Chapter 54: The Royal Seven Warlords Hunting Plan!

The Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea are super pirates officially recognized by the World Government.

In the eyes of the world, the Marine Headquarters, the Emperors, and the Royal Seven Warlords are collectively known as the three major powers of the Grand Line.

Of course, in Storm's opinion, this perception… is actually quite laughable.

At this stage, the strength of the Marine Headquarters and the Pirate Emperors is undeniable.

But as for the Royal Seven Warlords…

Their reputation sounds fierce as a tiger.

Yet their actual achievements are mediocre at best.

In terms of real, tangible accomplishments, very few of the Royal Seven Warlords are even worth mentioning.

In fact, many members of the Royal Seven Warlords were once defeated subordinates of the Pirate Emperors! Though they managed to escape from the Emperors' grasp,

is "defeated subordinate of a Pirate Emperor" really a flattering title?

Though, from a certain perspective, surviving an encounter with an Emperor is indeed a feat in itself…

Normally, only pirates who receive recognition and an invitation from the World Government can become Royal Seven Warlords.

But there are always exceptions.

Take, for example, Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach, who is still diligently pretending to be a loyal son within the Whitebeard Pirates.

He didn't become a Royal Seven Warlord through the World Government's "invitation."

Blackbeard "recommended himself"!

Storm had also considered recommending himself to become a Royal Seven Warlord.

But while his strength was sufficient, his fame was severely lacking…

So, he had to resort to a simpler, more direct method—

Defeat one of the Royal Seven Warlords, trample over their reputation and status, boost his own fame, and thus become the new Warlord!

At this stage, the members of the Royal Seven Warlords organization are largely the same as the "original generation" in Storm's memory.

Hawkeye.

Snake Princess.

Knight of the Sea.

Heavenly Demon.

Karoo.

Sand Crocodile.

These six, plus the one standing beside them—the Tyrant.

Together, they form the "original generation" of the Royal Seven Warlords in Storm's mind.

However, at the moment, Bartholomew Kuma has yet to officially set sail or become a Warlord.

The last member of the Royal Seven Warlords is someone whose name is somewhat unfamiliar to Storm.

Lizard King, Hanafuda.

He is also the only Zoan-type Devil Fruit user among the Royal Seven Warlords.

[Zoan-type: Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Zoan, Tyrannosaurus Rex Form]!

Storm is well aware that the Royal Seven Warlords organization has undergone changes over time.

If nothing unexpected happens,

this so-called "Lizard King" among the Royal Seven Warlords

is the very one Portgas D. Ace swiftly defeated after entering the Grand Line in the future.

But right now, Ace hasn't set sail yet.

This "Lizard King" is still comfortably serving as a Royal Seven Warlord.

Just like Sand Crocodile Crocodile and the others.

"Defeating a Royal Seven Warlord…"

Kuma frowned slightly.

"Isn't that supposed to be extremely difficult?"

Kuma knew that every Royal Seven Warlord was a notorious and powerful pirate.

Before becoming "lapdogs of the World Government," each of them had their own legendary exploits.

Otherwise, these pirates wouldn't have received invitations from the World Government.

As a certain Snake Princess, who wished to remain anonymous, once said.

The reason she was appointed as one of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea was precisely because of her formidable strength!

"Difficult?"

Storm gave Kuma a puzzled glance.

"Are you underestimating your own power level unnecessarily? In my eyes, even someone like you, Kuma, is qualified to become one of the Royal Seven Warlords!"

Although in the evaluation of the [Grand Prize Trophy], Kuma currently only had a six-star rating.

But in Storm's view, some of the Royal Seven Warlords weren't even as strong as Kuma! That's right.

Storm was specifically referring to that Sand Crocodile who couldn't even defeat a rookie like Straw Hat when he first entered the Grand Line! Back then, the Sun God wasn't the Sun God yet.

Rubber against sand.

There wasn't even any elemental advantage like "rubber versus lightning."

Yet Crocodile, fighting on his home turf, still lost to Straw Hat—even having his "fighting spirit shattered" by the latter! Such a performance was downright embarrassing.

Now look at Bartholomew Kuma.

Although this "Tyrant" had more severe personality issues than expected.

His innate racial talents were excellent, and his Devil Fruit abilities were powerful.

Among all the Royal Seven Warlords.

Kuma's strength could absolutely rank near the top!

"...Me?"

Kuma touched his large face.

The bruises Storm had left earlier hadn't fully faded yet.

Kuma never expected Storm to hold his abilities in such high regard—

Wait a minute! If a "defeated opponent" like him was qualified to become a Royal Seven Warlord.

Didn't that mean Storm was even more qualified? "Yes, you."

Storm nodded.

"Kuma, do you want to become one of the Royal Seven Warlords? If you do, all it takes is adding one more name to the 'hunting list.'"

"No..."

Kuma shook his head in refusal.

"I have no ambition for the title of 'Royal Seven Warlord.'"

"Then hear my plan."

Storm created another Clay Planet.

