"…"
After a moment of silence, the Transponder Snail spoke again.
"So that's it… you never intended to accept the title of Shichibukai."
The voice of the Scientific Defense Martial God, Jaygarcia Saturn, had returned to calm. It was as if being provoked by a gnat had been a passing nuisance—now, it was time to crush it.
The dark-golden Transponder Snail emitted an indifferent tone:
"Plunderer… do you know what it means to refuse the World Government's invitation?"
Shirogai smiled faintly, his expression innocent.
"Come on, don't twist it. You're the ones who rejected me. I was just making a polite request."
His tone shifted—now calm, detached, yet heavy with intent.
"Actually… let me ask you this," Shirogai said, eyes locked on the indifferent snail, voice flat and cold.
"Gorosei… do you understand what it means for your World Government to deny my terms?"
The Transponder Snail responded only with a sneer.
"Every so often, an arrogant little insect like you comes along thinking they can stand against us."
Another of the Gorosei's voices rang out with disdain:
"Pirate, your hubris blinds you. Do you think your powers alone are enough to stand against the World Government?"
A different voice followed—low and chilling:
"Prepare to receive your judgment. You cannot comprehend the terror that awaits you."
Then came a hoarse voice, elderly and filled with disdain:
"The Straw Hat Pirates… are guilty. All shall be sentenced to death."
"…"
The smiling Transponder Snail fell silent.
"Death penalty?"
The voice through the snail grew low, like a mutter.
"Oh, my. That's really… really…"
On the Going Merry, Shirogai, seated casually on the sofa, dropped his head and trembled quietly.
His voice lowered…
Then, suddenly, he snapped his head up.
"Pfft… Hahahahaha! Hahahahahahahaha!"
His expression twisted, his body trembling uncontrollably as he burst into maniacal laughter.
"This is fantastic! Absolutely hilarious!"
His eerie, chaotic laughter tore apart the tension built by the Gorosei's condemnation.
Grinning wide at the Transponder Snail, Shirogai said with a mocking tone:
"Gorosei… I eagerly await your judgment. Don't disappoint me now. Ahahahaha!"
"…"
The laughing snail was cut off as the call ended abruptly.
Silence returned to the room.
The Gorosei sat, each with different expressions, lost in thought.
"His behavior… a strange mixture of arrogance and madness," murmured Shepherd J. Peter, the God of Agriculture.
Saint Mars, commented coldly:
"Reminds me of someone… perhaps Donquixote Doflamingo?"
Topman Warcury, the God of Justice, scoffed:
"That clown wouldn't dare speak like this before us."
Jaygarcia Saturn nodded indifferently:
"He's just another overconfident fool. I'll have Kizaru or Aokiji capture him. He may serve as a fine experiment subject."
"An Admiral?" Shepherd J. Peter frowned.
"Isn't it overkill to send an Admiral after an insect with a bounty of only 200 million Berries?"
Jaygarcia Saturn replied:
"His Devil Fruit is… unrecorded. Nothing like it exists in ancient Devil Fruit archives. I suspect something larger is at play. An Admiral ensures nothing goes wrong."
Saint Ethanbaron Nasujuro, the Financial God of War, ran a hand along the hilt of his blade and smiled.
"Kizaru's got nothing urgent at the moment. Let him stretch his legs."
Silence followed. The death of the Straw Hat Pirates had already been decided.
"Then who will replace Crocodile's vacant seat?" asked Topman Warcury-sama.
"Let Sengoku handle it. He can pick a pliable, obedient rookie from the newer pirates."
Click.
On the deck of the Going Merry, the sound of a door creaking open caught everyone's attention.
All eyes turned to Shirogai, their faces mixed with unease and anticipation.
Some of them—Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Robin—had clearly been against dealing with the World Government.
Others like Luffy, with his usual oblivious grin, hadn't followed the discussion.
And then there were Usopp and Chopper, who had thought the Shichibukai title sounded impressive.
"What a shame. Looks like negotiations fell through," Shirogai said, stepping onto the deck and casually tossing the dark-golden Transponder Snail to Lieutenant Commander Brannew.
"What?" Brannew barely caught the snail, wide-eyed.
"Negotiations… fell through?"
Shirogai shrugged, his face the picture of innocence.
"Not my fault. They refused to compromise. So, no deal."
He glanced around at the crew and sighed.
"Ahh, what a pity. Guess we won't be able to use the Shichibukai title to scare anyone now."
His words, meant lightly, quickly lifted the tension.
Nami let out a breath of relief, her smile returning.
"Oh, that's fine! We didn't care anyway!"
Zoro gave a cocky grin, hand resting on his katana.
"Just a Shichibukai title. Not worth a damn to us."
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, chuckling.
"With our strength, we don't need empty titles."
Luffy scratched his stomach and grinned.
"Aw man, I wanted to eat the food at Marineford Gramps told me about… Oh well! Shirogai and Sanji's food is way better!"
Usopp sighed dramatically.
"Well, we won't be able to scare people with the title anymore, but whatever. We'll just scare them with our faces!"
Chopper blinked curiously at Usopp.
"Usopp, is being a Shichibukai that scary?"
Usopp leaned in, hands gesturing wildly.
"Of course! The name alone shakes the seas, Chopper! Let me tell you…"
"Heh…"
Shirogai watched them fondly, feeling at ease.
They didn't need titles. Not for this journey. As long as they stayed together, sailing across the Grand Line, chasing their dreams—they had everything they needed.
As for the wrath the Gorosei were plotting, Shirogai didn't care.
In their eyes, he was just a bug.
At most, they'd send an Admiral.
And if they did… things were about to get fun.
On a nearby Marine warship, Lieutenant Commander Brannew leapt off the Merry and returned to the deck.
The warship didn't dare linger. It sailed away at full speed.
Shirogai waved lazily at the retreating vessel.
"Goodbye. Feel free to visit again."
Then he chuckled softly.
"I wonder which Admiral they'll send? I hope it's someone entertaining…"
Meanwhile, aboard another warship…
A middle-aged man leaned back in a chair, dozing off.
He wore a striped yellow-and-white suit, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses. His stubble-covered face twitched suddenly.
"Achoo!"
The man sneezed himself awake.
"Ugh…"
Borsalino, also known as Kizaru, stood up and stretched lazily.
"Oh dear… I had a nightmare. So scary…"
__
Thanks for the stones.