Chapter 112: The Benefits Brought by Undercover Agents

As Shirou finished his report, Seven’s expression grew increasingly complex, utterly impossible to describe.

Is this the Pirate King world?

No, this is clearly the Undercover King world!

Seven knew the Marines had many undercover agents, but he never imagined the Morning Star Pirates would enjoy such a protagonist-level advantage.

Rossignol?

Gentle as Corazon?

Rossignol—the younger brother of Doflamingo, the adopted son of Marine Admiral Sakazuki, a descendant of the Celestial Dragon Donquixote family, codenamed Little Apple?

Well then, Sakazuki… not bad.

He even sent Rossignol, whom he treated like a son, to infiltrate the Morning Star Pirates—Sakazuki really knows how to invest.

Interesting. Very interesting.

The wings stirred by the Morning Star Pirates’ rapid rise have finally triggered a chain reaction: Rossignol, originally meant to infiltrate Flamingo, ended up on the Hive Island.

Is this the official start of the Great Undercover Era?

This made Seven begin to consider: who should he send to infiltrate the Marines?

After all, reciprocity is courtesy—the Marines can send undercover agents, so can pirates.

Send Tezoro?

Tezoro must stay behind to manage operations; his role is vital to the Morning Star Pirates’ future. Simply flooding the market with Air Island gold will crash prices, and gold will eventually run out.

Enel is more suitable.

First, no one knows his true identity; second, the Infinite Earth keeps him loyal—his allegiance shouldn’t be an issue.

Worth Seven’s serious consideration.

Since Rossignol was sent by the Marines, then Fours F, that unlucky bastard, must be the World Government’s undercover agent.

Fours F—Seven remembered him.

In the original timeline, Fours F was escorting the Gum-Gum Fruit when Shanks attacked and stole it, leading to his imprisonment.

After escaping prison, Fours F formed his own pirate crew and eventually joined the Beasts Pirates as one of the Six Supernovas.

The Marines sent Rossignol, the World Government sent Fours F—so is Vergo sent by Doflamingo?

Little Flamingo… not bad.

Born evil, isn’t he? So young, already learning how to play double agent.

A sudden wicked thought struck Seven: what if, in two years, he sent Vergo back to infiltrate again?

Whether back to Flamingo’s side or back to the Marines, it would be fascinating—why not even send him to the Beasts Pirates?

Leaving loyalty aside for now.

These three undercover agents are strong fighters; if Seven manipulates them well, he can gain real advantages and benefits.

Whether the Marines or the World Government,

why did they send undercover agents into the Morning Star Pirates? To gather more secrets, of course.

Want more secrets?

Fine. Start as a probationary crewmember. Earn enough merit to become a full crewmember, then discover you still can’t access core secrets—so earn more merit, rise to core officer.

The undercover agents will want promotions and raises; the Marines and World Government will eagerly assist them, opening every door.

“Captain?” Shirou asked cautiously.

Seven snapped out of his thoughts: “Bring them in. I’ll interview each one personally.”

They may all be strong fighters, but the Morning Star Pirates aren’t some place you just walk into.

Since the Marines, the World Government, and little Doflamingo dared send undercover agents, they must pay the price.

“Understood.” Shirou nodded.

“The Maritime King donated two additional ships of slaves. Master Tenghu is assigning them quarters—there are a few Fishman slaves among them, quite good.”

“Fishman slaves?” Seven paused.

“Thank you. Go on with your work.”

To Seven, slaves were one of the few things he still couldn’t accept after years in the pirate world—alongside coating ships with film.

It was a fundamental difference in worldview.

Some say cattle and horses are another kind of slave.

But cattle and horses have no execution line—even if deeply in debt, they still survive. Especially since the new era began, news of people starving to death has nearly vanished.

But in the pirate world, dying of hunger is normal.

Back in Housha Town, Seven often went hungry; that childhood experience made him cherish every scrap of food he received.

He could turn the most ordinary ingredients into the most delicious meals—and cooking badly? That was an insult to food.

Soon, Tenghu rushed into the office; before he spoke, Seven already knew his purpose.

“Master Tenghu, whether on Hive Island or any future Morning Star Pirates outpost, there are only cattle and horses—no slaves.”

