Out on the seas…
Who could possibly have a stronger background than Luffy?
His father is the leader of the Revolutionary Army, his grandfather is a Navy hero, his mentor is Red-Haired Shanks, his older brother is Ace, son of Roger, his other brother Sabo, and in the future, he even has Rayleigh, the Dark King, as his teacher.
There was no one with a stronger background.
But, of course, it couldn't be Luffy, who was still young and not involved in any of this yet.
So who was it?
Everyone turned, naturally, to Kuke—their captain, who seemed to know everything.
Kuke pondered.
Was there anyone in the original Seven Warlords line-up who matched such a background?
No, there wasn't.
But in later iterations of the Seven Warlords, was there someone who fit this description?
There might be one possibility.
"It could be Whitebeard's son," Kuke guessed, though he wasn't completely certain.
"What?"
"Whitebeard's son? Someone from the Whitebeard Pirates might join the Seven Warlords? That doesn't make sense—the Seven Warlords were created to counterbalance the Sea Emperors."
It was hard to believe.
Kuke looked at Shakky. "Shakky, does Whitebeard actually have a son?"
His curiosity was genuine.
In the original story, Edward Weevil claimed to be Whitebeard's son, but he only appeared after Whitebeard's death. He wielded the same weapon, had a similar beard, and even exhibited strength reminiscent of a young Whitebeard.
But his foolish demeanor made it hard to believe.
And given his mother Bakkin's small stature, Kuke found it hard to imagine how the six-meter-tall Whitebeard could've fathered a child with her.
"Back when we were on the Rocks Pirates, there was no mention of Whitebeard having a wife or a child," Shakky recalled.
"So that means it's probably fake."
"Not necessarily," Shakky continued, thinking back. "On the Rocks Pirates, there were two crazy women whose dream was to gather the genes of the strongest men and create the ultimate next generation."
Kuke's ears perked up, sensing some juicy gossip.
One of these women was undoubtedly Big Mom.
But who was the other?
"One was Charlotte Linlin. She was incredibly talented, a top officer in the Rocks Pirates, and her strength and status weren't much lower than Whitebeard's. In her youth, she looked nothing like she does now, and most people on the ship would've been more than willing to share her bed, unable to resist her allure."
The women on the ship wrinkled their noses in disgust at such a wanton nature.
"And the other was Bakkin. She was a low-level officer, unremarkable in appearance and small in stature, so no one took an interest in her. Since she couldn't achieve her goals in the same way as Charlotte, she chose a different approach: science… particularly, obtaining Whitebeard's genes."
Kuke understood now.
Edward Weevil was Whitebeard's son—and also not.
Who would've thought Whitebeard would have such an embarrassing story tied to him?
He probably didn't even know about it.
Kuke couldn't help but feel a bit sympathetic for Whitebeard.
Suddenly, everyone's gaze turned to Kuke.
"What?" he asked, a bit confused.
"Captain, your genes are probably the strongest in the seas. Don't you think a lot of people might be eyeing you?" Belo Betty boldly voiced everyone's thoughts.
Kuke: "…"
"Which is why we shouldn't give anyone the chance," Stussy teased, seductively tracing her lips.
Gion instinctively nodded in agreement.
"Let's get back to the paper," Kuke said, pointing to the newspaper to deflect.
The next silhouette had an intriguing title.
"The Strongest King."
There were nearly two hundred allied nations in the world, not to mention those unaffiliated. It was difficult to pinpoint who it could be.
Unable to find an answer, everyone looked to Kuke.
"Bartholomew Kuma," he said.
As a former king of the North Blue, Kuma's strength could indeed qualify him as the strongest among kings.
"The Strongest Sea Warrior."
"Jinbe!"
"The Strongest Talent."
Kuke paused.
Only two possibilities remained: Crocodile or Gecko Moria.
Both had incredible potential when they were younger and were once on the path to becoming true powerhouses. But after severe defeats, they each fell into decline, their strength stagnating or even regressing, turning the title of Seven Warlords into something of a joke.
"It's probably Crocodile," Kuke deduced.
"How absurd—Crocodile as the Strongest Talent?" Everyone laughed at the thought.
"The Most Bizarre Ability."
"Gecko Moria."
