Of course, the original Shichibukai had not been chosen so easily.
Unlike later, when replacements would only be selected after a Shichibukai position became vacant, this was the first time they were choosing seven Great Pirates. They would first select more candidates, lest the World Government send out invitations only to be rejected every time. That would be far too embarrassing.
If too many agreed, they would also carry out an internal elimination process. Of course, that plan was now more or less nearing its end. All that remained was the official announcement of the Shichibukai roster.
"No wonder those two World Government agents managed to recruit Modock, the Mercury Fruit user, last time." Doflamingo nodded at last.
As a pirate who had once escaped from his grasp, Modock was someone Doflamingo knew a little about.
Like the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, the Mercury Fruit was a special Paramecia that could almost achieve elementalization. In terms of destructive power and shapeshifting ability, however, the Mercury Fruit—being both fluid and extremely heavy—surpassed the Mochi-Mochi Fruit.
Among all Paramecia Fruits, it could already be considered top-tier, comparable to some weaker Logias and the best Ancient Zoans.
Modock's development of the Mercury Fruit was no trifling matter either. Though no one knew whether he had reached Awakening, both his Mercury Wings and Mercury Whip showed that he had already come a long way, whether in ability development or the ideas behind it.
On top of that, his Two-Colored Haki had already taken shape. In terms of actual strength, becoming a Shichibukai was more than within his capabilities.
And clearly, Modock himself was interested as well. Otherwise, he would not have helped the World Government's agents back then.
"Perhaps in a couple of days, we'll see the news that this guy has become a Shichibukai." Doflamingo