In the end, Jerry was unceremoniously kicked out of the bar with a thoroughly dejected expression.
Walking to the edge of the nearby bushes, Jerry spat in frustration. "Bah! What kind of Dark King is that? He doesn't even meet the system requirements. He's worse than the blue fatty!"
"CLANG!" A metal cocktail shaker struck him directly on the back of the head.
"You little brat! Who knows what nonsense you're planning?! Shakky, don't stop me—I'm going to beat some sense into him!"
"I'm not stopping you from beating him up, but you threw my shaker outside, so remember to pay for a replacement."
Jerry escaped quickly, but could still vaguely hear the quarreling couple's voices echoing from behind him.
Jerry's visit today had served a dual purpose—beyond expressing gratitude, his main objective had been to test whether he could trigger a Haki breakthrough opportunity from Rayleigh using the system's new lotus function.
Reflecting on the previous system prompts, Jerry thought to himself, "The problem must be with either 'combat,' 'meeting requirements,' or 'gaining recognition'..."
"Damn it... Looking at it this way, where's the issue? So how did Jinbe manage to trigger it?" Jerry couldn't help but grab fistfuls of his hair in frustration.
He shook his head and sighed resignedly. "It seems Jinbe really is a walking treasure trove."
No matter how frustrated he felt, Jerry had to accept the reality that not everyone met the system's mysterious requirements.
The unreliable system provided minimal guidance, leaving him no choice but to continue experimenting through trial and error.
The Next Morning
The early morning sun had just begun illuminating the earth when Jerry prepared to depart once again, this time with Kotatsu accompanying him.
"I'm heading out now. You all stay here, but remain ready for immediate action," Jerry announced to his assembled crew.
Carrot waved enthusiastically at Jerry's retreating figure and shouted, "Brother Jerry, bring us back some delicious treats!"
"Me too! Besides tasty food, you have to remember my request!" Little Bonney waved both hands and reminded him loudly.
"And me, and me! I want something too!" Chopper joined in, jumping and waving his hooves excitedly.
"You three, please settle down. He's going to Mariejois, not shopping at a marketplace..." Carina and Nami exchanged exasperated glances.
Hearing this practical objection, Carrot maintained her cheerful smile. "What's the problem? Brother Jerry brought back that huge fish last time he went there, so he'll definitely get some delicious food this time too!"
Bonney nodded repeatedly in agreement, and although Chopper didn't fully understand the situation, he felt inexplicably convinced and nodded as well.
Seeing this logic, Deuce and the others were speechless, though they had to admit that Carrot's reasoning seemed oddly sound given Jerry's track record.
This departure was far more serious than Jerry's previous reconnaissance mission.
The official gathering of the Seven Warlords was scheduled for today.
Only six days remained until the public execution of Straw Hat Luffy—identified as the son of Revolutionary Army leader Dragon—and Nico Robin, the Ohara survivor and "Devil Child" who had openly defied World Government orders.
Marine Headquarters
"What's the current situation?" A Marine officer sitting at his desk asked another officer who was approaching with urgent steps.
The subordinate saluted and reported in a clear voice, "Sir! Regional branches are reporting that numerous warships have sustained varying degrees of damage..."
"Understood. Compile a detailed loss assessment and prepare a comprehensive report for my review," the commanding officer responded with a grave expression.
"Yes, sir!" After acknowledging the order, the Marine slowly withdrew.
The officer leaned back in his chair, rubbed his forehead with his palm, and sighed heavily. "Revolutionary Army..."
As the execution date approached, Revolutionary Army activities had intensified dramatically across the globe.
The result was widespread unrest in multiple kingdoms and the destruction of warships dispatched to provide support.
Correspondingly, the Revolutionary Army had paid an equally heavy price, with many of their cells being completely eliminated in different regions.
From the Four Blues to the Grand Line, the fierce confrontation between the World Government and the Revolutionary Army had become a brutal back-and-forth conflict, with both sides suffering significant casualties.
This escalating tension made ordinary citizens worldwide sense that a momentous event was approaching—the entire world seemed to be brewing an unprecedented storm.
Mariejois, Room of Authority
"Straw Hat Luffy's ability..."
"Yes, that particular fruit."
