Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 55.
Groves 50-59 of the archipelago are the shipbuilding and coating areas. For pirate ships aiming for the New World, the vast majority head to these islands.
They use Yarukiman Mangrove resin to coat the ships to withstand deep-sea pressure, then dive about ten thousand meters below the Sabaody Archipelago, passing through the giant hole at the bottom of the Red Line to reach the New World.
Or, like Golden Lion Shiki, they use fruit abilities to manipulate the ship to fly through the air and cross over the Red Line.
The shipwrights working at the docks were suddenly drawn by a series of exclamations.
"Look, everyone!"
"The dragon prow, red sails, and flame flag—it's the Morning Star Pirates of the Emperor of the Sea, Beelzebul."
"Are they finally going to the New World?"
Amidst the waves of exclamations and near-fanatical gazes, the east blue emperor docked steadily in the harbor.
On the deck, Seven was arranging tasks.
"Mihawk, Fujitora-san, you two stay behind to handle the coating. We're going to take a stroll around the island."
"Understood, Captain."
After disembarking, Seven led Bartholomew Kuma, Ginny, Dorry, and Brogy toward the other coating islands to find a suitable target for the Giant Race to ride.
He had thought it would be a difficult task.
After all, most of the Giant Race stay in Elbaf. In the Paradise section of the Grand Line, who would bother building a giant ship for giants to ride?
However, with just one glance...
Dorry lowered his voice and frantically gestured with his eyebrows toward Seven, who was sitting on his shoulder.
"Gegé-ge! Captain, do you see it?"
The east blue emperor was actually large enough—the nearly Seven-meter-tall Kuma could move freely on it, and it was larger than the dry docks when moored.
But compared to that luxuriously decorated giant yacht in the distance, it was like a human standing next to a giant; the difference in size was obvious at a glance.
Seven grinned, the smile on his face almost overflowing.
It was truly a case of'someone bringing a pillow just as you're falling asleep.'
He wondered which kind soul it belonged to.
"That's the one."
"I'll go scout for information. You guys go have some free time, but remember not to get separated."
Dorry and Brogy were too large and would easily raise alarms, whereas Seven's speed was second only to the wretched-fruit-eating Kizaru-bro, making him perfect for gathering intel.
"Captain, Kuma-dear and I will go too."
Ginny, sitting on Kuma's shoulder, whispered, "The two of us can hide in the alternate dimension created by the Gate-Gate Fruit to figure out the situation inside that yacht."
"Good," Seven nodded excitedly.
"Let's go."
With something like a 'zero-dollar purchase,' once you do it the first time, there are countless more to follow. Besides, this was the pirate world, and Seven was a world-renowned great pirate.
Is a pirate who doesn't steal even a pirate?
Seven already had a guess about the ownership of this giant yacht: it was either the Celestial Dragons or a noble from a World Government affiliated nation—and a wealthy one at that.
Simply because the decorations were far too luxurious.
Unlike the simplicity of the east blue emperor, this giant yacht seemed to have every conceivable object that could show off a noble status piled onto it.
Huge gemstones of various colors sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight.
The reliefs on the gunwales, the handles on the cabin doors, and even the drainage grates on the deck were covered in a thick, dense layer of gold plating.
When Seven transformed into an electric current and entered the yacht's interior, what he saw and heard almost made him laugh out loud.
[Good grief, it's adam tree wood.]
According to the current point in time, the Giant King Harald was working hard to make Elbaf a World Government affiliated nation.
Then the truth was clear.
This yacht was originally a giant ship built by the Giant Race, a warship crafted from wood cut from Elbaf's Irminsul (adam tree).
It had been given to the Celestial Dragons by Harald.
"In other words, there's a high probability this Celestial Dragon has a status as noble as that pig from last time?"
Thinking of this, Seven admitted he was a bit tempted.
In this sea, the best way to get rich quick was still kidnapping Celestial Dragons and blackmailing the World Government.
Last time, kidnapping the pig Saint Elaine not only yielded the strategic-grade Gate-Gate Fruit, but the Blazing-Blazing Fruit Model: Mythical Zoan, Thunder Bear Form also sold for a high price of sixty thousand points, allowing Seven to purchase the Lunarian Tribe bloodline in one go.
Excited heart, trembling hands.
"I'm going to the New World anyway. The World Government and Marines have limited influence there. If worst comes to worst, I'll just apologize to the Gorosei afterward."
"The timid starve, while the bold feast."
"Let's do it."
When Seven made up his mind to kidnap a Celestial Dragon again and met up with Kuma and Ginny, the news he received made him marvel at the mystery of fate.
"The giant yacht belongs to Saint Elaine?"
Ginny nodded: "Yes, Captain. We specifically spent money to bribe the coating craftsmen and nearby pirates. That Celestial Dragon has gone to the Slave Auction House right now."
"Accompanied by Admiral Kizaru in person."
"The yacht will finish coating in two days."
Seven thought for a moment and had a plan in mind.
If it was Saint Elaine, there was no need to actively kidnap him; instead, he could launch a passive counterattack.
Given the nature of Celestial Dragons, if he saw the kidnapper Beelzebul from half a year ago appear before him again, he wouldn't be able to help himself. Especially with an Admiral by his side, he would 100% order the kidnapper's arrest to avenge his previous humiliation.
"In that case," Seven began to arrange.
"Kuma-san, Ginny, the four of you head back to the shipyard to meet Mihawk. Once the yacht is coated, assist Dorry and Brogy in reclaiming our yacht."
"By the way, tell Mihawk to come to the Slave Auction House. We're going to kidnap ourselves a 'piggy' pass."
With a Celestial Dragon in hand—especially Saint Elaine from the Nairona Family—the World Government and Marines would certainly not start a war lightly.
As for whether there would be retaliation afterward?
If they have the guts, let them come to the grand stage of the New World.
In the face of the massive benefits about to be gained, the retaliation of the World Government and Marines seemed insignificant.
Seven transformed into lightning and shot into the sky at extreme speed. Within a few breaths, he had arrived at the Slave Auction House located on Grove 1 of Sabaody.
The moment he landed, not only did Seven feign surprise, but Kizaru's pupils also constricted.
Kizaru couldn't dissuade Saint Elaine from his thoughts of revenge, so he had to coordinate with Fleet Admiral Sengoku. On one hand, they had Vice Admiral Garp, who was escorting prisoners to Impel Down, rush over, and on the other, they had Akainu, who was at Headquarters, come for support.
Never would they have imagined fate to be so mysterious.
Just as the group stepped out of the Slave Auction House, they ran headlong into Beelzebul.
"Long time no see, Borsalino."
Kizaru took a step forward, silently blocking the gaze that was burning with the fire of a meeting between enemies, only to be pushed aside roughly by Saint Elaine.
"You damned commoner."
"How dare you show your face before this Saint!"
"Marine Admiral, kill him for this Saint, now!"
As a supreme Celestial Dragon, Saint Elaine could tolerate the fact that Beelzebul hadn't been pursued afterward—after all, that was the Gorosei's decision.
But he could never tolerate—
That a lowly kidnapper would dare to appear before his eyes so flagrantly and openly.
This was a provocation to his majesty!
Hearing this, Kizaru cursed inwardly. Although he had no good feelings toward Saint Elaine, during a mission, the safety of the target was paramount.
"Beelzebul, give me some face."