"Crocodile is dead. What are we going to do about the Shichibukai? Two people just came along and killed him. The other Shichibukai are furious, and their positions have already been challenged by far too many people," Vice Admiral Ghost Spider challenged Sengoku.
"I told you from the start that Rono had incredible potential, but you still traded him to those Celestial Dragons, along with Sairona. Look at him now—he's only fifteen and already capable of killing a Shichibukai. Even becoming an Admiral might not be his limit!" Vice Admiral Huo Shaoshan, who had taught Rono for a month, was indignant too.
"Ahhh, young people these days are really something. I'm almost at a loss," came another lazy voice. It was Aokiji.
"The Marines' authority cannot be challenged. Though I dislike the Shichibukai system, now that they've joined the Marines, they can't be killed by outsiders," Akainu said with a dark expression.
"Oh my, well, CP9 is part of the World Government, isn't it? They're at least our allies, right?" Kizaru tried to smooth things over.
"Crunch, crunch." Garp munched away happily on his rice crackers.
Sengoku felt a headache coming on as he watched everyone argue in the conference room. Tsuru wasn't helping him either; she was watching the show alongside Garp. Sengoku glared at the carefree Garp, then coughed twice. "One at a time. First, Admiral Akainu's concern: Admiral Kizaru has a point. The Marines are part of the Marines too, so we won't issue a bounty. Second, Vice Admiral Huo Shaoshan's concern. Although I've already explained this to you, not everyone here knows the details, so I'll go over it again. A genius is useless if he hasn't had the chance to grow. Rono isn't the first case of this kind in recent years. Besides, the terms offered by the Gongdongtalio Family were too tempting: a fifteen percent increase in the Marines' budget and a thirty percent increase in the Science Department's budget. You've probably noticed that the soldiers' living conditions have improved quite a bit, haven't you?" Sengoku paused, looking at the silent crowd, then continued, "Vice Admiral Tsuru and I discussed it, and we'll address Vice Admiral Ghost Spider's concern as well. We've both decided to grant Rono the title of Shichibukai."
"What? I object! What would that do to the Marines' authority?" Akainu was the first to protest. The others also voiced their opinions.
"What about the other Shichibukai?" Vice Admiral Ghost Spider asked.
"Then let them fight among themselves. If someone can't hold on to the position, we'll find someone else. What matters is keeping the title of Shichibukai in place, not keeping a particular person in it, Vice Admiral," Sengoku replied calmly.
"If there are no other objections, then this meeting is adjourned."
Sengoku waited a while. When no one said anything more, he dismissed the meeting. Everyone gradually left, until only Tsuru remained.
"Tsuru, proceed according to plan."
"Don't worry."
A week passed. Spandam sent someone to teach Rono and Sairona the Six Powers. Rono trained with the instructor during the day and did practical combat training with the system at night. He'd managed to get a basic grasp of the Six Powers. Sairona, meanwhile, only trained in Kami-e, Soru, and Geppo. As Sairona put it, "I rely entirely on my skills to deal damage. Once I've learned these, even an assassin will have trouble getting close to me..." All right, that was Rono's version of what she said, but it was more or less what Sairona meant.
Spandam was increasingly glad he'd bet on the right horse—and gotten a buy-one-get-one deal, too. He nodded to the instructor, then spoke to the two of them.
"Rono, Sairona, take a break. The Marine Headquarters has sent a document. Rono's been appointed a Shichibukai, and he can choose a country to serve as his fief."
"A Shichibukai? Is that equipment you get from beating a boss?" Rono scratched his head. Sairona and Spandam had grown used to his strange expressions, even if they didn't know what they meant.
"There's another document, from the Gongdongtalio Family. They hope Rono will choose Alabasta as his fief," Spandam said, ignoring Rono's question. "Baroque Works' higher-ups also want you to take over the organization. Well, technically, it'll just be in your name. They'll send people to manage it, so you won't have to worry about it."
Since Rono had returned, Spandam hadn't brought up the deal with Crocodile. As for that shipment of World Government goods, the story that Deng and Haddaway had completed their mission was a lie concocted by the Celestial Dragons to put pressure on the World Government and Crocodile. Even if Deng and Haddaway had completed the mission, they would still have died.
Crocodile was dead, and Rono had become the new Shichibukai. That made it ridiculously easy for Spandam, his good buddy, to reap benefits and build up his accomplishments.
At the thought of it, Spandam started drooling.
"Hey, hey! Spandam, are you listening?"
"Huh? What is it?"
"I said, can I put together a pirate crew?" Rono repeated.
"What? Nani? WTF? A pirate crew? What the hell!" Spandam stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. He'd never heard of anyone working for the World Government putting together a pirate crew. "Uh... I'll have to ask about that."
"Okay." Rono nodded like a well-behaved child.
"Oh, right, I almost forgot the important thing. I called you over not just for that—I also need to take you to Marine Headquarters to receive your appointment," Spandam said, pulling Rono along. "Sairona, want to come too?"
"Sure. I've been away from the Marines for a while. I kind of miss it," Sairona replied, still expressionless.
The Marine Headquarters ship was already waiting at the Gate of Justice. Leading the group was Vice Admiral Huo Shaoshan. Sengoku was playing on their old bond.
The group made their way to Marineford in grand fashion. Pirates spotted the Marine Headquarters flag from miles away and started running, which left Rono feeling a little disappointed. Are you even pirates? How can you run as soon as you see a warship? You're disgracing the name of pirates.
If those pirates had heard him, they would've spat in his face. Running when you saw the Marines was the normal thing to do.
But as soon as they reached Marineford, Rono's attention was drawn elsewhere. "Amazing!" Looking at the vast, imposing Marineford, Rono couldn't help exclaiming. The last time he'd come, he'd been in a lethargic state and hadn't really taken in Marineford, so this time it left him stunned.
Sairona glanced at Rono, her face calm. "What a stupid captain." Spandam picked up where Rono left off. "That's right. No matter how many times I come, it still feels magnificent!"
In the original story, the execution platform where Ace was executed could accommodate tens of thousands of Marines and pirates, not to mention the far larger training grounds and residential area.
A messenger came to greet them. After settling the others in, the messenger took Rono to a conference room.
Three Shichibukai were in the conference room: Boa Hancock, the Empress; Bartholomew Kuma, the Tyrant Bear; and Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha. Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru sat at the head of the table. Empress Hancock had propped her feet on the conference table, not caring in the slightest that her springtime charms were on display. Tyrant Bear stood off to one side; honestly, even if he'd wanted to sit, his enormous frame wouldn't have fit. Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha, sat on the conference table with his legs crossed.
When Rono walked in, the three of them turned their attention to him.
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