The Final List!
Fleet Admiral Kong's words made every spine in the room go rigid; the sealed folders in their hands suddenly felt heavier.
The original vision for the Shichibukai system demanded that each member be a Great Pirate of overwhelming power—men who could terrorize, even topple, nations.
And now, such a roster sat sealed in their grasp.
The idea that these notorious, swaggering monsters would become "allies" of the Marines sent a ripple of unease through the ranks.
"Open them," Sengoku said, grave.
Paper tore in a hush. Faces hardened.
Darren unfolded his document, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.
Five names—none unfamiliar:
Douglas Bullet, the "Demon Heir," former Roger Pirate, original bounty: 2,174,000,000 berries.
"Sand Crocodile" Crocodile, former bounty: 281,000,000 berries.
"Moonlight Bat" Gecko Moria, West Blue, bounty: 218,000,000 berries.
"Hawk-Eyes" Dracule Mihawk, bounty: 369,000,000 berries.
"Blood Dragon" Fisher Tiger, bounty: 263,000,000 berries.
Didn't expect Tiger to move this fast—enough to squeeze the Government and the Marines. The Fish-Man race really is a force on the open sea.
The thought passed as Darren set the list down. He bit the cap off a cigar, lit it, and felt his mood lift.
His only regret was that Doffy—little punk—wasn't on the final roster. Not that it surprised him. After what happened years ago, the Holy Land—Gorosei included—still branded the Donquixote family traitors to the Celestial Dragons, a stain on the World Nobles. Even if Doflamingo nominally retained certain privileges, the Government balked at putting him among the Shichibukai.
While Darren smoked, the rest of the room wore a collage of looks. The Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals in the gallery were wide-eyed, fixed on their lists.
Sakazuki's brow knotted tighter by the second.
Borsalino glanced down, set his folder aside, and went back to his nails.
Kuzan flushed, fist clenching. "They're all infamous Great Pirates… I really want to fight them…"
"Alright, Sengoku, brief everyone," Kong said, tapping the table to pull the focus back.
"Yes, Fleet Admiral," Sengoku replied. "The Shichibukai criteria prioritize overwhelming combat capability, as reflected in these bounties."
"Now—their privileges."
"First, upon entry into the Shichibukai, all prior crimes are fully pardoned, and legal plunder is authorized."
"Second, for those who need not plunder, the Government will extend alternative privileges."
He lifted his document.
"Douglas Bullet—the 'Demon Heir,' former Roger Pirate. The Government places great importance on collaborating with him."
"As a former crewmate, his strength is rumored to rival the 'Dark King' Rayleigh's. Recruiting him would deal a crushing blow to the Roger Pirates. The Government and Headquarters are aligned on that."
"And he has one condition."
Sengoku's gaze slid, oddly, to Darren.
"He demands special permission to challenge Vice Admiral Rogers Darren of Headquarters at any time."
Silence. Every eye shifted to Darren.
His hand trembled slightly as he drew on his cigarette.
That bastard Bullet… still not letting it go.
"Looks like Douglas Bullet's still stewing over his loss to Vice Admiral Darren," Borsalino said with a sly smile, voice feather-light.
"You shouldn't have held back," Sakazuki said flatly, eyes cold on Darren.
Kuzan all but vibrated. "To be targeted by someone like Bullet… that's—" He sucked in a breath. "That's so cool!"
Several officers shot Darren looks that mixed sympathy with a touch of pity. Being marked by a battle maniac like Bullet—someone who lived for carnage—meant never sleeping quite soundly again.
"Furthermore," Sengoku went on, expression turning more complicated, "Gecko Moria and Sand Crocodile each made demands of their own."
Faces stiffened as he explained: both had pressed Marine Headquarters to severely punish Vice Admiral Rogers Darren for his conduct during their recruitment.
Darren's brow ticked; a cool smile cut across his mouth.
"Headquarters rejected those demands outright," Sengoku added quickly.
"Um… Admiral Sengoku, what exactly did Vice Admiral Darren do?" Yamakaji blurted from the gallery, scratching his head.
Sengoku glanced at Darren—lounging, smoking—and the corner of his eye twitched. He let out a long breath.
"Their arms were severed."
Hiss—
The gallery drew a collective breath, faces blanching.
Tokikake felt a cold bead slide down his spine as he stared at Darren, eyelids twitching. He'd been there when Crocodile was brought in—watched Darren take the warlord's arm with a single cut of Enma.
He hadn't expected Crocodile to be the only one. Moria, too—an arm cut cleanly away.
Wait.
"Didn't Darren also cut off Douglas Bullet's arm…?" he muttered, unable to help himself.
The assembled officers were not deaf. More than a few heads tilted; the looks aimed at Darren grew stranger still.
Vice Admiral Darren… does he have a fixation?
Why is it always the arms?
"The Arm-Taker" Darren?!
To be continued...