"The Seven Warlords of the Sea? What are the specific conditions?"
"I need to comply with your mandatory military summons, and that's fine. I can accept that."
"But if I need support, will you provide it?"
Ochoku, the self-proclaimed Pirate Patriarch of the Underworld, was communicating with a distant, powerful party through a highly secure, golden Den Den Mushi.
The snail was completely silent for a moment after hearing Ochoku's demands. Then, a deep, authoritative voice echoed from the receiver.
"Is this the special privilege you are applying for?"
Ochoku gripped the edge of his throne, cursing inwardly on the spot.
'The World Government... these absolute dogs! They really plan to treat me like a disposable hound!' Ochoku thought, gritting his teeth. 'They want me to drop everything and comply with their mandatory summons, but they don't want to help me deal with my own lethal troubles in return?! Damn you...'
Of course, while he cursed them internally, Ochoku's attitude on the surface remained incredibly amicable.
"Exactly! This is the special privilege I require!" Ochoku stated firmly. "I can obey your mandatory summons anytime, anywhere, and become a devastating fighting force for the Marines!"
"But correspondingly! If I encounter a powerful enemy—an Emperor-tier threat—you must provide me with Admiral-level support! Otherwise, everything is completely off the table! I will not be your meat shield for free!"
The golden Den Den Mushi fell silent again. This time, the pause lasted for more than a minute as the Five Elders deliberated. Finally, a positive reply came through.
"Alright. We agree to the special privilege you have requested. Welcome to the ranks of the Warlords, Ochoku."
The next day.
York and Bullet had just finished slaughtering a group of reckless, opportunistic pirates who had tried to ambush their jet skis at sea. As the wreckage burned, a News Coo wearing a postal hat flew by, spotted them, and swooped down.
"Here, a hundred Berries. Keep the change."
After tossing a coin into the bird's pouch and grabbing the latest edition of the World Economic Journal, York immediately unfolded the paper while straddling his Striker.
Although he, as a transmigrator, possessed omniscient knowledge of the timeline from his previous life, that information only served as a broad guide for major historical events. For daily geopolitical intelligence gathering, outside of Stussy's growing spy network, he still had to rely on the newspaper.
"PIRATE PATRIARCH OCHOKU BECOMES THE FIRST SHICHIBUKAI (WARLORD OF THE SEA)!"
Looking at the massive, front-page headline and the photo of Ochoku, York's eyes narrowed dangerously.
He remembered the true catalyst of the God Valley War back then. Besides the coincidence that God Valley happened to be Xebec's hometown, another major reason the crew had fractured was because Ochoku had secretly colluded with the World Government to ambush Shakky.
"It's been almost a year and a half," York murmured, a cold smile touching his lips. "It's time for revenge."
At the same time, York knew he needed to establish his absolute authority among the pirates worldwide. Not just any pirate could simply sign a paper and become a Warlord of the Sea! If you dared to become a running dog for the World Government, then you had to be prepared for the apocalyptic wrath of an Emperor!
"Let's go, Bullet! We're going home!!" York called out, revving the engine of his red jet ski.
"Home? Aren't we going to continue testing our blades?" Bullet asked, pulling his Striker alongside York's. "Wait... speaking of home, are we going back to your territory?"
"Ah! That's right," York smirked. "And coincidentally... it's actually your true homeland as well!"
During their brief time together, York had already explained exactly who he was and where his newly founded territory was located. Hearing that they were heading directly to the Vodka Kingdom, Bullet's mood instantly became incredibly complicated.
He wanted to go, yet he dreaded it. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what he felt, but his heart was pounding nervously against his ribs.
York, of course, completely ignored Bullet's complex feelings. He knew it was just the natural timidity of a child approaching his abandoned home; once they actually arrived and Bullet saw the Crimson Empire, it would be business as usual.
The two hit the throttles, their jet skis leaving twin wakes of white foam and blazing fire across the sea as they hurried back to the Empire.
Upon returning to the Royal Capital, York handed Bullet off to Ivankov and Kuma, ordering them to give the boy a tour of the military accommodations.
York then immediately summoned the core cadres of the Crimson Harvest for a War Council.
Kaido, Dragon, Stussy, Shakky, Ivankov, Ginny, and Gloriosa (who had relocated from Skypiea) gathered around the massive mahogany table in the war room. Standing at the far end of the table was the eccentric five-man science division led by Dr. Vegapunk.