Clearly, the Navy couldn't find any attribute of Moria's that was the strongest, so they had to go with "Most Bizarre."
"These seven titles of 'strongest' are nothing but a farce," Gion declared proudly.
None of these titles were truly deserving of the word.
"The higher the Navy lifts them, the harder they'll fall," Kuke smirked, hoping the Navy would elevate the Seven Warlords to the highest point so he could bring them crashing down himself.
The greater the influence, the more achievements he could collect.
"Captain, Dressrosa is just thirty kilometers away."
This newspaper quickly circulated around the world.
"Seven of the Strongest?" The seas were in an uproar.
Previously, only Whitebeard and Kaido held such titles, one as the Strongest Man and the other as the Strongest Creature.
Even Big Mom, one of the Sea Emperors, wasn't universally recognized as the strongest.
Some claimed Big Mom had the strongest physique or the strongest defense; others called her the strongest woman. But none of these titles had unanimous approval.
"Strongest" wasn't a title one could claim for oneself. It had to be acknowledged by all.
"Ha! Now there are seven with the title of 'strongest'—the Seven Warlords must be powerful!"
"With the Seven Warlords around, it'll be tougher for pirates, but better for us."
"Remember, the Seven Warlords are pirates too."
"What's there to fear? Didn't the paper say that the Seven Warlords must follow the World Government's orders? They're essentially legalized, and if they step out of line, the Navy will handle them."
"Right, the Seven Warlords do more good than harm."
When the news of the Seven Warlords' formation first broke, many nations were uneasy.
But thanks to relentless propaganda from the World Government and the Navy, who promoted only the benefits of the Seven Warlords while concealing the drawbacks, the perception began to shift.
Gradually, many nations and citizens stopped viewing the Seven Warlords with resistance.
Instead, they began to look forward to them.
They hoped that the Seven Warlords, as allies of the government, could make a difference and bring an end to the age of piracy.
This unprecedented institution had sparked new hope.
But the monsters of the New World weren't as easily convinced. They couldn't help but feel the pressure.
Especially with two Admirals stationed in the New World.
Unless they united, it would be difficult for any one emperor crew to break the Navy's blockade.
"It's all Kuke's fault. Even dead, he's helping to bolster the Seven Warlords, giving the Navy a perfect chance to promote them," someone cursed Kuke.
If it weren't for him…
The Seven Warlords' influence couldn't have spread so widely in just a few short months.
They could only imagine the scene a week from now.
On the day of its official establishment, built upon Kuke's grave, the Seven Warlords would rise to an unprecedented height of fame.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 144+ at patreon.com/Emik01.
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In the kingdom of Dressrosa…
This nation was considered a great power in terms of economy, military strength, and territorial size. Citizens went about their lives with cheerful smiles, while toy figures lined the streets, assisting people as they worked. Everyone's smiles appeared genuine.
But the truth behind the smiles…
All who dared resist had been transformed into toys, their existence erased from the memory of the world.
Dressrosa's darkness remained deeply hidden.
Within the palace, the Donquixote Family members gathered in celebration.
"Just a couple of days ago, a team from the World Government's press arrived and documented everything here. It looks like they're going to use Dressrosa as a model example for the Seven Warlords. Soon, the Young Master will stand as the very symbol of this institution!"
"Hahaha! Indeed, our Young Master is destined to be a king!"
"When the Young Master returns, it will be under the title of Warlord!"
The officers were elated, caught up in a festive mood.
All except for Viola.
Standing apart, Viola looked out over the flourishing kingdom with a heavy heart, feeling a chill inside. Forced into the Donquixote Family, she had fallen from a princess of her homeland to the subordinate of an enemy.
Learning that Doflamingo was to become a Warlord of the Sea…
Had crushed her hope.
Especially after the World Government's recent coverage of Dressrosa.
It was clear to her now—the World Government planned to present Dressrosa as proof that the Seven Warlords benefited the seas.
This meant that the former royal family of Dressrosa would be condemned as traitors, forever branded as villains. Even if she somehow managed to defeat Doflamingo and overthrow his rule, the World Government and Navy would never support it. Dressrosa had become their ideal model.
A model that could not be changed.
