"There's also a Vergo... his Taijutsu is decent."
As Shiliew finished his report, the expression on Seven's face became increasingly colorful; it was truly hard to describe his current mood.
Is this the Pirate King world?
No, this is clearly the Undercover King world!
Seven knew there were many Marine undercovers, but he never imagined that the Morning Star Pirates would receive this kind of protagonist-level treatment.
Rosinante?
No one is gentler than Corazon?
Donquixote Doflamingo's younger brother, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's foster son, a descendant of the Celestial Dragons' Donquixote Family, codenamed Mi Gyo—Rosinante?
Well now, Sengoku, that guy... not bad.
He even sent Rosinante, whom he treats like his own son, to the Morning Star Pirates as an undercover; Sengoku is truly willing to invest heavily.
Interesting, how interesting.
The butterfly wings flapped by the powerful rise of the Morning Star Pirates have finally caused a chain reaction. Rosinante, who should have gone undercover by the Flamingo's side, has instead come to Hachinosu Island.
Has the Great Undercover Era officially begun?
This made Seven start to consider: who would be suitable to send to the Marines as an undercover?
After all, it's only polite to reciprocate. If the Marines can send undercovers, pirates can certainly do the same.
Send Tesoro?
Tesoro needs to stay and manage the industries, which is crucial for the future development of the Morning Star Pirates. Simply flooding the market with gold from Sky Island would inevitably cause prices to drop, and gold will eventually run out.
On the contrary, Eneru is quite suitable.
Firstly, no one knows Eneru's identity, and secondly, with Fairy Vearth dangling in front of him, there shouldn't be any issues with his loyalty.
It's worth some serious thought from Seven.
Rosinante was sent by the Marines, so that unlucky fellow Who's-Who must be the undercover sent by the World Government.
Seven had an impression of Who's-Who.
In the original timeline, while escorting the Gum-Gum Fruit, Who's-Who was attacked by Shanks, who stole the fruit, leading to his imprisonment.
After escaping prison, Who's-Who formed a pirate crew and eventually joined the Beasts Pirates to become one of the Tobi Roppo.
The Marines sent Rosinante, the World Government sent Who's-Who, so was Vergo sent by Doflamingo?
Little Flamingo, not bad at all.
As expected of a naturally evil brat; at such a young age, he already knows how to play Infernal Affairs.
A sudden mischievous thought rose in Seven's heart: In a couple of years, should he send Vergo back as an undercover?
Whether he goes back to the Flamingo's side or returns to the Marines to continue being an undercover, it would definitely be very interesting. He might even be able to go to the Beasts Pirates!
Setting loyalty aside for now.
These three undercovers have combat power. If Seven handles it correctly, he can even gain a certain degree of convenience and profit from them.
Whether it's the Marines or the World Government,
wasn't the reason they sent undercovers into the Morning Star Pirates to gain more secrets?
Want to gain more secrets?
Fine. Start as apprentice crew members. Once they have enough merit to be promoted to official crew members, they'll find they still can't reach the core secrets. Then they'll have to earn even more merit to be promoted to core officers.
If the undercovers want promotions and raises, the Marines and the World Government will surely cooperate actively with their respective undercovers, opening doors of convenience.
"Captain?" Shiliew asked tentatively.
Seven snapped out of it: "Bring them over. I'll interview them one by one."
Although they are decent combatants, does the Morning Star Pirates allow people to just come and go as they please?
Since the Marines, the World Government, and the Doffy brat dared to send undercovers, they must first pay the corresponding price.
"Alright." Shiliew nodded.
"The Shipping King sent two extra ships of slaves as a bonus. Mr. Fujitora is currently arranging housing for them. There are a few Fish-Man Race slaves who are quite good."
"Fish-Man Race slaves?" Seven paused.
"Thank you for your hard work. Go on with your business."
To Seven, slaves were one of the things he still couldn't accept after many years in the One Piece world, alongside coating ships.
This was a fundamental cognitive gap.
Though some say 'cows and horses' (wage slaves) are another kind of slave.
But 'cows and horses' at least don't have a so-called execution line. Even if they are buried in debt, they can still survive. Especially since entering the new era, news of people starving to death is almost non-existent.
But in the One Piece world, starving to death is the norm.
Back in Housha Town, Seven often went hungry. It was that childhood experience that made him cherish every piece of food he obtained.
He could always turn the most ordinary ingredients into the most delicious delicacies. As for making food taste bad? That was an insult to the food.
Before long, Fujitora hurried to the office. Before he could speak, Seven already knew his intent.
