When Storm received the Den Den Mushi call from the Five Elders,
he had already found another inhabited island near the previous deserted one and located an open restaurant there.
Buru buru—
Midway through his feast, Storm suddenly heard his Den Den Mushi ring.
He casually picked up the receiver and placed it on the table beside him.
The anthropomorphic Den Den Mushi cautiously wriggled a few centimeters away before Saint Nusjuro's voice emerged from its speaker.
"White Dragon..."
In the Chamber of Authority, Saint Nusjuro had intended to assign a mission to White Dragon the moment the call connected.
But instead, a chaotic clatter of utensils and chewing noises came through the receiver.
"What are you doing over there?"
"Who's this? Oh, the Five Elders..."
Storm glanced briefly at the Den Den Mushi before immediately lowering his head again, devouring his food ravenously.
"I'm eating. Speak quickly or hang up."
"Wait!"
Veins bulged on Saint Nusjuro's bald, egg-like head.
Something about White Dragon's tone grated on his nerves unbearably.
Just who was working for whom here—were the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea the government's subordinates or their bosses?
"White Dragon!"
Cutting straight to the point, Saint Nusjuro declared,
"The government has a mission for you!"
"A government mission? Hah! What's that got to do with me?"
Storm scoffed dismissively between mouthfuls of food.
"The Royal Seven Warlords only need to focus on crushing pirates. Handle your own problems."
With that, he resumed his voracious eating, inhaling everything before him like a starved dragon sweeping through its prey.
The Den Den Mushi inched another few centimeters away nervously, as though fearing it might become part of the meal.
"This is an urgent directive from the government!"
Saint Nusjuro roared into the receiver, his voice booming through the restaurant via the Den Den Mushi.
"You! White Dragon! Hawkeye! And every other Royal Seven Warlord—you're all required to take on this mission!"
"What a nuisance. Zero consideration for others!"
Storm glared irritably at the Den Den Mushi and snapped impatiently,
"Why do people always bother me during meals?
"What's the problem this time? Out with it!"
For now,
Storm still benefited from his status as a Royal Seven Warlord.
He hadn't yet reached Punk Hazard or met Dr. Vegapunk.
This identity wasn't something he could discard lightly.
"Whitebeard!"
Seizing White Dragon's reluctant cooperation, Saint Nusjuro immediately explained,
"A young Whitebeard has attacked the Holy Land Mariejois! Both the government and Marines are hunting him down!"
The World Government had rushed out bounty posters to distribute worldwide.
Every faction tied to the government would receive this freshly printed notice.
Naturally, the Five Elders wouldn't overlook the pirate forces of the Royal Seven Warlords.
And in some ways...
Pirates certainly operate with more flexibility than the government...
While the government and the navy might still be unaware of Edward Teach's whereabouts, pirates could already have a lead on his location.
Among the seven Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, Saint Nusjuro first notified Hawkeye Mihawk.
The world's greatest sword master showed keen interest in the "young Whitebeard."
However, Saint Nusjuro wasn't entirely sure whether Hawkeye Mihawk would leave Kuraigana Island for this matter...
The second to receive Saint Nusjuro's Den Den Mushi call was none other than White Dragon.
Hawkeye first.
White Dragon second.
This order subtly reflected Saint Nusjuro's personal ranking of the Royal Seven Warlords' strength in his mind...
Whitebeard?
Upon hearing the Five Elders' words, Storm raised an eyebrow.
The Whitebeard you're talking about—could it be me—
Ahem, could it be the "Whitebeard" I know?
"Has the Whitebeard Pirates finally made their move on the Red Line? Has Whitebeard finally decided to destroy the world with his Tremor-Tremor Fruit?"
Storm deliberately responded with a mocking, sarcastic tone.
"What a victory for pirates!"
"Not the Whitebeard Pirates, nor Whitebeard himself," Saint Nusjuro corrected, ignoring White Dragon's jest.
"It's 'Whitebeard Jr.'"
"Jr.?"
Storm was taken aback.
"Where did this Whitebeard Jr. come from?"
"Whitebeard Jr., full name Edward Teach, bears an uncanny resemblance to Whitebeard in his youth."
Saint Nusjuro picked up a hastily prepared bounty poster and spoke slowly to White Dragon on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"This 'Whitebeard Jr.' poses a significant threat to the government!"
Well, well...
Storm smirked.
So it wasn't the real "Whitebeard Jr." appearing.
Rather, he had "evolved"...
Regressing from "Whitebeard III" back to "Whitebeard Jr."...
