Chapter 8: Space Fruit?

The man lifted his head, his filthy face revealing dull, lifeless eyes, and lips cracked like parched earth.

Seeing this, Seven brought food and water and placed them before the man: "Eat first, then talk."

Only those who have starved know the torment of hunger and thirst.

Under normal circumstances, even if he intended to kill someone, Seven would let them eat first—his motto was: feed them well before they go, don’t let them die as hungry ghosts.

Even with his wrists shackled in Sea-Prism Stone manacles, the man devoured his food ravenously.

Such a disgraceful eating style reminded Seven—before joining Roger’s crew, when kind villagers had fed him, he’d eaten just like this.

Eating when hungry, skipping meals when not, no manners at all.

The man finished two bowls of braised pork rice in seconds: "Your ship’s cook has good skills."

"I’m Phoenix, a doctor. I ate the Space Fruit."

"The World Government seems to have discovered a method to recover Devil Fruits. I suspect they want to reclaim the Space Fruit—that’s why they captured me."

Doctor? Space Fruit?

Seven clenched his lips, outwardly indifferent, but his heart pounded wildly—could this possibly be the Surgery Fruit, the one with a 5-billion-Beli bounty from the World Government?

If it truly were the Space Fruit, the CP leader wouldn’t have drawn his gun to kill Phoenix after Mihawk appeared.

The truth was becoming clear.

The World Government would rather kill this man than let him fall into someone else’s hands.

Moreover, this man’s behavior had changed drastically.

Someone with death in his heart wouldn’t eat like this—only someone desperate to survive would gorge himself without restraint, clutching every last chance to live.

And this explanation—his words were precise… as if he’d rehearsed them repeatedly.

Although, aside from Law, there was no known information about any other Surgery Fruit user on the seas.

That wasn’t hard to understand.

A Devil Fruit capable of granting immortality ranks among strategic nuclear weapons—the World Government would erase all traces of it.

This was immortality!

Still, even if the doctor truly was a Surgery Fruit user, Seven suspected he couldn’t perform the immortality procedure yet.

Only ten CP members had captured him—clearly, his strength was mediocre, likely even weaker than Seven’s current level.

"Sir, may I ask your name?"

"Barzab Seven."

The doctor then asked: "Mr. Seven, where are you headed?"

Seven smiled warmly at the doctor.

"Don’t ask where we’re going—you’re my prize, taken right from the World Government’s hands."

"Funny thing is, I’m quite interested in the Space Fruit. Even funnier—I possess the same method to recover Devil Fruits."

At these words, the doctor froze, his already pale face turning even whiter.

Even Mihawk, who had just taken a chilled drink from the ice bucket, stood motionless:

Dammit, now I’m even more interested in Seven.

The doctor forced a bitter smile, feeling as if he’d escaped the wolf’s den only to fall into the tiger’s mouth: "Mr. Seven, a man with royal potential like you… how do you know about this?"

"Just joking."

Seven patted the doctor’s shoulder: "From now on, you’re in charge of cleaning the ship."

"Yes, Captain! I’ll get it done!"

After leaving the port, Seven’s group continued toward Jiayadao.

Even if the doctor truly was a Surgery Fruit user, Seven wouldn’t coerce him now.

He was only fifteen.

Being forever twenty was wonderful—but forever fifteen? Not quite as appealing.

He’d wait until his body had fully matured and stopped growing before considering immortality.

Rather than wasting time here, he’d hurry to the Golden Land and use that giant golden pillar to buy the divine weapon, Dream One.

What if that idiot from the Tivat Continent had already taken Dream One off the market?

Seven had to consider: this might be his only chance in his entire life.

Miss it, and it would be gone forever.

…

World Economic News Agency.

Agency director Morgans stared alternately at the faxed photo in his hand and the telephone worm.

"Do you have a clearer photo? This one won’t cause any sensation."

The telephone worm mimicked a human expression: "Three million Beri. I’ll send you all the photos."

Morgans sneered: "Three million Beri? You’ve lost your mind over money."

The telephone worm: "Don’t forget—he’s a member of Roger’s crew. Before the Conqueror’s Haki knocked me out, I took plenty of photos that’ll make newspaper sales explode."

"Also, all ten CP members are dead. He took the prisoner with him."

Morgans murmured: "You don’t even know his last name."

The telephone worm: "Does his last name matter? What do you think of Roger’s last name?"

"I never sell fake news!" Morgans cursed: "He’s just a cook from Roger’s crew. Two million Beri. Take it or leave it."

The telephone worm: "Deal."

After receiving the high-resolution photos from the telephone worm, Morgans placed his hands on his hips and roared with laughter.

"Big news! This is huge news!"

Morgans carefully selected one photo for the cover: stormy skies, black-and-red Haki tearing through the heavens, Seven holding a glowing blue longsword.

He found another close-up: a youthful face with snow-white hair.

"Barzab Seven! Royal Potential, Logia Thunder-Thunder Fruit, slays World Government agents, rescues mysterious prisoner—yes, that’s the headline."

"What codename should I use?"

Morgans paced his office, muttering: "The Devil’s Heir is taken by Baret. White hair doesn’t sound intimidating enough."

"Thunder-Thunder Fruit… Thunder-Thunder Fruit…"

"Thunder General?"

"Nah, better call him Lei Shen."

After finalizing the draft himself, Morgans shouted: "Tomorrow’s newspaper will sell out!"

But before printing, Morgans contacted his old acquaintance, CP9 agent Lu Bianyi, via telephone worm.

"Lu Bianyi, I’ve found Barzab’s location. Three million Beri—I’ll send you the coordinates right away."

The telephone worm asked through gritted teeth: "Is Mihawk still with him?"

Morgans paused: "They’re together? I haven’t received any report about that."

The telephone worm: "Thanks."

East Blue, Loguetown.

When Lu Bianyi received the news that Barzab Seven had appeared on Shengtingdao, he froze in shock.

"What?!"

"You’re a three-nothing—no Haki, no martial arts, no Devil Fruit—non-combatant! How the hell did you even enter the Grand Line?!"

"How dare you?!"

Thinking of how he’d wandered the East Blue like a headless fly for over a month, Lu Bianyi’s rage bar maxed out.

"Barzab Seven, you deserve to die!!!"