Ten thousand meters above the world, over the White Sea.
Clouds like gauze unfurl; sunset spills gold through them. The Thunder God Palace stands upon the clouds, vermilion pillars wound with garlands of white and crimson.
Wind chimes sing in the breeze.
Before the palace, a carpet of pure white stretches to the ceremonial platform.
Under the gaze of Thunder God Barzeb Seven, Tesoro and Stella step into matrimony.
Watching the newly-weds depart for the bridal chamber, Seven smiles in quiet satisfaction: tragedy may ennoble a tale, but it should never touch those beside you.
Especially pirate love, nine parts sorrow out of ten.
Those who love should leave no regrets.
One reason he helped Tesoro was sheer defiance: why must fate follow a set script? To hell with that.
He would rewrite destiny itself.
The other reason—whether he topples the World Government or crowns himself king—he will need the Gold Emperor.
The Gold Emperor will supply money and Devil Fruits.
Seven unleashes his inner merchant king, trading the wonders of the pirate world for vast points on the exchange platform, growing stronger by the day.
At the same time he forges Skypiea and Inazuma into the mightiest sanctuaries on the seas, so no one can bully them again.
Of course, he has no plan to save everyone.
He lacks the strength, and the patience.
Better to guard his own patch of earth, let every crewmate eat their fill and chase their dreams with a smile.
Much like the esteemed Song of Mahabali: keep only the conscience you need, do only what you desire, then live each day with a grin.
Put another way—
Seven's dream is to invest in other people's dreams, and skim a tiny profit on the side.
His investments include the Morning Star Pirates, Skypiea, future Wano and Inazuma, any Marine or pirate who catches his eye.
Do it because you like it—that is Seven's creed.
Dragging his thoughts back, he opens the system interface; prompts chime in rapid succession.
"Ding: item consigned—rat-rat fruit—purchased by Tomb-Raider user. points gained: 2,700. Balance: 3,388."
"Ding: item consigned—Fly-Fly Fruit—purchased by Dragon-Ball user. points gained: 4,500. Balance: 7,888."
"Ding: item consigned—Owl Fruit—purchased by Fairy user. points gained: 2,700. Balance: 10,588."
"Ding: item consigned—Ox-Plough Fruit—purchased by Teyvat user. points gained: 4,500. Balance: 15,088."
"Tsk tsk tsk tsk."
In that instant Seven is riding a wave of euphoria.
"My dream ship, here I come!"
He spends ten thousand points on the east blue emperor, then another five thousand on five senzu beans for a rainy day.
"At last, a ship—time to sail!"
As a supreme blade is to a swordsman, so a vessel is to a pirate: the very foundation upon which you stand upon the sea.
Even someone like Mihawk has his little coffin-boat; Whitebeard and Golden Lion would never go without.
And a ship like the east blue emperor: sleep quality +50%, recovery +50%, dragon-headed prow, crimson sails, wind-and-electric drive—his dream ship.
Such specs dwarfed anything Gol D. Roger had when he first put to sea.
Back then the Captain didn't even own a skiff; he had to hitch a ride on Vice-Captain Rayleigh's tub.
That tiny boat and the east blue emperor are worlds apart; only later did the oro jackson approach the same tier.
With his dream ship secured, Seven circles Skypiea a dozen times before the excitement finally cools.
Noon the next day.
He gathers Skypiea's elite, grants the Paramecia Strength-Strength Fruit to the Shandian warrior Kalpa, and the Sube Sube no Mi to the handmaiden True Thunder God·Shani.
Five Skillful Grade blades go to the three generals of the Thunder Cloud Guards and to the sisters Sharu and Shani.
The Gate-Gate Fruit and the Blazing-Blazing Fruit Model: Mythical Zoan, Thunder Bear Form he keeps for strategic use.
"Tesoro, stay on Skypiea and study under Gan Fall and Kalpa for a while."
Tesoro bows deeply.
"Yes, Lord Thunder God."
Newly-wed bliss deserves respect; Seven is no heartless capitalist who would work the couple to the bone.
"Off you go."
Ignoring the plaintive looks from the sisters Shani & Sharle, he leaps from the edge of the sky-isle.
No woman in the heart, the sword-drawn divine art.
Women only slow the blade.
Better to spar with Mihawk, accelerate the fusion of his Dream-Slash experience.
His current Musou no Hitotachi takes too long to charge—useless in live combat unless the foe stands still.
And no fool on these seas would do that.
…Above Jaya Island.
Mid free-fall, the den den mushi in his pocket vibrates wildly.
He fishes it out.
"moshi moshi."
The snail adopts Mihawk's tone: "Captain, bring a billion Berries to Amazon Lily in the West Blue."
"Amazon Lily?" A spark flashes in Seven's mind: Amazon Lily, a billion Berries… could it be? Has Mihawk run into the future Admiral Fujitora?
Apart from Fujitora, Seven can think of no one on Amazon Lily worth Mihawk's detour.
"Got it. Wait for me."
He snaps the den den mushi shut, pulse racing.
If he can haul Fujitora aboard, the Morning Star Pirates will sky-rocket; even if they're not Emperor-tier yet, in ten years they'll be a solid Triple-Emperor crew.
Swallowing hard, Seven turns into lightning and streaks toward the West Blue.
Normally, sailing from the Jaya region to the West Blue means back-tracking to Reverse Mountain and riding the current westward.
But for Seven, flying straight is fine.
Amazon Lily sits in the West Blue, conveniently close to his next stop: Ohara.
Taking every book from the Tree of Omniscience has long been on his checklist.
Along with the scholars themselves.
People like Dr. Clover—once known as Crow D. Clover, old acquaintance of Vegapunk.
Enough poring over the Void Century; join his banner and he'll lay out the entire hidden century for them.
Rather than chasing historical truth, let them research reruns of Devil Fruits, weapons that eat Devil Fruits—those scholars will soon be worth several Moriahs.
And if Fujitora refuses the invitation, Seven can drag him to Ohara to witness the Marines' so-called justice: the Buster Call.
A bit more persuasion, and Fujitora will sign on.
Many birds, one stone.
As always: once Captain Seven sets his sights on you, there's no escape.