In the days that followed, Rojen learhat the ship's destination was Nans, a small isnd in the East Blue.

  Sefiya's family were merts, and as the eldest daughter, she had already taken charge of one of the family's trade routes, despite her young age. The crew had great respect for her, admiring both her skill and her atus.

  For a month, the ship crossed the seas, stopping three times to replenish supplies. During this time, Rojen became increasingly familiar with the crew, especially Sefiya.

  The young man and woman, both attractive and at an age wheions naturally blossomed, found their retionship developing into something deeper without even realizing it.

  ---

  One day, the ship had just fis replenishment and was slowly leaving the harbor. The crew, lounging in the sunlight, were enjoying a zy lunch break.

  Suddenly a group of seagulls flew overhead, their cries pierg the sky. Small bags of paper hung from their necks. As the birds flew past, colorful sheets of paper fluttered down and scattered across the ship.

  One of the sheets nded on the face of a sleeping crewman. Irritated, he pulled it off and looked at it.

  "What's this?"

  Curiously, he examihe paper in his hand.

  "Gol D. Rojen. Wanted Dead or Alive: 110 Million Berries!' "Warning: This individual is extremely dangerous. If sighted, report immediately to the Marines or cim his head— dead or alive!"'

  Muttering the text aloud, the man's eyes drifted to the image printed on the poster. A moment ter, his pupils narrowed sharply in shobsp;

  "Rojen!?"

  "That boy... he's actually..."

  His face torted in disbelief, and soon other crew members were holding the freshly printed Wanted posters, their expressions equally stunned and armed.

  To ordinary civilians, ah such a huge bounty could only be one of the legendary pirates of the Grand Lio think that Rojen - the cheerful and kind young man they had lived with - could be such a dangerous figure was utterly bewildering.

  Their initial rea was one of denial, but upon further refle, unease crept in.

  After all, a man with such a fearsome bounty on his head could easily wipe them out if he wished.

  "What shall we do? Rojen turns out to be a terrifying criminal!"

  "We must tell the captain immediately and expose Rojen's true nature!"

  "But... but Rojen hasn't acted like a bad person all this time!" Someoated. They struggled to recile the poster's cims with the kied young man they knew.

  "You ever really know someone. Do any of us really uand his past?"

  "Besides, do you remember how he was when he nded on the ship? He was clearly wounded after a battle, probably with the Marines, and used us to escape!"

  The crew debated in hushed tones. After half an hour they came to a decision: they would secretly inform Captain Sefiya about Rojen.

  ---

  "Sefiya."

  The Captain was in her , meticulously going over the family's trade ats. Business required stant attention to detail, and Sefiya made it a point to check everything regurly.

  When she heard her name, she looked up to see Hant standing in the doorway. His expression was tense, almost hesitant as if he was struggling to find the right words.

  "What is it?" Sefiya asked, putting down her ledger. Her sharp eyes caught his unease. "Hant, you look troubled. Has something serious happened?"

  Hant took a deep breath and stepped closer, l his voice. "Captain Sefiya, I have something important to tell you."

  Sefiya nodded, her expression being serious. "Go ahead. I'm listening."

  "It's about Rojen," Hant said gravely. "The man you saved— he's a wanted criminal!"

  With that, he pced the wanted poster on the desk in front of her. "He's been deceiving us all along! His bounty is a staggering 110 Million Berries. He's incredibly dangerous!"

  Sefiya's expression remained calm as she listened. She was used to dismissing unfounded rumors, but when her eyes fell on the poster, her face paled.

  "This is the test Wanted poster issued by the Marines. It bears their official mark— it 't be wrong!"

  "Rojen... he's that notorious criminal! He's nothing but a despicable, vile man - a plete monster!"

  "He deceived you, and he deceived all of us."

  "Sefiya, you've been deceived!"

  Sefiya's delicate hand ched tightly as her face went through a mix of emotions. Hearing Hant's persistent words, she smmed her hand down on the desk in a burst of anger.

  "Get out!"

  "Sefiya, don't let him fool you! We must inform the Marines immediately. Otherwise, who knows what Rojen might do to us," Hant said urgently.

  "I said," Sefiya's eyes suddenly sharpened, staring icily at Hant, "Leave!"

  Hant froze, his face hardening. He hesitated, wanting to say more, but finally sighed ahe room.

  Once Hant was gone, Sefiya's expression became even more flicted. She stared at Rojen's smiling fa the Wanted poster for a long time before she let out a heavy sigh.

  "Rojen, could you really be such a dangerous criminal?"

  At that moment, Sefiya struggled with her emotions. She khat any decision she made now would not only affect their buddiionship but could also determihe fate of everyone on the ship.

  What kind of man was Rojen?

  From their time together, Sefiya had e to know him as a cheerful, optimistic, humorous, and sunny young man.

  He would smile brightly whenever he saw her and pyfully bicker with the crew over trivial matters, often leaving the group in fits of ughter. From every angle, Rojen seemed far removed from the image of a vilin.

  As for being a wanted criminal with a bounty of 110 Million Berries? This man couldn't eve her in a sparring match - how could he be one of the notorious pirates of the Grand Lih such a staggering bounty on his head?

  "I don't believe it! I refuse to believe that you are such a man!"

  Sefiya finally smmed her hand down oable with determination and stormed out of the room, heading straight for Rojen.

  ---

  Meanwhile, Hant had gathered some of the crew on debsp;

  "I've just spoken to Sefiya. The captain has rejected our idea."

  "She's too young. Blinded by her infatuation, she's fallen for the sdrel's sweet lies."

  "We must take matters into our own hands."

  "Lovins has a Den Mushi. We'll tact the Marines ahem deal with Rojen!"

  The crew nodded in agreement. It was true - they couldn't sleep well knowing that such a dangerous person was on board.

  "One more thing worth mentioning - his bounty!"

  A hint of greed fshed across Hant's fabsp;

  "110 Million Berries!"

  The eyes of the surrounding crew members lit up with excitement.

  (End Of The Chapter)