Oda’s Recent One Piece Interview Reveals Insights on the Cross Guild Bounty System

Recently, the popular manga series One Piece went on hiatus, providing its creator, Eiichiro Oda, with the opportunity to refine the saga’s intricate narrative. This break enabled him to address a plethora of burning questions during a special Q&A session published in Weekly Shonen Jump issue #49, much to the delight of devoted fans. A key topic that garnered significant attention was the unique bounty system employed by the newly established Cross Guild.

Comprising notable figures such as Buggy, Crocodile, and Mihawk, the Cross Guild has rapidly emerged as a formidable entity within the One Piece universe. By devising their own bounty structure, they have effectively turned the tides against the Marines. Departing from traditional monetary bounties, the Cross Guild has introduced a ranking system that utilizes crowns and stars to signify value, although the conversion of these ranks into Berry amounts had previously remained ambiguous.

Oda’s recent elaboration on this system offers fans valuable insight into how these pirates prioritize specific Marine figures, enhancing the understanding of their operations.

Note: This article includes spoilers.

Decoding the Cross Guild’s Bounty Structure: Akainu’s Impressive Valuation

Buggy and other Cross Guild members seen in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation) — Buggy and other Cross Guild members depicted in *One Piece* (Image via Toei Animation)

During this Q&A, Eiichiro Oda clarified the mechanics of the Cross Guild’s bounty system, stating that one star is valued at 100 million Berries. Consequently, ten stars equate to a crown, valued at a staggering one billion Berries. Under this scheme, Marine Captains and Commodores are assigned one star, translating to a bounty of 100 million Berries. Rear Admirals receive three stars (300 million Berries), while Vice Admirals boast a five-star rank (500 million Berries).

Admirals, including prominent figures like Garp, hold a bounty of three crowns, amounting to three billion Berries. The Fleet Admiral, currently Akainu, commands an impressive five crowns, which totals five billion Berries.

Comparing these bounties to those imposed by the Marines on notorious pirates reveals some intriguing details. Notably, Fleet Admiral Akainu’s five billion Berry bounty surpasses that of formidable pirates like Kaido (4.6 billion), Big Mom (4.3 billion), and Shanks (4 billion).

However, Akainu’s bounty is still eclipsed by historic figures such as Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard. The legendary Pirate King had a bounty reaching 5.5 billion Berries, while the Strongest Man in the World was just above five billion. In contrast, the current protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, has a bounty set at three billion Berries.

The founding members of the Cross Guild also possess substantial bounties, with Buggy’s bounty at 3.189 billion Berries, Mihawk exceeding him at 3.59 billion Berries, and Crocodile closely trailing with a bounty of 1.965 billion Berries.

Concluding Thoughts

Akainu as seen in One Piece (Image via Toei) — Akainu portrayed in *One Piece* (Image via Toei)

The Cross Guild’s strategic maneuvers have significantly shifted the balance of power in the world of One Piece, inciting direct assaults on Marine personnel. Some civilians are even contemplating targeting Marines to claim the associated rewards, which has undoubtedly rattled the Marines’ morale.

While the bounties assigned may not directly correlate with individual strength, they certainly reflect the strategic importance of each figure. This development has heighted anticipation for Akainu’s eventual return to the action.

Source & Images