The latter half of the Grand Line, the New World.
The east blue emperor.
It was rare to encounter such fair weather and sunshine. Seven lay lazily on the deck sunbathing, but his mood was far from pleasant.
After purchasing the Conquerors Haki Defense, two new items were added to the store's direct sales page.
[Granting You an Opportunity: 200,000 points. Allows consumption of an additional non-Logia Devil Fruit. Prerequisite for Purchase: Awakening of the first Devil Fruit]
[Second Fruit Awakening: 200,000 points]
In short, Seven must first develop the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to the Awakening stage before he can gain the opportunity to consume a second Devil Fruit.
How to Awaken it? Either develop it himself, or purchase the Fruit Awakening item, which costs 100,000 points.
Setting aside self-development, the first Fruit Awakening costs 100,000 points, and the qualification to purchase it requires 200,000 points, totaling 300,000 points.
If he wants to develop the second fruit to Awakening, he needs another 200,000 points.
That adds up to a grand total of 500,000 points!
This is equivalent to Dragon Ball users selling over five hundred Senzu Beans, Pleasant Goat users selling over five hundred flying cloaks, and Big Big Wolf having to pedal his sewing machine until it smokes.
For Seven, 500,000 points was simultaneously difficult and not difficult.
The difficulty lies in the fact that due to the rapid rise of the Morning Star Pirates, major pirate groups across the sea are frantically scrambling for Devil Fruits, making them currently impossible to buy.
He heard that even the Marines had stepped up their collection efforts.
Seven himself has little affinity with Devil Fruits; in all his years at sea, he only encountered a single Gorilla-Gorilla Fruit.
Following this path, it would be almost impossible.
It wasn't difficult because if he kidnapped the Celestial Dragon Saint Elaine a few more times and extorted the World Government, he could probably reach the goal of 500,000 points.
But, as the saying goes, 'lightning doesn't strike thrice.'
If he continued to fleece Saint Elaine, it was highly likely to attract the attention of Imu.
Seven wasn't afraid of Imu, but he was afraid of his companions being controlled by Imu's 'Black Turn.'
What choice would he have then?
Kill them all?
Or watch his companions turn into demons?
But if he kidnapped other Celestial Dragons, the World Government would likely not pay a large ransom. Ordinary Celestial Dragons were essentially no different from pigs in the eyes of the God's Knights and the Gorosei.
Compared to Shanks, Doflamingo, also a Celestial Dragon, was practically a clown.
At ten years old, Doffy ignored his younger brother's pleas, resolutely shot his father in front of him, and returned to Mary Geoise with his father's head.
However, he was not accepted by the other Celestial Dragons and had to leave Mary Geoise in disgrace.
What about Shanks?
Despite being a remnant of the Roger Pirates, he swaggered back to Mary Geoise to become a holy blade, and even put on an acting performance with his older brother to gather information.
[How could you possibly understand—what it feels like to have wasted a full 24 years of your life!
No wonder I always felt out of place with others. All that life before was truly hateful!!!]
Shanks, the Movie King
Young Shanks and Buggy
As expected of you, Haki Shanks.
When it comes to acting, I crown you the strongest.
While Seven was complaining about Shanks, the Marine Headquarters was presenting a different scene.
Marineford, Fleet Admiral's Office.
Sengoku, the current Fleet Admiral, breathed a sigh of relief after placing several intelligence reports on his desk.
"News from G1 Branch reports that since the Morning Star Pirates entered the New World, they have been sailing most of the time, only stopping at ports for necessary resupply."
"According to their current course, they are about to encounter the Whitebeard Pirates, who are entrenched in the New World."
Sengoku was initially slightly worried that Beelzebul might retaliate against the Marine G1 Branch, located at the entrance to the New World, because the Marines had launched a Buster Call.
Now it seemed he had worried too much.
"At the same time, Whitebeard personally led the Moby Dick out, and his subordinate pirate groups are scouting everywhere. All signs indicate—"
"There is a high probability that the two sides will clash to compete for the title of the World's Strongest Pirate Crew."
As his voice fell, Akainu let out a cold snort.
"That is good news for us."
Akainu was not prepared to launch another Buster Call. While his hatred for pirates was genuine, he wasn't stupid.
If the Marines rashly intervened at this time, it would only cause the Morning Star Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates to cease fighting, and possibly even lead to an attack from both pirate groups.
Although all pirates deserve to die, they can sometimes form a united front.
For example, eliminate the Marines first, then continue fighting among themselves.
Sengoku was not surprised by Akainu's reaction.
"Furthermore, according to intelligence from informants, Directly Ruling, who is entrenched on Hachinosu Island, and other pirate groups also seem to be searching for Beelzebul's exact location."
Akainu sneered coldly.
"They are afraid."
Why would they be afraid?
The Morning Star Pirates, possessing four Admiral/Emperor-level members, were entering the New World for the first time, and crucially, they currently had no territory.
Where else would territory come from, if not by seizing it?
Ask yourself, could those pirate groups entrenched in the New World not be afraid when facing such a behemoth?
Sengoku nodded slightly, looking at his old comrades Garp and Tsuru, as well as the current Three Admirals.
"I have a plan."
The gazes of the five high-ranking Marine officials converged, and Sengoku continued.
"It is foreseeable that Beelzebul will certainly seize a stronghold in the New World this time, and the Morning Star Pirates are bound to grow even larger in the future."
"In order to maintain the initiative in intelligence, I have decided to dispatch several Marines to infiltrate the Morning Star Pirates as undercover agents."
Hearing this, Garp simply stood up.
"You decide on this matter. Don't tell me, and don't tell me who you send."
Sending Marine undercover agents into major pirate groups is a common practice in the Marines, but Garp simply didn't want to see Marines risking their lives for intelligence.
With that, Garp closed the door and left directly.
Kizaru followed closely behind Garp: "The World Government has issued an order; I must be stationed permanently at Punk Hazard in the near future."
Because the Morning Star Pirates entered the New World, the World Government feared Punk Hazard might be affected and ordered Kizaru to personally protect Vegapunk's safety for the time being.
Ultimately, only Sengoku, Akainu, Aokiji, and Tsuru remained in the Fleet Admiral's office.
"01746, come out."
As the voice fell, a blond youth dressed in the uniform of a Marine Headquarters Colonel quickly came into the sight of Akainu and the others, raising his hand to stand at attention and salute.
"Fleet Admiral, Seniors."
A smile played on Sengoku's lips.
"I believe everyone here knows my adopted son—Rosinante, codenamed Little Millet Fruit."
Sengoku deliberately let Akainu and the others know, because among the entire Marine high command, only the Three Admirals posed a threat to the Morning Star Pirates.
Ordinary Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals couldn't even get close, and they had already been ordered: unless absolutely necessary, avoid conflict with Beelzebul and his crew.
Therefore, as long as the Three Admirals knew Rosinante's identity, they would certainly show mercy in the future, guaranteeing Rosinante's safety during his undercover mission.
As for the pirates?
They should worry about getting past Beelzebul first.
Currently, no pirate group on the high seas dares to actively provoke Beelzebul, except for the brainless and idiotic ones.
More importantly, through several previous confrontations, Sengoku naturally understood—
Beelzebul was not a bloodthirsty person.
Even if he knew Rosinante's identity, he would most likely turn around and extort Sengoku. This wasn't a dangerous undercover operation; it was clearly a way to gild his precious adopted son.
Seeing this, Akainu nodded slightly.
"I have no objections. Do well, Rosinante. The future belongs to you."