Sorbet Kingdom, eastern coastline.
Gazing at the ship on the horizon—the east blue emperor, its hull blazing red trimmed with black-gold, a dragon prow, scarlet sails, and a banner of flame.
Ginny's eyes sparkled.
"What a gorgeous ship."
Unlike the distant photos, the east blue emperor now loomed real before her, the sheer impact breathtaking.
Thinking she would live on such a vessel with Kuma-chin, Ginny felt even happier about joining the Morning Star Pirates.
Seven hoisted Kuma and Ginny, one in each hand. "My dear crewmates, let's go home."
The 6.89-metre-tall Kuma dangled from the under-2.7-metre Seven—an absurd sight, but Seven was strong and could fly.
The three landed steadily on deck.
A pitch-black little Robin scampered over joyfully. "Captain, you're back!"
"Mm." Seven began introductions.
"Kuma-san, Ginny, this tiny thing is our apprentice, Nico Robin."
"Robin, meet our new mates, Kuma and Ginny."
Ginny bent to pinch Robin's cheeks; she'd seen the bounty poster and knew the girl was the survivor Seven rescued from Ohara.
Poor thing… The thought vanished when Ginny spotted a woman six-parts Robin's likeness smiling at her.
Captain… you're incredible.
Even the World Government was fooled by you.
At the cue, Mihawk and Fujitora strolled over as if timed.
"Mr. Kuma."
Fujitora reached to shake, then froze—Kuma was too tall.
His unusual warmth flustered Kuma. "Hello, Mr. Fujitora."
"Hello, Mr. Mihawk."
"Hello." Mihawk gave a slight nod.
After introductions Seven assigned rooms—top floor of the three-storey cabin—then raised an arm.
"Feast time, feast time!"
Nothing bonds crew like meat and mugs; if one round isn't enough, hold several.
Plenty of days ahead.
With superb skill Seven cooked for forty, mostly meat—the best cure for a Big Eater.
At first Ginny felt shy, but watching Seven demolish a two-metre fish in seconds she cast restraint aside.
Hunger first.
She even challenged Captain Barzeb to an eating contest.
Cups clinked, spirits warmed.
"Welcome Kuma and Ginny—cheers to our family!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The pirate world has a strange pattern.
Take the Morning Star Pirates: Captain Barzeb sailed alone before forming the crew; vice-captain Mihawk was solo, so was Fujitora.
Kuma and Ginny at least had each other.
In the original timeline Nico Robin fled the World Government alone.
Thanks to Seven, her mother was saved from the Buster Call, making Robin the only one with family aboard.
Seven now understood why Whitebeard collected sons—this damned era… As night fell the east blue emperor glowed, a castle floating on the sea.
Kuma and Ginny tidied their room; Ginny vowed to make it the cosiest home.
Robin read with her mother in the library—books salvaged from the Tree of Knowledge.
Mihawk sat in the open-air hall, tweaking the ratio of iced black tea to red wine for a smoother taste.
Fujitora manned the helm… steering.
Any sane person would object, but Seven called it "Observation Haki training."
Captain Seven unrolled a world map in his cabin, hunting for a base.
He ruled out the four Blues first.
Since the Rocks era, through three legends, Pirate King Roger, and the Great Pirate Age, no Emperor-level crew ever headquartered in a Blue Sea.
The Blues are the World Government's heartland.
Member kingdoms, Marine branches, safe routes—using them as a base carried huge risk.
The Grand Line was different.
Its second half, the New World—wild weather, chaotic magnetism—was a natural fortress the Marines couldn't swarm.
Moreover.
To reach Raftel one must gather Poneglyphs scattered across the Grand Line and reach their waypoints; nearly all clues lay there.
For pirates after One Piece, the New World is the finals.
In truth, Seven owned an Eternal Pose to Raftel, but the New World was too lively to skip.
After study he circled Hachinosu on the map.
Hachinosu, the pirates' playground.
Its landmark: a fully-equipped hotel shaped like a colossal skull.
Once the Rocks Pirates' base, now held by their former mate Directly Ruling since the crew disbanded.
"Directly Ruling." Seven grinned the wolfish grin of a pirate. "You're it."
Besides gold mines, Directly Ruling had hoarded plunder for years; as a senior pirate, Seven would relieve a junior.
Once the Morning Star Pirates settled there, they'd plan the Wano Country move.
Current roster—
Captain/cook/navigator/shipwright/helmsman Barzeb Seven.
vice-captain/helmsman Dracule Mihawk.
Combatant/helmsman Fujitora Issho.
Doctor/priest Bartholomew Kuma.
Intel/storage Ginny.
Honorary member Gild Tesoro.
Apprentice Nico Robin.
They could spar with the Beasts Pirates; maybe not crush Kaido, but they wouldn't lose.
But…
Wano was messy: the Beasts Pirates camped on Onigashima, Oden still danced naked in Flower Capital.
The Kozuki clan, Red Scabbards, Wano samurai, and Shimotsuki retainers needed Kaido's cleanup.
Once Kaido and Orochi purged the ruling class, Seven would swoop in and pluck the fruit.
Then taking Wano would be easy.
Drive off Kaido and the Beasts Pirates, crown himself Raiden Shogun, and keep Kaido's daughter Yamato as bride.
Let the old man choose.
Years later, after a pack of kids with Yamato, he'd absorb his father-in-law's crew—pure profit.
"Kekekeke, I'm so wicked!"
Before crossing over, Seven had been gentle—twenty-odd years without killing or arson, yet life was a mess.
After crossing, the pirate world tainted him; only necessary conscience remained, and life got smoother.
With a sigh he rolled the map and called to the library.
"Robin, call the meeting."
"Aye, Captain."