West Blue, Twin Snake Island.
Casino.
Issho stood inside the casino like a guardian deity, Blind Cane in hand, with the expressionless Mihawk beside him.
"Mr. Mihawk, could you tell me what kind of person your captain is?"
Issho was genuinely curious. What kind of person could earn the approval of someone as aloof as Mihawk? Issho was certain he never could.
Mihawk approved of him only for his swordsmanship. Issho might become a companion, but he wasn't the captain.
Mihawk thought for a few seconds.
"Beelzebul... is hard to judge."
"Two years ago, I met Beelzebul at Twin Capes. We sailed to Loguetown to bid farewell to his captain, King of the Pirates Roger."
"He was ruthless to his enemies, but never targeted civilians. As he put it, the strong draw their blades against the stronger; only the weak go after civilians."
"Pirates who target civilians deserve to be called nothing but low-class pirates."
"Low-class pirates?" Issho looked utterly astonished.
"I've never heard it put that way before. Your captain really is an interesting man. Did he ever say why he went back to sea? He'd already reached the Final Island..."
Mihawk replied calmly, "For freedom."
"Freedom?" Issho fell into thought.
What was freedom?
On this vast sea, freedom meant being bound by nothing and living according to your own will.
Not bowing to tyranny, not being shackled by rules, not compromising against your conscience. Always choosing your own path, protecting those you wanted to protect, until you reached the destination in your heart.
The sea was, by its nature, unknown. Freedom was daring to sail into the unknown and daring to pursue your dreams.
Whether it was searching for the One Piece, uncovering the Void Century, or achieving each person's own small goals, it all meant refusing to be trapped by the status quo and always yearning for somewhere farther away.
In short, freedom meant living life your own way, as the person you wanted to be.
It was simple in the extreme,
yet somehow the hardest thing to achieve.
Because on the road to freedom, you could stumble over setbacks, lose your way to temptation, hesitate under the weight of responsibility, or be held back by tyranny—
But that was what the sea was truly like!
True freedom meant seeing every shackle clearly and still holding fast to your heart as you set sail across the waves.
Even if towering waves lay ahead, as long as you had companions at your side, you could charge toward what your heart desired, never turning back!
"Phew~"
Thinking of how he'd become hopelessly addicted to gambling on Twin Snake Island after his homeland fell, Issho gave a bitter smile.
"Even when you truly understand these principles, you can still end up living a miserable life."
Rumble~ Rumble~
Thunder tore through the night sky, roaring without end and drowning out all the noise in the casino.
Mihawk gazed at the churning clouds outside the window.
"He's here."
Before he'd even finished speaking, a gale swept through, blowing open the casino's heavy wooden doors.
Amid the flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, a tall figure stood wrapped in flickering sparks of electricity. It was Seven, who had raced here from the waters off Jaya Island.
"Been a while, Mihawk."
"Been a while."
The gamblers in the casino caught sight of the figure outside. Their eyes lit up, and they cried out in excitement.
"The Great Pirate with a one-billion-Berry bounty!"
"Barzeb Seven, a crewmate of the King of the Pirates!"
Seven raised an eyebrow. A one-billion bounty?
Well, no wonder the gamblers in this corner of West Blue recognized me. The Marines must have issued a new wanted poster and spread it across the sea.
That means I'm a famous pirate now.
"Mihawk, what do you need a billion Berry for?"
Seven asked, already knowing the answer.
Mihawk turned aside. "This is Mr. Issho, a Great Swordsman. He owes the casino a ten-billion-Berry gambling debt."
Seven nodded and looked at the stunned croupier. "Get your boss over here."
The croupier hurriedly replied, "Y-yes, sir. Just a moment."
A Great Pirate with a one-billion-Berry bounty was a disaster-level threat to the Four Seas. Even if they called in the Marines from the nearby Marine Base, it would be useless.
They might as well do as he said.
A few moments later, a middle-aged man with a mustache hurried over, holding a Den Den Mushi in both hands.
"Sir, our boss would like to speak with you."
Before Seven could think it over, he saw the smug look on the Den Den Mushi and realized who was behind the casino.
"Oh, it's one of the little brats from the Donquixote family."
"Fuffuffuffu."
The Den Den Mushi laughed theatrically. "Barzeb, crewmate of King of the Pirates Roger. So you really do know the Celestial Dragons' secret."
Seven immediately lost interest. "I don't have anything to discuss with a little brat like you."
Being called a brat by a seventeen-year-old had clearly gotten Doflamingo heated.
The Den Den Mushi narrowed its eyes. "The Shipping King told me you're collecting Devil Fruits. As it happens, I have plenty of good stuff."
Seven's face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile.
"Brother Doflamingo, I'll be heading to North Blue in a while. How about we meet and talk then?"
The Den Den Mushi chuckled. "Then I'll be looking forward to it. And I'll forgive that ten-billion gambling debt..."
Seven cut him off at once. "I don't make a habit of owing money, especially not to my own brothers."
Ten billion Berry for a future Marine Admiral? That's a bargain no matter how you look at it. Damn it, don't mess up my plans.
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Seven casually took out ten billion Berry in banknotes and looked at the casino manager.
"Bring out the IOU."
The middle-aged man gave an awkward smile. "Mr. Issho never signed an IOU. We trusted his reputation. The debt is settled now."
Seven looked at Mihawk and Issho. "Mihawk, Mr. Issho, let's go."
(Fujitora was Issho's codename when he became a Marine Admiral. Issho was the older translation.)
Issho cupped his hands in thanks.
"Thank you, Seven... sir."
Seven waved it off. "We're all on the same side."
The three of them left the casino and headed to Twin Snake Island's harbor.
Mihawk looked over the nearly empty harbor, which was much the same as when they had arrived, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Three people... and a coffin boat... should be enough room, right?
Ever since Seven had appeared at the casino, Mihawk had kept glancing at him from time to time, unable to understand one thing: How had this guy grown so tall in just two years?
Two years ago, he'd clearly been shorter than Mihawk.
At thirty-two, Issho stood 2.7 meters tall. He was fully grown, and from here on, he could only get broader.
At seventeen, Seven was already 2.6 meters tall, with plenty of time left to grow. He was almost certain to surpass three meters.
Nineteen-year-old Mihawk was currently 1.98 meters tall. He should still have a little growing left in him.
Seven grabbed Mihawk just as he was about to hop aboard the coffin boat and pointed out at the empty sea.
"Get aboard our Pirate Crew's ship."
"A big ship?" Mihawk furrowed his brow.
"Take a good look, Mihawk." Seven drew Dream One Heart. "You'll never forget this day for the rest of your life."
Seven slashed horizontally with his sword, sending a Flying Slash across the sea and making the water look like a curtain. As the water fell back down, a ship appeared on the horizon—
A large pirate ship painted primarily in Flame Red, with black-and-gold detailing on its Dragon-shaped Bow and crimson sails, filled Mihawk's entire field of vision.
Seven, eager to share, nudged Mihawk's shoulder with his elbow. "Well? Isn't it cool?"
Mihawk's lips curved into a smile. "It is."
"My dear crewmates!" Seven swept his hand out. "All aboard! The East Blue Emperor is setting sail!"
Before you continue