Looted Spoils

Lodestar Island, the port.

Seven was patching up the stolen pirate ship, hoping only that it would hold together in the Upward Sea Current and not suddenly fall apart on the way to Skypiea.

Otherwise, Mihawk would very likely fall to his death.

The image of Mihawk plummeting from high altitude flashed through his mind, and Seven quickly shook his head to toss out the wild thoughts.

Their destination this time was Skypiea—

The White Sea, ten thousand meters up in the sky. Aside from flying, riding the Upward Sea Current was the main way to get there.

It was a journey full of thrill and danger, usually with only two outcomes: everyone makes it, or everyone dies.

Last time, Seven and Buggy nearly pissed themselves.

This time, at least the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had their backs.

Seven muttered to himself, "A guy like Mihawk probably wouldn't get scared, right."

Boom, boom, boom~

The distant sounds of a fight snapped Seven's wandering thoughts back to reality. "Huh? Something interesting to watch."

The blistering speed granted by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit gave Seven the confidence to come and go as he pleased. As long as that slacking Marine wasn't around, Seven was the fastest kid on the block.

Besides, his luck couldn't be that bad—randomly docking at a port and running into Kizaru.

Putting down his repair tools, Seven turned into a bolt of lightning and flashed to the source of the noise to secretly observe.

Seeing a group of guys in white suits and white capes locking a man in Sea Prism Stone handcuffs, Seven's interest was piqued.

The World Government's lapdogs, the CP?

And who was the guy they'd caught?

But then, the CP Leader seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his head toward where Seven was hiding.

"Kill that guy."

"Observation Haki?" Seven didn't flee outright. Instead, he casually pulled a glowing blue Plasma Sword from the air and readied himself for battle.

The fact that the CP Organization ordered a witness silenced without hesitation made him even more curious.

As for what if he couldn't win?

If he couldn't win, he could always run.

With the speed of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Seven could leave whenever he wanted—total freedom to come and go.

The World Government had sent out ten CP members to arrest a Devil Fruit user. Seven didn't recognize him, but it didn't matter.

Whoever was fighting the World Government, he'd lend a hand.

Worst case, if things looked bad, he'd just bolt.

"Fist Bone Impact."

Seven shouted "Fist Bone Impact" but swung his Plasma Sword instead, actually unleashing a Thunder Dragon—all about catching them off guard.

A lightning dragon dozens of meters long roared as it charged toward the CP members' position.

"Iron Body." Several voices rang out at once.

If you want to go down fast, train in Iron Body. As the biggest lie in the Pirate World—"Iron Body is invincible"—it really did a number on people.

People always mistook Iron Body's damage reduction for damage immunity.

One Thunder Dragon strike, and a few weaker CP members were knocked unconscious on the spot.

From this, it was clear the World Government's CP Organization had some real skill—they didn't end up nearly wiped out like the Gorilla Pirates.

"Finger Gun."

"Shave."

Several CP members launched attacks at once, riddling Seven's body like dice, but he quickly regenerated.

The CP Leader narrowed his eyes. "Fall back. He's a Logia-type Devil Fruit user."

With that, black Armament Haki coated his fist.

But before the CP Leader could attack, A wave of red-black energy erupted from Seven, tearing through the sky in an instant—it was Conqueror's Haki, which he'd awakened at age eight.

Unlike Armament or Observation Haki, Conqueror's Haki was the embodiment of kingly qualities and couldn't be awakened through training. It only strengthened when the user's own spirit grew.

Now, Seven could freely control Conqueror's Haki with his will, precisely knocking out ordinary grunts—perfect for clearing the field.

The CP Agents all collapsed on the spot.

Only the CP Leader stood pale-faced, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "You... you..."

The Conqueror's Haki intimidation was a resounding success.

After all, no one could imagine that a man with intermediate-level Conqueror's Haki wouldn't know Armament Haki or Observation Haki.

It's just that the other two types of Haki can be acquired through training, with certain requirements for physique and talent.

Before gaining Innate Divine Strength and the Big Eater ability, Seven's physique and talent were indeed pretty lacking.

Conqueror's Haki, on the other hand, is a manifestation of one's will.

In his past life, Seven was born under the red flag and grew up in the spring breeze. In this life, he's a transmigrator with a cheat to boot—awakening Conqueror's Haki was almost too easy.

Thunder and lightning split the sky, red-black Haki tearing through the heavens as Seven gripped his crackling blue Plasma Sword, exuding overwhelming pressure.

But only Seven knew the truth.

He wasn't necessarily sure he could beat the CP Leader in front of him, who had both Armament and Observation Haki.

The guy had Observation Haki, so Seven couldn't land a hit.

He had Armament Haki, making it extremely hard to break through his defense.

Unless Seven mastered a higher-level application of Conqueror's Haki—Conqueror's Haki Infusion.

The reason he was stalling was to wait for someone. With all this commotion, Mihawk, why aren't you here yet!

This captain can't keep up the act much longer.

"A guy like you is really strange." Mihawk arrived with Black Blade Night on his back, his voice preceding him.

When he saw who it was, the CP Leader demanded through gritted teeth, "Dracule Mihawk, are you really going to oppose the World Government?"

Mihawk ignored the question, his gaze fixed on Seven. "I'm getting more and more curious about you."

As everyone knows, curiosity is the start of falling for someone.

When you begin to feel curious about a person and develop a desire to explore them, barring any surprises, the only outcome is falling for them.

Seven retracted his Conqueror's Haki and Devil Fruit ability, spreading his hands. "When you're out in the world, you've gotta know a thing or two."

Transmigrating into the Pirate World without a noble background, having an average physique and talent, and being an orphan—Seven had managed to survive alone until the day he met Captain Roger.

That had already been a journey of blood and tears.

Watching the two men ignore him, the CP Leader's eyes nearly split with rage. He suddenly pulled out a pistol and fired at a man bound with Sea Prism Stone handcuffs.

Bang~ Bang~ Bang~

In the blink of an eye, Mihawk wielded Black Blade Night, blocking every bullet, then delivered a single normal strike that sent the CP Leader flying dozens of meters, where he collapsed and didn't get up.

Seven, meanwhile, swung his Plasma Sword, finishing off the CP Agents one by one: a slash to the head, a slash to the chest, a slash to the foot.

His motto was to leave no survivors.

Mihawk sheathed Black Blade Night and glanced at the man locked in Sea Prism Stone handcuffs. "A friend of yours?"

Seven shook his head. "I don't know him."

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's get this guy to the ship first."

When it came to caution, Seven was unmatched on the Grand Line.

The mysterious man, who hadn't spoken a word the entire time, cooperated with keen awareness, following the two onto the ship.

"Mihawk, food and water?"

"In the storage room."

"Then let's set off." Seven expertly pulled up the anchor, started the ship, and sailed away from Lodestar Island's port, heading toward Jaya Island.

Once they reached deep-sea territory, Seven finally sized up the prize he'd snatched from the CP Agents.

"Oi, why did the World Government capture you?"