Aweek after the tragic events that took place in Grove 13 of the Sabaody Archipelago, at the highest level of the world's power structure, the machinery of justice was still in motion.
In one of the most luxurious chambers, reserved exclusively for top-priority matters in Mary Geoise, a meeting was held.
Summoned by the highest authority, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Shichibukai, arrived one by one, each responding to the call with different motivations.
Crocodile was the only one absent; he sent a message declaring that he was lurking around the borders of the East Blue, and that he would take care of it himself when the time came. The statement was met with suspicion, though it didn't cause surprise.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had calculated that, given the chaotic and prideful nature of the Shichibukai, scattered orders wouldn't be enough.
They needed a concrete directive to align them and make them understand the magnitude of the threat: Tiberion Hanma, the man who had committed the most atrocious crime against the sacred order of the world.
In the room, entirely white and adorned with emblems of the World Government, one by one they took their seats.
The Strongest Swordsman in the World, Dracule Mihawk, with his unshakable demeanor, sat far from Sengoku and didn't say a word.
The Heavenly Demon, Donquixote Doflamingo, arrived with a faint smile, adjusting his dark glasses with one finger and casting glances at everyone present. Even though everyone looked at him with distrust—and he knew it—he relished that tension.
The Tyrant, Bartholomew Kuma, on the other hand, remained expressionless in complete silence.
Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, exuded seriousness. His expression was stern, but his gaze revealed an inner conflict.
Gecko Moria couldn't stop laughing sinisterly as he hunched over himself.
And then, making an entrance worthy of her title, she appeared.
The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, walked in with her back straight and her head held high, her purple dress flowing with every step. Her beauty was so overwhelming that even the marines present lowered their heads to avoid falling under her spell.
She was the only Shichibukai who initially rejected the summons outright.
When Vice Admiral Momonga presented himself before her, her response was simple and direct. However, upon hearing that the target was a man who had mercilessly killed a TENRYŪBITO, her disdain turned into an internal tremor.
"Killed?" she asked jokingly.
Momonga didn't hesitate: "He was dismembered publicly… He received 7,890 cuts."
This provoked something in her that she rarely experienced: a genuine emotion.
Her breathing became uneven, and her mind clouded for a moment. It wasn't fear, nor disdain.
What she felt now toward that man was… admiration.
'How can someone be so stupidly reckless? So gloriously foolish!' she thought, her cheeks flushing, though she quickly hid it with a slight tilt of her head.
From that moment on, she no longer thought of refusing.
She had to see him with her own eyes.
She had to witness the man who dared to dismember a Celestial Dragon, so she accompanied Momonga without further resistance.
And now, sitting among the Seven, legs crossed, her lips painted purple and her eyes silently gleaming, she thought:
'They have no idea who they're dealing with. And if they think I'm going to fight him… they're insane.'
Because, even if she didn't say it out loud, deep down, Hancock… had already decided that this man should not be stopped.
"Listen well, sea scum, this is the current situation," Sengoku's voice echoed with gravity through the room, his sharp gaze scanning the faces of the six Shichibukai present.
"Vice Admiral Chaton and Vice Admiral Momousagi will now take you to the East Blue," he continued, adjusting his glasses.
"We expect full cooperation and for you to join forces to capture Tiberion Hanma. The World Government is treating this matter with utmost seriousness. We will not tolerate failure."
His warning was clear, and although his tone was openly threatening, the underlying message was unmistakable: what was at stake went far beyond a simple act of retaliation.
The tension in the room was palpable.
Garp was not present. He had returned to the East Blue a week earlier under a pretext officially registered as "official business."
Present, however, were the three admirals: Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru. Alongside them were Vice Admirals Momousagi and Chaton.
Gion would never miss an opportunity to face Tiberion, so she personally volunteered to lead the operation to the East Blue.
And Sengoku was pleased with her initiative. Seeing that there were still marines he could trust with such delicate missions brought him a bit of comfort amidst the rising chaos.
"Do not worry," he spoke again, solemnly. "The naval bases in the East Blue have been fully informed and are completely prepared. When you arrive, you will have all the support you need."
However, a shadow passed over his face.
He knew what many were thinking. The bounty on Tiberion was astronomical: 5 billion berries.
A completely irrational number, even by New World standards. That kind of sum was reserved for monsters.
What kind of person received such a bounty without a bloodline, an emperor, or a fleet behind them to justify it?
