Chapter 76: A Mini-Kaido Worth Cultivating

The Flower Garden Sea, Emperor of the East Sea.

After the giants Dori and Brogy boarded, an awkward scene emerged—the open-air banquet deck suddenly felt cramped.

Dori plopped down beside Seven.

“Captain, we really should build a giant-sized ship. Otherwise, when my other brothers arrive, there won’t be enough room.”

When Dori and Brogy used their giant combined technique, Hakoku, the Captain absorbed it unharmed—completely convincing Dori.

The giant race reveres strength, takes pride in battle, and upholds proper etiquette toward enemies.

Their captain, Barzab Seven, is the strongest human Dori and Brogy have ever seen; following such a powerful man won’t bury the former glory of the Giant Pirates.

“Yeah.” Seven endured it, yet felt joy.

He’d thought the Emperor of the East Sea was already large enough—even Bear, nearly seven meters tall, had plenty of space; he’d never considered giants joining the crew.

“Alright, let’s make do for now.”

“First, raid a big ship at Sabaody Archipelago, then head to the Red Line to pick up your old comrades Oimo and Kasi.”

“Then sail for the New World.”

“Once we reclaim Hive Island, I’ll take you to Elbaf to buy wood from Adam Trees and build a sturdy giant ship.”

Thanks to the Golden City of the Sky Island, Seven had more Beri than he needed—he still carried over two billion Beri.

I wonder if the Maritime King managed to secure a suitable Devil Fruit for me.

Seven suddenly realized: he had too many tasks—must go to Elbaf, must go to Egghead Island to trade with Vegapunk for the Dragon-Dragon Fruit.

Also, that brat Doflamingo in the North Blue—must find time to trade for a Devil Fruit with him.

This is the hardship of starting from zero.

If he were a rich second-generation heir with a vast family backing him, why bother doing everything himself? He’d just shout: “I want this!”

Why would he be stuck now, forced to realize his dreams step by step through his own and his crew’s efforts?

But then again.

The charm of starting from zero is more captivating.

The process of building a vast power from nothing, brick by brick, delivers far greater emotional value and immense satisfaction.

Just like the reputation of Barzab and the Morning Star Pirates—it was earned bit by bit.

“Raid a big ship?”

Dori and Brogy’s eyes sparkled.

“Captain, we’re experts at this. Just point us to a good target—you don’t even need to lift a finger.”

As pirates, stealing was normal; two years ago, when Seven sailed from Loguetown to the Sky Island, he survived entirely by plunder.

Kidnapping the Celestial Dragon Elaine had made Seven rich overnight.

“Hehe.” Seven winked.

“It’s all about participation.”

“Ji ji ji ji.” Dori rubbed his hands—he was already impatient.

Seeing this, Mihawk felt a strange urge, but his pride forbade him from speaking up: Barzab, just call me along!

Bear and Jin Ni shook their heads in disbelief; Tenghu couldn’t help laughing.

Indeed, Sakazuki was right about one thing: the Captain is truly a born-evil pirate brat.

Yet Tenghu chose to follow precisely because the Captain never slaughtered innocents, recognized his sense of justice, and even harbored great love for the world.

A few harmless quirks are negligible.

Simply by stepping onto an island, he won the loyalty of two giants who’d fought each other for eighty years—this is the Captain’s true charisma!

“By the way, I almost forgot the main purpose.”

Seven mentioned their objective.

“Dori, Brogy, you know the island best—help me capture a T-Rex. The ship’s missing a mascot.”

For the pirate crew’s future, Seven absolutely had to keep a pet onboard.

Between the Triceratops, Plesiosaur, and Pterosaur, he chose the more imposing T-Rex—imagine riding it around for leisure. The thought thrilled him.

Brogy scratched his head.

“Captain, that thing’s meat isn’t tasty.”

“Not for eating, not for eating.” Seven explained: “We’re keeping it as a pet. Only in extreme emergencies would we consider it emergency rations.”

Generally, carnivorous animals’ meat is far inferior in texture and flavor to herbivorous animals’.

Choosing the T-Rex as a pet was based on Seven’s careful consideration of the Dragon-Dragon Fruit he was about to obtain—its power rivals the Blue Dragon form, granting flight and control over fire, lightning, and storms.

In raw power, it even surpasses his own Thunder-Thunder Fruit.

“Captain.” Dori spoke up.

“I know where the T-Rex’s nest is. I’ll take you there now.”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

Seven quickly flew to Dori’s shoulder and followed Dori and Brogy back to the Flower Garden, striding purposefully in one direction.

Watching the trio leave, Jin Ni frowned: “Do you know why the Captain suddenly wants a pet onboard?”

Bear suddenly spoke.

“I just heard the Captain plan to use the T-Rex as emergency rations.”

“Nani?!” Jin Ni’s pupils dilated in shock.

“The Captain’s brain really works differently.”

Who in their right mind keeps a pet to eat in emergencies?

Jin Ni began to feel… sorry for the T-Rex about to be captured by the Captain: “I wonder if T-Rex meat tastes good—we didn’t get to try it just now.”

Meanwhile, on Flower Garden Island.

Dori and Brogy stared at the dinosaurs and wild beasts all unconscious on the island, stunned once again by the Captain’s power.

They had been stunned for so long and still hadn’t woken up—his Haoshoku Haki was truly terrifying.

Such a small body held such immense presence.

As the captain of the Giant Pirates who set sail a century ago, Dori knew well: Haoshoku Haki reflects one’s aura—it cannot be trained or acquired later in life.

Only those with the qualities of a king awaken Haoshoku Haki.

“Huh?” Seven pointed ahead into the jungle.

“That T-Rex didn’t pass out. That’s the one.”

Whether it had just awakened or was immune to Haoshoku Haki, it proved this T-Rex was extraordinary.

Dori followed Seven’s gaze and saw a T-Rex with a cross-shaped scar on its forehead, tearing into a unconscious Plesiosaur.

“It’s him.”

“The scar on its head? From shards of rock flung during my duel with Brogy. We thought it wouldn’t survive.”

Hearing this, Seven was even more satisfied.

This T-Rex, twelve meters long and five meters tall, possessed not only fierce willpower but also partial immunity to Haoshoku Haki.

A perfect pet, chosen by fate.

Seven precisely unleashed his Haoshoku Haki—red-black lightning encircled the T-Rex, and only after three seconds did it collapse unconscious.

“Good, good.”

A mini-Kaido. Worth cultivating.

……

Red Line, Sacred Mary Joa

After the kidnapping incident, Celestial Dragon Elaine had been confined for six months by the Five Elders; now the ban was lifted, his pent-up irritation and frustration nearly burst from his pores.

“Kill some slaves to celebrate—ee hee hee hee.”

After slaughtering every slave in his estate, Elaine blew smoke from his still-hot gun barrel.

“Phew～”

“Send word to the Marines to dispatch a Fleet Admiral. I’m going to Sabaody Archipelago to buy slaves—bring back that… yellow, sleazy Vice Admiral… from last time.”

The Naronna family guards bowed deeply.

“Yes, Celestial Dragon Elaine.”

Elaine added another order.

“Bring giant slave mounts, and prepare my largest yacht—the one sent by the big fool Harald.”

“Yes, Celestial Dragon Elaine.”