This Person Is Quite Polite

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

At the meeting chaired by the perennial convener Brannew.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku received a call, his fingers tightening around the Den Den Mushi as his face went pale, cold sweat pouring uncontrollably from his brow.

"Alright, I understand."

Hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku swallowed hard.

"Borsalino."

"Go to Sabaody Island No. 1 immediately. Find and placate Barzeb Seven. Ensure Saint Elaine... survives."

Marine Headquarters Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Tsuru, took over.

"Sengoku, give us the details."

Sengoku took a deep breath, steadying his inner turmoil.

"Former Roger Pirates member Barzeb Seven, on Sabaody Island No. 1, has kidnapped Celestial Dragon Saint Elaine and is demanding a ransom from the World Government."

As the words fell, the expressions of the assembled Marine high command shifted: how could a man be this audacious?

Kidnap a Celestial Dragon?

Even if he successfully extorts the World Government, he'd have to live to spend that ransom. Were all of Pirate King Roger's crew such reckless fools?

"Hahahaha."

Garp laughed until tears came: "I told you, that kid's still alive. Kidnapping a Celestial Dragon, extorting the World Government, hahahaha."

With Celestial Dragons involved, Garp couldn't be bothered to act.

If the mission were anything else, Garp would have charged in himself, locking Barzeb away in Impel Down—it was one of the goals he'd set for his remaining years.

"Damn it, Garp." Sengoku slammed the table.

Vice Admiral Tsuru stopped the two: "Borsalino, go first and calm Barzeb down. Follow up with the World Government afterward."

With a Celestial Dragon kidnapped, the Marines certainly wouldn't be the ones paying the ransom. At best, they'd coordinate and rescue the hostage.

Kizaru slowly rose: "Sengoku-san, I just need to soothe the kidnapper's mood, right?"

Thinking of Seven's monstrous Conqueror's Haki Infusion, Kizaru felt a headache coming on. Not to mention the shady dealings between them.

Sengoku nodded: "If necessary, assist the World Government in arresting Barzeb."

Kidnapping Celestial Dragons had to be completely stamped out. If pirates across the seas started copying this, the Marines would have nothing left to do but guard Celestial Dragons all day.

With a whoosh, Kizaru transformed into light, speeding toward Sabaody Archipelago.

Arrest? How could he possibly arrest him.

Two years ago, he couldn't manage it.

Two years later, it was even less likely.

From the fact that Barzeb was only demanding a ransom and hadn't killed the Celestial Dragon, it seemed he wasn't ready to fully break with the World Government yet.

So, how should he go easy on him?

Ever since learning the truth of the Void Century two years ago, Kizaru had secretly verified parts of it, and it matched perfectly.

This made the justice Kizaru held onto even more ambiguous—partly a defense of the current order's stability, and partly a terrifying urge to overthrow the World Government and build a new one.

That was why, for two years, Kizaru hadn't dared to go to Skypiea, afraid of being swayed by Barzeb again.

"Little brother, you've really given me a tough one."

The vibrating Den Den Mushi in his pocket snapped Kizaru's wandering thoughts back to reality.

"Moshi moshi."

"Old pal, I just want the ransom."

"Good." Kizaru felt completely relieved.

This mission would be flawlessly completed. The promotion and transfer that the World Government had suppressed two years ago couldn't be held back again, could it?

Sabaody Island No. 1.

On the street in front of the slave auction house, Seven drove away the merchants and civilians, leaving only the unconscious Marines and CP Agents sprawled on the ground.

Two Celestial Dragon guards had been chopped into several pieces like vegetables.

The fat pig Elaine had long since passed out, and Seven was using him as a cushion beneath him. Kidnapping this Celestial Dragon pig was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

After all, this bastard was born noble.

And Seven was dead broke.

As for the star-crossed lovers Tesoro and Stella, Seven had arranged for them to stay in a nearby hotel. He'd take them away once the ransom was collected.

