The sunset glow splashed across the sea level, golden-red flames blurring into layers of ripples, making it impossible to distinguish the boundary between sky and sea.
Vergo was in no mood to appreciate such beauty, for he was being sent once again to a strange place to go undercover and gather intelligence.
Over the years, he had been like rootless duckweed, slapped by the chasing waves from one faction to another.
From the Donquixote Family to the Marine, from the Marine to the Morning Star Pirates, and now from the Morning Star Pirates, he was about to head to the Beasts Pirates.
When will this ever end!
Vergo picked up the den den mushi and put it back down, having no idea how to report to the Young Master or Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Should he say he's being sent undercover again?!
Just how many undercover assignments are you going to take on?!
After long consideration, Vergo finally gave up on reporting now, deciding to wait a few days until he was on the road.
Half a month later.
Vergo boarded the Shipping King's cargo ship and left Hachinosu Island. After waving to the two figures at the port, he returned to his room to begin his report.
"Young Master, there has been an unexpected turn in the mission."
"Unexpected?" The den den mushi raised an eyebrow arrogantly.
"Yes, Young Master. Beelzebul has... has sent me to the Beasts Pirates as an undercover agent. I am currently on my way to Wano Country."
The den den mushi blinked its eyes.
"Fuffuffuffu~ Have you been exposed?"
Other than his identity being exposed, Donquixote Doflamingo couldn't think of any better explanation.
"Definitely not." Vergo was full of confidence in his professional abilities.
"Young Master, there's no reason for me to be exposed. Sengoku has already erased all my information. I suspect Beelzebul has some plans for Wano Country."
The den den mushi paused.
"Don't worry about that for now. Why hasn't that fellow Beelzebul come to the North Blue yet?"
"They went to Elbaf and haven't returned yet."
"Fine. Stay safe. If you get exposed in the Beasts Pirates, try mentioning my name."
After finishing the first report, Vergo took a short break. After quickly switching his identity back to Marine Vergo, he continued with the second report.
"Little Rice Cracker?"
"Big Rice Cracker, there's been a small unexpected turn in my mission here. The target has sent me to the Beasts Pirates to go undercover and gather intelligence."
Even though he had said it once, mentioning it again still felt incredibly absurd to Vergo.
How could there be such a coincidence in the world?
His undercover identity definitely hadn't been discovered by the Morning Star Pirates, so it could only be that his performance was too outstanding, and he had encountered a one-in-a-million coincidence.
"Nani?!" The den den mushi's pupils dilated in shock, followed by what seemed like a muffled chuckle.
"Little Rice Cracker, let me process this."
After a moment, the den den mushi spoke again.
"Beelzebul sent you to Wano Country. Did he give you any other instructions besides gathering intelligence?"
"No, he only told me to gather intelligence."
There was another long silence.
"In that case, you'll have to endure it for a while. You must stay safe. It just so happens that we also need intelligence on Wano Country here at home."
"Yes, I will definitely complete the mission."
Hanging up the den den mushi, Vergo suddenly couldn't help but laugh out loud. He could already imagine the future scene of reporting a single piece of intelligence three times.
It really was quite absurd.
He heard that the internal competition within the Beasts Pirates was fierce, but the benefits were decent. If he performed well, he might even get a good Devil Fruit.
Compared to when he first went to Hachinosu Island, Vergo felt much more relaxed on the way to Wano Country.
Simply because Kaido's standards weren't as high as Beelzebul's.
With his strength, entering the Beasts Pirates would definitely be no problem. Moreover, after being immersed in Hachinosu Island for over two months, he was now a true pirate.
Vergo took a long breath, leaned back, and fell asleep.
"I hope this is the last stop!"
...Elbaf, Royal Palace.
Above Iron Thunder Castle, two massive arms made entirely of purple lightning and entwined with Haoshoku and Armament Ryuo hovered behind Seven.
It looked like an incomplete version of susanoo.
After half a month, he had successfully completed the first stage of the Thunder God Form. It was time to lift the hammer of the thunder god—Lightning Squirrel Iron Thunder.
And be crowned as the Thunder God once more!
Just as this thought flashed through his mind, an untimely voice suddenly boomed.
"Stinky shorty, are you the one making thunder every day?"
"Get down here right now, this young master will smash your head."
Seven casually drew his blade, musou isshin, and dove down rapidly from the roof of Iron Thunder Castle—
Consecutive Powerful Normal Attacks!
Clang~ Clang~ Clang~
Three violent collision sounds exploded. Because the attack speed was too fast, three ripples actually Swirled outward simultaneously.
Blocking the first strike, the giant wearing Viking attire, with twin horns on his head and eyes covered by bandages, felt his arms go numb.
Blocking the second strike, the boulders on the ground beneath the giant's feet were crushed by the sheer force.
With the third strike, the hammer in the giant's hands shattered into countless iron fragments, and he was simultaneously sent flying hundreds of meters.
The giant who was sent flying was none other than Giant King Harald's son, Loki, who claimed to be Elbaf's number one strongman and was known as the Cursed Prince.
He was quite a pitiful fellow.
Because of his demonic pupils at birth, Loki was discarded from a cliff into the icy underworld by his biological mother. However, the newborn infant Loki survived.
If this had been Seven's starting point... he would have restarted long ago.
But because his eyes were feared and loathed by his biological mother, Loki's eyes were injured by her. Later, every time he called out 'Mama', what greeted him was not a warm embrace, but DMG from his biological mother.
Even the title of Cursed Prince was spread throughout Elbaf by his biological mother.
It could be said that during his infancy, Loki was denied the right to be loved.
Things got even worse later.
Loki was finally raised well by his adoptive mother Date, but Date was then poisoned to death by the giants of his biological mother's village.
His father Harald was controlled by Imu's deep sea contract, and Loki was forced to kill his father with his own hands.
In short, he was miserable from infancy to adulthood.
Amidst the rolling dust, Loki strode over to his shattered hammer: "Shorty, you've got quite some strength."
Seven re-inserted musou isshin back into his chest. "Big dummy, you're not bad yourself."
Seeing this, Loki was completely stunned.
"Doesn't it hurt?"
"Uh." Seven suddenly realized he shouldn't set a bad example for a child. He quickly made musou isshin manifest in his hand and then withdrew it back into his body.
"This is a divine artifact; it can merge into the body at any time."
Although his eyes were wrapped in bandages, Loki could still perceive things through Observation Haki. In the manga, he had even read newspapers with his eyes covered.
"My hammer is broken."
"I'll come back to fight you once I find a new weapon."
Seven gave a bright smile.
"Sure, I'll wait for you."
Watching Loki disappear from his line of sight, Seven returned inside Iron Thunder Castle. The massive lightning arms reappeared behind him, entwined with Dual-Colored Haki.
[Lightning Squirrel, watch closely]
The lightning hands gripped the handle of the Iron Thunder Hammer. Seven gritted his teeth, controlling the giant hands behind him with all his might.
"Lightning Squirrel, lift up for me!!!"