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"Surpass me? That's still a long road ahead."

Having been refused, Cifer turned and walked toward the Little Ul, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Will's ambitions.

Though he might have been a child abandoned by Big Mom, his bloodline only gave him the potential to reach the level of a Sweet Commander. How far he would actually grow was still unknown.

As for surpassing him, young men who had never set sail were naturally proud and thought themselves geniuses, unaware that even the greatest of geniuses had merely reached the threshold of seeing him.

"You'd better stop thinking about going to sea. You can't surpass that monster. Before you set sail, you'll only feel that the gap between you is like a mayfly and a towering tree. Once you do set sail, you'll understand the difference between a firefly and the bright moon."

Hina and Wright happened to return to the dock carrying armfuls of bags, just in time to hear Will's childish declaration.

In Hina's eyes, it would be difficult for another monster like Cifer to appear in this world. Marine Admirals? Four Emperors? Though those great figures might be evenly matched with him in strength, Cifer was still young! He still had plenty of time to grow!

Besides, it was good if she could stop a young man from becoming a pirate. Damn Great Pirate Era!

Will ignored her. He silently watched Cifer's retreating back, determined to remember this man forever. Once he set sail, his first goal would be to surpass him!

Seeing no reaction from him, Hina had no intention of making herself unwelcome and followed Cifer aboard the ship.

"Hina is curious. You went onto Kakaman Island empty-handed, so where did all this Belly and jewelry come from? Don't tell Hina you did something bad?"

Hina saw the bundle Cifer had casually left on the deck. She walked over and secretly glanced inside, nearly blinded by the dazzling golden light. Fortunately, she always wore sunglasses.

"I killed a Bounty Criminal and exchanged the loot with the islanders for money. As for the jewelry, someone gave it to me. Take whatever you like."

Cifer was studying a map. Though he could not understand it, he intended to choose a place with an interesting-sounding name as their next destination.

Cifer's perfunctory attitude annoyed Hina greatly, so she viciously grabbed several handfuls of jewelry from the bundle to show her anger.

"Honestly, Hina is very irritated. When exactly are you going to let us return to Marineford?" Wright was steering the ship, and with rare free time on her hands, Hina began nagging Cifer again.

"When the invitation to become a Shichibukai arrives!"

It was the first time Cifer had answered her, but the response made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Of course, if the two of you want to leave the Marines and become my companions, that's fine too. After all, we get along pretty well."

Though they were weak, they were at least not cowards afraid of death. Hina had surrendered without fighting only because she feared he would destroy everyone aboard that warship. Besides, as Marines from headquarters, their character was certainly reliable.

"Haha, I'm fine with anything. I only joined the Marines to take care of my little Hina anyway. Mr. Cifer is quite an interesting person!"

Naturally, Wright had no objections. As a middle-aged man, after spending this much time together, he still trusted Cifer's character.

"Uncle! We're Marines from headquarters! Hina is going to get angry!"

Hina also thought Cifer was an interesting person, and he had never harmed innocent people. But he was still a Bounty Criminal. How could she casually give up the rank of Marine captain she had worked so hard to earn?

"Cifer, how did you become so strong?"

Hina asked the question she had long wanted to ask. Even if someone had started training from the moment they were born, they should not have become strong enough to rival an Admiral at such a young age.

"That's a good question... I suppose I was born this way..."

"Fine, don't tell me!"

Cifer's answer made Hina roll her eyes, but he could hardly tell her that he had transmigrated here and possessed someone else's power.

The three of them spent the next month traveling around the first half of the Grand Line. Cifer remained extravagantly generous, never checking prices when eating or shopping. As a result, he killed quite a few pirates along the way, and the pirates in the first half of the Grand Line became much more restrained for a time.

The invitation to become a Shichibukai was delayed for a long time. Hina and Wright spent quite a while accompanying Cifer, and they had completely lowered their guard, almost as if they truly considered themselves Cifer's companions.

"Buru buru~ buru buru~"

After a long while, Hina's Den Den Mushi rang.

"This is Hina!"

"Is that guy beside you?" Sengoku's weary voice came from the other end.

"I'm here."

Hina handed the Den Den Mushi over.

"The World Government has agreed to invite you to become one of the Shichibukai, but one of the original seven must be removed. You'll have to handle that yourself!"

"That simple?"

Cifer was doubtful. He had killed a Celestial Dragon, yet the Gorosei were willing to let him become a Shichibukai?

"Of course it isn't that simple!" Sengoku's tone darkened. "They originally wanted you to go to Mary Geoise and apologize to that Celestial Dragon's family. I argued with them for a long time."

"Recently, quite a few powerful newcomers from the Four Blues have begun pouring into the Grand Line. Considering your recent frenzied hunting of pirates, we intend to have you guard Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line, for two years!"

"One year at most!"

Cifer's attitude was firm. The only use the Shichibukai title had for him was allowing him to travel the World Government's routes more conveniently during ordinary voyages. How could he possibly let himself be bound?

He was willing to guard the area for a year because of his agreement with Shirahoshi. They had not said that the year would begin after he became a Shichibukai, and he was already guarding it in advance.

Besides, those so-called super rookies would probably be preparing to enter the New World in about a year anyway. It would not hurt to play with them for a while.

"Fine, then one year it is!"

Sengoku's tone was relaxed, as if this had exceeded his expectations. Cifer fell silent. So the other side had never expected him to agree to that condition.

"Once you bring down a Shichibukai, you can take office..." Before Sengoku could finish, Cifer had already hung up the Den Den Mushi.

"So? When are you planning to make a move, and which Shichibukai will you target?"

Hina's expression was somewhat unnatural. If Cifer immediately took down a Shichibukai, she would have to part ways with him. She had actually been rather happy during this time...

No, no! What are you thinking, Hina? You're a Marine, and he's a pirate! How could being with him possibly make you happy?

As she thought that, Hina suddenly realized that Cifer was not a pirate at all. Aside from killing a Celestial Dragon, his actions resembled those of a bounty hunter more than anything else. He did not even have the most basic Pirate Flag!

"No rush. The time hasn't come yet."

Cifer intended to deal with Crocodile and meet Ace and his brother. The plot had not reached that point yet, and it would be troublesome if he ruined it.

"By the way, you're about to become a Shichibukai. Aren't you going to fly your own Pirate Flag?" Hina reminded him.

"I'm not a pirate, so why would I need a Pirate Flag?" Cifer took out a large rectangular piece of black cloth. "Draw one for me. It doesn't need a skull. Make it look like a mask. As long as people know it represents my flag, that's enough."

"Since you're asking Hina so sincerely, Hina will help you!"

Hina took the black cloth and began painting on it earnestly.

Several hours later, the Little Ul finally welcomed the first and only flag of its life at sea.

On the pure white mask, two dark green tear streaks stood out clearly. A pair of horns rose from its head, while a pair of black wings spread from either side of the mask.

Only, above those eyes, it wore a pair of sunglasses.