A cold voice came from the Den Den Mushi.
"Become the Pirate King? It's been a long time since I heard such a joke."
"Another fool chasing a fantasy."
The elegant elder spoke calmly, "Plunderer, enough with these tiresome tests. Just state your demand."
Shirogai leaned lazily on the sofa, a faint smile playing on his lips as he muttered to himself, "This is really difficult, isn't it? So many demands—where do I even begin?"
There was silence on the other end.
Mary Geoise.
Pangaea Castle.
Within the opulent halls, the Gorosei sat composed on their seats, eyes fixed on the expressionless, pitch-black Den Den Mushi resting on the table.
They waited patiently for the powerful new pirate to voice his request.
They were never concerned when pirates made demands.
They only feared those with no desires at all.
The more ambitious the pirate, the easier it was to pull his strings.
They had already told Shirogai he could make any request of the World Government.
It sounded like a dream come true. The World Government offering to use the entire might of its global influence to help fulfill his wishes—an offer anyone would kill for.
But was the World Government a generous benefactor?
Were the Gorosei fair wish-granters?
Only fools would believe that.
Because every demand made could become a shackle—leverage to control and manipulate.
After all, every pirate who voiced a desire was showing the Gorosei where to place the leash.
The Empress Boa Hancock, the Tyrant Bartholomew Kuma, the Knight of the Sea Jinbe, Celestial Donquixote Doflamingo…
These Shichibukai, feared and admired across the world, all had weaknesses known to the World Government.
In the eyes of the Gorosei, pirates were cunning and untrustworthy.
And only with a firm collar could these dangerous beasts be tamed.
Gorosei Thought:
Our Warlords are wild dogs. They bite everyone—but not us. Why? Because we hold their chains.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea—great in name, terrifying in battle.
But to the Gorosei, they were merely tools, unleashed when needed to fight the Four Emperors—the real monsters of the sea.
So now, offering Shirogai the same opportunity to "ask for anything," was merely a trap.
A disguised leash.
They waited for him to bow down and expose the parts of himself they could exploit.
But Shirogai wasn't playing their game.
"Oh! I've made up my mind," his voice finally broke the silence.
The Gorosei, stone-faced, stared at the smiling black Den Den Mushi.
Jaygarcia Saturn, said flatly,
"Speak."
He was especially curious about Shirogai.
As a man of science, he was intrigued by the Talent-Talent Fruit, a Devil Fruit never before recorded, not even in ancient logs.
He wanted to dissect it. Understand it.
The Den Den Mushi's eyes remained calm.
"I bear no hostility toward the Marines," Shirogai said. "We've never crossed paths in any real conflict. They've never tried to kill me, and I haven't harmed them."
The Gorosei remained unmoved. To them, this was just the chatter of a lowly being. Not worth attention.
"But becoming a pirate?" the Den Den Mushi continued. "That just happened. Honestly, I could have been a Marine. The only reason I'm not is that I ran into a crew that felt right—so I went with them."
Jaygarcia Saturn frowned, growing impatient.
"This is pointless," he snapped. "Plunderer, just state your demand. We aren't interested in your backstory."
"Hahaha! That's a shame," Shirogai chuckled. "It's a good story, really. You missed out."
The Den Den Mushi's eyes glimmered with amusement.
"Fine. Just one demand."
He leaned back with a grin. "Make Fleet Admiral Sengoku step down. I want his position."
"…What?"
Silence fell.
A pirate asking to lead the Marines?
The Gorosei frowned in unison.
A pirate who doesn't dream of being Pirate King, but Fleet Admiral? What kind of absurdity is this?
Jaygarcia Saturn's brows lowered as he growled,
"Arrogant fool!"
Nasujuro, the Financial Military God, spoke with ice in his voice.
"Shirogai, Plunderer—are you mocking us?"
Warcury, Godhead of Justice, said calmly,
"There is no world where a pirate can become Fleet Admiral of the Marines."
Saint Mars, Godhead of Environment, spoke indifferently,
"Do you not realize your place? Your ignorance is staggering."
Shepherd Ju Peter, Godhead of Agriculture, narrowed his eyes.
"Did you never intend to become a Shichibukai in the first place?"
Shirogai listened to their voices one after another. Then, as though genuinely baffled, he spread his arms and said,
"Why would I waste your time if I didn't intend to join? You think I'm just toying with you for fun? I mean… would I really be that bored?"
The Gorosei collectively thought:
Yes. Yes, you would.
"…"
The Den Den Mushi's expression hardened slightly.
Jaygarcia Saturn's tone turned grave.
"I'll ask one final time."
"Plunderer, what is your true demand?"
With a disappointed sigh, Shirogai replied,
"So Fleet Admiral is off the table, huh? I was serious, you know."
The Den Den Mushi smiled again.
"Alright then—how about this instead? Make me one of you. The sixth seat. The newest Elder."
"…What?"
Jaygarcia Saturn narrowed his eyes.
"You mean… become a Celestial Dragon?"
"No, no, no!" the Den Den Mushi said excitedly, shaking its head.
"Not a Celestial Dragon—I mean join you five as an Elder. You can call me Elder Six from now on. Has a nice ring to it, right?"
"…"
A long pause.
The Gorosei exchanged glances.
What the hell is Elder Six!?
Was something wrong with this man's brain?
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