Forced into the Donquixote Family, Viola had initially resolved to stay hidden, waiting for the right moment to bring Doflamingo down. But now…
She saw no possibility for the future.
"One week from now, everything will be set in stone," she thought. "There will be no more chances."
One week was her final opportunity.
Her only chance, as Doflamingo had already departed for the Sabaody Archipelago.
"What should I do?" Viola pondered in silence.
The best plan would be to expose the Donquixote Family's dark secrets in Doflamingo's absence, bringing everything to light.
"But… can I do it?"
Viola glanced at the officers present at the party.
They were all here.
She didn't stand a chance against them.
"Viola, the Young Master has warned you before—stay in line," Torrebol sneered, eyeing her with his unsettling gaze.
The only reason she was still alive…
Was because her ability served the family's interests.
She closed her eyes, feeling powerless.
"Is Doflamingo, that coward, not here?"
A cool voice shattered the lively atmosphere of the banquet.
The Donquixote Family officers froze, their eyes widening with fury.
Who dared call their Young Master a coward?
Whoever it was…
They would be ripped apart.
The officers shot up from their seats, murderously scanning the area, searching for the one who dared speak such insolence.
"Whoever dares insult the Young Master shall die!" screeched Pica, his high-pitched voice shrill with anger. "No matter who… Stussy of the Pleasure Quarter?!"
All eyes landed on the doorway, where Stussy leaned casually against the frame, painting her nails.
"Insult? I told Doflamingo this to his face, and he didn't dare utter a word in protest—he only ran," Stussy replied with disdain, sparing the group of officers a glance.
She had no reason to fear them, especially now that she possessed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Torrebol's face turned pale with panic as he tried to discreetly pull out a transponder snail, attempting to contact Doflamingo.
Shing!
A swift slash of sword energy sliced through the room, severing Torrebol's arms.
"Gion!"
Gion's reputation far exceeded Stussy's.
From what they'd heard from Doflamingo himself, Gion's strength was terrifying—just the thought of her sent a chill down his spine.
"What are you here for? The Donquixote Family has no quarrel with the Sun and Moon Pirates."
"Why would you risk the wrath of the seas' monsters to come here?" Diamante demanded.
"No quarrel? And who was it that leaked information about the Op-Op Fruit? Doflamingo, that coward, even tried to ambush us," Stussy sneered as she finished painting her nails and stepped further into the room.
"What do you want?"
The officers eyed Stussy warily.
"Who here is Viola?" Gion asked from the window, scanning the women in the group.
"Me?"
Viola pointed at herself in disbelief.
The infamous Sun and Moon Pirates… had come for her?
Why would they go to such lengths for someone like her?
"No wonder the Captain wants her; she's beautiful," Shakky said with a smile as she ran a hand gently over Viola's face.
Viola stood frozen in shock.
"So, you're here for Viola. Now that you've got what you wanted, leave before we're forced to retaliate. If we reveal your location, you're finished," Torrebol threatened, though his voice shook with fear.
They knew they stood no chance against Gion and Stussy.
"Are you threatening us?"
A chilling voice echoed through the hall, carrying a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki.
Boa Hancock entered, each step radiating authority.
The officers swallowed hard, fear glinting in their eyes.
Another with Conqueror's Haki?
The strength within the Sun and Moon Pirates was overwhelming—where was the Young Master to save them now?
"You're welcome to try and alert anyone outside," Hancock taunted, looking down upon the officers.
Belo Betty stepped inside as well, activating her ROOM ability to cover the entire room.
The officers reached into their pockets, only to find that their transponder snails had vanished, replaced by ordinary rocks.
Despair filled their faces.
Though they couldn't be certain of the situation outside, the fact that Gion and her crew had made it inside without a sound likely meant that their men had already been taken out.
"Bring over the other women."
Hancock's eyes scanned the remaining officers before resting on a young Baby-5, whose age was close to that of Kuina and her friends. She also saw Monet, nearly grown up, and the frightened Sugar, clinging to Monet.
Hancock wanted to see if any of them were worthy of joining the Sun and Moon Pirates.
The officers, including Pica and Torrebol, felt a brief glimmer of hope as an idea came to mind—
the power of Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 144+ at patreon.com/Emik01.
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