"You!"
The moment those words left his mouth, the other Shichibukai froze, faces darkening as they turned toward him with furious glares.
Doflamingo let out a cold laugh and twitched his fingers, as if invisible threads were beginning to fill the air.
Moria's face flushed with rage, and the shadow behind him twisted like the claws of a devil.
Crocodile's eyes turned vicious, sand starting to swirl ominously around him.
Fisher Tiger sat still, but his wide, fan-like hand had quietly gripped the teacup before him, the surface of the tea rippling from the tension.
Even the usually indifferent Mihawk frowned slightly at Bullet's brazen arrogance.
Several high-ranking Marines instinctively showed signs of anger—but quickly remembered they were standing and just as quickly pulled back their presence.
Oh, he's not talking about us? Then never mind.
"You all... got a problem with that?"
Bullet grinned savagely, sweeping his gaze across the group seated as his so-called equals. His towering, menacing presence continued to climb, like a force with no end.
As his Conqueror's Haki erupted, the air around him filled with streaks of black and red lightning, so dense they warped the very space around him, distorting the air into a blur of energy.
The reporters, overwhelmed by the force, stumbled back in panic. Cameras cracked under the pressure, and one by one they dropped to their knees with a thud, barely staying conscious as they gritted their teeth, eyes rolling back.
"That's enough, Bullet. This isn't the place for a brawl."
Daren's voice cut in, calm but commanding.
"Once you're outside Marine Headquarters, you can hunt them down however you like. That's your business."
"But if you stir up trouble here—don't expect us Marines to go easy on you."
As the words fell, three towering figures appeared beside Daren in unison.
Massive and imposing, each of them radiated an overwhelming presence. Their cloaks billowed behind them as they stood shoulder to shoulder.
Blazing magma, flickering light, and bone-chilling frost brewed in their hands—ready to be unleashed at any moment.
Sakazuki. Borsalino. Kuzan.
"The monsters of Marine Headquarters!"
"What a rare sight!"
"They've practically never acted together before!"
"..."
Marines and reporters alike widened their eyes, stunned by the lineup.
Facing the four ominous figures, Douglas Bullet narrowed his eyes.
One second.
Two seconds.
Suddenly, the overwhelming pressure vanished, and the conference room returned to silence. The oppressive aura and chaotic distortions disappeared without a trace.
The outburst of Conqueror's Haki had been brief but intense—gone as quickly as it came. The Marines and reporters breathed a collective sigh of relief, the lingering sense of suffocation fading like a dream.
As if the feeling of having one's throat gripped a moment ago... had been nothing more than an illusion.
"I'll let it go this time, for your sake, Daren."
Bullet snorted and slumped back into his seat, crossing one leg over the other. He grinned viciously.
"But I'll never admit these clowns are worthy to sit at the same table as me."
His face radiated disdain.
"What kind of low-level trash dares call themselves Shichibukai?"
Daren: ...
You really don't know when to shut up, do you?
Not afraid they'll gang up on you and take you out?
He shot Bullet a helpless look and shook his head.
Still, he had to admit—compared to their last encounter, Bullet's presence had grown significantly.
His Conqueror's Haki had clearly reached the "advanced" stage, strong enough to begin influencing the physical world—just like his own.
If he went all-out, combining the terrifying power of the Gasha Gasha no Mi with the physical boost from his "Devil Form"—which amplified his strength, speed, defense, and explosiveness—Bullet likely wouldn't struggle much even if he had to face the other five Shichibukai alone.
After all, the one with the most potential, "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk, was still just a teenager and far from his peak.
But combat potential on paper was one thing. In a real fight, it was another matter entirely.
Moria hadn't turned into a fat recluse yet;
Crocodile had the uncanny "fifty-fifty" energy that somehow always kept him level;
Doflamingo had made huge strides under his personal training;
Mihawk's left-hand swordplay was already gaining form;
And Fisher Tiger, as a Fishman, was naturally a hard counter to Devil Fruit users...
If those five truly worked together with focus and coordination, it wouldn't be impossible to take down Bullet.
The real issue was that every single Shichibukai was arrogant and headstrong—what were the chances they'd ever actually team up?
Pushing the thought aside, Daren straightened up and smiled politely as he addressed the reporters who were finally getting back on their feet.
"With that, today's Shichibukai appointment ceremony is officially concluded."
"Thank you all for making the trip to celebrate this momentous occasion with us."
"Please make your way to the banquet hall. Marine Headquarters has prepared a modest reception for you all—we hope you'll join us."
…
Half an hour later.
Banquet hall.
Compared to the lavish wedding celebration at Ryugu Castle just a few days ago, the Marine Headquarters' banquet felt rather... modest.
In a quiet corner of the hall, Daren raised his glass of red wine and gently clinked it against Fisher Tiger's.
"Tiger-san, how have things been lately?"
Fisher Tiger smiled warmly.
"Thank you for your concern, Daren-san. Things have been much more peaceful on Fish-Man Island recently."
His gratitude toward Daren was heartfelt—not just because Daren had pulled him from the depths of hell, but more importantly, because he had given him a new path and helped elevate him to a seat among the Shichibukai.
With the weight of that title, the global poaching and trafficking of Fish-Men had been drastically curbed.
Life on Fish-Man Island had become far more stable than before. The people no longer lived in constant fear, and with Princess Otohime's reforms, conditions in the Fish-Man District had also begun to improve.
Daren gave a faint smile.
"Peace between races is a long-term goal. It's something we all have a responsibility to work toward."
Fisher Tiger nodded, then lowered his voice slightly as if remembering something.
"By the way, Daren-san, the first group of Fish-Man warriors—more than fifty in total—has already departed from Fish-Man Island. They're aboard a Donquixote family covert merchant ship and should be en route to the North Blue by now."
"The one leading them is named Jinbe. He's a calm, steady type—I've watched him grow up since he was a kid."
"He's gifted in Fish-Man Karate and deeply trusted by the other warriors."
"I believe he'll be a great help to you."