"We need a cook."
"So you're saying I'm not good enough."
Pekoms, who had temporarily taken on the job of cook, looked indignant.
"Don't you want to have a delicious feast every day?"
"That's true. Let's go find a cook, Captain."
Pekoms immediately changed his tune.
"Of course we need to find a cook."
Rod wiped his mouth. Pekoms's cooking was only average, but Rod didn't want to cook himself, so they'd just have to make do for a while.
Still, since they spent so much time adventuring on the sea, they really did need an excellent cook.
An excellent cook could not only prepare delicious meals to satisfy their appetites; some also knew all kinds of special recipes that could gradually improve their bodies through everyday meals, like the recipes Sanji learned from the Okama Kingdom in the original story.
But a cook of that caliber wasn't someone they could find just anywhere.
"Before that, let's make a scene and make a name for ourselves!"
At his words, everyone looked at Rod with shining eyes.
Clearly, none of them had chosen to go to sea together because they were content with an ordinary life.
"Our first target is Spiders Mill. The Donquixote Family has a base there, so let's use a Shichibukai as our stepping stone."
"The Shichibukai!?"
Grey suddenly cried out in alarm.
"Why are you acting like you're out of the loop? Didn't we discuss this already?"
"When did we discuss it?"
"Oh, I almost forgot. You were injured and unconscious at the time."
"So you didn't discuss it with me!"
"Forget it. It's not important."
"It's very important, damn it!"
"Everyone, make sure you're ready!"
"Is it too late for me to get off the ship? I'm just a scientist who wants to build ships. Why do I have to face the vicious Donquixote Family...?"
As a man from the North Blue, how could Grey not have heard of Doflamingo? The North Blue was where Doflamingo had first made his name, and tales about him still circulated there to this day.
"At our speed, it'll only take two days to get from here to Spiders Mill."
Ignoring Grey's muttering, Nerl unfolded the sea chart and pointed at the spot marked with an X.
"According to the information we've gathered, Spiders Mill was the Donquixote Family's very first base in the North Blue. They abandoned it for a time, but after Doflamingo became a Shichibukai, they sent people back from the New World and brought the town where they got their start under their control again.
"Not only that, the Donquixote Family controls many businesses there, from auction houses and weapons shops to casinos. They all operate under the Shichibukai's name, and have even helped the town's other industries flourish. It's now a famous trading city known far and wide.
"In fact, the town is also the biggest underground trading hub in the entire North Blue. Beneath its surface prosperity lie all kinds of shady deals. And given the Shichibukai's special status, the Navy won't move against them without concrete evidence.
"It's even possible that the Navy itself has secret dealings with the Donquixote Family. At least, from what I've gathered, most of the countries in the North Blue have secret deals with them, including some affiliated with the World Government."
"As expected of a Shichibukai! Their influence runs deep, encompassing every interest group and binding them together into one enormous alliance. Just hearing about it, you can feel the terrifying pressure."
Nia sighed. Just one of their bases in the North Blue had exposed them to darkness as deep as an abyss. Compared to the Donquixote Family, the Felke Family they'd dealt with before had been like children playing house.
"Sounds pretty impressive, but with the captain around, we'll be fine."
"We'll probably get bounties too, right? I wonder how much they'll be."
Pekoms and Shakky were still brimming with confidence, already imagining their bounties.
"I was wrong. I never should've gotten involved with the Felke Family in the first place..."
After hearing all that, Grey looked completely miserable. Before, he'd only known the Donquixote Family's name and Doflamingo's reputation for cruelty. After hearing Nerl's description, he was even more convinced that boarding Rod's ship had been an impulsive decision.
"According to the information, the highest-ranking person there right now should be Gladius, an Explosion-Explosion Fruit user. He's one of the officers who followed Doflamingo from the very beginning. You should know more about him, Luo."
Luo gave Rod and Nerl a long look. They'd gathered such detailed information on the Donquixote Family. It seemed they'd been planning to oppose them for a long time.
He'd been keeping things from them all this time, even planning to face the family alone. Now that he thought about it, he'd been too cowardly. He hadn't even had the resolve to challenge Doflamingo directly.
"That's right. He's not someone to underestimate. He can make his own body or anything he touches explode, and the force is far greater than that of ordinary explosives. He had a bounty of 31 million Berry years ago. He's dangerous."
Putting aside his thoughts and recalling his experiences as a boy, Luo spoke in a low voice.
Even though a long time had passed, he still remembered learning artillery from Gladius.
Gladius had been fiercely loyal to Doflamingo and placed great importance on the family's honor. He was also quick-tempered, just like the power of his Devil Fruit.
That guy would be shocked to see him.
No, furious was more like it.
Corazon's smiling face came unbidden to Luo's mind once more.
I'll make your wish come true, Corazon!
"After someone becomes a Shichibukai, neither they nor the other members of their pirate crew receive any further increases to their bounties. So that guy's strength definitely isn't limited to 31 million Berry."
Nerl looked around at his companions and added,
"Besides, there's another person in Spiders Mill worth watching out for: Edouard D. Mann, a Dog-Dog Fruit user. He's a reserve officer in the Donquixote Family's North Blue branch and has defeated a pirate with a bounty of 43 million Berry."
"Now that everyone has a general idea of the situation, we'd better make our debut battle a good one!"
Rod clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention, his tone full of tempting promise.
"The Donquixote Family has been in business for so long. They must have accumulated a lot of wealth."
A glint flashed in Nia's eyes.
"They control the entire North Blue arms trade, so they must have some special technology too."
Grey stopped muttering to himself.
"If we defeat a Shichibukai in our very first battle, all of us will probably get huge bounties."
Pekoms and Shakky jumped up excitedly and slapped each other's hands.
"Maybe they have some cute female bears there."
Bepo blushed. Whatever he was thinking about, he let out a goofy chuckle.
That was quite a stretch...
Luo looked at Bepo, lost in his fantasies, and put a hand to his forehead in exasperation.
As everyone waited in anticipation, two days flew by. Spiders Mill had arrived!
Before you continue