I Made Only a Slight Move

Leaving aside the fact that I'd been transported to the world of pirates, this world was actually pretty interesting.

It was called Pirate World, yet after the Summit War ended, people everywhere celebrated the Navy's victory with unbridled joy.

Because on these seas, pirates were an obvious, bloody scourge—one anyone could see.

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

But Seven didn't care.

So he lived his own life.

Where the wind blew, where the waves crashed, and whom the World Government chose to paint as a hero or a demon—it was all up to them.

Seven only cared about keeping a firm grip on his own helm, sailing across this ocean of truth and lies with equal force, and living freely by the compass in his heart.

South Blue, aboard the East Blue Emperor.

After entering Reverse Mountain from West Blue, the Morning Star Pirates had followed the currents all the way to South Blue, eager to find new companions as soon as possible.

Beside the helm, Fujitora Issho and Mihawk sat on either side of Seven.

Both were curious about the purpose of this trip. What kind of man was so important that Beelzebul had driven them at five times their usual speed across half the world?

"Captain, what kind of person is the companion we're looking for?"

As Seven steered with one hand, memories from long ago—yet still crystal clear—flickered through his mind.

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

"Sixteen years ago, the Celestial Dragons held a Hunting Competition in God Valley, West Blue. Their targets were slaves like Kuma, along with the island's ordinary people."

"In God Valley, Kuma rescued more than five hundred people while facing down the Celestial Dragons, the Divine Knights, the Navy, the Rocks Pirates, and the Roger Pirates."

Seven paused.

"You may not know much about the Rocks Pirates... Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Big Mom, Kaido, Captain John... They were all members of the Rocks Pirates. Kaido was only an apprentice back then."

"And in the middle of that battlefield..."

"Some people rescued their wives and children, while others seized treasure. Kuma used the Paw-Paw Fruit he'd just eaten to save more than five hundred people... He was only nine years old."

When Seven finished, Fujitora Issho sighed.

"I never imagined the God Valley battle had such a complicated and unbelievable truth behind it. So many Great Pirates gathered under one crew..."

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

"Yeah," Seven said with a wistful sigh.

By any measure, Kuma deserved to be called a hero. But as Luffy had said: "I don't want to be a hero. I want to eat meat."

A pirate would use a piece of meat to throw a banquet.

A hero would share it with those in need.

Seven sincerely admired heroes, from the bottom of his heart. If he could, he would gladly lend one a hand—but he didn't want to become one himself.

Being a hero was exhausting.

A life free from excessive moral constraints, but still guided by a necessary conscience—that was how Seven wanted to live.

"Oi, News Bird."

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

"Three newspapers."

One of the Morning Star Pirates' perks was that every crew member, whether full-fledged or an apprentice, could get the news freely.

They'd been traveling nonstop these past few days, and he hadn't had a chance to see how much everyone's bounties had risen.

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

By the standards of a later era, that was only enough to make greedy little Kid drool. But in this era, three billion was an astonishing sum, putting him close to the Three Legendary Pirates.

This time, the Navy hadn't ignored the facts.

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

He'd rather get something practical, like the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, the Gold-Gold Fruit, the Teleport-Teleport Fruit... or some other treasure, like Captain John's stash.

The thought of Devil Fruits gave Seven a headache. He couldn't find anyone suitable to eat the Door-Door Fruit or the Mythical Zoan Bear-Bear Fruit he had.

And the system shop still hadn't stocked an item that let someone eat several Devil Fruits at once.

Forget it. He'd tease Mihawk first.

"Hey, Mihawk, how come your bounty's only two billion?"

Mihawk raised his eyes. "Unlike someone who fights tooth and nail just to get three billion, I only made a slight move, and my bounty's already reached two billion."

"As expected of you, Mihawk."

Seven had lost this exchange completely.

Staring out at the endless sea, Seven could already predict what lay ahead: countless rookie pirates would try to make a name for themselves by stepping on the Morning Star Pirates.

On these seas, the fastest way to make a name for yourself was to trample the pirate veterans, then seize their wealth and power along the way.

That was piracy's finest tradition—overthrowing one's elders. Very much in keeping with Japanese culture.

Not far away, Fujitora Issho sat on a sofa, quietly listening as Robin read the newspaper.

"Fujitora Issho, Gravity-Gravity Fruit user, master swordsman, wielder of Gambler Fireline, one of the Supreme Grade Swords, bounty: two billion Berries. Dead or alive."

"Uncle, you're worth two billion now!"

The next second, Robin's little dark face somehow paled, and her hands began to tremble.

"Child of the Devil... Nico... Robin... bounty: one hundred million Berries... Dead... or alive."

Life was hard. Robin sighed. She was so young, yet already saddled with a bounty of one hundred million Berries.

This was too much!

As if 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."

That was right. So what if the Navy sent a Buster Call? With Captain Beelzebul, Mr. Mihawk, and Uncle Issho here, what was there to fear?

At worst, they'd defeat another Buster Call fleet.

Nightmares only became nightmares because people feared they lacked enough firepower. Under a full saturation bombardment, even nightmares could become little angels.

Little Black Girl Robin secretly made up her mind: she would become an apprentice on the Morning Star Pirates and follow the captain to every corner of the sea.

Then, at least, when she looked back on her life in her old age, she could proudly tell the younger generation—

[Back then, during the Buster Call on Ohara, I faced two Marine Admiral fleets and slaughtered them alongside the captain.]

Beside the helm, Seven stretched.

"Mihawk, take the helm for a while. Wake me when we reach the southern port of the Sorbeth Kingdom."

In fact, both Mihawk and Fujitora had noticed something strange about the East Blue Emperor. After boarding, they'd slept for less than four hours, yet felt better than they did after a full eight.

The two pretended nothing had happened, without saying a word.

They couldn't help reflecting that boarding this ship was the greatest choice they'd ever made.

Back in his cabin, Seven soaked in the bath and opened the system shop, which he hadn't browsed in a long time.

"Huh? You can buy this, too?"

[Lunarian Bloodline: 50,000 points. A certain part of your body will catch fire. While the flames are burning, defense +100%; when the flames go out, speed +100%. Gain the ability to generate and control fire...]

As expected, even a dog wouldn't eat the Flame-Flame Fruit.