West Blue, the waters of Amazon Lily.
With its black dragon figurehead and crimson sails, the east blue emperor was sailing towards Ohara.
On the lawn-covered deck, Mihawk gazed at the three-story western-style building before him... and fell into deep thought.
"The adam tree?"
"Yeah."
Seven began introducing the pirate ship to the crew.
"The east blue emperor is built from the adam tree, with dual wind and electric propulsion. Each floor of this western-style building is nine meters high, prepared for our taller companions."
"Mihawk, Mr. Issho, you can go to the second or third floor and pick a room you like."
"If you prefer a place with a wider view, you can also stay in the crow's nests on the two masts."
Mihawk nodded slightly. "And you?"
"Me?" Seven chuckled. "That large villa at the stern is the Captain's quarters, bar, bathhouse, cinema..."
The layout of the east blue emperor gave Seven a feeling: those 10,000 points were truly well-spent; the cost-performance ratio was absolutely maxed out.
Mihawk first asked Seven for a few bottles of iced black tea before leisurely choosing a room with a wide view on the far left of the third floor.
Issho, meanwhile, stood on the deck in a state of confusion.
"Mr. Seven, I haven't made up my mind yet."
He owed the man one billion Berries; reasonably, such kindness deserved his loyalty on the ship, but Issho still felt somewhat resistant to becoming a pirate.
"I see," Seven said while steering the ship.
"Mr. Issho, the Marines are actually more suitable for you, but I hope you can make your decision after we arrive at Ohara."
"At that time, whether you stay or leave, we will still be friends. As for that billion Berries... just pay me back whenever you have the money."
Issho's hesitation was within Seven's expectations.
How should he put it?
Having spent many years on Amazon Lily, Issho was no longer a hot-blooded youth who could be easily talked into joining a crew on a whim.
For Issho, who was in his thirties, making such a massive change suddenly required time to adapt.
Besides, the reputation of pirates wasn't exactly good.
In fact, if he had a free choice, Seven might have wanted to join the Marines; although the Marines were unsavory in some aspects, they were still the main force protecting civilians.
Unfortunately, Barzeb Seven had already been branded as a crew member of the Pirate King.
Most pirates, whether for fame or fortune, committed all sorts of evil like burning, killing, and looting. Pirate crews like the Straw Hats, which were more like adventure groups, were ultimately a tiny minority.
For instance.
Kid, the Captain of the Kid Pirates—who "ate Kami Ari and then Hakkoku, I am the gluttonous little Kid"—had once slaughtered civilians who mocked his dreams.
Setting aside right and wrong, his actions were the bloodiest and most realistic portrayal of a pirate.
"Thank you."
Issho had said thank you many times tonight.
Sizzling sparks of electricity flickered from Seven's fingertips as he warned, "Watch out, the ship is about to accelerate."
The advantage of the east blue emperor: electric propulsion.
As a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, Seven possessed nearly infinite electrical energy; as long as he had the stamina, the east blue emperor could keep accelerating.
While steering with one hand, the current swirling around Seven's fingertips was fed into the electric drive system.
Vroom, vroom, vroom, vroom~
The roar of the engine sounded, and the east blue emperor instantly sliced through the sea surface, racing forward at five times its usual speed... West Blue, the waters of Ohara.
Ten Marine warships spanned the sea, their prows aligned forward, forming a grim arc amidst the waves.
At the prow of the warship in the center of the formation, Sakazuki, then a Vice Admiral of Marineford, put down the newspaper in his hand.
"Those spineless cowards, actually compromising with pirates."
Thirty-three-year-old Sakazuki had an upright character and used cruel, merciless methods, never allowing even a trace of evil to exist.
He was the Marine that pirates least wanted to encounter.
Bar none.
When pirates met other Marines, they would most likely be captured and then locked in the Great Underwater Prison, Impel Down, but if they met Sakazuki... they could only pray for luck.
Learning that the World Government had paid a ransom to pirates to recover the Celestial Dragons who had been kidnapped, Sakazuki was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, turning red with rage.
"We should never have agreed to Roger's conditions in the first place."
"If not for that, how could a mere cook from the Roger Pirates be so arrogant?"
No Marine soldier dared to respond to Sakazuki's roar, except for Kuzan, who said faintly.
"The World Government gave the nod."
"Hmph!" Sakazuki turned his head. "So what if the World Government gave the nod? Is that a reason for the Marines to let the Roger Pirates go?"
Kuzan put his hands in his pockets and said no more.
Just like the Devil Fruits they had consumed, Kuzan and Sakazuki had mostly been at odds since joining the Marines.
Momonga, then a Vice Admiral of Marineford, secretly tugged at Kuzan's clothes: "Kuzan, any news of Saulo?"
"Him..." Aokiji shook his head.
"Maybe he's already returned to Elbaf. Why are you asking?"
Momonga smiled awkwardly: "You know, Doll is Saulo's subordinate; she's been asking me these past few days..."
"Understood." Kuzan exhaled a breath of cold air.
Kuzan resisted the upcoming Buster Call from the bottom of his heart, yet he was helpless.
Ordered by the Gorosei, signed by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and executed by five Vice Admirals, ten warships, and over ten thousand Marines, it was simply not something his personal will could obstruct.
For some reason, Kuzan was a bit envious of Borsalino, who had been promoted directly to Admiral just for running a simple errand—rescuing the kidnapped Celestial Dragons.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku submitted the promotion report in the morning, and the Gorosei approved it in the afternoon; the efficiency was frighteningly high.
Unlike him... who only had a chance to be promoted to Admiral by making difficult choices.
If someone were to come and interfere later, his hopes for promotion and a raise would likely go down the drain.
However, no one would probably dare to come.
With five Vice Admirals, ten warships, and over ten thousand fully armed Marines, Kuzan really couldn't imagine who would have the guts to come and stop them.
At this thought, Kuzan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Hearing the laughter, Sakazuki turned his head and glared: "Kuzan, what are you laughing at?"
Sakazuki's peculiar reaction made Kuzan laugh even louder: "Ararararara."
Finally, the ten Marine warships carrying ten thousand Marines for the Buster Call arrived at the shores of Ohara.
Spandine, the chief of CP9, carrying the Golden den den mushi to initiate the Buster Call, stepped onto the land of Ohara with a swagger, not forgetting to turn back and give instructions.
"Wait for my signal to act."
The Ohara scholars studying the Void History, especially Clover, were the primary culprits that the Gorosei had ordered to be eliminated.
Rarely having such an opportunity, Spandine prepared to thoroughly enjoy this high-and-mighty power.
Arriving before the Tree of Knowledge, Spandine waved his hand: "Kick the door open! Capture every single scholar inside, leave none behind."