Chapter 59

South Sea, Emperor of the East Sea.

Inside the multipurpose conference room.

The entire Morning Star Pirates crew sat around a round table, on which rested a fruit with a spiral pattern.

“Jin Ni, this is the Paramecia-type Door-Door Fruit. If you don’t mind becoming a user, and if you’re interested in the Door-Door Fruit…”

Before Barzab Seven finished speaking, Jin Ni was already rubbing her hands and grinning.

“Thank you, Captain.”

“Captain, my combat talent is average—I’ll just provide support. Next time anyone wants to go somewhere, just find me and Da Xiong.”

Jin Ni knew what the Door-Door Fruit was.

Though it couldn’t compare to the top few Devil Fruits from the Nine of Divine Valley, it was still an exceptionally powerful Paramecia.

How could she possibly refuse such a powerful Devil Fruit?

As for the future, if the ship acquires even stronger Devil Fruits, let the later crew members eat them—people must know contentment and gratitude.

“Hmm.” Barzab Seven emphasized: “Remember to eat the entire Door-Door Fruit.”

“Nani?” Jin Ni’s face twisted in horror.

Anyone who had eaten a Devil Fruit knew its taste was utterly silent-making—aside from everything else, the flavor alone was worthy of the name “Devil.”

“I just heard it somewhere, mentioned it offhand.”

Barzab Seven played with the arc of electricity at his fingertip: “Only by eating the entire Devil Fruit can you more easily awaken.”

On the internet of his past life, such rumors were everywhere, presented with convincing logic, but their truth was impossible to verify.

But what if?

What if it was true? Compared to the temptation of awakening, the Devil Fruit’s inhuman taste seemed trivial.

In this sea where strength rules, whether or not a Fruit awakens isn’t a small difference—it’s a world apart.

Can the Gum-Gum Fruit compare to the Nika state?

Barzab Seven added another line.

“I even swallowed the stem.”

Hearing this, Tenghu, Da Xiong, and Robin all exhaled in unison.

“I was hungry back then, so I ate it all.”

“I finished mine too.”

“Me too.”

Whether true or false didn’t matter—the psychological suggestion alone had given enough confidence for awakening.

“Alright.” Jin Ni picked up the Door-Door Fruit, took a deep breath, forced down the nauseating smell, and began gnawing noisily.

For Fruit awakening, I’m going all out!!!

Barzab Seven projected the marked map onto the screen behind him via Den Den Mushi.

“The Four Seas are the World Government and Marines’ base. We shouldn’t provoke total war with them for now. Our immediate goal is our future base—Beehive Island.”

“Our base is currently occupied by that trash Wang Zhi—we must take Beehive Island back.”

Tenghu’s eyelid twitched slightly.

Clearly, he hadn’t been a pirate long enough to fully adapt to pirate logic.

He could feel the captain’s anger as if Wang Zhi had truly stolen Beehive Island—no wonder Sakazuki called the captain a naturally evil pirate brat.

In some ways, it was quite accurate.

Barzab Seven continued.

“Wang Zhi, that scum, betrayed his own brother, sold out his kin, ate the food and bit the hand that fed him, framed innocent people, and committed every evil under the sun—he’s the epitome of piracy.”

“If not for Lox’s wife and children being saved by Da Xiong, Wang Zhi would’ve tried to take care of his sister-in-law too.”

“After all these years at sea, I’ve never met such a shameless scumbag. Don’t feel any guilt dealing with this filth.”

The gold mine on Beehive Island once propelled the Lox Pirates to rapid growth; even after Blackbeard seized it, gold could still be mined—perfect for masking the gold of the Golden Land.

And the wealth Wang Zhi plundered over the years is worth the Morning Star Pirates’ personal visit.

“Before we reclaim Beehive Island, we’ll make a stop in the East Sea to recruit some intern crewmen—free up everyone’s time.”

The East Sea is full of talent—it produced the Pirate King Roger, Marine hero Garp… and even Barzab Seven himself hails from the East Sea.

With someone handling chores, the main crew gains far more time for training.

Cultivation: if you don’t advance, you fall back.

Slow progress is still falling back.

Most importantly, Barzab Seven must visit Garp’s hometown, Windmill Village, to dig up the Pirate King Roger’s sword, Ace, from Garp’s courtyard.

“Of course, if any of you know friends interested in this lucrative career, feel free to refer them.”

With that, Barzab Seven looked at Mihawk.

“Mihawk, do you have anything to add?”

Mihawk replied coolly: “If none of those things are urgent, find an island as soon as possible.”

“No problem.”

Barzab Seven understood the subtext—Mihawk was itching to spar with someone on land.

But who?

Ask anyone: across the entire sea, which pirate crew has three Great Swordsmen, each wielding an Ultimate Great Sword?

Because Tenghu blinded himself for life, and Mihawk had his own pride—he wouldn’t choose Tenghu as an opponent. Only Barzab Seven was worthy.

This was their bond!!!

Jin Ni finished devouring the Door-Door Fruit, wiped her mouth: “Captain, you said Lox’s wife and children were saved by Da Xiong?”

“Do you know what happened in Divine Valley?”

“Mm.” Barzab Seven shrugged off responsibility without hesitation: “I heard it from Pirate King Roger.”

After all, he was the Pirate King Roger—knowing these secrets was normal. And no one could verify whether what Barzab Seven said was true or false.

Whoever has the ability can go verify it themselves.

Da Xiong interlaced his fingers, recalling whether among the five hundred people he rescued in Divine Valley, there were Lox’s wife and children.

Barzab Seven stood up: “Everyone, disperse. I’ll take the helm tonight.”

Since the crew hasn't yet hired a dedicated helmsman, Barzab Seven and Mihawk must take turns steering.

Beside the helm, facing the salty sea wind.

Barzab Seven steered with one hand, pondering whether he’d missed any information—like the legendary sword Shusui, stolen by the tomb raider Moria.

And the whereabouts of certain Devil Fruits.

Before his transmigration, besides the rumor that eating the entire Devil Fruit aids awakening, Barzab Seven had also read: Devil Fruits actively choose their users.

If that theory holds true,

Then there’s the Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical-type Vampire form—the legendary Devil Fruit of Elbaf’s Giant Kingdom—Barzab Seven going there would be pointless.

But not going left him restless.

I’ve already transmigrated—what do I care about plot? All powerful Devil Fruits across the sea are mine… as points.

The Bear-Bear Fruit sold for sixty thousand points, shattering Barzab Seven’s understanding of the trading platform—rich guys truly don’t treat points as points.

So, pricing the Mythical-type Vampire form at one hundred thousand points—wouldn’t that be reasonable?

A form of indirect immortality? Worth one hundred thousand points.

Very worth it.

In short:

Just find the Mythical-type Vampire form, sell it, and buy Conqueror’s Defense.

The absurd power of Conqueror’s Defense lies in this: if an opponent’s Conqueror’s Haki doesn’t surpass the user’s own, they inflict zero damage.

Barzab Seven has the sword Dreamheart, which boosts Haki by 100%—once he masters Conqueror’s Defense, he’ll be the hardest bastard in the pirate world.

Harder than Lox.