York slammed the newspaper onto the center of the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Ochoku has officially become a running dog for the World Government. I assume you all know about this?"
Everyone nodded gravely. Shakky's face, in particular, looked incredibly grim. She certainly hadn't forgotten how she had been ambushed and nearly killed by that traitor.
York didn't waste any more words and went straight to the point.
"I'm going to Hachinosu, and I'm going to kill him."
York crossed his arms. "This is twofold: it is personal revenge for Shakky, and it is a brutal, public warning to the World Government. What do you all think?"
Everyone exchanged glances. Shakky was naturally the first to answer. "I absolutely agree."
No one was surprised by Shakky's reaction. Kaido immediately became the second person to state his position, slamming his massive fist on the table.
"Wororororo! I've hated that scheming bastard for a long time! If we're going to rip his head off, count me in!"
Next was Gloriosa, her staff tapping the floor. "To avenge my sister Shakky, I have no objections!"
Ivankov and Ginny simply shrugged. "We are just interns, Captain! We follow your lead!"
York cast his gaze toward Dragon, Stussy, and the five-man science group.
Dragon and Stussy looked deeply hesitant, analyzing the geopolitical board. Meanwhile, Dr. Asie raised his hand first.
"I... I will not participate in the battle!" the alchemist stammered.
Vegapunk nodded lightly in agreement. "I also have no desire to participate in a vanguard assault. Besides, my research on the Lineage Factors has reached a critical juncture."
York expressed his full approval. "No problem! Scientists have absolutely no business being on the front lines anyway!"
However, at that exact moment, Queen, Vinsmoke Judge, and Caesar Clown made entirely different sounds of protest.
"Muhahaha! Captain York! I've just finished developing a fresh batch of 'Mummy' plague rounds!" Queen shouted excitedly, chomping his cigar. "I am in desperate need of some live test subjects!"
"I have also finalized the prototypes for my individual clone-soldier weaponry!" Judge declared, his eyes flashing behind his visor. "They require a live, chaotic battlefield for stress testing!"
"Shurorororo! My new highly-corrosive H2S poison gas bombs will be finished in one more day at most!" Caesar shrieked, rubbing his hands together.
The three unethical scientists didn't explicitly say they wanted to fight like warriors, but the manic eagerness in their eyes made it clear they weren't content staying locked in the lab when a war was brewing.
Meeting the eager gazes of the three madmen, York grinned, preparing to issue the mobilization orders.
"Wait."
Stussy suddenly interjected, her voice cutting through the excitement. "I have a terrible feeling about this. York... could this be a trap?"
Dragon, who had been brooding silently, looked up. He retracted what he was originally going to say and nodded firmly. "I agree with Stussy. I also feel something is highly unusual about this announcement."
York didn't blame them for raising tactical objections. He respected their intellect too much. He motioned for them to continue.
Stussy tapped the newspaper article, her eyes narrowing.
"Ochoku and Shakky's lethal grudge is not only clear to us... the World Government is even more aware of it! They orchestrated the God Valley ambush alongside him!" Stussy explained, her mind racing. "Theoretically, even if the Five Elders wanted to establish the Warlord system to balance the Emperors, their first recruitment target absolutely should not have been Ochoku!"
Stussy looked around the table. "Because the World Government knows that elevating Ochoku is a direct insult to you, York! It guarantees that he will break out into an all-out war with our Empire at any moment! Why would the Marines want their shiny new Warlord immediately slaughtered?"
"In comparison," Stussy continued, "I think Patrick Redfield—'Red the Aloof', who has recently risen to fame and is said to be as strong as Roger and Whitebeard—would have been a far more suitable first candidate!"
"Red is a true lone wolf. Despite his apocalyptic individual strength, he ultimately has no crew and no major grudges against the other Emperors. What the World Government lacks are relatively contained, controllable pirate masters like him. Elevating Ochoku makes no geopolitical sense... unless they want a war."
Stussy's words were impeccably reasoned. York listened with considerable agreement, nodding his head slowly.
"Indeed. Your analysis is flawless, Stussy."
Following closely on her heels, Dragon leaned forward, sharing his own chilling insight.
"If they intentionally chose Ochoku to bait us into attacking Hachinosu..." Dragon's eyes darkened. "Is it possible that the World Government is planning to replicate the God Valley Incident once more?"
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