West Blue, the waters around Twin Snake Island.
The East Blue Emperor, with its Black Dragon figurehead and Crimson Sail, was sailing toward Ohara.
On the grass-covered deck, Mihawk gazed at the Three-story Western-style Building before him... lost in thought.
"Treasure Tree Adam?"
"Yeah."
Seven began introducing the ship to the crew.
The East Blue Emperor was built from Treasure Tree Adam and powered by both sails and electricity. Each floor of this building had a ceiling height of nine meters, prepared for the taller members of the crew.
"Mihawk, Mr. Issho, you can head to the second or third floor and pick whichever room you like."
"If you'd prefer somewhere with a wider view, you can also stay in the lookout posts atop either mast."
Mihawk nodded slightly. "And what about you?"
"Me?" Seven chuckled. "That big villa at the stern is the captain's quarters. It has a bar, a bathhouse, a cinema..."
The East Blue Emperor's amenities made Seven feel that the ten thousand points had been worth every bit. The value for money was off the charts.
Mihawk immediately asked Seven for a few bottles of Iced Black Tea, then leisurely chose a room on the far left of the third floor, with a wide view.
Issho, meanwhile, stood on deck, at a loss.
"Mr. Seven, I haven't made up my mind yet."
He owed Seven a billion Berries. That kindness was more than enough reason to join the crew, but Issho still felt some resistance toward becoming a pirate.
"Mm," Seven replied as he steered the ship.
"Mr. Issho, the Marines would actually suit you better. But I hope you'll wait until we reach Ohara before making your decision."
"By then, whether you stay or leave, we'll still be friends. As for that billion Berries... you can pay me back whenever you have the money."
Seven had expected Issho to be conflicted.
How to put it?
Issho had spent years wasting away on Twin Snake Island. He was no longer a hot-blooded young man who could be talked into joining a crew on a whim.
A man in his thirties needed time to adjust before making such a drastic change.
Besides, pirates didn't exactly have a good reputation.
In fact, if he could freely choose, Seven would have wanted to join the Marines too. They had their flaws, but in some respects they were still the main force protecting civilians.
Unfortunately, Barzeb Seven had already been branded as a crew member of the future King of the Pirates.
Most pirates, whether chasing fame or fortune, were ruthless plunderers who killed and burned wherever they went. Crews like the Straw Hats, who were more like adventurers, were few and far between.
Take Kid, the glutton, for example.
After eating his fill of Kamunabi and Hagoku, he was still hungry. Kid, captain of the Kid Pirates, had once slaughtered civilians who mocked his dream.
Whether that was right or wrong was beside the point. His actions were a bloody, brutally honest depiction of what pirates were.
"Thank you."
Issho had said those words many times that night.
Sparks crackled at Seven's fingertips as he warned, "Heads up. The ship's about to speed up."
The East Blue Emperor's advantage was its electric drive.
As a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, Seven had access to practically limitless electricity. As long as he had stamina, the East Blue Emperor could keep accelerating.
Steering with one hand, Seven sent the current curling around his fingertips into the electric drive system.
Vrrrrr—
The engine roared, and the East Blue Emperor cut across the sea, racing forward at five times its usual speed.
West Blue, the waters around Ohara.
Ten Marine warships stretched across the sea, their bows all facing forward, forming a grim arc amid the waves.
At the center of the formation, Sakazuki, then a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, lowered the newspaper in his hands.
"Spineless cowards, giving in to pirates."
Thirty-three-year-old Sakazuki was rigid in his principles and merciless in his methods. He showed no leniency and would tolerate no evil whatsoever.
He was the last Marine pirates wanted to encounter.
No exceptions.
If pirates ran into other Marines, they would most likely be captured and sent to Impel Down. But if they encountered Sakazuki...
They could only pray for the best.
When he learned that the World Government had paid pirates a ransom to get a kidnapped Celestial Dragon back, Sakazuki erupted like a volcano on the verge of blowing, his face red with rage.
"We should never have agreed to Roger's terms."
"If we hadn't, how could a mere chef from the Roger Pirates get away with acting so brazenly?"
None of the Marine soldiers dared respond to Sakazuki's furious roar. Only Kuzan murmured, "The World Government agreed to it."
"Hmph!" Sakazuki turned his head. "So what if the World Government agreed? Is that a reason for the Marines to let the Roger Pirates go?"
Kuzan kept his hands in his pockets and said nothing more.
Much like the Devil Fruits they had eaten, Kuzan and Sakazuki had been at odds for most of their time in the Marines.
Momonga, then a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, quietly tugged at Kuzan's sleeve. "Kuzan, have you heard anything about Sauron?"
"Him..." Aokiji shook his head.
"Maybe he's already gone back to Elbaf. Why do you ask?"
Momonga smiled awkwardly. "You know, Dor is Sauron's subordinate. She's been asking me about him these past few days..."
"Got it." Kuzan let out a breath of cold air.
Deep down, Kuzan was against the Buster Call they were about to carry out, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The Gorosei had given the order, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had signed off on it, and five Vice Admirals, ten warships, and more than ten thousand Marines were carrying it out. His personal wishes couldn't stop it.
Kuzan couldn't help feeling a little envious of Borsalino, who had just run a simple errand—rescuing the kidnapped Celestial Dragon—and had been promoted straight to Marine Admiral.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had submitted the promotion request that morning, and the Gorosei had approved it that afternoon. Their efficiency was frightening.
Unlike him... He had to make a difficult choice just to have a chance at becoming an Admiral.
If someone showed up to interfere, his hopes for a promotion and a raise would probably go up in smoke.
But surely no one would dare come, right?
Five Headquarters Vice Admirals, ten warships, and more than ten thousand fully armed Marines. Kuzan couldn't imagine who would be brazen enough to stop them.
At the thought, Kuzan couldn't help laughing.
Hearing him, Sakazuki turned and glared. "Kuzan, what are you laughing at?"
Sakazuki's bizarre reaction only made Kuzan laugh louder. "Ara la la la la!"
At last, the ten Marine warships carrying ten thousand Marines arrived at Ohara's shore.
Spandine, head of CP9, carried the Golden Den Den Mushi used to activate the Buster Call. He strode arrogantly onto Ohara's land, then turned back to give an order.
"Wait for my signal before you act."
The scholars of Ohara, who were researching the Void Century—especially Clover—were the chief culprits the Gorosei had ordered them to eliminate.
Spandine rarely got an opportunity like this. He planned to enjoy the feeling of wielding power from on high.
When he reached the Tree of All Knowledge, Spandine waved his hand. "Kick the door open! Arrest every scholar inside. Don't let a single one escape!"
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