"Them?"
"The four of them are like time bombs right now, causing trouble wherever they go. To avoid harming innocent civilians, this Captain has no choice but to take them on alone."
"When you have time, imprison them on Sky Island."
As the only surviving scholars of Ohara, not only would the World Government and the Navy want to capture them, but all pirates who aspire to find the great treasure would not let them go either.
They were simply hot commodities.
Seven stood up and smiled, "To celebrate our upcoming fame across the seas, let's have a banquet!"
After the Ohara Buster Call, the bounty for every member of the Morning Star Pirates would likely increase. The Navy wanted to suppress the bounty? They'd have to get past Sakazuki first.
Sakazuki: Setting it at one billion for Barzeb Seven? Are you looking down on him, or looking down on me?!
Issho had a smile on his face.
"I've long heard from Mr. Mihawk that the Captain's culinary skills are superb. Today, I must have a good taste."
For the justice his crew upheld, the Captain did not hesitate to face the Navy's Ohara Buster Call fleet, which made Issho completely determined: to accompany the Captain on this journey.
Until the end of the route.
"Don't worry, it's all-you-can-eat!"
As the currently only chef of the Morning Star Pirates, Seven became the main force of the banquet, starting three stoves at once, chopping vegetables with his left hand and tossing the wok with his right.
"Little Black... Robin, come and serve the dishes."
Nico Robin, only eight years old, looked dark-skinned, perhaps because the sun in Ohara was too strong, or because she couldn't get enough to eat at her uncle's house.
She didn't have the stunning snow-white look of her later years at all.
Although she had experienced the despair of the Ohara Buster Call, she was rescued by Seven, and even her mother, Nico Olvia, who had already been sentenced to death by Kuzan, was saved.
Nico Robin quickly integrated into the pirate crew's atmosphere.
For an eight-year-old child, as long as her mother is by her side, there are no real troubles.
On the deck of the east blue emperor, the open-air banquet hall.
The huge dining table was filled with all kinds of food, but Chef Seven still hadn't stopped cooking, even finding time to stun several large fish with Haoshoku.
"Mihawk, quickly fish them up, the ingredients are a bit insufficient."
The three crew members had just gone through a major battle, and with a Big Eater like Seven around, at least forty portions of food had to be prepared so that no one would go hungry.
Clang clang clang clang, the sound of chopping vegetables was constant.
It made Seven feel as if he had returned to the days when he was a chef on the oro jackson—carefree, cooking for the crew every day according to his mood.
Whenever he encountered danger, he just had to hide behind the ship doctor, Uncle Crocus, along with Buggy.
Why not hide behind the Captain?
The surroundings of the gold, silver, and copper main trio, whether in wartime or peacetime, were always the most dangerous places.
Finally, serving the last dish—grilled large yellow croaker—to the table, Seven raised a glass filled with juice.
"Let's eat, let's eat!"
The little dark girl rubbed her hands: "Thank you, Captain."
...Marineford.
After receiving the order from the World Government to adjust the bounties, Marineford held another meeting.
The Meeting King Brannew took a deep breath.
"Colleagues, this meeting is chaired by Marineford Warrant Officer Brannew, aimed at discussing the bounties of the Morning Star Pirates members."
"Attendees include Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Kizaru, Vice Admiral Tsuru..."
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Kuzan, Vice Admiral Momonga, and other officers are attending remotely via den den mushi."
"Please look at the big screen."
A projection den den mushi was projecting onto the big screen.
Brannew pointed to the three figures on the screen and introduced them in turn—
"Barzeb Seven, Great Swordsman, Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, former member of the Roger Pirates, now Captain of the Morning Star Pirates, possesses the qualities of a King."
"Dracule Mihawk, Great Swordsman, vice-captain of the Morning Star Pirates, possesses black blade yoru, one of the twelve supreme grade swords. Rumors among the public say Mihawk is the world's greatest swordsman."
"Fujitora Issho, Great Swordsman, Zushi Zushi no Mi user, possesses gamblers fireline, one of the twelve supreme grade swords, former Captain of the Cang Kingdom Guard."
After speaking, Brannew coughed lightly.
"These three extremely wicked criminals actually attempted to obstruct the Buster Call personally issued by Fleet Admiral Sengoku and executed by Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Kuzan, and others."
"Fortunately, under the command of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Sakazuki and Vice Admiral Kuzan perfectly executed the Buster Call, with only Nico Robin being taken away by the Morning Star Pirates."
Inside the meeting room, Garp picked his ear.
Before Garp could speak, the den den mushi placed on the table spoke up first.
"Brannew, put the pretty words aside first."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
The den den mushi continued: "That kid Barzeb's Haoshoku has the ability to block Observation Haki. During my fight with him, Observation Haki was almost completely useless."
As the words fell, the meeting room suddenly buzzed, turning into a chaotic mess.
"Are you kidding me? Blocking Observation Haki?"
"How are we supposed to fight him then?"
For the headquarters' officers, Armament Haki and Observation Haki were almost standard equipment, and anyone who used Observation Haki knew its benefits.
But now there was actually someone who could block Observation Haki?
The newly promoted Admiral Kizaru Borsalino tapped the table lightly with his hand: "Sakazuki, please describe it in detail."
Kizaru thought he had already disclosed Barzeb's strength in detail, but he never expected he had still underestimated him.
Blocking Observation Haki, how terrifying!
It was a good thing he hadn't fought to the death back then.
The den den mushi pondered for a moment and continued.
"In a one-on-one, it's completely impossible to perceive his existence or his strike trajectories through Observation Haki..."
"His fruit ability is unknown, and that Purple-Bladed Katana is no less strong than a supreme grade blade. Moreover, during my battle with him, two strange situations occurred."
"Normally, the longer the battle lasts, the more Haki and physical strength should decrease as they are consumed. But every time that kid was about to run out of strength, he could always return to his peak state in an instant."
"This happened twice in total. It's not yet certain if it can continue to happen. That's all the intelligence I have on that kid."
"Fujitora Issho... Momonga, you tell them."
The voice from the den den mushi changed.
"Colleagues, I am Vice Admiral Momonga. Fujitora Issho... can summon meteors with gravity, two or more at a time. It's quite a troublesome ability."
"Regarding Barzeb, I have one more thing to add."
"His Haoshoku, in just one encounter, out of ten warships and over ten thousand Marines, only we five Vice Admirals could still stand. Everyone else fainted."
"The three of us... were no match for Mihawk."
At this moment, the sounds of gasping from the Navy officers in the meeting room rose and fell.
They thought blocking Observation Haki was already heaven-defying enough, but then there was Fujitora Issho who summoned meteors, and the Haoshoku that stunned over ten thousand headquarters Marines.
How terrifying!
Brannew coughed lightly to control the room.
"Everyone, the Morning Star Pirates possess three Great Swordsmen and three of the twelve supreme grade swords."
"Clearly, we must set new bounties for Barzeb and the others based on the latest discovered situation."
"Now, please speak your minds, colleagues."