New World, Raijin Island.
Bathed in thousands of thunderstorms, Seven let the current flow down his hair and over his shoulders, lazily stretching his limbs as if nothing were happening.
"Refreshing~ ah."
At this moment, both his body and his mood felt extremely pleasant.
After more than half a month, he finally succeeded in covering Thunder with Dual-color Haki. It was worth the three years he spent playing with lightning, even while eating and sleeping.
Whether lightning can be covered with Dual-color Haki makes a world of difference.
As everyone knows, Haki reigns supreme over everything.
Lightning covered in Armament Haki and Conquerors Haki Coating is a power on a completely different level. It's like having Tesoro and Garp trade punches; Tesoro would definitely be beaten into dust.
The gap between them is like a dimensional strike.
Following the crowd-clearing Conqueror's Haki, Seven gained another means of large-scale clearing—
Namely, condensing ten thousand swords from Thunder to kill all enemies, which perfectly fits the style of a Great Swordsman.
The next step is to wrap the Railgun, the Giant Lightning Dragon, and the Electromagnetic Storm with Dual-color Haki. Whether he actually needs to use them isn't important; what matters is mastering the technique.
With his goals achieved, Seven prepared to return to Hachinosu Island for the banquet. Calculating the time, the Whitebeard Pirates should be arriving soon.
Just as he left the thunderstorm area of Raijin Island, the den den mushi suddenly buzzed incessantly.
"moshi moshi."
den den mushi: "I am Saint Jeygarsia Saturn of the Gorosei."
Seven curled his lip, really wanting to retort: If you're Saint Jeygarsia Saturn of the Gorosei, then am I the Thunder God of Sky Island?
"Ah~ it's Lord Saint Jeygarsia Saturn."
"What are your instructions?"
The den den mushi pursed its lips, clearly imitating Saint Jeygarsia Saturn's satisfied expression: "Beelzebul, there is something the World Government intends to entrust to you."
"I would be very happy to, Lord Saint Jeygarsia Saturn."
As the saying goes, not making money when you can is foolish, especially when it's the World Government's money. As long as it doesn't violate his necessary conscience, Seven doesn't mind working for the World Government.
After all, his current entrepreneurial venture hasn't succeeded yet.
He's still short at least a million points before he can truly reach the level of 'not eating beef'.
The experience of a certain ancestor tells us: before success, you can discard your face at any time; after success, there will be great scholars to defend your actions.
In short, Seven's bottom line is very flexible.
The den den mushi spoke.
"The World Government has a Devil Fruit that accidentally ended up in the Giant Kingdom, Elbaf. You just need to retrieve this Devil Fruit."
Seven gave a cold laugh.
"Saint Jeygarsia Saturn, given that we've gotten along fairly well before, I didn't hang up immediately.
Who doesn't know that Giant King Harald is a man of the World Government? You're saying something so casually that even the Giant King couldn't do?
Since this is a collaboration, be honest."
Damn it, you really think you can play me like a fool.
Speaking so lightly, as if just sending someone for a trip to Elbaf could easily snatch back a legendary devil fruit.
If it were truly that simple, would God's Knights have returned empty-handed so many times?
The Lightning Squirrel Tie Lei that Seven has been thinking about has been guarding that legendary devil fruit for years, and even Harald couldn't get close.
The den den mushi paused for a moment, and its tone changed.
"Five Devil Fruits upon completion."
Seven said faintly.
"Does Lord Saint Jeygarsia Saturn not know that there are four members of the Morning Star Pirates among the Giant Race? How can you ask me, their Captain, to act against my crew?"
The den den mushi seemed to give up: "I didn't expect a man like you to actually care about such things?"
Seven's tone shifted.
"They are my brothers and dear friends; five Devil Fruits are clearly not enough."
Since he already knew the World Government was willing to pay a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit just to plant a mole, he had to open his mouth wide.
In terms of wealth, the World Government definitely stands above all in the Pirate World.
How much treasure and how many Devil Fruits the World Government has collected over eight hundred years, probably even that old thief Oda couldn't figure out.
The den den mushi tested: "Six?"
Seven smiled slightly: "Twenty. Half as a deposit upfront, and the balance upon completion."
Once the deposit is in hand, the initiative is no longer with the Gorosei. When to set off and whether the legendary devil fruit can be obtained after arriving in Elbaf would all be up to Seven.
Of course, a one-time deal definitely wouldn't do.
But if an accident occurred after handing the legendary devil fruit to the World Government, that would have nothing to do with Seven. It was worth planning carefully.
The den den mushi glared.
"A ten-fruit deposit is absolutely impossible. At most, three Devil Fruits as a deposit. Beelzebul, you aren't the only one working on this."
Hearing this, Seven quickly made a decision: get the three-fruit deposit first. No matter how much is promised, it's just a castle in the air.
Only what you have in hand is real.
Right, old man Kaido!
"Let's make it four for the deposit. If someone else completes it first, I'll return them to you then. Of course, it can also be treated as a deposit for the next commission."
"You know, I, Beelzebul, have always kept my promises, meant what I said, and have a great reputation."
The den den mushi opened its mouth: "Deal."
"However, there are too many pirates occupying the New World; I'm afraid the deposit cannot be sent within a short time..."
Seven interrupted: "I'm currently near the Red Line. Send someone over."
The den den mushi roared.
"What?!"
"What are you doing at the Red Line?"
"Beelzebul, we already provided compensation for the Buster Call. What more do you want?"
Saint Jeygarsia Saturn's stress response made Seven realize something: the Gorosei were truly afraid he would camp outside Holy Land Mary Geoise to hunt Celestial Dragons.
"Look at you, getting anxious again."
"I'm just passing by."
"Have someone deliver it to the port on the New World side of the Red Line. Remember to be quick; I still have to go back to Hachinosu Island for a birthday!"
Hanging up the den den mushi, Seven flew rapidly towards the Red Line port. After retrieving the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Nue, Kuma had already returned to Hachinosu Island first.
Holy Land Mary Geoise, Pangea Castle.
Inside the spacious and bright palace, Saint Jeygarsia Saturn handed the den den mushi to Saint V. Nusjuro, his expression somewhat unnatural.
"He told us it's his birthday... what's the intention?"
Saint V. Nusjuro, cradling the first generation oni-giri, had a rare smile curl at the corner of his mouth.
"What intention? He's asking you for a gift."
Saint Jeygarsia Saturn finally realized, and his expression became as distorted as if he'd eaten a Devil Fruit: To think that he, the dignified Saint Jeygarsia Saturn of the Gorosei and the number two decision-maker of the World Government, would actually be asked for a birthday gift by a pirate!?
Simply preposterous!
But then again, they had already reached a preliminary cooperation with Beelzebul and were even about to pay him a four-Devil Fruit deposit.
It's just a birthday gift.
Give it, we must give it!
"I'll go prepare the deposit," Saint Jeygarsia Saturn said, standing up and looking at the other Gorosei.
Saint V. Nusjuro quickly added: "Help me prepare a birthday gift for Beelzebul as well."
Saint V. Nusjuro: "Seconded."
Saint Peter: "Seconded."
Saint Mars: "Seconded."
Saint Jeygarsia Saturn left the palace sullenly to head to the Holy Land Treasury again to select Devil Fruits and a birthday gift for Beelzebul, muttering as he picked.
"Chikusho!!!"
"These four guys!!!"