But thinking about it, it made sense.
Currently, the Whitebeard Pirates still held the title of the "strongest Emperor."
The original "Whitebeard Jr.," Edward Weevil, wouldn't dare to openly reveal himself while Whitebeard was still alive.
By the time Edward Weevil received the World Government's invitation to become one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Summit War had already concluded...
But now?
What Edward Weevil didn't dare to do, Edward Teach would!
From this moment onward.
Edward Teach was Whitebeard Jr.!
"You're saying this so-called Whitebeard Jr. attacked Mariejois," Storm asked with great interest.
"What exactly did Whitebeard Jr. do to make you consider him such a grave threat to the World Government?"
"Government secrets. No comment."
Saint Nusjuro brushed it off casually before continuing.
"White Dragon, Whitebeard Jr. possesses the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, allowing him to traverse between islands in an instant.
"The government suspects that Whitebeard Jr. may have been hiding in the Calm Belt or Sky Islands thousands of meters above sea level for decades.
"You can fly and have the ability to reach these places. Keep an eye out for Whitebeard Jr.'s movements."
"Once discovered, immediately capture Whitebeard Jr., dead or alive! But preferably alive!"
This order wasn't just given to White Dragon by Saint Nusjuro.
Every one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea would receive the same command from Saint Nusjuro.
That is, to capture Whitebeard Jr. immediately upon discovery!
As for what would happen if they failed...
The government would promptly invite Whitebeard Jr. to become one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea.
A young Whitebeard who looked exactly like Whitebeard in his youth and possessed the invincible power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Once recognized by the World Government as one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea,
he could deal a significant blow to this turbulent era of great pirates!
He might even deliver a major strike against the Whitebeard Pirates!
Upon hearing Saint Nusjuro's words, Storm fell silent.
He had previously thought that whatever the World Government did to Edward Teach wouldn't matter.
After all, the World Government was only targeting Edward Teach—what did that have to do with him, Vongola Storm?
But Storm never expected.
That the World Government would actually order him to capture Edward Teach!
Ah, this...
"You people in the World Government are utterly incompetent!"
Storm unleashed a torrent of abuse at Saint Nusjuro.
"That so-called Whitebeard Jr. attacked Mary Geoise, and you couldn't even catch him yourselves. Now you want us, the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, to do your dirty work?"
Saint Nusjuro grew furious, then grew even more furious.
White Dragon's words were harsh.
But they were undeniable facts.
Before Edward Teach appeared, who could have imagined?
That the mighty Five Elders and the Marine Headquarters Admirals joining forces would spend days failing to subdue a single pirate?
It was indeed quite humiliating...
However.
Wasn't the very reason the World Government established the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea system to combat pirates?
Strictly speaking.
Capturing Edward Teach for the government was part of the Royal Seven Warlords' duties.
"This is your obligation as one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea."
Saint Nusjuro said calmly.
"Having enjoyed the rights granted by the government, you must fulfill the corresponding responsibilities.
"The government has already distributed Whitebeard Jr.'s wanted poster worldwide. Feel free to find one and take a look when you have time."
"Pretty words are easy to say!"
Storm snorted coldly again, then asked the question he cared about most.
"That guy, Whitebeard Jr., what's his bounty?"
"1.999 billion Belly."
"How much?!"
Storm froze, instantly unable to stay seated.
"What did you say?"
Saint Nusjuro repeated the number.
1.999 billion Belly!
Storm immediately gritted his teeth in frustration.
What the hell? How many times was 1.999 billion Belly compared to 95 million Belly?
Edward Teach's bounty dared to be higher than his!
And by so much!
This was absolute madness!
"Are you people in the World Government out of your minds?!"
Storm roared into the Den Den Mushi receiver at Saint Nusjuro.
"Why does Whitebeard Jr. get a 1.9 billion Belly bounty while mine isn't even a billion?
"Does just having the name 'Whitebeard' automatically add 2 billion Belly to his bounty?"
Saint Nusjuro couldn't quite comprehend the White Dragon's intense reaction.
Had this kid swallowed gunpowder?
Why so furious?
Moreover...
How could the White Dragon even compare to Edward Teach?
The White Dragon—navy background, enjoys hunting pirates, poses zero threat to the government...
Whitebeard Jr.—alleged illegitimate son of Whitebeard, wielder of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, maliciously attacked the Red Line, and inflicted severe harm upon the Five Elders...
How dare the White Dragon measure himself against Whitebeard Jr.?
A mud-pie-playing brat could never stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Thunder God!