That kind of bounty, rather than discouraging criminals, only motivated them to observe from a distance. What if Tiberion defeated the Shichibukai? What if he endured?
Uncertainty was as dangerous as his own strength.
But very few truly knew what Tiberion was capable of. Despite the global broadcast of the Tenryūbito's murder, only a handful had witnessed firsthand the devastating power Tiberion possessed.
That was exactly why Sengoku knew this was a good opportunity to fully utilize the might of the Shichibukai.
And if anyone could match him… or contain him… it was them.
The Shichibukai were not mere legal pirates. They were anomalies.
Some had unreal abilities. And among them, two names stood out: Mihawk and Hancock.
Dracule Mihawk was the pinnacle of swordsmanship. His technique with the blade was beyond any classification. If Tiberion made even the slightest mistake… Mihawk would detect it and capitalize on it instantly.
Boa Hancock, on the other hand, represented a different kind of threat.
A lethal combination of physical power, irresistible charm, and a Devil Fruit that, when used properly, could turn anyone into stone.
Above all, her beauty wasn't just a superficial tool; it was a curse for anyone guided by desire. And according to the reports they had gathered, Tiberion Hanma was far from a monk.
"Kishishi…"
Moria's strange laugh broke the silence that had taken over.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku… that bounty you've placed on this Tiberion Hanma really gives me the chills."
"I've never even heard of the guy before. But to reach that kind of figure in one strike… it's truly unprecedented."
His tone tried to sound casual, but his eyes betrayed him, shifting side to side with suspicion. Clearly, he felt something bigger was brewing behind this so-called "capture order."
"I suppose Admiral Sengoku is hiding something from us, isn't he?..." he added in a lower voice, "That bounty is almost comparable to Whitebeard's."
"..."
Sengoku looked at him calmly, unbothered by the accusation. He knew Moria had reasons to be wary. What he couldn't allow was for the atmosphere to be tainted with paranoia.
"Relax."
"Tiberion Hanma is nothing more than a savage brute. The reason for such a high bounty is simple: he openly defied the authority of the World Government. Not only that—he publicly executed a Tenryūbito. And it wasn't just any execution. He was dismembered in front of hundreds of witnesses."
"..."
Though many of them despised the Celestial Dragons, they all knew what killing one implied.
"Besides," Sengoku continued with a drier tone, "the Tenryūbito have a lot of money. If they wanted to place a five billion berry bounty, no one was going to stop them. Even I was quite surprised… but that's typical of them."
"In simple terms, they hate him deeply and won't rest until they see him hanging."
"Fufufufufu…" Doflamingo's laugh made itself heard, "Since Admiral Sengoku explains it that way, I really want to meet this man…"
"If he's truly a savage brute, it'll be fun to make him bleed a little."
At that moment, as if the tension in the room wasn't already thick enough, Hancock stood up abruptly.
"Can we leave already? My time is valuable."
The reason for her impatience was simple. Her mind hadn't stopped spinning around that man.
She was desperate to see and know who he was.
Although a wanted poster had been circulating, the drawing was simply hideous. The World Government's style was so ridiculous that even the portrait looked like an animal, with a deformed face and completely unkempt hair.
She felt offended just looking at the poster.
She couldn't even tell if it was a man or an animal…
And although she would never admit it to anyone, deep within her spoiled princess heart, she hoped Tiberion Hanma would be handsome…
...
A fleet was steadily advancing. Seven massive warships, each carrying one of the Shichibukai on its deck, were being escorted by squadrons of marines who remained silent.
Inside the main cabin of Moria's ship, the atmosphere was heavy.
He was observing everyone carefully.
"Kishishishi… what a show of force."
"The Marines spare no expense, huh? Seven warships from headquarters sent to the weakest of the four seas… Do they really believe this Tiberion Hanma is worth that much?"
His words weren't directed at anyone in particular, but they echoed among those present.
"I'm not buying that story about it all being over a public execution. If that guy really managed to tear apart a Tenryūbito like they say… and on top of that, got a five billion bounty… that can only mean one thing."
They want to use this 'mission' as bait to get rid of us.
On the same ship, Vice Admiral Chaton heard him with clear disdain. He walked to the edge of the railing and, without bothering to look at him directly, threw his response into the wind.
"Hmph. Or maybe you're just scared to share a ship with others," he spat coldly. "The Marines aren't stupid. We're not about to cram a bunch of dangerous vermin into the same boat."
