Elbaf, Royal Palace.
Watching the guards accompany Beelzebul to Iron Thunder Castle, Harald waved and gave specific instructions to the guard commander.
"Follow Beelzebul. If he only touches Iron Thunder, leave him be. But if he tries to steal the national treasure, stop him immediately for a moment,"
"I'll be there as soon as I've finished my business."
Harald planned to record and preserve all the secrets he had just learned to avoid accidentally forgetting any key information in the future.
Recalling the rumors that Beelzebul kept his promises, Harald actually believed eighty percent of it, while the remaining twenty percent still needed to be verified in person.
On the other side, Elbaf Royal Palace.
Perhaps it was psychological, but Seven's vigilance was pushed to the limit when facing Harald just now, fearing that Imu might pop up the next second and say something.
"Surprised? Unexpected?"
Seven hadn't experienced this feeling of constant vigilance for three years since activating the system.
Honestly, it felt like dancing on the edge of a blade—a real adrenaline rush.
It stimulated him to continue growing stronger.
Seven couldn't imagine how thrilling it would be when he personally went to the Holy Land Mary Geoise or even reached the Flower Chamber.
It would surely be exhilarating.
Under the shallow sea contract Harald currently signed, he would be completely unable to disobey Imu's orders as long as he was within the range of Imu's ability.
Fortunately, it was only a shallow sea contract for now.
The distance between Elbaf and Mary Geoise far exceeded the range of the shallow sea contract.
As for who to pay to help distract the World Government, Seven planned to find the Revolutionary Army. They were penniless right now and would certainly not refuse a benefactor's sponsorship.
Where would the money come from? He could use the gold from the Gold Country to pay in advance on behalf of Elbaf.
He could just ask Harald for it later.
After a few back-and-forths, wouldn't there be a debt of gratitude?
This way, he could invest in the Revolutionary Army's dreams, allowing them to enter a stage of rapid development and draw the attention of the World Government and the Marine.
He could also buy time for Harald so that he wouldn't be pressured step by step by the World Government.
Spending Elbaf's money while gaining two favors for himself—Seven was truly winning big.
Walking through the palace, the various mountain-like giant buildings and the giant guards protecting the palace made Seven feel self-conscious about his height for the first time.
Seven was eighteen years old and currently stood at 2.9 meters tall.
In the One Piece World, he would normally be considered tall, but in front of these giant warriors who averaged about twenty meters, he was undoubtedly a shorty.
He wasn't even as tall as the Lightning Squirrel Iron Thunder.
The reason he was so intent on tricking Iron Thunder was because of the next step in his Rumble-Rumble Fruit development: Thunder God Form, forging a divine body with lightning.
A hundred-meter-tall Thunder God Form was more than enough; even Loki was only sixty-Seven meters tall.
When that time came, Iron Thunder would come in handy.
With their powers combined, Seven would be the Thunder God Beelzebul wielding the blade musou isshin, as well as the Thunder God possessing the Hammer of Thor.
He could control lightning and had the divine weapon Iron Thunder; how could he not be considered a Thunder God?
Iron Thunder itself was at least Emperor's Deputy level, and being soft and fluffy, it would be an incredibly comfortable body pillow—much more impressive than Buraud sleeping on Bepo.
Finally, guided by the palace guards,
Seven successfully opened the giant door of the castle where Iron Thunder was located. Before his eyes was a massive hammer and a locked treasure chest beside it.
Seven silently activated Conquerors Haki Defense, while surrounding his left hand with Lunarian Tribe flames and even pulling the blade musou isshin from his chest.
It was said that if anyone tried to approach the treasure chest, the Lightning Squirrel Iron Thunder would let out a cry and launch a head-on heavy strike.
However, this time, nothing happened.
"Nani?!"
"Are you looking down on me?"
Or perhaps, the presence of musou isshin made Iron Thunder reluctant to attack—a mutual respect between divine artifacts?
"Hey, Lightning Squirrel."
"I'm your big brother, the Thunder God Beelzebul."
