One Piece, I'm just an adventurer.

"Woo-woo." The baboon king nodded in affirmation.

Hawkeye stroked his chin, pondering who might come looking for him.

However, he quickly changed his mind. If he wanted to know who it was, he would just have to go and see for himself.

Hawkeye moved swiftly, heading in the direction the baboon king had pointed.

As Hawkeye left, the baboon king's eyes flashed with cunning, and he then headed towards Hawkeye's castle.

Not long after, Yin Yan spotted the ship on the beach; it was a warship.

“Navy? Doesn’t seem like it,” Hawkeye murmured.

One of the men on the ship was overjoyed to see Hawkeye arrive. He jumped off the ship and came to Hawkeye's side.

"Mr. Hawkeye, hello. My name is Hu Yu. I am a Major General in the CP organization (the CP organization also has military ranks). I have come here to invite you to the World Government's Seven Warlords Conference." Hu Yu said with a slight bow. He knew Hawkeye's strength, so he did not have the arrogance of other CP members.

Hawkeye frowned and asked, "Did they say what it was about?"

“I don’t know the specifics, but the order was issued by the Five Elders,” Hu Yu explained.

Becoming a Shichibukai (one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea) is not without its obligations. Every year, they are required to eliminate a group of pirates for the World Government, and the World Government has the right to conscript them to perform certain tasks. Of course, this is largely voluntary, and the rewards are quite generous. In return, the World Government will no longer pursue their past crimes; simply put, their bounties will be removed.

Hawkeye had a bounty on him before. During that time, he was very troubled by the Navy, which prevented him from properly practicing swordsmanship. At that time, the World Government invited him to become a Shichibukai. Seeing that the conditions were not too harsh, and in order to get rid of the Navy's entanglement, he agreed. However, since he became a Shichibukai, this was the first time the World Government had summoned them.

After thinking for a moment, Hawkeye decided to go and see what the World Government was up to in order to live a more peaceful life. If the World Government's demands were difficult to meet, he would simply refuse. After all, he hadn't said he would obey the World Government when he joined.

“I will go. Did they say when?” Hawkeye asked.

"Now would be best," Hu Yu said.

Hawkeye nodded without objecting and readily boarded the warship with Tiger Rain.

What he didn't know was that when he returned, his castle had been ravaged by the baboons.

In a gloomy castle in the Devil's Triangle region, halfway through the Grand Line, Gecko Moria lay lazily on his throne.

"Absalom, have we found that skeleton man yet?" Moonlight Moria asked, turning to Absalom who was dealing with something nearby.

"We haven't found it yet. Lord Moria, do you need me to send more men to search?" Absalom replied respectfully.

"Forget it, you'd be better off capturing more people for me. I still don't have enough of my little darlings," Moonlight Moria said, not really caring.

"Yes, Lord Moria, our kidnapping plan has been quite successful lately," Absalom chuckled. The Devil's Triangle had a bad reputation, so few people ventured there. They devised various methods, such as creating fake treasure maps and throwing out barrels of sparkler-like liquor. Whoever found the barrel would open it and unleash a dazzling display of fireworks, allowing them to pinpoint the person's location and capture them. Using these methods, they had captured quite a few people.

Gecko Moria nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this, and was about to say something encouraging when a little girl skipped and hopped in from outside.

As soon as she walked in, the little girl exclaimed, "Uncle Moria, those annoying guys are here again!"

“It’s Perona. Did those people say what they wanted?” Moonlight Moria said in a deep voice.

The annoying guys Perona was talking about were the people from the World Government. Perona was injured by these people when she was young, so she has never liked the people from the World Government.

"They said they want you to attend some Shichibukai meeting, and they're still waiting for you," Perona said, sitting down on a sofa.

Gecko Moria frowned. This was the first time the World Government had convened a meeting of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and given his personality, his first thought was not to attend.

However, if he wants to continue to develop peacefully in the Devil's Triangle, he really can't miss this Shichibukai meeting. Otherwise, if he loses his Shichibukai status, he won't be as carefree as he is now.

“Sigh, never mind, I’ll go anyway. Absalom, I’ll leave the house in your care after I’m gone,” Moonlight Moria said to Absalom.

“Yes, Lord Moria, I will take good care of the house,” Absalom assured him.

After giving Absalom his instructions, Moonlight Moria then said to Perona, "While I'm gone, Perona, don't wander around. Help Absalom guard the house."

"Okay, Uncle Moria," Perona said, dissatisfied.

