Chapter 93

Returning to the headquarters of the World Economic News, Morganst slapped the printed news draft onto the face of the printing factory manager.

"Print it exactly as written—not a single character changed."

"Print ten times more! Ten times more!!"

Why was Morganst so confident about sales? Because the events in the Shabondy Archipelago waters, no matter the era, qualified as explosive news—

First, Barzab Seven kidnapped a World Noble and successfully extorted the World Government.

Second, the former captains of the Giant Pirates, the giants Dorry and Brogy, who had bounties over 100 million eighty years ago, joined the Morning Star Pirates.

Third, the Marines launched a Holy War involving two current Admirals, the Marine Hero Garp, over ten Vice Admirals of the Headquarters, twenty warships, and twenty thousand Marines.

Yet the Morning Star Pirates departed unscathed.

Eighteen Marine warships were overturned… forget it—change it to "the Marine fleet was nearly annihilated, with only two warships surviving," since the photos from the scene were clear enough.

Fourth, the legendary pirate Golden Lion, captured alive by Barzab Seven not long ago, joined the Morning Star Pirates.

Fifth, everyone assumed Barzab Seven ate the Logia Thunder-Thunder Fruit—but who could have imagined it was actually the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Beast Type, Lei Shen Form?

Whether this Devil Fruit existed or not wasn't important.

What mattered was that Barzab Seven could control not only Lei Ting, but also the sea and flame—all evidence sufficient for a sensational story.

Morganst crossed his arms, already picturing the newspaper being snatched off shelves again. Making money was secondary; what mattered was this cause.

The sheer thrill of manipulating public opinion—truly exhilarating!

The sense of control, of moving ink with fingertips and effortlessly stirring oceanic discourse, shaping the world's perception of truth at will, sent Morganst's heart racing.

The sense of accomplishment this cause brought was the true reason Morganst was utterly enchanted.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Admiral Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi, rubbing his temples repeatedly—the sheer volume of Marine reports made his head feel ready to explode.

Garp suspected: Barzab Seven must have eaten three Devil Fruits to simultaneously control Lei Ting, seawater, and flame.

Is this even a joke? How could a person possibly consume three Devil Fruits?

One person can eat only one Devil Fruit—that's common knowledge on the seas.

The Marines have run experiments before: every test subject who ate a second Devil Fruit died—horribly.

Yet according to field reports, Barzab Seven clearly controlled all three elemental forces.

Lei Ting, seawater, flame!

Garp's report, the Vice Admirals' summaries, and the photos taken by the messenger—all confirmed Garp's theory was highly plausible.

Borsalino suspected: Barzab Seven likely possessed certain bloodline factors enabling him to control all three elements.

And to wield an extremely bizarre attack: controlling blood within the human body.

Kizaru firmly believed elementalization was the hallmark of Logia-type Devil Fruits—so Barzab Seven must have eaten the Logia Thunder-Thunder Fruit; his control over seawater was likely due to ancient Fish-Man ancestry.

As for flame, only the Lunaria race could produce it.

Kizaru's report claimed: Barzab Seven was very likely a hybrid of Lunaria and Fish-Man bloodlines; control over blood… no suspect yet.

But Sengoku knew: Lunaria had brown skin, utterly unlike Barzab Seven's pale, delicate complexion.

Besides, Barzab Seven had no wings on his back.

Fish-Man ancestry was even more absurd.

Where was the slightest trace of Fish-Man blood in Barzab Seven? Not a single sign!

None of these were enough to give Sengoku a headache—what truly gave him one was—

The legendary pirate Golden Lion, who escaped from Impel Down months ago, had been captured alive by Barzab Seven—and then joined the Morning Star Pirates.

The photos sent back to Headquarters were crystal clear.

In the image, Golden Lion walked one step behind Barzab Seven, strolling away with unmistakable crewman deference toward a captain.

Sengoku knew: pirates had rigid hierarchies—even boarding a ship required the captain to step on first, then the first mate, then officers, then crew.

Golden Lion's behavior was irrefutable proof!

"You've even won Golden Lion over, Barzab Seven—you're truly… terrifying."

Controlling three elemental forces, summoning elemental dragons larger than islands, with a 3 billion bounty—clearly insufficient for Barzab Seven's power.

The only thing that gave Sengoku any relief was—

Barzab Seven kept his promise and returned the World Noble Elaine Saint intact to the Marines, sparing them from World Government condemnation.

Even though he overturned eighteen Marine warships, casualties were light—only a few unlucky Marines were crushed by falling cannons…

Through these events, Sengoku finally understood.

The Five Elders' claim of tampering during the coating process was laughable.

With Golden Lion joining, Barzab Seven had no intention of following the usual path.

Moreover, the Morning Star Pirates had no desire to fully break ties with the Marines or World Government—perhaps kidnapping Elaine Saint was merely an impromptu decision?

According to Kizaru, Elaine Saint provoked first, and Barzab Seven merely retaliated.

Not only Sengoku thought this way—the Five Elders, upon receiving the Holy War report, thought the same.

Mary Geoise, the Palaces.

In the spacious, bright palace, the Five Elders arranged themselves in order; Saint Satan sat on the sofa, spreading the Marine photos one by one on the table.

"The Holy War failed."

"Fortunately, Barzab Seven is a man of honor—he didn't mistreat Elaine Saint. According to Kizaru's report, Elaine Saint provoked first."

"Elaine Saint admitted he took a gamble—he insulted a few times—and Barzab Seven didn't retaliate further."

Saint Vaulter's face flickered with amusement.

"So Barzab Seven merely exercised the traditional pirate craft—decided on the spot to kidnap Elaine Saint and demand ransom from the World Government?"

"Didn't he originally just plan to pass through the underwater cave after the coating, and head to the New World?"

Satan Saint nodded with a conflicted expression.

"Now that I look at it, that is indeed the case."

"Barzab Seven possesses sufficient strength to annihilate the Navy's Buster Call fleet of twenty thousand sailors, yet only a few unlucky souls were crushed to death."

"Vice Saint, your previous proposal was excellent; Barzab Seven is indeed a target worth wooing by the World Government."

"Mastering three elemental powers is truly somewhat unbelievable..."

In fact, Satan Saint had immediately thought of the ancient Lunarian race, but aside from controlling fire and having white hair, Barzab Seven possessed not a single trait of the Lunarians.

Vice Saint interrupted.

"What is strange about mastering three elemental powers? I, for one, believe Barzab Seven most likely consumed a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit."

Having spoken, Vice Saint added further.

"How shall we handle the aftermath of the Buster Call?"

Satan Saint looked up in surprise, his face covered in deep confusion and incomprehension.

"Aftermath? What aftermath?"

Although the Buster Call failed, the descendant of that my lord, Saint Elaine, was rescued; what else requires handling?

It was simply nonsensical.

The Financial War Deity, Saint Nasu, who held the First Generation Wraith, spoke faintly.

"The Buster Call failed; will Barzab Seven and the others launch a retaliation afterward? With his speed, if he truly lies in wait outside the Holy Land Mary Geoze and kidnaps Celestial Dragons venturing out..."

"Furthermore, he knows of the Flower Chamber, and we cannot eliminate him in the short term; what if, because of the Buster Call, he spreads these secrets?"

Satan Saint finally understood: Good heavens, you intend to compensate Barzab Seven afterward?!

"Then... give him another Devil Fruit?"

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

"Seconded."