It had been two months since the Marines had established the Shichibukai system.
The past two months had been quite eventful.
Donquixote Doflamingo had become famous throughout the world after the audacious pirate stole the Heavenly Gold meant for the Celestial Dragons from various member nations.
The World Government should have been furious. By all rights, they might have sent a Marine Admiral to hunt him down.
But events had gone beyond everyone's expectations: Donquixote Doflamingo had become the first Shichibukai.
With Doflamingo joining the Shichibukai, many Great Pirates who had been waiting to see how things played out began making up their minds.
At the very least, the Doflamingo affair had shown that the Shichibukai system was real. It wasn't a Marine conspiracy.
Unfortunately, most pirates weren't capable enough, while those who were had no interest in becoming the Marines' lackeys.
Only pirates who were both capable and had people or causes they cared about would consider becoming Shichibukai.
Jinbe, for example, had joined the Shichibukai to protect Fish-Man Island and the rights of the fish-men, and to get Arlong out of Impel Down.
However, his appointment had only been confirmed internally by the Marines. Unlike Doflamingo's, it hadn't been reported in the newspapers.
Then there was Gecko Moria, who had simply delivered several pirate heads, each with a bounty exceeding 300 million berries, to the Marines. So it came as no surprise that he had also been selected as a Shichibukai.
The World's Most Beautiful Woman, Boa Hancock, joining the Shichibukai had also attracted plenty of attention.
Like Jinbe, Hancock wanted to protect her country.
If not for that, she wouldn't have given the Shichibukai a second thought.
Then there was the Great Swordsman Dracule Mihawk, who had come to Marineford alone, without the slightest fear that the