After giving the two instructions, Gecko Moria moved his obese body outside. Upon seeing the World Government representatives, without further ado, Gecko Moria followed them out of the Devil's Triangle.

Chapter 88 Seven Warlords of the Sea 2

Along the Grand Line is a Calm Zone, a special sea area that is usually windless but teeming with enormous Sea Kings, making it difficult for ordinary ships to enter or pass through.

In the heart of this windless region lies a country called the Amazon Lily Kingdom, which is also known as Daughter Island because it is entirely composed of women.

At this moment, in the royal palace of Amazon Lily, the newly crowned Empress Boa Hancock is lying lazily on her soft bed.

A short, old woman with a weathered face said with exasperation, "Hancock, as the Empress, how can you be so indifferent to the affairs of the kingdom?"

"It's alright, Granny New, even if I'm a little lazy, they'll still forgive me, after all, I'm so beautiful," Hancock said, touching her face with a look of ecstasy.

Looking at Hancock's angelic face, even Granny New almost succumbed. Fortunately, she was strong enough to break free and angrily said, "Hancock, you used your power on me again."

"No, I'm just too beautiful," Hancock said confidently, tossing her hair.

"You..." Just as Granny New was about to say something more, a dashing woman walked in from outside. She went straight to Hancock and said respectfully, "Reporting to the Empress, a warship has arrived a hundred miles from Amazon Lily."

Upon hearing this, Grandma Niu said nervously, "What are they doing here? We had an agreement, do they want to break it?"

"Hmph, I told you long ago that those people are not to be trusted," Hancock said coldly.

"Sister, if we're talking about it, we should have killed them all and fed them to the Serpent," Boa Sandersonia, who had been standing behind the Empress, said hatefully. She was one of the three who were captured by the Celestial Dragons along with Hancock, and the Serpent was a giant snake that pulled their ship.

“Sister, let me go and kill them.” Boa Marigold, one of the three, said directly. She also had no goodwill towards the people of the World Government.

"No! If we take action, our Amazon Lily Kingdom will become a pirate kingdom again, and we will face the World Government's encirclement and suppression," Granny New hurriedly stopped her.

Empress Hancock's face was frosty, but she knew that Granny Newt was right, though her heart was still filled with resentment.

After a long while, she said to the woman who had just entered, "Kikyo, take some men and keep those people outside Daughter Island. Find out their purpose for coming here."

"Kikyo obeys," Kikyo replied respectfully, then bowed and left.

"Hancock, you must not act impulsively," Granny New said sternly.

"I will seriously consider this matter," Hancock said, touching her face with some impatience.

Half an hour later, Kikyo returned and reported, "Your Majesty, those people claim to be on the orders of the Five Elders of the World Government to invite you to the Marine Headquarters to attend the Shichibukai meeting."

Upon hearing Kikyo's report, Granny Niu breathed a sigh of relief, as long as they weren't coming to attack Daughter Island.

Empress Hancock frowned, her beautiful brows furrowed in confusion as she wondered about the purpose of the World Government's meeting of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Speaking of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, she only joined last year. At the time, she was unwilling, but the World Government used Amazon Lily as leverage, so she had no choice but to comply.

"Did they say when the meeting would start?" Hancock finally asked.

"They didn't say that, they just said we'd better set off now," Kikyo said respectfully.

"Sister, could they be plotting something by acting so urgently?" Boa Sandasonia asked with some concern.

“Yes, sister, maybe we shouldn’t go,” Boa Marigold chimed in.

Seeing their worried expressions, Hancock smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm so beautiful, no one will hurt me."

"Hancock, be careful. If things get bad, run away immediately. Don't worry about us," Granny New said earnestly, holding Hancock's hand.

Hancock glanced at Granny New with some surprise, not expecting her to say that.

Touched, she picked up Grandma Niu and said with a bright smile, "Hehe, I will, Grandma Niu."

Granny New, who was suddenly picked up by Hancock, said angrily, "Let me go, Hancock."

Hancock gave Granny New a tight hug before leaving with Boa Marigold and Boa Sandersonia.

Hancock did not travel to the World Government on the warship sent by the World Government, but instead set off on her own Kuja pirate ship.

In an estate in Albana, the capital of the Alabasta Kingdom, Crocodile, known as the Sand Crocodile, was training. Since being easily defeated by Lin Yi and his group, he had been working hard again and had made great progress in the past year.

He also abandoned his search for ancient weapons, so his relationship with the King of Alabasta is currently quite good. While gathering information for Lin Yi, he also acts as an intelligence broker for the Kingdom of Alabasta, living a very comfortable life these days.

