New World, Hachinosu Island.
Once bustling and known as the Pirate Paradise, Hachinosu Island is now somewhat quiet, with only the occasional sound of clinking.
Ginny plopped down on Kuma's shoulder, repeatedly slapping her arms to relieve fatigue.
"Kuma-chin, I'm exhausted."
"With such a large island and only a dozen of us, how long will it take to finish the reconstruction?"
Kuma smiled gently and said, "The Captain said the laborers are on their way."
"Besides, you'll be an officer of the Morning Star Pirates from now on; you just need to direct the other crew members."
Hearing this, Ginny chuckled.
"The Captain is indeed good to us."
Seven days have passed since the Morning Star Pirates retook Hachinosu Island. Those first few days had terrified Ginny; bloody heads were piled high at the harbor.
While setting fires, the Captain directed the Golden Lion to pile the heads into a landmark building, calling it the first scenic spot upon arriving at Hachinosu Island.
Bullshit scenic spot.
Scaring people was the real goal.
Fortunately, the filth on the front of the island has been cleaned up, and the smell of blood has faded significantly. Moreover, the wealth of the great pirate Directly Ruling amounts to—
11 billion Berries.
Kuma and Ginny received 1 billion Berries, Fujitora and Golden Lion each got 1 billion, Mihawk got 2 billion, and Shiliew got 500 million.
The remaining 5.5 billion belongs to the Captain.
This distribution scheme is the norm in the pirate world; the Captain takes the lion's share, followed by the vice-captain, and other officers take smaller portions.
The four Giant Race crew members didn't want Berries because the Captain assigned the the attacking titan to them.
However, since Ginny is responsible for logistics, transportation, and storage, everyone entrusted the entire 11 billion Berries to her for safekeeping.
Ginny admitted that, except for the time at God Valley, she had never seen so much treasure in her life.
"The Captain has caught many spies these past few days."
"Yeah," Kuma said with a playful expression.
Since retaking Hachinosu Island, spies from other factions have tried to infiltrate almost every day to gather information, but without exception, they were all turned into charred remains.
"These people are almost cutely stupid."
"The Captain's Observation Haki not only covers the entire Hachinosu Island but even monitors the nearby sea areas."
Even the officers of the Morning Star Pirates don't know the maximum range of the Captain's Observation Haki or how much area it can cover.
Electromagnetic waves—they don't understand that stuff.
"Everyone, it's banquet time!"
Dorry roared at the top of his lungs, his voice nearly covering the entire Hachinosu Island.
Before long, several figures wearing black cloaks quickly gathered at the center of the island from various directions.
A flash of envy crossed Dorry's eyes; except for Golden Lion, every officer of the Morning Star Pirates was equipped with a flight-capable cloak.
But because the Giants were so large, the cloaks weren't even as big as their loincloths, so they had to wait for the Captain to find another way to solve it.
Seven poured a glass of wine for his pet Tyrannosaurus Rex.
"Thanks for your hard work lately. Once the laborers arrive, things will be easier for everyone."
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
After a drink, Mihawk spoke up rarely. "What if the laborers don't come?"
Dorry chuckled and explained.
"vice-captain Mihawk, the four of us set sail for Elbaf this afternoon. It will take about a month to bring back the rest of the First Division members."
"Even if those laborers don't come, our First Division can rebuild Hachinosu Island within half a month."
Seven took over, sounding certain that a large group of laborers would arrive at Hachinosu Island.
"Don't worry, Old Mi."
"People will come."
That bird-man Morgans specifically notified us that since the Morning Star Pirates retook Hachinosu Island, a large number of pirate groups from Paradise and the New World have been heading towards Hachinosu.
However, since Hachinosu Island is located in the latter half of the New World, the pirate groups coming to surrender must pass through the blockades of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates.
That's fine too.
At least they're strictly selected by the emperors of the sea.
"Don't forget, Shiki went back to gather the remnants of the Flying Pirate Group. When they arrive at Hachinosu Island, they'll naturally have to work first."
Hearing that Golden Lion was gathering the remnants of the Flying Pirate Group, Fujitora's brow furrowed, and he seemed to hesitate to speak.
Golden Lion is the most unstable factor within the Morning Star Pirates. Captain Seven understands this, vice-captain Mihawk knows it, and Fujitora can naturally see it clearly too.
But after all, Golden Lion hasn't done anything detrimental to the pirate group yet. Saying it now would obviously affect the internal unity.
After a moment's thought, Fujitora decided to talk to the Captain privately to warn him about Golden Lion potentially backstabbing them at a critical moment.
Seven looked at his companions.
"Once the reconstruction work is over..."
"Special training for everyone will also begin. Especially Fujitora and Ginny, you must develop your fruit abilities to a higher level as soon as possible."
"Shiliew also needs to become a Great Swordsman as soon as possible."
"Everyone also needs to master the high-level applications of Armament Haki and Observation Haki."
"In two and a half years, we will have a new operation."
In fact, Seven wasn't sure if the Morning Star Pirates retaking Hachinosu Island would cause Kaido to act early in Wano Country.
Regardless, in Kaido's eyes, Seven and Oden were once in the Roger Pirates together.
What if? Even if there's only a one-in-ten-million chance that Seven leads the Morning Star Pirates to Wano Country to support Oden, Kaido would undoubtedly have only one outcome: failure.
Even if Kaido calls on his 'big sister' Big Mom for help, the outcome would still be failure.
In truth, Seven couldn't be bothered with Kaido and Oden. He even hoped they would fight more fiercely, making it easier to retake Inazuma in the future.
Seven is going to be very busy next.
He has to go to the North Blue to trade Devil Fruits with the brat Doffy, and also go to Punk Hazard where Vegapunk is to get the dragon-dragon fruit back.
The original plan to accompany the First Division to Elbaf has to be—next time for sure.
The reason he felt comfortable letting Dorry, Brogy, and the others take the the attacking titan back to Elbaf was that there were almost no major powers along the way.
Between Hachinosu Island and Elbaf, the most powerful force is the Morning Star Pirates.
Surely nothing could go wrong with the Giants, who have been away from home for years, returning to their homeland of Elbaf, right?
If that were truly the case, Seven would definitely visit Elbaf in person to have a good talk with the Giant King Harald. Who dares to bully my crew members?
Compensation, there must be compensation.
That Iron Thunder, the Lightning Squirrel, Seven has been eyeing it for a long time.
The legendary Devil Fruit of Elbaf—Seven wants it, and he wants the Lightning Squirrel even more.
As a lightning man who ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Seven has no resistance to any little thing that discharges electricity, including but not limited to—
That Discharging Duck from the Flying Pirate Group.
The Lightning Squirrel of Elbaf.
The fluffy furry—the future King of the Mokomo Dukedom on Zou: Carrot.
The combat power of the Mink Tribe should not be underestimated. Since he's preparing to retake Wano Country, he might as well take Zunesha and Zou on its back along the way.
As the saying goes, what heaven offers and you don't take, you will suffer for it.
Even if heaven doesn't offer it, what is Seven? He's a high-level pirate!
If you don't give it, I'll just steal it!
Unfortunately, the little rabbit won't be born for another six years.
"Hehehehe." Seven laughed incessantly.
Kuma looked at Ginny, Dorry looked at Brogy, and Mihawk and Fujitora exchanged glances, each seeing the same answer in the other's eyes—
The Captain is planning to trick someone again.
Of course, it might not even be a person.
Only Shiliew was left completely bewildered: "Wait, what's the situation now? Someone tell me."