"Fufufu, it truly comes to us without any effort on our part."
"Naturally, there will also be an opportunity to crush the Revolutionary Army completely. Two birds with one stone."
"The survivor from Ohara..."
"She's merely a secondary objective. Her execution will also serve as a warning to those so-called archaeologists and other restless elements."
Five elderly men had gathered in the vast, empty chamber, conducting their discussion with measured deliberation.
Each maintained a different posture, their bodies motionless, as if whoever shifted position first would somehow lose an unspoken contest of will.
Mariejois, Pangaea Castle
"Fufufufufu! I didn't expect you to be so eager that you'd arrive this early."
Doflamingo strutted into the conference room with his characteristic swagger, resembling a mob boss making his entrance. When he spotted Hawkeye, his expression showed genuine surprise.
"Just bored," Hawkeye replied casually, arms crossed behind his head and legs crossed in a relaxed position.
Bartholomew Kuma sat to the side, glancing at the others before falling into deep contemplation. He seemed to be wrestling with some important matter, his brow unconsciously furrowing with concern.
Meanwhile, Jinbe sat upright in perfect posture, staring intently down at his hands folded on the table, obviously completely absorbed in his own thoughts.
This atmosphere left Doflamingo, who had been hoping to start some conversation, momentarily at a loss for words.
Fortunately, the uncomfortable silence didn't last long, as boisterous laughter suddenly echoed from the corridor outside.
"Zehahahaha! You guys really are here early!"
Blackbeard Teach's burly, hairy-chested figure appeared in the doorway, speaking without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
Everyone present understood that today's gathering had been triggered by what this man had done.
At that moment, everyone—including Hawkeye—briefly turned their attention toward Teach.
However, after scanning the room with various thoughts running through their minds, they returned to their previous attitudes.
Jinbe glared at Teach with calm intensity and continued waiting quietly.
"Whoa, you're all giving me the chills! The Seven Warlords really are an intimidating bunch. Zehahaha!" Teach laughed while patting his chest in exaggerated fashion.
Apparently, he was quite the chatterbox.
Teach and Doflamingo hit it off immediately, quickly launching into animated conversation as if no one else existed.
As they chatted enthusiastically, their distinctive laughter filled the entire conference room.
"What's this? Are you two the only ones performing a comedy duet here?"
Suddenly, a man's voice interrupted abruptly, cutting through Teach and Doflamingo's raucous laughter.
"Huh?" Several people present turned their heads toward the sound.
Jerry could be seen wearing casual beach shorts, open Hawaiian shirt with a fishing rod strapped to his back pointing skyward like an antenna.
Kotatsu, transformed into kitten size, padded along at his feet as Jerry strolled lazily toward the center of the conference hall where Hawkeye and the others sat around a massive round table laden with various delicious dishes.
"Zehahahaha! Long time no see, Leviathan Jerry! You've been making quite a name for yourself these past few years. How have you been lately?" Without waiting for anyone else to speak, Teach was the first to offer a greeting.
Although the two weren't particularly close, Teach had encountered Jerry multiple times during his days with the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Thanks to you, I'm doing just fine," Jerry replied calmly, continuing his approach while raising his hand in acknowledgment. He also nodded politely to Kuma and the others nearby.
Then his tone shifted, and he smiled with deceptive pleasantness. "However, it seems like your old man is searching for you all over the world. I imagine he misses you so terribly that his heart aches."
"Pfft! cough cough Come on, let's talk about something else!" Hearing this pointed comment, Teach was caught completely off guard and choked on the food in his mouth. He waved his hands frantically in dismissal.
Attempting to change the subject, he raised a piece of cherry pie he had taken from the table and grinned broadly. "Have you eaten yet? The food here is absolutely incredible!"
"Then you should eat up quickly," Jerry's voice carried an ominous undertone. "After all, you have fewer and fewer meals left to enjoy."
Teach's right hand, which had been enthusiastically stuffing food into his mouth, suddenly froze mid-air.
"Please, have mercy on me," Teach said with mock surrender, raising both hands defensively. "I just want to enjoy some delicious cherry pie in peace."
"Eat up, you..." Jerry was about to continue his veiled threats when he was interrupted by a familiar, sinister laugh from the side.