The giant hammer remained silent, simply guarding the treasure chest without moving, as if it were a real weapon and could not transform into a Lightning Squirrel.
"Lightning Squirrel, are you hungry?"
Seven took out various braised delicacies and fine wines, placing them near the treasure chest one by one, trying to capture the Lightning Squirrel's stomach with food and drink.
The giant hammer Iron Thunder remained motionless.
"Lightning Squirrel, you can discharge electricity, and I can not only discharge electricity but also play with fire. Come with me, and I'll definitely find you dozens of female squirrels."
"If you like male squirrels... that's fine too."
Even seduction didn't work? Seven raised an eyebrow, and in an instant, another plan formed in his mind.
"Lightning Squirrel, let me tell you the story of the Thunder God and his hammer, Mjolnir."
"Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, there was a Thunder God who was 2.9 meters tall, with silver hair as white as snow and a magnificent appearance. What was even more precious was that he had a weapon that was like his closest friend: the Hammer of Thor."
"The two brothers sailed on a ship with a dragon head and red sails, traversing a great era of piracy."
"But in the battle against the ultimate villain Imu, the Thunder God Beelzebul fell and was reincarnated, while the Hammer of Thor landed in Elbaf."
After rambling for a long time, Seven changed his tone.
"Don't doubt it, Iron Thunder. I am your former big brother, Beelzebul."
"Come along with me."
The giant guard responsible for guiding Seven stood there, eyes downcast and mind focused, thinking that the story this Little White Hair was telling... was just too interesting.
Could Iron Thunder really be the Hammer of Thor?
I'll definitely tell the guys about the legend of the Thunder God and the Hammer of Thor when I get back.
No matter how much Seven talked until his throat was dry, the giant hammer Iron Thunder remained indifferent. Seven had no choice but to take a few gulps of Dandelion Wine to moisten his throat.
There was simply no opportunity for communication.
Damn electric mouse, how hateful!
Seven simply sat down beside the giant hammer, pondering how to make Iron Thunder transform into the Lightning Squirrel on its own; otherwise, how could he start his great art of deception?
When Harald arrived at Iron Thunder Castle and saw Beelzebul sitting motionless near Iron Thunder, his eyes widened in surprise.
What exactly was going on?
Why hadn't Iron Thunder attacked Beelzebul?
Something was wrong, very wrong.
After ordering the guards to withdraw, Harald stood at the castle entrance with flickering eyes, wondering about something... In the First Half of the Grand Line, Paradise.
Buggy's Pirate Ship, deck.
Two red-nosed men had their arms around each other's shoulders, laughing heartily while dancing a joyful jig.
"Going to deliver Binks' Sake~"
"To your side~"
"Like the sea breeze, doing as we please, riding the waves~"
"Yo-ho-ho-ho, yo-ho-ho-ho~"
After singing, Foxy hugged Buggy's shoulders with tears in his eyes. After spending these days together, their friendship had deepened to the point where he couldn't help himself.
"Brother Buggy!"
"Brother Foxy!"
After pouring their hearts out to each other, Foxy finally couldn't help but offer a reminder.
"Brother Buggy, the New World is crawling with great pirates—Emperors of the Sea like Whitebeard, Beelzebul, the Great Pirate Kaido, Big Mom..."
"Maybe we shouldn't go."
Buggy grinned even wider. "Don't be afraid, Brother Foxy."
"Seven is my brother."
Foxy and the pirate lackeys froze for a few seconds before suddenly realizing who Seven was.
"Nani?!"
"Captain Buggy, Emperor of the Sea Barzeb Seven is your brother?!"
Buggy quickly covered his mouth, thinking "Oh no" as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
[Crap, I accidentally let it slip.]
"Aha... Hahaha! You heard wrong. My brother Seven just happens to be on Hachinosu Island, but he's not that Emperor of the Sea, Beelzebul."
"Oh!" Foxy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Since Brother Buggy has someone in the New World, let's go check out Hachinosu Island."