Chapter 44: The Meeting King Is in a Meeting

“Them?”

“Those four are now like ticking bombs—wherever they go, disaster follows. To avoid harming innocent civilians, I, the captain, have no choice but to bear the burden alone.”

“Find a moment to imprison them on Skypiea.”

As the last surviving scholars of Ohara, they are hunted not only by the World Government and the Marines, but also by every pirate determined to find the One Piece.

They’re practically a golden prize.

Seven stood up and laughed: “To celebrate our imminent fame across the seas, let’s throw a banquet!”

After the Ohara Massacre, each member of the Morning Star Pirates’ bounties are bound to skyrocket. The Marines want to suppress the bounties? Let them first get past Sakazuki.

Sakazuki: “Set Barzab’s bounty at one billion? Are you insulting him—or me?!”

Ichi smiled.

“I’ve long heard from Mr. Mihawk that the captain is an exceptional cook. Today, I’ll savor every bite.”

To uphold the justice his crew stood for, the captain faced head-on the Marine force dispatched for the Ohara Massacre, and that sealed Ichi’s resolve: to walk beside the captain to the very end.

Until the end of the voyage.

“Don’t worry—we’ll feed you till you burst!”

As the Morning Star Pirates’ sole chef, Seven became the backbone of the banquet, firing up three stoves at once, chopping with one hand and tossing the wok with the other.

“Blackie… Robin, come serve the dishes.”

Nico Robin, only eight years old, looked dark and sallow—perhaps from Ohara’s scorching sun, or because she went hungry at her uncle’s house.

She had none of the dazzling pale beauty she’d later possess.

Though she had endured the despair of the Ohara Massacre, Seven rescued her—and even saved her mother, Nico Olvia, who had been sentenced to death by Kuzan.

Nico Robin quickly adapted to the pirate crew’s atmosphere.

An eight-year-old child with her mother beside her has no real worries.

On the deck of the East Sea Emperor, an open-air banquet hall.

The massive table was piled high with all manner of dishes, yet Seven the chef kept cooking, even pausing briefly to stun several large fish with Conqueror’s Haki.

“Misan, haul in those fish—we’re running low on ingredients.”

The three crew members had just fought a major battle, and with Seven the glutton among them, they needed at least forty portions to ensure no one went hungry.

Ding-ding-ding-ding—the chopping never stopped.

It made Seven feel as if he’d returned to his days as chef aboard the Golden Jackson—carefree, cooking for the crew whenever the mood struck.

Whenever danger arose, he only needed to hide behind Dr. Crocus with Buggy.

Why not hide behind the captain?

Beside the gold, silver, and bronze mainstays, whether in battle or peace, was always the most dangerous place to be.

Finally, he placed the last dish—grilled yellowtail—on the table, then raised his cup brimming with juice.

“Let’s eat! Let’s eat!”

The little black girl rubbed her hands: “Thank you, Captain.”

…

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

After receiving orders from the World Government to adjust bounties, Marine Headquarters convened another meeting.

Branew, the Meeting King, took a deep breath.

“Comrades, this meeting is chaired by Marine Lieutenant Branew, to discuss the bounties of the Morning Star Pirates.”

Attendees include Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Kizaru, Vice Admiral He...

“Generals Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Mihawk, joining remotely via Den Den Mushi.”

“Please look at the main screen.”

The projection Den Den Mushi cast its image onto the large screen.

Branew pointed to three figures on the screen and introduced them in turn—

“Barzab Seven, grand swordsman, user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, former member of the Roger Pirates, current captain of the Morning Star Pirates, possessing the qualities of a king.”

“Dracule Mihawk, grand swordsman, vice-captain of the Morning Star Pirates, wielder of one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords, Black Blade Yoru. Rumor claims Mihawk is the world’s greatest swordsman.”

“Ichi, grand swordsman, user of the Gravity-Gravity Fruit, wielder of one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords, Gambler’s Fireline, former captain of the Cang Kingdom’s guard force.”

With that, Branew cleared his throat.

“These three ruthless villains attempted to obstruct the Massacre Order personally signed by Admiral Sengoku and carried out by Generals Sakazuki and Kuzan.”

“Fortunately, under Admiral Sengoku’s command and with perfect execution by Generals Sakazuki and Kuzan, the only one taken by the Morning Star Pirates was Nico Robin.”

In the meeting room, Garp scratched his ear.

Before Garp could speak, the Den Den Mushi on the table spoke first.

“Branew, save the flattery.”

“Yes, General Sakazuki.”

The Den Den Mushi continued: “Barzab’s Conqueror’s Haki has the ability to nullify Observation Haki. During our clash, my Observation Haki was virtually useless.”

As soon as he finished, the room erupted into a buzzing chaos.

“What nonsense—nullify Observation Haki?”

“How are we supposed to fight him?”

For Marine officers, Armament and Observation Haki were nearly universal—everyone knew how vital Observation Haki was.

But now someone could nullify it?

Kizaru, newly promoted to Admiral, tapped the table lightly: “Sakazuki, describe it in detail.”

Kizaru had thought he’d already revealed Barzab’s full strength—he never imagined he’d underestimated him.

Nullifying Observation Haki? Terrifying.

Thank goodness I didn’t push too hard.

The Den Den Mushi paused, then continued.

“One-on-one, you cannot sense his presence or his attack trajectory through Observation Haki…”

“His Devil Fruit ability remains unknown, but that violet-bladed tachi is as strong as a Supreme Grade Sword. And during our battle, something strange occurred.”

“Normally, as battle drags on, Haki and stamina decline steadily.”

“That boy isn’t even an adult, yet just before he was on the verge of collapse, he suddenly snapped back to peak condition—in an instant.”

“That happened once. Whether it can happen again is uncertain. That’s all the intelligence I have on that boy.”

“Ichi… Mihawk, you speak next.”

The Den Den Mushi’s tone shifted.

“Comrades, I am Vice Admiral Mihawk. Ichi… can summon meteorites with gravity—two or more at once. A troublesome ability.”

“Regarding Barzab, I’ll add one more point.”

“His Conqueror’s Haki, in a single glance, knocked out over ten thousand Marines across ten warships. Only the five of us vice admirals remained standing.”

“We three… are no match for Mihawk.”

At this, the sound of Marines inhaling sharply rose and fell throughout the room.

They’d thought nullifying Observation Haki was already beyond belief—now came Ichi summoning meteorites, and Barzab’s Conqueror’s Haki knocking out ten thousand Marines.

So terrifying.

“Cough.” Branew cleared his throat to regain control.

“Comrades, the Morning Star Pirates possess three grand swordsmen and three of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords.”

“Clearly, we must revise their bounties based on these newly discovered facts.”

“Now, please, everyone, speak your minds.”