Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The high-ranking officers of the Marines had gathered in the conference room, led by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Hero of the Marines Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru. Everyone was present except Akainu and Aokiji, who had gone to Ohara to carry out the Buster Call.
Kizaru, who was escorting Saint Elaine, attended remotely through a Den Den Mushi.
"Brannew," Sengoku said, giving him the floor.
Meeting King Brannew took a deep breath, relishing the feeling of everyone's attention fixed on him.
If he weren't good at hosting meetings, how else could Brannew, a Warrant Officer at Marine Headquarters, become the brightest star in the room? How else could he stand on stage?
Everyone seated below him outranked him.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
"Today, we're discussing the bounty for Barzeb Seven, a former member of the Roger Pirates."
"Barzeb was born in the East Blue."
The gathered Marine officers turned in silence to look toward Vice Admiral Garp.
Wasn't the East Blue supposed to be the weakest sea?
How had it produced the King of the Pirates Roger, and now a madman who'd kidnapped a Celestial Dragon and successfully extorted ransom from the World Government?
If Vice Admiral Garp was included, the East Blue was practically teeming with talent.
"According to a message sent back by former CP9 agent Rujian Yitia, Barzeb awakened Conqueror's Haki at the age of eight and was invited to join the Roger Pirates at nine."
Gasps rippled through the conference room, spreading like an infection.
"Eight years old... A born king."
Among the Marine high command, only Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Garp the Hero possessed Conqueror's Haki. That showed just how rare the qualities of a king were.
An eight-year-old child... How terrifying.
Brannew cleared his throat.
"Over the next five years, Barzeb sailed with the Roger Pirates, taking part in the Edow Sea Battle, collecting Poneglyphs, and traveling to Laugh Tale, the Final Island."
"Two years ago, he made a brief appearance in Loguetown... to see off the King of the Pirates Roger."
"Two months later, he attacked CP9 at the port on Lodestar Island and freed a prisoner of the World Government."
"Barzeb is also the only former member of the Roger Pirates currently active at sea, aside from Douglas Bullet, who was captured by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, and Sakazuki Vice Admiral."
"According to a report from the Sabaody Archipelago, his Conqueror's Haki..."
Brannew paused. He still couldn't find the words to describe it. Barzeb's Conqueror's Haki was far beyond what a Marine Headquarters Warrant Officer could comprehend.
The Den Den Mushi spoke in Kizaru's voice.
"He's mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion, possesses strength comparable to the Giant Race, and wields a purple-bladed katana that may be an unknown Supreme Grade Blade."
After saying that, the Den Den Mushi fell silent.
Sengoku's expression grew even more solemn. Even Garp, usually so unserious, sat up a little straighter and explained in a grave voice, "Only the strongest can master Conqueror's Haki Infusion. For reference, think of pirates like Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion."
The Marine officers fell silent, their mouths dry and their heads buzzing.
"He's only seventeen, right?"
Brannew hurriedly spoke up, bringing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. "He turned seventeen this year."
"Seventeen, and he's mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion."
"What a monster."
Far away aboard a luxury yacht belonging to the Celestial Dragons, Kizaru pursed his lips in silence. You're behind the times. He mastered Haki Coating at fifteen.
Sengoku rapped on the table, cutting off the discussion. "Let's hear your opinions. How high should Barzeb's bounty be?"
"Five hundred million."
"Seven hundred million."
The Marine conference room sounded like an auction house, with the bids climbing higher and higher, though none surpassed two billion.
The Den Den Mushi spoke again in Kizaru's voice.
"I'd personally recommend three billion. I hear Barzeb is very close to Marine Hunter Mihawk. I suspect Mihawk has already joined his crew."
Some things were best left unsaid when the timing wasn't right.
Kizaru didn't know how to bring it up. He couldn't exactly tell them about his deal with Barzeb, could he? Would he still be able to become an Admiral after that?
But if he kept quiet, he worried the Marines might go too far if they ever pursued Barzeb, making it difficult to smooth things over.
After a brief silence,
the room erupted into an uproar.
"Three billion? You've got to be kidding!"
"The Marines have never set a bounty that high."
Vice Admiral Tsuru tapped her pen against the table. "Borsalino, is that information reliable?"
Only then did the Marine officers realize that they'd just heard Hawk Eyes Mihawk might have joined Barzeb's crew.
The Den Den Mushi pulled a lecherous face.
"I heard it on Lodestar Island two years ago. When we rescued Saint Elaine this time, I casually asked Barzeb about it."
"He said, 'You tell me.'"
The Den Den Mushi fell silent again.
Vice Admiral Tsuru furrowed her brow.
"Three billion... That wouldn't be appropriate. If we set Barzeb's bounty at three billion without careful consideration, the Marines could become a laughingstock, even if it turns out to be true."
"Let's set it at one billion for now." Vice Admiral Tsuru made the final call.
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
The bounty poster for Barzeb was issued by Marine Headquarters and sent to every Marine Branch in the Four Seas and along the Grand Line.
When he heard the news, Morgans, the president of the World Economic News Company, who'd been strictly ordered to keep quiet, planted his hands on his hips and burst out laughing.
"Barzeb, I knew I was right about you!"
Being unable to publish a story about a Celestial Dragon's kidnapping had been a deep regret for Morgans.
Morgans wasn't yet the news fanatic of later years, who'd slowly test the limits of the World Government. For now, its warnings still had an effect.
"We have to print more papers right away!"
The King of the Pirates Roger had been executed, Sea Emperor Whitebeard was playing house out at sea, and Golden Lion and Bullet had been locked away in Impel Down—
Over the past two years, newspaper sales had kept falling.
For the sake of sales, Morgans decided to turn Barzeb Seven into the hottest new pirate.
Sabaody Archipelago, Knockoff Bar.
Rayleigh stared at the newspaper in his hands and sighed. "Ten billion already, huh?"
Not long ago, Seven had exchanged gold for Berry, paid Shakky her commission, and lent Rayleigh three hundred million Berry to pay off his gambling debts.
Rayleigh was now free of debt.
"Maybe I should tell Seven where the Golden Jackson is, so it doesn't end up forgotten..."
It had been his old companion for more than a decade, and Rayleigh really couldn't bear to part with it. Besides, Seven was clearly worthy of inheriting Roger's will.
But Rayleigh knew the truth.
When they'd reached the Final Island, someone had secretly made a copy of an Eternal Pose. After Roger discovered it, he'd thrown the Eternal Pose into the sea.
But it hadn't been Seven.
Seven had made copies of the Eternal Pose with Roger's permission—in fact, he'd made several.
Seven didn't care about Roger's will at all.
"This is strange. Why has business been so slow these past couple of days? The bar's usually at least half full by this time."
Shakky blew out a ring of smoke.
"The little guy kidnapped a Celestial Dragon on Island 1 and successfully extorted ransom from the World Government. The pirates who heard about it got scared off."
Rayleigh stared in surprise for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.
"That's exactly the kind of money-making scheme he'd come up with."
Back when they'd sailed with the Roger Pirates, Seven had been famous for his outrageous way of thinking. He'd often discussed how to make a fortune with Buggy and Shanks.
Buggy: "Obviously, we dig up treasure!"
Shanks: "Find the One Piece."
Seven: "Whoever's got money, rob them."
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