His tone was laced with contempt, and he didn't hide it. To Tokikake, Moria was the least useful among all those present.
"..."
Moria smirked. "Kishishi… maybe it's not such a bad idea after all," he muttered, as his gaze drifted toward the other ships moving alongside his.
Among them: Mihawk, Kuma, and especially Doflamingo with his treacherous smile. All of them radiated danger.
Definitely, putting each one on a separate ship was the smartest thing they did… he thought, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. You never know who might kill you in your sleep.
A brief silence fell, but Moria still had one question.
"But... how are they so sure that this Tiberion went to the East Blue?"
Tokikake didn't turn his head.
"Are you doubting the World Government's surveillance system?" he replied dryly. "Even the rats that cross an island in the East Blue leave traces behind."
Moria didn't respond. He lowered his head and gave one last grin.
"Kishishi... then let me know when we're close."
With that, he fell silent, observing everything with suspicion, resignation, and… perhaps, the faintest spark of curiosity.
Because if this so-called Tiberion really was a monster as they claimed, then this mission wouldn't be a hunt.
…
Over a sea that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction, a massive ship sailed forward.
Tiberion, having left the Sabaody Archipelago a week earlier, was now aboard a ship he had taken by force. Aware of Shirahoshi's size, he knew he had to choose a large one.
The ship measured nearly two hundred meters in length, with a deck so wide that it not only offered ample room to move around freely and held enormous rooms, but also allowed Shirahoshi to rest and move about with some degree of comfort—without feeling cramped.
Beneath the sea, several colossal Sea Kings moved in parallel, gently pushing the vessel through the water.
Tiberion, standing near the bow, arms crossed, watched ahead, completely relaxed.
He didn't know the exact distance that still separated him from the East Blue, but he wasn't worried in the slightest. He trusted the Sea Kings.
He vaguely recalled the date. If he counted the days, it should be around May 16th.
As far as he remembered, that meant Luffy had already set sail about eleven days ago. But he felt no urgency to find him. In his current state, Luffy was still far from being an opponent worthy of his attention.
As he was now, he was simply another kid with a gigantic dream and fists too weak to hold it up.
At that moment, a messenger seagull flew across the sky, dropping one of the latest issues of the World News onto the ship's deck.
The paper landed between two pirates, who had been following Tiberion's every word since the massacre. With trembling hands, one of them bent down to pick it up. As he opened it, a wanted poster slid out from between the pages and drifted gently to the floor with a soft rustle.
It was a bounty poster.
Printed in black letters over a sandy-colored background, the name stood out—a name already carved into his mind:
Tiberion Hanma.
And just below it, a figure that made him piss himself in fear:
5,000,000,000 Berries.
"..."
A choked gasp escaped the lips of the pirate who had picked it up. His dirty fingers held the paper with both reverence and horror, as if it were a death sentence in his hands.
Swallowing hard, he knelt before Tiberion and, with both hands extended, offered him the poster.
"S-sir... this... this just arrived!"
"..."
Tiberion took it with a raised eyebrow, his expression unchanged.
He looked at the paper for several seconds. The number didn't alarm him; if anything, it seemed unnecessarily exaggerated.
Of course, he knew that publicly killing a Tenryūbito came with consequences—but this was more than a political reaction.
This bounty was a declaration of war from the World Government. Even so, he felt no pride—he simply analyzed the situation with calm precision.
He knew that, even with his current power, he could face off against one of the admirals and survive. And if the fight were close-range, with no interference or retreat, he might even be able to kill one.
But if the enemy chose to withdraw or fight from a distance, he still lacked the absolute speed or the means to prevent their escape.
It was at that moment that Shirahoshi, gently resting on a cushioned section of the deck specially modified for her, spoke:
"Husband, they say we'll soon enter the Calm Belt. They'll still guide us, but they warned the weather might become dangerous... thunderstorms, downward currents... we have to be careful."
!
Tiberion suddenly turned his face toward her, and a smile formed on his lips—not one of fear, but of excitement... intense excitement.
"Thunderstorms?"
For the first time in days, a thrill surged through his blood.
Yujiro's body, unlike any other living being, could endure lightning that would instantly obliterate the body of any other man.
Could he now, with his lineage improving percentage by percentage, withstand a direct strike?
It was a dangerous question—but a tempting one.
Because he wasn't Luffy. He didn't have that invisible cloak called plot armor to protect him from the impossible.
________
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