Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
A group of high-ranking officials led by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Marine Hero Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru were all gathered in the meeting room, with the exception of Akainu and Aokiji, who had gone to Ohara to execute the Buster Call.
Kizaru, who was currently escorting Saint Elaine, attended the meeting remotely via den den mushi.
"Brannew," Sengoku spoke, signaling him.
The Meeting King, Brannew, took a deep breath, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.
If not for his skill at presiding over meetings, how could Brannew, as a Marine Headquarters Warrant Officer, become the most prominent figure in the room and stand on the stage?
Everyone sitting below him held a higher rank than he did.
"Fellow colleagues."
"Today, we are discussing the bounty of Barzeb Seven, a former member of the Roger Pirates."
"Beelzebul hails from the East Blue."
The Marine officers silently turned their heads to look in the direction of Vice Admiral Garp.
Isn't it said that the East Blue is the weakest sea?
Why was there first the Pirate King Roger, and now a madman who kidnapped a Celestial Dragon and successfully extorted a ransom from the World Government?
If you count Vice Admiral Garp as well, the East Blue is practically overflowing with talent.
"According to information sent back by former CP9 agent Lu Bian Yi Tiao: Beelzebul awakened Conqueror's Haki at the age of eight and was invited to join the Roger Pirates at nine."
Inside the meeting room, the sound of people gasping for breath rang out one after another, as if it were contagious.
"Eight years old... the Qualities of a King."
Among the entire Marine high command, only Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Marine Hero Garp possess Conqueror's Haki, which shows how rare the Qualities of a King are.
An eight-year-old child... how terrifying.
Brannew cleared his throat.
"During the following five years, Beelzebul followed the Roger Pirates, participating in the Edwar Sea Battle, collecting Poneglyphs, and heading to the Final Island, Raftel."
"Two years ago, he briefly appeared in Loguetown... to see off the Pirate King Roger."
"Two months later, he attacked CP9 at the port of Sandy Island and made off with a World Government prisoner."
"At the same time, Beelzebul is currently the only member of the Roger Pirates active on the sea, excluding Douglas Bullet, who was arrested by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, and Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
"According to news sent back from Sabaody Archipelago, his Conqueror's Haki..."
Brannew paused for a moment, still unable to find the words to describe it; Conqueror's Haki was far beyond the understanding of a Marine Headquarters Warrant Officer.
The den den mushi spoke, imitating Kizaru's tone.
"He has mastered Conquerors Haki Coating and possesses strength no less than that of the Giant Race. His weapon is a Purple-bladed Katana, suspected to be an unknown supreme grade blade."
After saying this, the den den mushi fell silent.
Sengoku's expression grew increasingly solemn, and even Garp, who usually acted out of line, sat up slightly and explained in a deep voice.
"Conquerors Haki Coating can only be mastered by the top-tier powerhouses; for reference, look at pirates like Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion."
As the words fell, the Marine officers felt their throats go dry and their heads buzz.
"He's only 17, right?"
Brannew spoke up quickly, drawing everyone's focus back: "He is exactly seventeen this year."
"Mastering Conquerors Haki Coating at seventeen."
"What a monster."
Kizaru, far away on the Celestial Dragons' luxury yacht, curled his lip silently: Your information is outdated; he mastered Conquerors Haki Coating at fifteen.
Sengoku slapped the table, interrupting the discussion: "Now, everyone, tell me, what should Beelzebul's bounty be set at?"
"500 million."
"700 million."
The Marine meeting room was like an auction house, with prices being called out higher and higher, though they still hadn't exceeded two billion.
The den den mushi spoke again, imitating Kizaru.
"I personally suggest three billion. It's said that Beelzebul is on very good terms with the Marine Hunter Mihawk, and I suspect Mihawk has already joined his crew."
Some things weren't right to say at the moment.
Kizaru didn't know how to bring it up either. He couldn't exactly talk about his deal with Beelzebul, could he? If he did, would he still be an Admiral?
But if he didn't say anything, he worried that if the Marines pursued Beelzebul too aggressively in the future, it would be hard to settle things.
After a brief silence.
A buzz of noisy chatter erupted.
"Three billion? You've got to be joking!"
"The Marines have no such precedent."
Vice Admiral Tsuru tapped the table with her pen: "Borsalino, is the information reliable?"
Only then did the Marine officers realize they had just heard that Hawkeye Mihawk might have joined the crew.
The den den mushi wore a wretched expression.
"It's information I picked up on Sandy Island two years ago. When I was rescuing Saint Elaine this time, I asked Beelzebul casually."
"He said: 'Guess.'"
The den den mushi fell silent again.
Vice Admiral Tsuru frowned.
"Three billion... is not quite appropriate. Rashly setting a three-billion-berry bounty for Beelzebul would likely make the Marines a laughingstock, even if it were true."
"Let's set it at one billion for now," Vice Admiral Tsuru decided.
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
The bounty poster for Beelzebul was issued by Marine Headquarters and sent to every Marine branch in the four seas and the Grand Line.
Upon hearing the news, Morgans, the president of the World Economic News Paper who had been strictly ordered to keep his mouth shut, immediately put his hands on his hips and laughed uncontrollably.
"Beelzebul, I knew I wasn't wrong about you."
Being unable to report the kidnapping of the Celestial Dragon became a point of pain in Morgans' heart.
The current Morgans was not yet the news fanatic of later generations who would step-by-step test the World Government's bottom line; the World Government's warnings were still effective for now.
"We must print more newspapers immediately!"
Pirate King Roger had been executed, the emperor of the sea Whitebeard was playing house on the ocean, and Golden Lion Shiki and Bullet were locked in Impel Down—
In the past two years, newspaper sales had been dropping lower and lower.
For the sake of sales, Morgans decided to turn Barzeb Seven into the new top star of the pirates... Sabaody Archipelago, Shakkys Rip-off Bar.
Rayleigh stared at the newspaper in his hand, sighing with emotion: "One billion already."
A few days ago, Seven had exchanged gold for Berries. While paying Shakky's commission, he had also lent Rayleigh 300 million Berries to pay off his gambling debts.
Rayleigh was now free of debt and felt light as a feather.
"Perhaps I should tell Seven the location of the oro jackson, so it doesn't end up forgotten..."
After all, it was an old partner that had accompanied him for over ten years; Rayleigh was truly reluctant to part with it. And now, it seemed Seven was fully qualified to inherit Roger's will.
However, Rayleigh knew.
When they reached the Final Island, someone had secretly made a copy of the Eternal Pose. After Roger found out, he threw the Eternal Pose into the sea.
But it wasn't Seven.
Seven had made copies of the Eternal Pose with Roger's consent, even making several of them.
Seven didn't care about Roger's will at all.
"It's really strange. Why has business been so poor these last two days? Usually, at this time, the bar would be at least half full."
Shakky blew a smoke ring.
"The little guy kidnapped a Celestial Dragon on Grove 1 and successfully extorted a ransom from the World Government. The pirates who heard the news were all scared away."
Rayleigh was stunned for a few seconds, then laughed out loud.
"That's exactly the kind of way to make a fortune he would think of."
While on the Roger Pirates, Seven was famous for his unconventional way of thinking, often discussing with Buggy and Shanks how they could make big money.
Buggy: "It has to be digging for treasure."
Shanks: "Finding the great treasure."
Seven: "Whoever has money, rob them."