Tenghu nodded firmly: “Understood.”

“Sorry—I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

After seizing Hive Island, Seven slaughtered all the pirates who had occupied it—this had stirred unease in Tenghu’s heart.

Has the captain changed?

But Seven’s attitude toward slaves put Tenghu’s mind at ease, and he threw himself into his work—assigning jobs to the slaves.

Tenghu’s cherished sense of justice didn’t oppose Seven—but with one necessary condition: it must not harm the Morning Star Pirates.

Among all current crewmembers,

Mihawk is bound by loyalty—he will draw his sword for Seven no matter what; Daxiong and Jin Ni are partners; Rainy Shirou is a fanatic admirer.

Tenghu is gradually changing his old convictions, willing to work with Seven toward the dream of everyone having enough to eat.

Golden Lion has his own plans.

Ding~ ding~ ding~

Shirou returned: “Captain, the three promising candidates are outside. I assigned the rest to patrol duty.”

Seven silently gave a thumbs-up. No wonder he’d worked in government—efficient, organized, an exceptionally rare talent.

He should recruit more people from the World Government and the Marines.

Moments later, when the first interviewee, Fours F, stepped in and saw Golden Lion on the sofa and Seven behind the desk—

Fours F lowered his head silently.

Fours F knew all the news about the legendary pirate Golden Lion and the new Sea Emperor Barzab Seven—he’d been specially trained by the World Government before coming to Hive Island.

But standing before these two men, he finally understood what true oppression felt like.

Like those online tough guys who go all-in on the internet but turn into trembling cowards in reality.

“Give me a reason.”

At once, Fours F lifted his head.

Seven spoke without expression: “Give me a reason why I should take you on.”

Fours F took a deep breath.

“Captain, I’m a Zoan-type Cat-Cat Fruit, Ancient Species, Saber-Toothed Tiger form user—I’m strong, eat little, and can do any job.”

“And… and—I know the location of a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.”

“Pfft~”

Golden Lion spat out his iced black tea, thinking the world had gone utterly absurd—was fate really this kind to you?

First Roger, now Barzab.

Just casually interviewing a new pirate recruit, and you get the location of a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit?

Impossible! Fate is so unfair!

Seven was equally stunned—he never expected the World Government to invest so heavily in a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

This was a Mythical Zoan!

At the same time, Seven regretted his two kidnappings of Ilean Saint.

Damn it—I asked for too little!

I should’ve demanded several Devil Fruits.

The only silver lining: now he knew the World Government’s wealth. Next time he met Ilean Saint, he’d demand at least twenty!

Seven’s tone softened: “Tell me.”

Fours F exhaled: “Captain, I don’t know exactly what kind of Mythical Zoan it is—I only got this information by chance.”

“Good.” Seven nodded.

“Later, I’ll go with you. If the information checks out, you’ll start as a probationary crewmember.”

“You may leave.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Compared to his earlier tension, Fours F now seemed noticeably relaxed. He quickly closed the door and stood beside Shirou, waiting for his next call.

Inside the office, Golden Lion sat on the sofa.

“Lucky day, Captain.”

“Mythical Zoans are rarer than Logias—each one is top-tier. Too bad, aside from Mihawk and the Impel Down kid… everyone else here is a Devil Fruit user.”

“Yeah.” Seven sighed, equally frustrated.

If the intelligence brought by Foze Fue is a highly powerful Mythical Zoan, should we still consume the Suisui Fruit?

He finally understood: what it meant to suffer yet be happy.

As of now, Seven possesses three Devil Fruits: the Ship-Ship Fruit, the Suisui Fruit, and the Teleportation Fruit, all Paramecia types.

The Ship-Ship Fruit can manifest anything from a spaceship to a small raft—it has an extremely high upper limit but also a very low lower limit, requiring a user with rich imagination.

The same is true of the Teleportation Fruit.

The Suisui Fruit demands not only imagination, but also unwavering belief that the imagined thing truly exists.

At this moment, the second interviewee knocked and entered.

“Captain Barzab Seven, I am Roswardi, the Silent Man who ate the Silence Fruit.”