Several days have passed since the Banaro Island incident, and Cifer and his companions have been lingering on the Sky Island.
The food and customs of the Sky Country captivated Bonney and the others, while Robin learned of Roger's message from the Poneglyph.
A few days earlier, something equally sensational happened at Marineford, the Marineford, in the Blue Sea.
Charlotte Will, recommended by Cifer, rejected the World Government's invitation to become Shichibukai without hesitation.
The government leadership believes that the position vacated by Crocodile, one of the original Shichibukai, must be filled immediately without any further delay, otherwise it would damage the reputation of the Shichibukai.
Therefore, only one person can be selected from the existing candidate list to receive another invitation.
After discussions at a meeting between the Marineford and the World Government, the most intimidating figure was Edward Weevil, who had severed the arm of former Admiral Zephyr!
For someone, this invitation was undoubtedly the last straw that broke the camel's back.
"That idiot will become Shichibukai, and you're telling me not to lay a hand on him? You actually said something like that, Sengoku -san!"
Through the Den Den Mushi, the Fleet Admiral was informing Cifer, who was on Sky Island, of the World Government's decision.
The other party has accepted the invitation to Shichibukai, and in a day or two at most, the government will announce to the world that he has become one of the new Shichibukai.
Now that their positions have changed, Sengoku naturally wants to remind Cifer that they are now on the same side.
"You're all Shichibukai, are you trying to make yourselves a laughingstock by fighting amongst Shichibukai?!"
A somber voice came from the Sengoku.
Are you teaching me how to do things?
"Could they really think I'm affiliated with the World Government?"
Cifer did not pay attention to what Sengoku said.
So what if that idiot is Shichibukai? Since I want to kill him, then he must die!
"You bastard, don't always go so far! Do you think I don't know you were involved in the Crocodile incident?"
"There are many things we know, but do you even know what it means to turn a blind eye?!"
Sengoku was also very dissatisfied with the appointment of the Shichibukai, but it was a decision already made by the government and would soon be announced to the world.
If a new Shichibukai is killed as soon as he takes office, what will become of the authority of the system?
How can the Shichibukai possibly intimidate this vast ocean?
Sengoku was beginning to regret why he had negotiated with the Gorosei for a month for the sake of this man.
At that time, Sengoku even borrowed some supplies from the Marineford and sent them to that Celestial Dragons family to ask them to stop pursuing the death of Saint Charlos.
She thought she could use this to gain the man's favor and make him a sharp weapon of justice.
Unsurprisingly, Ulquiorra is indeed a rare and sharp blade, but it is two-sided.
"Mr. Sengoku, if I deliberately try to conceal something, you will not be able to find any clues at all."
Silence fell on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"One last question: what was the reaction of your friend, former Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr, after he learned about this?"
"Um?"
Cifer looked at the Den Den Mushi in his hand and had already fallen asleep.
"Cifer, you seem to really dislike that 'Whitebeard Jr..'?"
Robin, who was standing nearby, heard the whole story clearly. She could tell that her captain harbored great malice towards the soon-to-be-appointed Shichibukai.
Surprisingly, his question angered "Buddha Sengoku" so much that he hung up the phone.
"He's just a brainless idiot, but he's too much of an eyesore to be alive."
Cifer stood up and asked Robin to call the crew over so they could set sail again.
Sengoku's reaction was enough to show that the fool's appointment was a foregone conclusion, and that the Navy had broken with the former "Admiral never killed anyone".
How could we let a man like Zephyr follow the same path?
"Eh~ Are you leaving so soon?"
Nolan and the others were clearly still somewhat unsatisfied with the Sky Island.
"That's right, there are new companions waiting for us below, as well as... colleagues!"
Saying goodbye to the Sky Island, Cifer took the entire ship directly to the port of the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Run!"
After everyone disembarked, they still scared away all the people at the port.
After all, Cifer's notoriety and influence on this island are probably much greater than those of the Sea Emperor.
"I have something to attend to. Please make yourselves at home."
After saying that, Cifer disappeared into the crowd. Enel didn't follow, instead strolling around with the others...
Area One, the location of the population auction.
"Mr. Cifer has arrived, and I'm taking good care of them as you instructed!"
Bater stepped forward quickly, his face showing a hint of longing for recognition.
Upon entering, the members of CP9 were sitting in an orderly fashion, eating heartily.
Most of them had bandages wrapped around their bodies, and Lucci's entire upper body was covered in bandages.
"Lucci! It's Mr. Ulquiorra!"
Seeing that he was still focused on eating, Kaku gently poked him.
"No rush, let's finish our meal first and then talk slowly."
Cifer didn't care; Lucci was a killing machine after all, and there was no rush to change him.
"Bater did a great job!"
"It's my duty!"
Having gained recognition, Bater wisely withdrew from the Cifer, leaving the space to them.
After all, he was a seasoned veteran. Based on his intelligence, these people were probably the CP9 members who were defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates at Enies Lobby a few days ago!
It's clearly an organization directly under the World Government, yet it's hiding here under the protection of the Shichibukai. There must be some unspeakable secret behind this.
"So, having chosen to come here, you must have already made up your mind, Rob Lucci?"
However, after a short while, once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Cifer threw out the question, and all eyes were now on Lucci.
Kaku lowered his head shyly, because he was the one who had come here, and Lucci hadn't told him what he would choose in the past few days.
"What about the other members? We're all being hunted by the World Government!"
Instead of answering directly, Lucci posed his question.
Having spent so many years with this group, and now they're carrying me, severely wounded, as I struggle to escape from naval fire.
Now, in Lucci's mind, it's not just about killing anymore; he also wants to protect something.
"Oh, right! That Spandam, he claimed we stole the two Devil Fruit you took! How hateful! Bah bah bah~"
Chopper also unzipped his beak and put it in his mouth, while Jabura quickly zipped it up next to him.
"It's simple. I happen to need some manpower. You can just join my team, and your teammates will become my subordinate team, right?"
It's only a matter of time before he sheds his Shichibukai Status.
The island under their protection needed someone to guard it, and in Paradise, their strength was barely enough for pirates who didn't have the protagonist's halo.
As for whether the World Government will attack the islands under its protection?
Before shedding their Shichibukai personas, they would naturally leave a deep and indelible impression on them.
"You mean, you want us all to follow you and become pirates?"
Lucci was a little annoyed. Just a few days ago, he was a member of CP9, a direct agency of the World Government. Now, they were all going to be reduced to becoming pirates?
"No, no, no~ I never said I was a pirate, it's just a label the World Government put on me!"
"I am the righteous one!"
Cifer stretched out his fist forward.
"One day, I'll settle the score with that bastard!"
Without further hesitation, under everyone's gaze, Lucci reached out and clasped his fists together.