"Seven Warlords of the Sea? What are the specific conditions?"
"I need to obey your mandatory summons; that's fine."
"But if I need support, will you provide it?"
Hachinosu (Fullalead Island).
Wang Zhi was communicating with someone far away via a Den Den Mushi.
The Den Den Mushi fell slightly silent after hearing Wang Zhi's words, then asked back in a deep voice: "Is this the privilege you are applying for?"
Wang Zhi was stunned, cursing angrily in his heart on the spot.
'These dogs of the World Government! They really plan to order me around like a dog!'
'You only want me to obey your mandatory summons, but don't want to help me deal with troubles in return!'
'F*ck you #￥%￥...'
Of course, cursing aside, Wang Zhi maintained a very amiable attitude on the surface.
"That's right! This is the privilege I want!"
"I can obey your mandatory summons anytime, anywhere, and become your combat power!"
"Correspondingly! If I encounter a strong enemy here, you must also provide me with support!"
"Otherwise, no deal!!"
The Den Den Mushi fell silent again for a while, taking a full dozen seconds before giving Wang Zhi an affirmative answer.
"Agreed! We agree to the privilege you applied for!!"
...
The next day.
York and Bullet had just dealt with a group of blind pirates at sea when a News Coo flew by not far away, spotted them, and flew straight over.
"Here, 100 Berries!"
After buying the latest newspaper from the News Coo, York immediately opened it to read.
Although as a transmigrator, he had information from his previous life as support, that could actually only serve as a reference for some major events. For daily intelligence gathering, aside from the intelligence department currently under construction, he still had to rely on newspapers.
"Pirate Overlord Wang Zhi becomes the first of the Seven Warlords of the Sea..."
Looking at the headline on the newspaper, York narrowed his eyes slightly.
He recalled the cause of the Battle of God Valley back then.
Besides God Valley coincidentally being Rocks' hometown, the other biggest reason was that Wang Zhi colluded with external enemies to capture Shakky and bring her to God Valley.
"It's been almost a year and a half. It's time for revenge!"
At the same time, York also prepared to establish his authority to pirates worldwide.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea wasn't something just any pirate could become!
If you dare to be the World Government's running dog, you have to watch out for snipers from the pinnacle of pirates like York!!
"Let's go! Bullet! We're going home!!"
"Going home? Not testing the sword anymore?"
Bullet asked York back.
"Speaking of going home, are we going back to your territory?"
"Ah~! That's actually your true motherland too!"
During their time together, Bullet actually already knew who York was and where his territory was.
Now hearing suddenly that they were going there, his mood instantly became complicated.
He wanted to go, yet didn't want to go. He couldn't say exactly what he felt, but his heart was indeed beating uneasily.
York naturally didn't know Bullet's complicated feelings, and even if he did, he wouldn't care.
Just timidity about being near home; once actually there, it would be just another thing.
So the two drove their motorboats, hurriedly carving two white trails on the sea.
...
Back in the Red Flag Empire.
York threw Bullet to Ivankov and Kuma to show him around his arranged accommodation, while he immediately summoned the main officers of the pirate crew.
Kaido, Dragon, Stussy, Shakky, Ivankov, Ginny, as well as Gloriosa who stayed on Sky Island previously, and the scientist quintet led by Vegapunk, all arrived.
York pressed the newspaper he bought earlier onto the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
"Wang Zhi has become a running dog of the World Government. You know about this, right?"
Everyone nodded slightly, Shakky's face particularly grim.
She hadn't forgotten how she was ambushed back then.
York wasted no words, getting straight to the point.
"I plan to take him out!"
"Both to avenge Shakky and to give the World Government a warning!"
"What do you think?"
Everyone looked at each other. Shakky was the first to answer: "I agree!"
No one was surprised by Shakky's reaction. Immediately after, Kaido became the second person to express his stance.
"Wororororo, I've found him an eyesore for a long time too. Count me in to take him down!"
Then came Gloriosa: "I have no objections to avenging sister Shakky!"
Ivankov and Ginny shrugged. "We're still just apprentices."
York continued to cast his gaze on Dragon, Stussy, and the scientist quintet.
Dragon and Stussy looked hesitant, while Acier from the scientist quintet raised his hand first.
"I won't participate in combat!"
Hearing this, Vegapunk nodded slightly. "I don't want to participate in combat either, especially since my research has reached a critical moment."
Regarding this, York also expressed approval.
"No problem! Scientists indeed shouldn't go to the front lines!"
However, at this moment, Queen, Judge, and Caesar voiced different opinions.
Queen: "Captain York! I've developed a batch of the latest Plague Rounds and am just short of a batch of test subjects!"
Judge: "I've also developed a batch of individual weapons that need a real battle for verification!"
Caesar: "My poison gas bombs will be completed in at most one more day!"
The three scientists didn't explicitly say they wanted to join the fight, but from the eagerness in their eyes, it was clear they weren't satisfied with staying in the lab like shut-ins all day.
Meeting the eager gazes of the three scientists, York grinned, ready to issue combat orders.
Just then, Stussy suddenly interjected: "I have a bad feeling! Could this be a trap?"
Dragon, who was also preparing to speak, paused, swallowed his original words, and instead said: "I also feel something is unusual."
York didn't blame them for raising objections, signaling them to continue.
Stussy deliberated briefly before speaking first.
"The grudge between Wang Zhi and Shakky isn't just known to us; the World Government knows it even better!"
"Theoretically, even if they wanted to establish the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the recruitment target shouldn't be Wang Zhi!"
"Because Wang Zhi could break out into war with us at any time!"
"In comparison, Redfield (Patrick Redfield), who has recently risen to fame and is said to possess strength not inferior to Roger and Shiki, seems more suitable than Wang Zhi!"
"It's said he is a lone wolf!"
"Although his personal strength is powerful, he has no companions after all. What the World Government lacks are precisely pirate experts like him who are relatively easier to control!"
Stussy's words were well-founded, and York nodded in agreement as he listened.
"That's right, what you said makes sense!"
Immediately after, Dragon also voiced his own insight.
"Is it possible that the World Government wants to replicate God Valley again?"