By the end of Sea Circle Calendar 1519, only a handful of the original Shichibukai were still active. Crocodile had become the "Plague Lord" under Loa, Moria had been beaten to death in Alabasta, and Doflamingo's very soul had been erased from the world.
Of the remaining Shichibukai, the "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe lived in seclusion year-round. Unless something threatened relations between Fish-Men, merfolk, and humans, he rarely left Fish-Man Island at the entrance to the New World. "Hawkeye" Mihawk kept to himself, accepting challenges from swordsmen when the mood struck him but otherwise seldom going out. Thanks to his connection with Vegapunk, "Tyrant" Kuma had become known worldwide as a lackey of the World Government and could hardly be called a pirate anymore. Amazon Lily lay far out in the Calm Belt, so its ruler held far less sway over pirates on the Grand Line than the others did. She was known more for her title as the "World's Most Beautiful Woman" than for being a Shichibukai.
Yet among the current Shichibukai, the one with the widest reputation was "Freak" Jones, who had joined just over a year ago!
Turtle Island sat in the waters near the entrance to the New World. No matter which route pirates took, they had a chance of running into that mobile island. As a result, Jones had taken down nearly a fifth of the pirates who made it through Paradise and entered the New World each year.
But Jones was Loa's subordinate. The Marines had known that for ages, and after the Dressrosa incident, everyone else knew it too.
They feared Loa more than they feared Jones.
By any count, only five Shichibukai remained, and one of them was Loa's subordinate. People feared not the Marines or the World Government, but Loa,