After finishing his training session for the day, Crocodile prepared to head to the Baroque Workshop for his work.

But when he was halfway there, he saw one of his men leading a group of people toward him.

Crocodile frowned, somewhat displeased with his subordinate's unauthorized actions. He had previously stated that his subordinates were not allowed to bring people to his residence without permission.

But as a competent boss, he didn't immediately reprimand his subordinate; instead, he wanted to hear his explanation.

Upon seeing Crocodile, the subordinate ran up to him with a delighted expression and said respectfully, "Boss, these people claim to be sent by the World Government. They say they have important business with you, so I had no choice but to bring them here to find you."

After hearing his subordinate's explanation, Crocodile relaxed his furrowed brows and calmly looked at the people from the World Government.

"You're Crocodile?" one of the men asked in a rather unfriendly tone as they approached Crocodile.

Crocodile's brow, which had just relaxed, furrowed tightly again. His gaze, as cold as a star, was fixed on the person who had just spoken, as if trying to see through their eyes into their very soul.

As Crocodile watched, a powerful and terrifying aura erupted from him like a raging torrent, instantly engulfing the man. This aura was as heavy as Mount Tai crushing an egg, making it hard to breathe. The man's face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

He tried with difficulty to speak again, but it was as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his throat, and he couldn't utter a sound. Just as he was struggling desperately, suddenly, a yellow sandstorm swept in like a yellow whirlwind, enveloping him completely, leaving him no room to breathe.

The man, tightly enveloped by the yellow sand, could only emit a series of muffled "woof woof woof" sounds, which sounded extremely painful. He struggled desperately in the sand, but it was as if he was being held tightly by a giant hand, completely unable to break free.

Just then, another voice came from the crowd, sounding anxious: "Mr. Crocodile, please have mercy and spare his life. My man has suffered a lot in the desert and is in a bad mood, so his attitude may have been a bit harsh, but he definitely didn't mean to target you!"

Crocodile snorted coldly and with a wave of his hand, removed the yellow sand that had enveloped the man.

After escaping, the man hid behind the crowd in terror, no longer daring to make a sound.

"Speak, what do you want from me?" Crocodile said coldly.

The man who had pleaded for Crocodile first thanked him for his leniency, and then said, "I am here on the orders of the World Government to invite Mr. Crocodile to the Marine Headquarters to attend the Shichibukai Conference."

Crocodile felt a jolt in his heart. As a schemer, he instinctively felt that this meeting was not so simple.

But he didn't show much expression on his face, and calmly said, "When?"

"It would be best to set off now; our warships are waiting outside," the man said.

“Okay.” Crocodile agreed without much thought, as it would be a good opportunity for him to see what the World Government was up to.

Chapter 89 Seven Warlords of the Sea 3

On a small island in the New World, the tranquil atmosphere was shattered by a sudden burst of gunpowder. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder, and the scattered corpses and blood were a horrifying sight, clearly indicating that a fierce battle had just taken place.

On this bloody battlefield, the victor was none other than the recently renowned knight-errant Jinbe. His tall figure stood out starkly amidst the smoke of battle, and the scars on his body could not conceal his resolute face.

"Brother Jinbe, we have lost three brothers this time," the first mate Aladdin reported to Jinbe with a heavy heart. His voice revealed a hint of sorrow, the grief of losing his comrades.

Jinbe's expression was equally grave. He silently gazed at his fallen brothers, his heart filled with self-reproach and guilt. Tiger had entrusted the Sun Pirates to him, but now he had failed to protect them.

Recalling his older brother Tiger, Jinbe felt a mix of emotions. Back then, after parting ways with Lin Yi and the others in the small garden, Tiger happened to meet Ivankov of the Revolutionary Army on his way back. The two hit it off immediately, chatting happily, and ultimately, at Ivankov's enthusiastic invitation, Tiger decided to join the Revolutionary Army.

However, joining the Revolutionary Army meant going against the World Government, and the risks and difficulties involved were self-evident. Therefore, Tiger did not force the other members of the Sun Pirates to follow him, but instead handed over the leadership of the entire pirate crew to the calm and reliable Jinbe.

What Tiger didn't expect was that although Jinbe was quite strong and capable, he lacked seniority, and some powerful veterans didn't really respect him.

But that's not the main point, because as time went on, Jinbe was confident he could subdue them. However, something happened that caused the Sun Pirates, which originally had more than 100 members, to be reduced to just over 70, with the remaining 40 or so members leaving the Sun Pirates.