I Only Made a Small Move

Setting aside the fact of transmigrating into the Pirate World, the Pirate World was actually pretty interesting.

Even though it was called the King of the Pirates, after the Summit War ended, people all over the world cheered and celebrated the Navy's victory without exception.

Because on this sea, pirates were a bloody, visible disaster.

In other words, civilians were filled with fear and hatred toward pirates.

But Seven didn't care.

So, he lived his life.

Where the wind blew, where the waves crashed, who the World Government painted as a hero or a demon—let it all go.

Seven just held his own helm steady, sailing through this ocean where truth and lies surged equally, following the compass in his heart, living freely.

South Blue, East Blue Emperor.

After entering Reverse Mountain from the West Blue, the Morning Star Pirates raced along the current all the way to the South Blue waters, aiming only to find new crewmates as quickly as possible.

By the ship's wheel, Fujitora Issho and Mihawk sat on Seven's left and right respectively.

Both were curious about the goal of this trip: just what kind of man was worth Beelzebul driving at five times speed, crossing half the world?

"Captain, what kind of person is the crewmate we're looking for this time?"

Seven steered with one hand while flashes of distant yet still clear memories passed through his eyes.

"Mr. Issho, his name is Bartholomew Kuma. He's a man with love in his heart, very much like you."

"Sixteen years ago, the Celestial Dragons held a Hunting Competition at God Valley in the West Blue. The targets were slaves like Kuma, and the civilians of God Valley."

"At God Valley, under the pressure of the Celestial Dragons, the Divine Knights, the Navy, the Rocks Pirates, and the Roger Pirates, Kuma saved over 500 civilians."

Seven paused.

"You might not know much about the Rocks Pirates... Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Big Mom, Kaido, Captain John... all of these were crewmates of the Rocks Pirates. Kaido was just an intern back then."

"And in that very battlefield."

"Some were rescuing wives and children, some were plundering treasure. Kuma, relying on the Paw-Paw Fruit he'd just eaten, saved over 500 civilians... and he was only nine years old at the time."

As the words fell, Fujitora Issho sighed with emotion.

"To think that the God Valley battle back then had such a twisted, unbelievable truth behind it. So many Great Pirates gathered in one crew..."

"Mr. Kuma is a hero worthy of respect."

"Yeah." Seven sighed ruefully.

No matter how you judged Kuma, he deserved the name of hero. But just like Luffy said: I don't want to be a hero. I want to eat meat.

The same piece of meat—a pirate would throw a banquet with it.

But a hero would give it to someone in need.

Seven sincerely, from the bottom of his heart, admired heroes. If he could, he'd be willing to lend a hero a hand, but he didn't want to become one himself.

Being a hero was too tiring.

A life not too bound by morality, retaining the necessary conscience—that was the kind of life Seven wanted to live.

"Oi, News Bird."

Seven waved at a passing News Bird and fished three coins from his pocket.

"Three newspapers."

One of the Morning Star Pirates' perks: every crew member had free access to newspapers, whether official or trainee.

They'd been traveling nonstop these past few days, so he hadn't had a good look at how high everyone's bounties had risen.

When Seven saw his own bounty, the corner of his mouth twitched. "Three billion... Sea Emperor..."

In the later era, that was just little Kid's level. But in this current era, three billion was packed with weight, nearly rivaling the three legendary pirates.

The Navy hadn't ignored the facts this time.

As for Sea Emperor, it was just an empty title.

Better to have something practical, like the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, the Gold-Gold Fruit, the Teleport-Teleport Fruit... or Captain John's treasure and such.

Thinking about Devil Fruits gave Seven a headache. The Door-Door Fruit and the Bear-Bear Fruit Mythical Zoan in his hands had no suitable candidates to eat them.

The system shop didn't refresh either—no item that let someone eat multiple Devil Fruits at once.

Forget it, he'd just tease Mihawk first.

"Oh, Mihawk, how come you're only at two billion?"

Mihawk lifted his eyes. "Unlike some people who barely scraped three billion by fighting tooth and nail, I only made a slight move and reached two billion."

"As expected of you, Mihawk."

In this exchange, Seven was thoroughly defeated.

Staring at the endless sea, Seven could already foresee: countless rookie pirates would come seeking fame by stepping on the Morning Star Pirates.

On this sea, the fastest way to make a name was undoubtedly to trample older pirates underfoot, building renown while absorbing their wealth and power.

That was the finest tradition of pirates—the low overthrowing the high, fitting the local flavor well.

Nearby, Fujitora Issho sat on the sofa, quietly listening to Robin read the newspaper.

"Fujitora Issho, Gravity-Gravity Fruit user, Great Swordsman, wields Gambler Fireline, one of the Supreme Grade Swords, bounty two billion Berry, dead or alive."

"Old man, you're at two billion now."

The next second, Little Black's grimy little face inexplicably paled, and her hands trembled nonstop.

"Child of the Devil... Nico... Robin... bounty one hundred million Berry... dead... or alive."

Life was hard, Robin sighed: at such a young age, she already carried a bounty of one hundred million Berry.

Too tough!

Sensing the fear in little Robin's heart, Fujitora gently patted her thin shoulder. "Don't be afraid. We're all here."

Robin nodded firmly. "Mm."

Right, what did a Marine Buster Call matter? With Captain Beelzebul, Mr. Mihawk, and Uncle Issho around, what was there to fear?

At worst, they'd just defeat the Buster Call fleet again.

A nightmare only became a nightmare because of insufficient firepower; under overwhelming saturation fire, even a nightmare could turn into a little angel.

Little Black Robin silently resolved: she would definitely become a trainee crew member of the Morning Star Pirates and follow the Captain to every corner of the sea.

At least when she looked back on this life in old age, she could proudly tell the younger generation—

[Back in the Ohara Buster Call, facing a fleet with two Marine Admirals, the Captain and I slaughtered them left and right]

By the helm, Seven stretched.

"Mi-san, take the wheel for a bit. Wake me when we reach the south port of Sorbeth Kingdom."

In truth, both Mihawk and Fujitora had noticed the anomaly aboard the East Blue Emperor. Less than four hours of sleep since boarding felt better than eight hours elsewhere.

The two tacitly pretended nothing was amiss.

But inwardly, they couldn't help marveling: boarding this ship was definitely the greatest choice they'd ever made.

Back in the captain's quarters, Seven lay in the bath and opened the system shop, which he hadn't browsed in a long time.

"Huh? This thing can be bought too?"

Lunarian Bloodline: 50,000 points. A part of your body will ignite. While the flame burns, defense +100%. When the flame extinguishes, speed +100%. Gain the ability to generate and control flames...

Sure enough, the Flame-Flame Fruit? Not even a dog would eat it.