Dawn broke across the horizon, and the mist was quietly dispersed by the sea breeze like strands of silk as a new day arrived on Hachinosu Island.
Who's-Who panted heavily, following behind Rosinante and Vergo, having just finished a 20,000-meter morning run around the island with weights.
"You two... wait for me."
There had been hellish special training back in CP9, and finding that there was still such training after infiltrating the Morning Star Pirates as an undercover agent caught Who's-Who completely off guard.
A pirate crew more formal than a government organization?
What was even more surprising was that Rosinante and Vergo seemed long accustomed to this, as if they had often trained like this before.
Vergo glanced back at the straggler.
"The Captain and the executives are having a meeting. If we hurry back, we can still serve tea and water."
Hearing this, Who's-Who felt as if he'd been injected with chicken blood, instantly reviving to full state: a meeting would surely involve big secrets or operations.
As an undercover agent, one must always be prepared!
"It's useless." Rosinante lit a cigarette. "Only executives and formal crew members can attend. We interns aren't qualified yet."
After unexpectedly learning about the executive meeting last night, Rosinante had specifically sent a coded message to his Old Man.
[Merit, I need merit for a promotion.]
During these days of successfully infiltrating Hachinosu Island, Rosinante had sent the list of Morning Star Pirates executives and the list of the grand fleet under their command to his Old Man.
Although it didn't involve key secrets, it was information the Marine had never known before.
However, the secrets an intern could access were limited after all. To uncover Beelzebul's bigger secrets, a promotion was urgent.
Hearing this, Who's-Who and Vergo also realized that they had to become formal crew members as soon as possible to gather more secrets.
And to get a promotion and a raise, they needed merit!
It was time to contact the Gorosei (Young Master).
At the same time.
Inside the skull-shaped building in the center of the island, Seven and all the pirate crew's executives were present.
"After the hard work of this period, the reconstruction of Hachinosu Island has been successfully completed. To thank everyone for their efforts, our main goal for the near future is to find—Pure Gold."
Hearing about Pure Gold, Golden Lion's eyes flickered incessantly.
"The legend of Pure Gold is true?"
In the entire Morning Star Pirates, only Golden Lion was over fifty, at the tail end of his peak. His desire for longevity exceeded anyone else's.
"Senior Shiki, what is Pure Gold?"
Ginny intentionally didn't ask the Captain, but instead asked Golden Lion, providing him with immense emotional value.
"Jieh-ha-ha-ha-ha~"
Confirming that Pure Gold was real, Golden Lion was in a great mood. Puffing on a cigar, he said unhurriedly.
"The legend of Pure Gold is closely linked to an island named Alchemi. Unfortunately, this island suddenly vanished from the maps 200 years ago."
"Rumor has it that Pure Gold can inhibit the worsening of diseases and stop the loss of a living being's life force, achieving an effect close to eternal youth."
"The World Government once searched vigorously for Pure Gold, but all attempts ended in failure. Since then, Pure Gold has become something that only exists in legends."
After saying that, Golden Lion looked intently at Seven, who was sitting at the head of the table.
"Captain, do you know the whereabouts of Pure Gold?"
Seven nodded. "Of course I do."
In reality, Seven's desire for Pure Gold wasn't that strong yet; he was only eighteen and was getting stronger every moment.
And Pure Gold inhibits life force.
Simply put, after wearing Pure Gold, growth will stop, and one's physique and appearance will remain unchanged for a long time.
Most members of the Morning Star Pirates hadn't reached their peak yet, so their need for Pure Gold wasn't very strong either. However, Golden Lion didn't have many years of his peak left.
By revealing Pure Gold now,
Seven hoped that Golden Lion wouldn't slack off during their upcoming trip to Elbaf.
"Look, I've laid out the chips. Senior Shiki, don't be ungrateful."
This is the benefit of having a God's perspective; you don't have to worry about people not working hard.
"Jieh-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Golden Lion admitted: joining Barzeb's command was likely the greatest choice he had ever made in his life, bar none.
The steering wheel in his head was pulled out without injury, his severed legs grew back, and now he was about to obtain eternal youth.
This feeling was simply too wonderful.
Roger, the god you protected back then has now grown into a towering tree. Unfortunately, you died too early; I will enjoy the shade in your stead.
Compared to Golden Lion's level of excitement, although the other crew members didn't show their emotions as obviously, their heavy breathing indicated one thing: everyone was tempted.
Logically, once tempted, one should take action.
However, Seven planned to head to Elbaf while the crew's morale was high. While tricking the Lightning Squirrel Iron Thunder, he would also seize the legendary devil fruit.
As the Thunder God, how could he not have a hammer?
The Lightning Squirrel is at least at the level of a top commander, right?
And it can discharge electricity!!
After returning from Elbaf, they would go look for the Pure Gold inside the stomach of the Lantern Fish.
Selling one gram for 100,000 points wouldn't be excessive, right?
