"Them?"
"The four of them are like ticking time bombs now, wreaking havoc wherever they go. To keep innocent civilians from getting hurt, this captain has no choice but to shoulder the burden alone."
"When we have time, let's lock them up on Skypiea."
As the last surviving Ohara Scholars, they were wanted not only by the World Government and the Navy, but also by every pirate determined to find the One Piece.
They were practically irresistible bait.
Seven stood up with a smile. "Let's throw a banquet to celebrate our impending fame across the seas!"
After the Ohara Buster Call, the Bounties of every Morning Star Pirates member would probably increase. The Navy wanted to keep their Bounties down? They'd have to get past Sakazuki first.
Sakazuki: You gave Beelzebul a billion? Are you looking down on him, or on me?!
Issho smiled.
"I've heard Mr. Mihawk say that the captain is a superb cook. I'll be sure to savor your cooking today."
The captain had faced the Navy fleet carrying out the Ohara Buster Call for the sake of the justice his crew upheld. That had finally convinced Issho to make up his mind: he would accompany the captain all the way.
Until the end of the voyage.
"Don't worry. There'll be plenty!"
As the Morning Star Pirates' only cook for now, Seven became the banquet's main workhorse. He fired up all three stoves, chopping with his left hand and tossing the wok with his right.
"Little Black... Robin, come help carry the dishes."
Only eight years old, Nico Robin looked dark as a little black girl. Maybe the sun in Ohara was too strong, or maybe she hadn't been getting enough to eat at her uncle's house.
She was nothing like the stunning, snow-white beauty she would become in the future.
After enduring the despair of the Ohara Buster Call, Robin had been rescued by Seven. Even her mother, Nico Olvia, whom Kuzan had already sentenced to death, had been saved.
Nico Robin quickly settled into the Pirate Crew.
An eight-year-old child had no real worries as long as her mother was by her side.
The deck of the East Blue Emperor, beneath the open sky, had been turned into a banquet hall.
The huge table was laden with all kinds of food, but Chef Seven hadn't stopped cooking. He even found time to stun a few big fish with his Conqueror's Haki.
"Mihawk, hurry and haul up the fish. We're running a little short on ingredients."
Three crew members had just fought a major battle, and with Big Eater Seven among them, they needed at least forty servings of food to make sure nobody went hungry.
Chop, chop, chop—the sound of cutting vegetables rang without pause.
It made Seven feel as if he'd gone back to his days as a cook aboard the Golden Jackson—carefree, cooking for the crew every day according to his mood.
Whenever danger arose, all he had to do was hide behind Crocus with Buggy.
Why not hide behind the captain?
Whether in battle or at peace, the area around the three top fighters—Gold, Silver, and Bronze—was always the most dangerous place to be.
At last, Seven carried the final dish, a grilled yellow croaker, to the table and raised a cup full of juice.
"Time to eat, time to 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 being chaired by Warrant Officer Brannew of Marine Headquarters. Its purpose is to discuss the Bounties of the Morning Star Pirates."
"Attendees include Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Kizaru, Vice Admiral Tsuru..."
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Kuzan, Vice Admiral Momonga, and other officers are attending remotely via Den Den Mushi."
"Please look at the screen."
A projection Den Den Mushi was pointed at the large screen.
Brannew pointed to the three figures on the screen and introduced them in turn—
"Barzeb Seven, Great Swordsman, Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, former member of the Roger Pirates, and current captain of the Morning Star Pirates. He possesses the qualities of a king."
"Dracule Mihawk, Great Swordsman and Vice-Captain of the Morning Star Pirates. He wields Black Blade Yoru, one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords. Rumor has it that Mihawk is the World's Greatest Swordsman."
"Fujitora Issho, Great Swordsman and Gravity-Gravity Fruit user. He wields Gambler Fireline, one of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords, and was formerly captain of the Cang Country Guard."
After finishing, Brannew cleared his throat.
"These three heinous criminals actually tried to interfere with the Buster Call personally authorized by Fleet Admiral Sengoku and carried out by Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Kuzan..."
"Fortunately, under Fleet Admiral Sengoku's command, Vice Admiral Sakazuki and Vice Admiral Kuzan carried out the Buster Call perfectly. The Morning Star Pirates only managed to take Nico Robin with them."
Inside the conference room, Garp picked at his ear.
Before Garp could speak, the Den Den Mushi on the table spoke first.
"Brannew, save the pleasantries for later."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
The Den Den Mushi continued, "That brat Beelzebul's Conqueror's Haki can block Observation Haki. When I fought him, my Observation Haki was practically useless."
The moment he finished speaking, the conference room erupted in a din.
"You've got to be kidding. He can block Observation Haki?"
"How are we supposed to fight him, then?"
For Marine Headquarters officers, Armament Haki and Observation Haki were practically essential. Anyone who'd used Observation Haki knew how useful it was.
But now someone could block it?
Kizaru Borsalino, who had just been promoted to Admiral, tapped the table lightly. "Sakazuki, could you describe it in more detail?"
Kizaru had thought he'd already given a thorough account of Beelzebul's strength. He'd never imagined he'd still underestimated him.
Blocking Observation Haki? How scary!
Good thing he hadn't fought him to the death back then.
The Den Den Mushi paused to consider, then continued.
"One-on-one, it's completely impossible to sense his presence or the trajectory of his attacks with Observation Haki..."
"His Fruit ability is unknown. That purple-bladed katana is no weaker than a Supreme Grade Blade, and two strange things happened while I was fighting him."
"Normally, the longer a battle goes on, the more Haki and stamina you expend, and the weaker you become. But whenever that brat was on the verge of exhaustion, he could recover to his peak in an instant."
"That happened twice. We don't yet know if it can happen again. That's all the information I have on the brat."
"As for Fujitora Issho... Momonga, you can tell them."
The Den Den Mushi's voice changed.
"Colleagues, I'm Headquarters Vice Admiral Momonga. Fujitora Issho... can summon meteorites with gravity. He can call down two or more at once, which makes his ability quite troublesome."
"I'd like to add one more thing about Beelzebul."
"With just one burst of his Conqueror's Haki, out of ten warships and more than ten thousand Marines, only the five of us Vice Admirals remained standing. Everyone else passed out."
"The three of us... were no match for Mihawk."
At that point, the Marine officers in the conference room drew breath one after another.
They'd thought blocking Observation Haki was already outrageous enough. And now there was Fujitora Issho, who could summon meteorites, and Beelzebul, whose Conqueror's Haki had knocked out more than ten thousand Marines.
How scary!
"Ahem." Brannew cleared his throat to regain control of the room.
"Everyone, the Morning Star Pirates have three Great Swordsmen and three of the twelve Supreme Grade Swords."
"Clearly, we must draw up new Bounties for Beelzebul and the others based on the latest information."
"Now, I'd like to hear from the rest of you."
Before you continue