Shichibukai

Chef Ata, thirty years old... Former captain of the Cook God Pirates, a Two Sword Style Swordmaster, an exceptional cook... and exceptionally strong. Bounty: 130 million Beli.

She had won first place in the Chef Island cooking competition that year.

But she had been set up that very day. Her crew had been almost completely wiped out, and only she had survived by sheer luck.

As a result, her temper had become exceptionally volatile, and she would attack at the slightest disagreement.

She was still on Chef Island because she firmly believed that the person who had set her up back then was still there.

That was what the paper said. Moke's eyes filled with surprise. He had never expected Chef Ata to have a bounty exceeding 100 million.

That was enough to qualify her as a Supernova.

And that bounty had been set years ago. Since she had spent the past few years on Chef Island searching for the culprit, her bounty had never changed.

"Interesting..."

Moke immediately added, "Information on the person who set her up back then? If you have it, bring it over! I'll buy that too..."

The waiter was slightly taken aback, then narrowed his eyes. "Since this is your first time working with us, and you have the potential to become a premium client, I'll make an exception and remind you: anyone who buys this information will also have their own information placed in that person's hands. So, are you sure?"

Moke paused, then narrowed his eyes as well. The information revealed by those words was anything but trivial.

First, he was not the first person to buy information about the culprit from the Underworld.

Second, the culprit had quite the background... Ata was still on Chef Island, which meant that those who had bought the information had either been dealt with, or had backed down after learning the culprit's identity.

Still, he nodded. "Thank you, but bring me the information anyway. I'm rather curious... now!"

"Very well, but the price is a little high. After all, everyone knows this information could very likely bring a pirate with a bounty over 100 million under someone's command."

As he spoke, he gave Moke a meaningful smile.

It was as if he were saying, Isn't that what you're after too?

Moke could not help smiling. "Oh? Then I'd like to know how much she is worth to your Underworld."

"Ten million Beli!"

Moke's eyes lit up. The higher the price, the stronger Ata must be. So instead of being displeased, he was delighted to hear it.

He took out a jeweled necklace. "This should be worth ten million Beli."

"Please wait."

The smile on the waiter's face became a little more sincere. Selling information worth over ten million meant his bonus would naturally be substantial as well.

Before long, the waiter returned with the information.

New World, under Doflamingo's command, Donquixote Family member Gladius.

Paramecia—Bomb-Bomb Fruit user. Bounty: 31 million. Actual strength exceeding 100 million...

He had used the Bomb-Bomb Fruit to ambush Ata, blowing up every member of the Cook God Pirates except Captain Ata, and successfully stealing the Devil Fruit in Ata's possession.

Damn!

Moke revealed a shocked expression. He had never expected the one behind it to be Gladius, a member of the Donquixote Family. No wonder...

Behind him stood Doflamingo and the entire Donquixote Family.

But what Devil Fruit could have drawn Gladius into action? And Gladius had chosen an ambush rather than confronting her head-on. Yet even with the ambush, he had failed to kill Ata and eliminate future trouble.

That showed just how strong Ata was.

In other words, Gladius was weaker than her, but she was not important enough for Doflamingo to make the trip himself. That was how the current situation had come about.

Moke immediately felt the money had been well spent... and felt even more strongly that making Chef Ata his first companion would be an excellent choice.

Moke suddenly thought of something and added, "By the way, give me a route map to Chef Island as well..."

The waiter chuckled, then took out a map from his clothes and handed it over. "Consider this route map a personal gift from me..."

Moke's gaze flickered. "Then thank you!"

Then he added, "Next, shouldn't we get to the main point?"

The waiter was slightly stunned, then laughed. "You're truly sharp... You even saw through that!"

"Whew..."

The waiter took a deep breath and straightened his clothes. "Then, on behalf of Baroque Works, I formally invite you to join Baroque Works. With your strength, once you join Baroque Works, you will immediately become a senior agent of Baroque Works..."

Damn...

First it was Doflamingo's Donquixote Family, and now it was Crocodile's Baroque Works. This was really something...

It made sense. In the underground intelligence network, the New World looked to Doflamingo, while the first half of the Grand Line looked to Crocodile's Baroque Works.

But Moke had no intention of becoming Crocodile's lackey.

Just as he was about to speak, the waiter beat him to it. "Don't rush to refuse... You can listen to the terms we're offering first.

First, intelligence sharing.

All information you need will be provided to you free of charge. At the same time, if someone intends to harm you, or if someone comes to buy information about you, you will be notified immediately... We may even directly send people to help you.

Second, after joining, as long as you complete the tasks assigned by Baroque Works, you may act freely the rest of the time. And once you complete a task, Baroque Works will give you extremely generous rewards.

Third, you may choose a cooperative arrangement. Information will be prioritized for you, and you will be warned if someone comes after you. But you will have to pay Beli... Of course, you will also need to complete a certain number of tasks. If you choose this arrangement, you will have the right to choose. You will not be required to complete every task... In a year, you only need to select two or three of the assigned tasks."

It had to be said that the third form of cooperation was quite appealing.

But there was no need. Any problem that could be solved with money was not a problem. He could simply buy intelligence with Beli.

No matter how good it sounded, agreeing would still mean falling under Crocodile's Baroque Works. So Moke decisively refused.

The waiter could only leave regretfully.

Moke, however, began studying the route map to Chef Island. Before long, two island names made him shudder.

Whiskey Peak and Asuka Island. It had to be said that this route overlapped somewhat with the one Luffy had taken.

The former was a bounty hunter nest, and both Princess Vivi and Luffy would go there.

The latter was the island where the Holy Sword was located...

The latter in particular held enormous appeal for Moke. The Holy Sword was both incredibly strange and powerful. It could automatically heal wounds and enhance the strength of its wielder and companions.

It could even control people's hearts, achieving Man-Sword Unity.

It was ridiculously overpowered.

If he absorbed it, his strength would definitely rise to another level. But he also needed to visit Whiskey Peak—not to meet Princess Vivi, nor to see Luffy's group again.

It was because there was a Meito called Kashu there. If he remembered correctly, it seemed to be in the hands of a Baroque Works agent. In the original story, Tashigi had eventually obtained it.

Since he wanted to recruit Ata, aside from information about the culprit, he needed to prepare a proper meeting gift.

And for a Swordmaster, was there any more suitable gift than a Meito?