries,” Robin said.
“Hahaha!
If they think they can do it, they’re welcome to try.
I’ll teach them that there are some rewards they’re simply not qualified to claim,” Yuri said.
“Oh, right.
The Marines also gave you an epithet.
Hmm…
‘Railgun.’ It actually suits you pretty well.”
“What?!
I’ve become the Railgun Girl?” Yuri stared blankly ahead.
“?” Robin had no idea what Yuri meant and looked at him with equal confusion.
“What kind of nonsense is this?
Why did the Marines give me such a girly epithet?” Yuri complained.
Whenever Yuri heard the word “Railgun,” the image of a certain girl automatically appeared in his mind.
Because of that, he instinctively felt that “Railgun” should be a girl’s nickname.
“Is ‘Railgun’ really that girly?
It doesn’t sound girly to me,” Robin said in confusion.
“Forget it.
Next time I run into the Marines, I’ll make them change it to something else,” Yuri said.
“…” Robin fell silent.
Was an epithet really something you could just make the Marines change whenever you felt like it?