"The seven Royal Seven Warlords are mainly distributed across the Grand Line, both in Paradise and the New World."

"One even resides deep in the Calm Belt at Amazon Lily."

Storm recounted all the general locations he knew regarding the Royal Seven Warlords.

The Knight of the Sea, Jinbei, was now a member of the Whitebeard Pirates; the Heavenly Demon, Donquixote Doflamingo, operated from Dressrosa.

Both were in the New World.

Separated from Storm by the Red Line.

These two could be set aside for now.

As for the others—Hawkeye Mihawk lived on Kuraigana Island;

The Snake Princess, Hancock, ruled over Amazon Lily in the Calm Belt;

Gekko Moriah lurked within Thriller Bark; Crocodile was in Alabasta;

And the last one, the "Lizard King."

This Warlord also operated in Paradise, stationed on Banaro Island.

On this blue Clay Planet.

Storm marked the approximate locations of each Royal Seven Warlord.

He had studied some geography during his time at the naval academy.

While he couldn't guarantee pinpoint accuracy for every island.

At the very least, the general directions were correct.

Storm's provisional targets were these five Warlords active in Paradise.

He decided to temporarily name this plan the "Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea Hunting Operation!" This "hunting operation" coincidentally aligned with the "seeking allies" plan Storm had previously reported to Aokiji.

In fact.

The "allies" Storm had referred to back then were precisely these notorious pirates from the Paradise stage of the Grand Line! After all, his current identity was that of a SWORD Unit member undercover as a pirate.

The allies Storm could recruit naturally had to be pirates.

Surveying the entire sea.

Only a handful of powerful, qualified, and daring pirates could challenge the Emperors.

Counting them, weren't they just these Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea?

Storm's original plan was to collaborate with several Warlords, charge into the New World together, and challenge the Emperors! On the other hand.

Storm actively seeking out those Warlords would also make it easier to hunt the [Grand Prize Trophies] on them.

He could both collect trophies to enhance his strength.

And recruit suitable subordinates to expand his forces.

A true win-win! Storm wins twice!

However, Storm hadn't anticipated that after leaving Impel Down, he'd end up flying directly to the South Blue...

The "Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea Hunting Operation" was forced to halt...

Though not entirely.

While Storm hadn't encountered any official Warlords.

Hadn't he met Tyrant Bear, who was about to become one? Rounding it off, the difference wasn't that big...

Kuma stared at the marked locations on the Clay Planet.

He was utterly amazed by the intelligence-gathering capabilities Storm had displayed.

"The Knight of the Sea and the Heavenly Demon are in the New World, so we'll leave them aside for now."

Storm removed the New World section from the Clay Planet, focusing solely on Paradise.

"We're currently in the South Blue, near the Calm Belt, with Paradise just ahead.

"I have a question, Kuma. Can your [Paw-Paw Fruit] perform long-distance teleportation?"

Kuma was startled.

Storm even knew this detail? But recalling the vast "Knowledge" Storm had shown, Kuma quickly dismissed his surprise.

"Yes, my ability allows ultra-long-distance teleportation."

Kuma raised his right hand, the paw pad on his palm looking soft and bouncy, utterly adorable.

"Even island-hopping is possible.

"However, I can only send people to islands I've personally visited."

Storm nodded—this matched the intel he possessed.

Kuma's [Paw-Paw Fruit] could "repel" targets, sending them flying to precise destinations.

The only limitation was that Kuma had to have been to the location himself.

As luck would have it...

Kuma had once traveled the world with the Revolutionary Army.

This experience made his [Paw-Paw Fruit] unimaginably valuable! "Excellent."

Storm said approvingly.

"Amazon Lily, Banaro Island, Thriller Bark, Karakuri Island, Alabasta.

"Have you been to these five islands?"

From Storm's memory, Kuma should have visited these places.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to send the Straw Hat crew members to train at those exact locations in the future.

"Except for Amazon Lily and Thriller Bark."

Kuma replied.

"I've been to Banaro Island, Kuraigana Island, and Alabasta."

Amazon Lily is located in the Calm Belt.

Thriller Bark sails in the Florian Triangle.

It makes sense that Kuma hasn't visited these places at this stage.

Storm pondered for a moment.

The three islands Kuma mentioned corresponded to—

The Lizard King.

Hawkeye.

Sand Crocodile.

Just then.

Kuma asked softly.

"Where would you like to travel?"

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Regarding the [Lizard King] appearing in this chapter.

The information source is Volume 109's SBS.

His Devil Fruit ability is unknown.

This book bases his epithet [Lizard King] on Hanafuda's.

[Author's original setting] He is a [Tyrannosaurus Fruit] user.

The location of his island is also [author's original setting].

Banaro Island is where B

lackbeard a

nd Ace fought, and where Ace was defeated.

This book's [original setting] makes it the Lizard King's stronghold.

Additionally.

Volume 109's SBS mentions something else readers might find interesting.

Fujitora Issho's [cane sword].

Is one of the twelve Supreme Grade swords—[Black Path Firewire].

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