A god might not care about the temptation of eternal youth, but what mortal in the myriad worlds could refuse it?
Previously, the Ope-Ope no Mi... had made Seven feel quite tempted. If he hadn't been only fifteen and not yet fully developed, he certainly wouldn't have let the doctor go.
"Everyone, remember to keep this a secret. If there's nothing else, you're dismissed."
At that moment, Ginny suddenly spoke up.
"Captain, during the time you were at Raijin Island, I used a den den mushi to intercept two messages sent from Hachinosu Island. However, they're in code, and I haven't cracked them yet."
Seven silently gave her a thumbs up.
"Impressive, Ginny."
Back then, the news that the Celestial Dragons were about to hold a hunting competition in God Valley—with nine Devil Fruits as prizes and Shakky as the final prize—was intercepted and transmitted to the outside world by Ginny using a stolen den den mushi.
She could be called an eavesdropping expert.
"There's no need to crack them for now," Seven continued as Ginny looked on in confusion.
"Rosinante is an undercover agent sent by the Navy, Who's-Who is an undercover agent sent by the World Government, and Vergo is an undercover agent sent by Donquixote Doflamingo..."
As Seven named them one by one, the expression on Shiliew's face changed from astonishment to growing anger. He even bit through the cigar in his mouth and suddenly stood up.
"Captain."
"I'll go slaughter them right now!"
In Shiliew's eyes, this was a serious dereliction of duty. He had selected three promising candidates, and all of them turned out to be undercover agents!
Well, this was a pure slap in the face.
He wouldn't be able to hold his head up in front of everyone anymore! Thinking of even worse scenarios, would everyone think that he, Shiliew, was also an undercover agent sent by the World Government?
Those who block one's path already have a way to court death.
Seven waved his hand, signaling Shiliew to sit down.
"Since we already know they're undercover agents, as long as everyone pays more attention and doesn't reveal real secrets, it'll be fine."
"Keep them for now. It's better than the World Government and the Navy sending more undercover agents. By the way, Shiliew, remember to train them well."
A crazed smile curled at the corner of Shiliew's mouth. "Captain, I know what to do."
In the Captain's words, as long as they don't die from training, train them to death.
Like being an undercover agent? I'll quadruple the training program from now on. I'll show you what it's like to be an undercover agent!
Seven's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked through the floor-to-ceiling window at the distant horizon.
"Everyone, the Whitebeard Pirates are almost here. Go prepare the banquet."
...New World, Hachinosu Island waters.
The bow of the Moby Dick rode the wind and waves. Whitebeard stood on the deck, memories of years ago surfacing in his eyes.
Back then, the Rocks Pirates' power grew rapidly within just a few years after occupying Hachinosu Island, only to be ended at God Valley.
Now, things have changed.
The former Rocks Pirates' base, Hachinosu Island, was now occupied by his dream child, little Seven... No, Barzeb Seven was already an adult; he would be a grown-up from now on.
Time really flies!
Just as Whitebeard was lamenting about life, a wild and arrogant laughter suddenly rang out.
"Jieh-ha-ha-ha-ha~"
"Newgate, welcome to Hachinosu Island."
Golden Lion had flown over specifically for one purpose: to show off, to show off thoroughly in front of Whitebeard.
Look, Whitebeard, the steering wheel in my head is gone now.
Look, Whitebeard, my severed legs have grown back.
Look, Whitebeard, I'm about to obtain eternal youth and remain at my peak forever!
Golden Lion's showing off was extremely successful. Even Whitebeard, who had seen many great storms, couldn't help but be stunned for a few seconds before the corners of his mouth curled up.
"Gurarararara~"
"Congratulations, vice-captain Shiki!"
Whitebeard finally understood why someone as arrogant as Golden Lion could stay quietly under Seven's command for so long, neither making a scene nor causing trouble.
It turned out his legs had grown back.
Pulling out the steering wheel was barely within the realm of normalcy, but regrowing legs was truly bizarre.
This method was quite similar to that of Saint Jeygarsia Saturn, the Gorosei at God Valley years ago. Had Seven also mastered such "divine power"?
Hearing "vice-captain," Golden Lion snorted coldly.
"You guy, your mouth is as sharp as ever, Newgate."
If the Captain of the Morning Star Pirates were anyone else, even if Roger were alive, Golden Lion wouldn't deign to be the vice-captain. But Barzeb was different.
The various methods Barzeb displayed were almost no different from those of a legendary god.
Yielding to a man is a disgrace.
Accompanying a god is an honor.
Whitebeard didn't want to get too entangled with Golden Lion and casually changed the subject.
"How did you know we arrived here?"
Golden Lion puffed on his cigar.
"Our Captain said so. I didn't expect his Observation Haki to cover such a distance."
Hearing this, Whitebeard froze in place, because from their current position, not even the outline of Hachinosu Island could be seen.
Observation Haki... that far?
My dream child, he really is something!