Reactions from All Sides

Sengoku tapped the table. "I'm not sure, but I have a proposal. He isn't a pirate right now, nor does he seem hostile toward the Marines or the World Government. On top of that, he killed Donquixote Doflamingo. He's strong enough, and this incident has made him famous. Though he is alone, there are precedents among the Seven Warlords of the Sea..."

Sengoku looked at everyone. "How about trying to invite him to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

There were lone wolves among the Seven Warlords of the Sea as well—Hawk-Eye, the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk!

Having one more lone wolf would not be a bad thing.

There had originally been six members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Now that Donquixote Doflamingo had been killed, another position had opened up. Naturally, someone had to fill it.

However, there were far too few people qualified to become a Seven Warlord of the Sea. The requirements were simply too stringent.

Sengoku had always kept an eye on people with exceptional strength and influence. Fire Fist Ace was one of those people. That was why he had sent Onigumo to capture Fire Fist Ace.

Capturing him would have been ideal. If not, then... he had planned to invite Fire Fist Ace to become the final Seven Warlord of the Sea. But Donquixote Doflamingo's affair had delayed matters, and Fire Fist Ace's trail had vanished as well...

The World Government was pressing hard, and now the Four Emperors' power structure in the New World had taken shape. Things on the Seven Warlords of the Sea side needed to move quickly too...

"The Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Aokiji raised his head to look at Sengoku. "Although that guy is strong enough, isn't it too much to make someone of unknown origins and identity a Seven Warlord of the Sea?"

Every position among the Seven Warlords of the Sea carried tremendous weight. They could not be handed out so casually.

The right to plunder legally, while also avoiding arrest by the Marines, was extremely tempting to pirates. Many wanted to become Seven Warlords of the Sea.

However, the Marines and the World Government controlled those positions!

The Marines could make nominations, but the final decision rested with the World Government.

Only after the World Government gave its approval would it be finalized and announced to the entire world.

At the mention of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Akainu frowned. He was vehemently opposed to this policy and spoke coldly. "Because of the Seven Warlords of the Sea policy, many civilians around the world are already cursing the Marines. Are we really going to continue?"

Sengoku looked at Akainu and shook his head. "This was proposed by the World Government. We have no grounds to oppose it."

"Tch..." Akainu clicked his tongue. He was still dissatisfied, but his authority did not even match Sengoku's. If Sengoku had no solution, there was nothing he could do either.

Vice Admiral Tsuru glanced at everyone and said, "Let's observe him first. Don't make a rash decision. The timing of this person's appearance is too much of a coincidence, making him difficult to judge. If he is a spy planted by someone else, that would be troublesome."

Sengoku nodded. "That is all we can do. Let's not discuss this matter for now. We'll see what he does next."

Once Sengoku spoke, no one else objected.

The meeting continued, discussing other matters—the Four Emperors' power structure in the New World, nominations for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and so on...

Elsewhere in the world.

News of Donquixote Doflamingo being killed in the first half of the Grand Line spread across the entire world through the newspapers!

It caused an unprecedented uproar throughout the world!

New World, Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.

At that moment, dark clouds covered the skies above all of Whole Cake Island. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, making it seem like a demon king's castle!

Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors, looked at the newspaper, a cold gleam in her eyes. "That Heavenly Yaksha actually got killed in the first half of the Grand Line? Then... who will continue our deal now?"

The Big Mom Pirates and the Donquixote Family had a cooperative relationship.

Weapons and equipment such as arms, cannonballs, and gunpowder were all purchased from Donquixote Doflamingo...

Moreover, the two sides had secretly been conducting human experiments—human gigantification. Charlotte Linlin's country had every race except the giants.

It could be said that the giant race was Charlotte Linlin's obsession...

Perospero, the Minister of Candy, wiped away his sweat and said, "Now that Donquixote Doflamingo is dead, our dealings with the Donquixote Family will definitely be affected. The trade may even be unable to continue. I will contact the Donquixote Family as soon as possible..."

Charlotte Linlin turned her gaze toward Perospero. The pressure of a Four Emperor bore down upon him as she said coldly, "You must handle this matter properly."

"Y-Yes, Mama." Perospero lowered his head, not daring to meet Charlotte Linlin's eyes.

Charlotte Linlin continued, "Keep an eye on that brat. If he dares enter the New World, capture him for me. That hateful bastard dared ruin my plans. I won't let him go!"

Snack, one of the Sweet Commanders, nodded. "If he dares show himself in the New World, I'll capture him!"

Snack had only recently become a Sweet Commander. Having just attained the position, his confidence had swelled somewhat, and he wanted to perform well before his mother.

To solidify his standing.

"Mamamama, then I'll leave it to you, Snack!" Charlotte Linlin grinned broadly, then clapped her hands. "Where are my sweets? Bring me my sweets! I want sweets..."

New World, Wano Country. This was the territory of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors.

On Onigashima, Kaido took a gulp of wine and looked at the newspaper in his hand, his expression turning incomparably grim. "That Heavenly Yaksha actually died in the first half of the Grand Line? Who did it?"

Kaido was furious as well. Like Donquixote Doflamingo, he had a partnership with him.

It concerned artificial Devil Fruits.

Now that Donquixote Doflamingo was dead, who would supply him with materials?

"An unknown person. There is no information about him in the newspaper." King the Conflagration, one of the Three Calamities, also flipped through the newspaper in his hand. However, when he saw Ian's photograph, his hand involuntarily tightened, crumpling the paper.

Flames erupted from his body with a whoosh, and his eyes turned cold.

"Hm? King, what's wrong?" Kaido wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and looked at King.

"So there are still survivors from that race? The Olycia Tribe..." King drew a deep breath and stared at the photograph of Ian, his gaze mainly fixed on Ian's three teardrop-shaped beauty marks.

"Oh? The Olycia Tribe... I remember they were a race from the same place as your Lunaria people?" Kaido looked at Ian in the newspaper as well.

"Yes. I never expected that, just like me, someone from that tribe had survived..." A chill flashed through King's eyes as he spoke flatly, though his tone was ice-cold.

"You intend to act?" Sensing the killing intent emanating from King, Kaido looked at him in some surprise.

"We'll see when the time comes. As long as he does not appear before me, I can't be bothered to seek trouble with him. It is rare for someone from that country to have survived until now..." King raised his head toward the Red Line, let out a breath, and the flames around him gradually died down.