Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Except for Boa Hancock and Gecko Moria, all the Shichibukai had gathered in one room.
"The main purpose of summoning you all here today is to discuss candidates for the two vacant Shichibukai positions."
Sengoku said with a firm, resonant voice as he sat in the main seat, his expression extremely solemn.
"Fufufufu~ It seems two of them haven't arrived yet!" Doflamingo laughed seductively, resting his two legs lazily on the table with his sexy leg hair on full display.
"Watch your language, Doflamingo! That is precisely why everyone was called here. According to information from Gecko Moria's subordinate Hogback, Moria has been confirmed killed. Empress Boa Hancock severed ties with the Shichibukai a few days ago."
"Both incidents are linked to the same person, the heinous wanted criminal, God Yake."
"Now, Boa Hancock and her home island of Amazon Lily have vanished without a trace. According to her own words, she has joined the Ark Pirates founded by God Yake."
Sengoku heavily shared the intelligence obtained by the Marines with all the Shichibukai present. Boa Hancock joining Yake's pirate crew was clearly not good news for the Marines.
"God Yake? That Rumble-Rumble Fruit user!" Doflamingo's expression shifted slightly. Judging solely by his exploits in the newspapers, he was a lawless fellow whose ability was also extremely troublesome.
Tyrant Bartholomew Kuma lowered his head to look at the book titled BIBLE in his hands, remaining silent. At this moment, Kuma retained his complete personality, and in his view, this God Yake might not be "their" enemy.
"It's that damned bastard again..." Crocodile covered the scar on his chest, which still seemed to throb dully.
Jinbe also kept his silence, having just met this God Yake not long ago.
Dracule Mihawk, the World's Greatest Swordsman, seemed somewhat nonchalant; if someone were not a swordsman, he had zero interest.
"Therefore, we will strip the Empress of her Shichibukai title, reclassify her as a wanted criminal, and set her bounty at 800 million Beli."
Hancock's original bounty had been 80 million Beli, but that was merely the amount she received when she first went out to sea at age eighteen, at which time she already mastered the Three Haki Colors. Nearly ten years had passed since then, and on top of that, she had joined a pirate crew like God Yake's that was hostile to the World Government. This sum was not exaggerated at all.
"Eight hundred million, ahem fufufufu~ That really is an expensive head!"
"Very well, that settles this matter. All of this news will be spread across the seas tomorrow, and then we have the issue of candidates for the new Shichibukai. Do any of you have recommendations?"
The air suddenly plunged into an eerie silence. Sengoku did not mind; after all, they were only making suggestions, and whether someone actually became a Shichibukai was an entirely different matter.
"Since no one has any recommendations, I will propose a candidate and see how everyone feels about it."
"Spade Pirates Captain Portgas Ace, a Logia user of the Flame-Flame Fruit, is a newcomer who has been creating a huge buzz recently."
"No objections."
"Whatever."
"The Flame-Flame Fruit, hehe, no objections."
No one present opposed Ace becoming a Shichibukai, based on a single point alone: being a Logia user, and possessing the immensely lethal Flame-Flame Fruit, his baseline would never be too low.
"Very well, then we will send an invitation to Ace. If there are no urgent matters, the meeting is adjourned!"
The Shichibukai gradually departed. Doflamingo strode out performing his Doflamingo dance steps, strutting out of Marineford with an extremely arrogant attitude.
"This vast sea is getting more and more interesting, ahem fufufuhahaha~"
Actually, Sengoku had withheld one detail: the news of Yake challenging Whitebeard. According to the description of a double agent inside the Whitebeard Pirates, Yake had run Whitebeard straight through with a single blade, while Yake himself was merely knocked unconscious by a single punch from Whitebeard. Although he did not join Whitebeard, he maintained good relations with the Whitebeard Pirates' crewmen and even Whitebeard himself. Most importantly, he was the adopted son of Rayleigh.
The Marines had learned of this news long ago, but the matter concerning Yake had to be reported back to the World Government, which was why his bounty had not been updated until now...
The next day, News Coo flew in flocks to every corner of the world.
The newspaper featured three headlines, and the content roughly went as follows:
Shocking! Such a thing actually happened to two Shichibukai?!
Shocking! Whitebeard actually stood frozen in place as God Yake pierced him with a single blade!
Shocking! Ark Pirates bounties fully disclosed!
This was a sensationalist style invented by a certain genius reporter, which could greatly boost newspaper sales. It was said that this reporter had already been promoted and given a raise by Morgans, appointed as editor-in-chief, married a wealthy and beautiful woman, and reached the pinnacle of his life!
Whitebeard had actually won, but the Marines publicized it as if he had lost, all to undermine Whitebeard's prestige.
Then the entire Ark Pirates crew was slapped with bounties, including the Boa Sisters.
Ark Pirates Extreme Danger: ONLY DEAD Bounty: 2,400,000,000 Beli
Captain: God Ark Extreme Danger: ONLY DEAD Bounty: 2,400,000,000 Beli
Extreme Danger: ONLY DEAD
Bounty: 2,400,000,000 Beli
Devil Child: Nico Robin
Extreme Danger: ONLY DEAD
Bounty: 100,000,000 Beli
Pink Poison: Vinsmoke Reiju
Extreme Danger: ONLY ALIVE
Bounty: 120,000,000 Beli
Ghost Princess: Perona
Extreme Danger: DEAD OR ALIVE
Bounty: 30,000,000 Beli
Fish-Loving Anna
Pet: DEAD OR ALIVE
Bounty: 500 Beli
Empress: Boa Hancock
Extreme Danger: DEAD OR ALIVE
Bounty: 800,000,000 Beli
Green Python: Boa Sandersonia
Extreme Danger: DEAD OR ALIVE
Bounty: 60,000,000 Beli
King Cobra: Boa Marigold
Extreme Danger: DEAD OR ALIVE
Bounty: 60,000,000 Beli
A few days ago, the Marines called and demanded that Hancock attend the Shichibukai meeting. Under Yake's instigation, she directly announced her withdrawal from the Shichibukai and joined Yake's Ark Pirates, which was why the Marines lumped the Boa Sisters in with Yake's crew.
In reality, the Empress's Kuja Pirates did not join Yake directly, but rather joined in the form of a division. However, Yake did not mind; after all, they were already one big family.
"Gurarara~ This brat is really lustful, his crew members are all pretty lasses, hahaha!" Whitebeard, with his body bristling with medical needles, laughed heartily as he looked at the Ark Pirates' wanted posters, casually blocking a fatal sneak attack from Ace who lunged out of the shadows and knocking him flat on his face.
"Damn it, Pops, the Marines actually dared to slander you. You clearly knocked that brat Yake unconscious with a single punch..." Marco, the ultimate filial son, watched the Marine reports with intense fury, strongly demanding to rush to Marineford and slap Sengoku a few times.
"Gurarara, it's fine Marco~" Whitebeard didn't care at all; the Marines were merely resorting to their usual petty tricks.
Ace, knocked down and lying flat in the corner, fell into self-doubt...