The wait wasn't long.

When the dazzling light slowly coalesced into Kizaru, Seven immediately laid his blade against Saint Elaine's neck.

"Don't move, Borsalino."

Just like the justice Kizaru upheld, the man himself was ambiguous—Seven wasn't about to trust any so-called partnership.

Kizaru quickly raised his hands.

"Sora wa Inai."

The other had changed so much that Kizaru almost didn't recognize him: "Beelzebul, why does a man like you insist on opposing the World Government?"

Though they had a private arrangement, on the surface the Marines and pirates were still enemies, and the necessary formalities had to be observed.

Seven shrugged: "I'm broke!"

"I'm not like you Marines, getting a fixed salary every month. Us poor folks have to fend for ourselves just to barely scrape by."

Kizaru's face stayed blank, but inwardly he was grumbling: With all that gold in Skypiea, you're crying poor? You haven't blown through the gold you promised me, have you?

He'd have to sneak off to Skypiea sometime.

As they chatted, a few journalists who'd caught wind of the news started snapping photos on the sly. Seven casually turned sideways, exposing his profile and jawline toward the reporters.

As the saying went—

A side profile was the true version.

Hiding your jaw made you a nobody.

Even as a pirate, the image on your wanted poster was a bonus point!

With such explosive news, Morgans, the president of the World Economic News Company, naturally wouldn't miss it—especially since the subject was Beelzebul, the one Morgans had the highest hopes for.

Meanwhile, Kizaru periodically reported the situation to Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

The moment Kizaru hung up the Den Den Mushi, Seven grabbed the swine Elaine: "Let's go. We'll wait on the ship."

Seven didn't have a ship yet, but the Celestial Dragons did.

At the Sabaody Archipelago port, on a luxury liner, Seven casually pulled out an iron chain and gave Elaine's obese body an artistic binding.

"Borsalino, hurry the World Government along. You've got half an hour. If you're late, I'll have to send him off."

Kizaru dutifully contacted the Gorosei.

Hearing the kidnapper's demands, the Gorosei paused for a few breaths: "Borsalino, make two trips."

Kizaru's face fell: "Fine."

Speed wasn't always a good thing.

Especially for a slacker like Kizaru who just wanted to coast. Whenever the World Government or the Marines faced an emergency, they always had to make him suffer.

Seven's ransom demand was nothing short of extortionate: five Devil Fruits and five weapons no worse than Good Fast Sword grade.

With the World Government's wealth from ruling the seas for over eight hundred years, preparing the ransom was a breeze.

The only problem was delivering it on time.

"Give me the Gorosei's contact info."

After getting their promise, Kizaru left the contact details and turned into light again, heading for the Holy Land Mary Geoise.

Seven dialed the Den Den Mushi: "Moshi moshi."

"Beelzebul." The Den Den Mushi mimicked the speaker's tone: "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Don't rush. I'll talk to you slowly."

Seven stepped on Elaine's back: "First, I'd like to offer my full apologies for kidnapping Saint Elaine."

At Mary Geoise, in Pangaea Castle.

In the spacious, bright room, the Gorosei exchanged glances: This guy's oddly polite.

"You know, I'm pretty broke. Consider this ransom a hush fee. As for what I'm hushing up, I think you're well aware."

"Once I receive the ransom, this matter ends here. Otherwise, I don't mind camping outside Mary Geoise and hunting more Celestial Dragons."

"You know I can do it."

With the speed of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, unless the World Government had Kizaru guarding Seven every second.

Otherwise, every single Celestial Dragon who dared leave the Holy Land Mary Geoise would be kidnapped and ransomed by Seven again.

Saint Elaine's two guards, both with strength equivalent to Marine Headquarters vice admirals, had been sliced into several pieces by Seven.

"No problem," said the mustachioed Gorosei member.

Seven knew when to quit and didn't plan to haggle further with the Gorosei: "Thanks. That's all."