Giving Birth Is Just Right

East Blue, Organ Islands.

Orange Town.

Buggy was holed up in his secret base, staring at the newspaper he'd just swiped from a News Bird's pouch, chuckling to himself.

One moment he'd throw his head back laughing, like he wanted the whole world to know, the next he'd clamp his hand over his mouth, terrified of being caught.

"That idiot Shanks—if he hadn't changed his mind back then, and we'd invited Seven aboard, we might've been Sea Emperors by now!"

Buggy smoothed out the crumpled paper, stacking the latest issue with the one where Seven's bounty broke a billion, and the one from two years ago.

"Seven, I knew I wasn't wrong about you."

"Two years to become a Sea Emperor—no wonder you're my brother, Buggy! Hohoho hahaha!"

He laughed twice, then quickly covered his mouth.

"Almost forgot. Seven wrecked a Buster Call fleet. The World Government and the Marines are definitely gonna come after us old-timers."

"For my safety and my treasure maps."

"From now on, I can never let it slip: I'm Seven's good brother, and we were both on the Roger Pirates."

Back when Seven's bounty first broke a billion, Buggy had thought about running to his brother for help. Now? Better to stay put.

A Buster Call fleet... just thinking about it was terrifying.

Only a man with guts like Seven would charge in with just two crewmates.

"Better stick to the East Blue. As long as I don't run into Old Man Garp, I'm the biggest shot around here—dig wherever I want."

Around the same time.

The bounties of the Morning Star Pirates' three crew members, along with the news that Beelzebul had become the second Sea Emperor, spread across the entire sea.

New World, Wano Country.

Onigashima.

As the headquarters of the Beasts Pirates, most of Onigashima's daily affairs were handled by Kaido's Lead Performer, King the Conflagration.

As for Kaido, he usually spent his time drinking and crying.

"Kaido-san."

King placed a fresh newspaper gently in front of Kaido. "There's a remarkable figure out on the sea. They're calling him the second Sea Emperor."

"Huh?" Kaido lifted his head, squinting.

"A seventeen-year-old brat, worthy of the title Sea Emperor? This old man will go grab him and make him a Performer."

Kaido stood, took three steps, then turned back. "You little punk, why aren't you stopping me?"

King replied flatly, "Morning Star Pirates captain Beelzebul has a bounty of three billion, Vice Captain Mihawk two billion, and Fujitora Issho two billion."

"Kaido-san, their three bounties combined are higher than our entire crew's. Their strength was verified by a Marine Buster Call."

"And they were on the Roger Pirates with Oden."

Kaido sat back down, grumpy.

"Troublesome brat."

"Once I deal with Oden and take all of Wano, I'll grab all three of them... but that Beelzebul kid, how'd he change so much?"

King perked up. "You know Beelzebul?"

Kaido shook his head. "Didn't the newspaper run a story two years ago?"

Sensing his little brother's mood shift, Kaido muttered, "He's got white hair too, but he's definitely not a Lunarian—no wings on his back."

"Course, maybe it's a variant."

"In a couple years, when I'm done with Oden, I'll go grab him myself. Then you'll see."

King nodded. "Thanks, Kaido-san."

Kaido leaned back. "We're brothers. Talk like that's boring. Where's Yamato?"

"Still throwing a tantrum?"

King hesitated, then spoke up.

"Kaido-aniki, Yamato's still a kid. You can't hold a child her age to adult standards."

Back then, if Kaido hadn't saved him, King—Abel—might still be a Lunarian lab rat for the World Government.

So Abel truly saw Kaido as an older brother. But the guy had no clue how to raise a kid.

Kaido grumbled, "She's my daughter. She ought to be different. When I was her age, I was already on the battlefield."

Right. Abel sighed silently.

"I'll get back to work."

"Go on, kid."

Once Abel left, Kaido picked up the newspaper, his eyes locked on the front-page headline: Beelzebul's white hair.

"It really could be one of Abel's people. If so, this old man has to bring you back."

Unlike Kaido, who was dead set on capturing Seven to serve as a poster boy, another Great Pirate—

Charlotte Linlin, captain of the BIG MOM Pirates, known as BIG MOM—was fantasizing about having several children with Barzeb.

"Mamamama..."

"Katakuri, send an invitation to Barzeb. Invite the three members of the Morning Star Pirates to Totto Land for a Tea Party."

Hearing this, Katakuri's head throbbed. Having a mother who was always looking for a husband to bear children with was truly exasperating.

"Mother, Barzeb is only seventeen."

Big Mom's whole body shook with laughter. "Mama here gave birth to Perospero at eighteen. A seventeen-year-old lad has plenty of fire—just right for making babies."

"And even if Barzeb doesn't work out, there's still Dracule Mihawk and Fujitora Issho. They can't all refuse, can they?"

"Fine." Katakuri nodded in agreement.

Sending out the invitation was no problem, but whether they came or not wasn't up to him. A man like Barzeb...

He probably wouldn't show, right?

If he actually did, it could very well spell disaster for Totto Land. A man who defied all rules and stormed through a Buster Call was no pushover!

The Navy's wanted posters for the Morning Star Pirates, along with the newspaper reports on the second Sea Emperor, had a massive impact.

On a smaller scale—

Before, when people mentioned Barzeb Seven, whether Navy, pirate, or civilian, either they'd never heard of him, or their first impression was that he was a crew member of Pirate King Roger.

But after the Ohara Buster Call incident, when people brought up Barzeb Seven, their first thought was—

That white-haired man who charged through the Buster Call, the second Sea Emperor on the seas, captain of the Morning Star Pirates, a Great Pirate with a thirty-billion bounty.

To put it in entertainment terms, Seven used to have no fame or achievements.

Now? He had Buster Call certification!

The last Great Pirate to stir up the seas, Douglas Bullet, known as the Devil's Descendant, never earned that certification.

Because Bullet got caught by a Buster Call.

But Barzeb Seven not only cleared the Buster Call without a scratch, he even rescued a little girl from it (only Kuzan knew about the other three scholars).

Sakazuki had been involved in both Buster Calls.

Comparing the two, the weight of Buster Call certification became clear. Anyone who saw Barzeb would give a thumbs-up: That man's got guts!

Of course, praise was praise.

Civilians still secretly spat: Damn pirates, stay away!