Chapter 94: Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Lei Shen Form

As the eastern dawn lit up the earth, a new day arrived on schedule as usual.

Thousands of news birds, carrying the latest issue of newspapers in their satchels, split into countless streams along their respective routes and swooped toward every corner of the world.

Delivering the news to every island and every ship across the Four Seas and the Grand Line.

Marine Headquarters, the Fleet Admiral's office.

Sengoku placed the newspaper on his desk, looked up at the Marine high command returning from the Buster Call, and for a moment did not know which topic to discuss first.

In the suppressed and gloomy atmosphere, Admiral Kizaru's playful voice sounded.

"Omae no naka!"

"Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Lei Shen Form. No wonder he can control three elemental powers simultaneously."

Kizaru would never believe what that guy Morgans published in the newspaper—Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Lei Shen Form. Barzab Seven's elemental transformation; he had witnessed it with his own eyes more than once.

What a joke. If that theory were true, wouldn't the fruit he, Borusarino, ate be the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Sun God Form?

He simply couldn't master three elemental powers at once, only light.

Someone broke the silence first, and the rest of the Marine high command began discussing as if they had opened a floodgate.

"No wonder he can control lightning, seawater, and fire, three elements at once. So it is a Mythical Zoan."

"Yes, I thought that guy ate three Devil Fruits."

Hearing the conversation among the Headquarters Vice Admirals, Garp silently took a bag of small snacks from the cabinet behind Sengoku and began devouring them with a crunch-crunch sound.

Is it really a Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan?

Although this explanation seemed extremely reasonable on the surface, Garp felt something was very, very wrong. How could that birdman Morgans know so much?

Did Barzab Seven and Morgans cooperate?

By publishing the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan in the newspaper, making the world believe Barzab Seven ate a Mythical Zoan, thereby concealing something even more critical?

Crunch~ Crunch~

Garp felt he had discovered something, yet hadn't quite grasped it.

"Garp, be quiet."

Vice Admiral Tsuru reminded him helplessly.

Garp gave a sheepish smile, stuffed the small snacks directly into his pocket. If Sengoku had said it, he could have completely ignored it, but with Little Tsuru, he still had to listen.

In the time it took for this interruption, Garp could no longer catch the sudden inspiration from just now, so he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

"Ahem." Sengoku coughed lightly.

"Brannew has a fever, so we won't expand the meeting for discussion. Everyone, speak your mind: should we raise the bounty on the Morning Star Pirates?"

As soon as the words fell, Akainu spoke first.

"Three billion is no longer enough to match Barzab Seven's strength. It must be raised to a reasonable range."

Regarding Admiral Akainu's proposal, the Marine high command, unusually, had no one object, including Sengoku, Kizaru, and the other conservative high command members.

"A bounty of five billion is the reasonable range," Akainu said expressionlessly.

The group of Marine high command members nodded one after another. If Barzab Seven's bounty was too low, wouldn't it make them, the high command who executed the Buster Call, look somewhat incompetent?

Two current Marine Admirals, one Marine Hero, and more than ten Headquarters Vice Admirals were actually held back by a single Barzab Seven?

How would the pirates view them?

The Marines mobilized almost their entire force, yet couldn't even capture a pirate with a thirty-billion bounty? Then wouldn't Whitebeard, with an even higher bounty, already be invincible?

Kizaru spread his hands: "I have no objection."

Garp nodded silently.

Just as Sengoku was about to make the final decision on the bounty, the Den Den Mushi in his pocket suddenly vibrated. This was the special line for direct contact with the Five Elders.

Sengoku waved his hand to signal silence.

The Den Den Mushi imitated Saint Saturn's voice.

"Sengoku, regarding Barzab Seven's bounty, keep it unchanged for now. Additionally, have Borusarino come to the Holy Land Mary Geoise immediately."

The Den Den Mushi hung up, and Sengoku was still somewhat dazed.

What exactly is going on?

Barzab Seven, who had kidnapped the Celestial Dragon Saint Elaine twice in a row and successfully demanded ransom from the World Government, why did the Five Elders care so much?

Could it be... In the instant the thought flashed through his mind, Sengoku's eyes widened enormously.

【Is Barzab Seven also a Celestial Dragon?】

No. If Barzab Seven were also a Celestial Dragon, then why did the Five Elders launch a Buster Call and specifically arrange for a coating craftsman to tamper with things?

Moreover, if they are both Celestial Dragons, Barzab Seven's second kidnapping of Saint Elaine was a last-minute decision. What about the first one? Why did he specifically kidnap Saint Elaine?

Internal power struggles among the Celestial Dragons?

Otherwise, how to explain Saint Saturn specifically calling to notify that the bounty would remain unchanged for now?

Sengoku rubbed his brow, feeling his head was about to explode. Being the Fleet Admiral of the Marines was truly frustrating.

"Barzab Seven's bounty remains unchanged. Borusarino, you go to the Holy Land Mary Geoise."

Kizaru nodded: "Alright."

Watching Kizaru leave, Sengoku sighed, waved his hand toward the Marine high command: "The matter of the bounty is temporarily shelved. Everyone, disperse."

The rest of the Marine high command left one after another. Only Garp seemed to be asleep, and the unmoving Akainu was looking at Sengoku, who was rubbing his brow.

"As the Fleet Admiral, Mr. Sengoku, can you not resist the Five Elders' orders even once?"

Sengoku slammed the table and stood up.

"Sakazuki, right now I am the Fleet Admiral! When you become the Fleet Admiral someday, I will watch you resist the Five Elders!"

"Hmph." Akainu stood up and left.

The new world, Wano Country, Oni Island.

The Beasts Pirates' headquarters.

Envy looked at the newspaper in his hand, his eyes beneath the mask gleaming with an unusual light, as if filled with the joy of meeting a kindred spirit and... uncertainty.

White hair, condition met.

Fire, condition met.

Flame wings, never seen before.

Fair skin, condition not met.

Because of this freshly printed newspaper, Envy stood frozen like a wooden statue, his mind swirling with thoughts.

At that moment, Kaido shuffled over to Envy's side, dragging an unconscious white-haired girl.

"Why are you standing there like a log?"

Envy silently handed the newspaper to Kaido, then took the six-year-old Yamato from Kaido's hands—glancing at her: knocked out again.

"Mr. Kaido, Yamato is still a child. Can you please stop knocking her out every time?"

Kaido grinned, his mouth reeking of alcohol.

"Worororo～"

"You kid, you think Barzab Seven controls fire so he must be a Lunarian? The paper says he ate a Mythical Zoan."

"I control several elements too."

Envy gently laid Yamato on the bed, then turned to Kaido to explain his suspicion.

"Do you have flame wings on your back?"

Kaido leaned closer to examine the photo in the newspaper: "You're right—Barzab Seven's wings look nothing like yours."

"Do you know why?"

Envy shook his head: "I've never met another Lunarian in all these years. I know nothing about our lineage or heritage."

Aside from his parents, Envy had never encountered another Lunarian since he could remember.

Kaido returned the newspaper to Envy, paused to think, then made his decision.

"Fine. Once we take over the entire Wano Country, I'll go with you to meet Barzab Seven. He's already come to the New World anyway."

"Thank you."