"Mr. Fujitora, whether it's Hachinosu Island or any future stronghold of the Morning Star Pirates, there will only ever be 'cows and horses,' never slaves."
Fujitora nodded heavily: "Good."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have doubted you."
After taking over Hachinosu Island, the fact that Seven killed all the pirates entrenched there had caused a sense of unease to rise in Fujitora's heart.
Had the Captain changed?
However, Seven's attitude toward slaves put Fujitora's mind completely at ease, and he quickly threw himself into his work with fervor—arranging jobs for the former slaves.
Seven didn't object to the justice Fujitora held in his heart, but there was a necessary prerequisite: acts of justice must not negatively affect the Morning Star Pirates.
Among all the current crew members,
Mihawk was bound by a bond; no matter what Seven did, he would follow with his blade. Kuma and Ginny were partners, and Shiliew of the Rain was a fanatic fan.
Fujitora was gradually changing his original persistence, willing to work together with Seven toward the dream of everyone having enough to eat.
Golden Lion, on the other hand, had his own plans.
Thump, thump, thump.
Shiliew returned: "Captain, all three promising candidates are outside. I've assigned the rest to the patrol squads."
Seven silently gave a thumbs up. As expected of someone who had worked in a government department; he handled things with clear organization. He was a rare and valuable talent.
In the future, he should poach more people from the World Government and the Marines.
A moment later, when the first interviewee, Who's-Who, walked in and saw Golden Lion on the sofa and Seven sitting behind the desk—
Who's-Who silently lowered his head.
Who's-Who knew all about the legendary great pirate Golden Lion and the news of the Emperor of the Sea Barzebu. The World Government had specifically trained him before he came to Hachinosu Island.
But standing before these two in person, Who's-Who finally understood what true pressure felt like.
He was just like those internet trolls who act tough online but are timid in reality.
"Give me a reason."
Hearing this, Who's-Who quickly looked up.
Seven said expressionlessly: "Give me a reason why I should take you in."
Who's-Who took a deep breath.
"Captain, I am a user of the Cat-Cat Fruit, Ancient Model: Sabertooth Tiger. I have great strength and eat very little. I can do any kind of work."
"And... and—I know the whereabouts of a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit."
"Pfft—"
Golden Lion spat out a mouthful of iced black tea, feeling that this world was truly too absurd. Is fate really favoring you guys this much?
First Roger, then Beelzebul.
Just interviewing a random rookie pirate and you get the location of a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit?
Dammit! How unfair fate is!
Seven was also very surprised. He completely didn't expect the World Government to be so willing to pay such a price. A Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit?
This is a Mythical Zoan!
At the same time, Seven felt a pang of regret for his actions of kidnapping Saint Elaine twice to extort the World Government.
Damn it, I asked for too little!
I should have asked for several more Devil Fruits.
The only silver lining was knowing how wealthy the World Government was. Next time he encountered Saint Elaine, he would ask for at least twenty!
Seven's tone softened: "Tell me about it."
Who's-Who breathed a sigh of relief: "Captain, I'm not yet clear on exactly which Mythical Zoan it is. I also obtained the information by chance."
"Good." Seven nodded.
"I'll go with you later. If the information is true, you'll start as an apprentice crew member on the ship."
"You may leave."
"Yes, Captain."
Compared to his nervousness earlier, Who's-Who was clearly much more relaxed now. He quickly closed the door and left, standing beside Shiliew to wait for further instructions.
Inside the office, Golden Lion sat on the sofa.
"Good luck, Captain."
"Mythical Zoans are even rarer than Logias, and every one of them is top-tier. It's a pity that besides Mihawk and the Impel Down brat... everyone on the ship is already an ability user."
"True." Seven was also having a bit of a headache.
If the information Who's-Who brought was for an extremely powerful Mythical Zoan, should he still eat the Sui Sui Fruit?
He finally understood what it meant to be 'painfully happy.'
As of now, Seven had three Devil Fruits in his possession: the Paramecia Ship-Ship Fruit, the Paramecia Sui Sui Fruit, and the Paramecia Teleportation Fruit.
The Ship-Ship Fruit could range from a spaceship down to a small wooden raft; its upper limit was extremely high, but its lower limit was also very low. It needed a user with a rich imagination.
The Teleportation Fruit was the same.
The Sui Sui Fruit not only required imagination but also a firm belief that the things imagined actually existed.
At that moment, the second interviewee knocked and entered.
"Captain Barzebu, I am Rosinante, a Silent Man who ate the Calm-Calm Fruit."