The Meeting King is Meeting

"They four are like ticking time bombs now—they cause trouble wherever they go. To avoid harming innocent civilians, this captain has no choice but to bear the burden alone."

"I'll find time to imprison them in Skypiea."

As the sole surviving Ohara Scholar, not only the World Government and Marines want to capture them, but every pirate seeking the One Piece won't let them go either.

They're practically a hot commodity.

Seven stood up with a grin. "To celebrate our imminent fame across the seas, let's throw a banquet!"

After the Ohara Buster Call, every crew member of the Morning Star Pirates would likely see their bounties rise. The Marines want to suppress the bounties? They'll have to get past Sakazuki first.

Sakazuki: Set Barzeb's bounty at one billion? Are you underestimating him, or are you underestimating me?!

Issho wore a smile.

"I've long heard from Mr. Mihawk that the captain's cooking is exquisite. Today, I must savor it properly."

For the sake of the justice his crew upheld, the captain didn't hesitate to face the Buster Call Marine fleet head-on, cementing Issho's resolve: to journey alongside the captain.

Until the end of the route.

"Don't worry, there'll be plenty!"

As the Morning Star Pirates' sole chef for now, Seven became the banquet's main force, three stoves blazing, chopping with his left hand and flipping the wok with his right.

"Little Black... Robin, come serve the dishes."

Nico Robin, only eight years old, looked dark and scrawny—perhaps from Ohara's harsh sun, or because she never got enough to eat at her uncle's place.

She had none of the striking pale beauty of later years.

Though she'd endured the despair of the Ohara Buster Call, Seven had rescued her, and even her mother, Nico Olvia—whom Kuzan had sentenced to death—was saved.

Nico Robin quickly adapted to the pirate crew's atmosphere.

An eight-year-old child has no real worries as long as her mother is by her side.

On the deck of the East Blue Emperor, an open-air banquet hall.

A massive table was laden with all kinds of food, but Chef Seven hadn't stopped cooking, even finding time to knock out a few big fish with Conqueror's Haki.

"Mr. Mihawk, haul the fish up—we're running a bit short on ingredients."

The three crew members had just been through a fierce battle, and with a big eater like Seven around, they'd need at least forty servings to keep anyone from going hungry.

Clatter, clatter, clatter—the chopping sound rang without pause.

It made Seven feel like he was back in his days as a cook on the Golden Jackson—carefree, cooking for the crew based on his mood each day.

Whenever danger struck, he'd just hide behind the ship's doctor, Crocus, alongside Buggy.

Why not hide behind the captain?

Around the three main fighters—Gold, Silver, and Copper—was always the most dangerous place, whether in battle or at peace.

Finally, he set the last dish—grilled yellow croaker—on the table and raised a glass filled with juice.

"Let's eat, let's eat."

The little dark-skinned girl rubbed her hands together. "Thank you, Captain."

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

After receiving the World Government's order to adjust the bounties, Marine Headquarters convened another meeting.

Meeting King Brannew took a deep breath.

"Colleagues, this meeting is presided over by Marine Headquarters Warrant Officer Brannew, aimed at discussing the bounties of the Morning Star Pirates' crew."

"Attendees include Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Kizaru, Vice Admiral Tsuru..."

"Vice Admirals Sakazuki, Kuzan, Momonga, and other Generals are attending remotely via Den Den Mushi."

"Please look at the main screen."

The projection Den Den Mushi faced the large screen.

Brannew pointed at three figures on the screen and introduced them in turn—

"Barzeb Seven, Great Swordsman, Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, former member of the Roger Pirates, current captain of the Morning Star Pirates, possessing the qualities of a king."

"Dracule Mihawk, Great Swordsman, Vice-Captain of the Morning Star Pirates, wielding one of the Supreme Grade Swords, Black Blade Night. Rumor has it Mihawk is the world's greatest swordsman."

"Fujitora Issho, Great Swordsman, Gravity-Gravity Fruit user, wielding one of the Supreme Grade Swords, Gambler Fireline, former captain of the Cang Country Guard."

With that, Brannew cleared his throat.

"These three Vicious Criminals dared to obstruct the Buster Call personally authorized by Fleet Admiral Sengoku and executed by Vice Admirals Sakazuki and Kuzan..."

"Fortunately, under Fleet Admiral Sengoku's command, Vice Admirals Sakazuki and Kuzan perfectly carried out the Buster Call, with the Morning Star Pirates only managing to take Nico Robin."

In the meeting room, Garp picked at his ear.

Before Garp could speak, the Den Den Mushi on the table had already chimed in.

"Brannew, save the pleasantries for later."

"Yes, Vice Admiral Sakazuki."

The Den Den Mushi continued: "That brat Beelzebul's Conqueror's Haki has the ability to block Observation Haki. During my fight with him, Observation was almost completely useless."

As the words fell, the meeting room buzzed with chaotic murmurs.

"What the hell, blocking Observation Haki?"

"How are we supposed to fight him like that?"

For the Generals at headquarters, Armament Haki and Observation Haki were practically standard issue, and everyone knew the value of Observation.

But now someone could block it?

Kizaru Borsalino, recently promoted to Admiral, tapped the table lightly: "Sakazuki, please elaborate."

Kizaru had thought he'd already laid out Beelzebul's strength in detail, but he'd clearly underestimated him.

Blocking Observation Haki—how terrifying!

Good thing he hadn't gone all out back then.

The Den Den Mushi paused for a moment, then continued.

"In a one-on-one fight, you can't sense his presence or the trajectory of his attacks through Observation Haki at all..."

"His Devil Fruit ability is unknown, and that Purple Blade Katana is as strong as a Supreme Grade Sword. During our battle, there were two strange occurrences."

"Normally, the longer a fight drags on, Haki and stamina should decline steadily. But right before that brat seemed about to run out of steam, he'd snap back to peak condition in an instant."

"This happened twice. I'm not sure if it can happen again. That's all the intel I have on him."

"Fujitora Issho... Momonga, you take over."

The Den Den Mushi's voice shifted.

"Fellow officers, I'm Vice Admiral Momonga. Fujitora Issho... can summon meteors with gravity, two or more at a time—a troublesome ability."

"As for Beelzebul, let me add one more thing."

"His Conqueror's Haki—in a single exchange, out of ten warships and over ten thousand Marines, only the five of us Vice Admirals were still standing. The rest were all knocked out."

"The three of us... are no match for Mihawk."

At that, the meeting room filled with sharp intakes of breath from the Marine officers.

They'd thought blocking Observation Haki was already outrageous, but now there was Fujitora Issho summoning meteors, and Beelzebul knocking out over ten thousand headquarters Marines with Conqueror's Haki.

How terrifying!

"Cough." Brannew cleared his throat to regain control.

"Everyone, the Morning Star Pirates have three Great Swordsmen and three Supreme Grade Swords."

"Clearly, we need to reassess and issue new bounties for Beelzebul and the others based on these latest findings."

"Now, please share your thoughts."