Chapter 414: Handover of Bai Huzi Ershi

Two days later.

The first half of the Grand Line.

The weather was calm and sunny.

The sky stretched clear and boundless.

A colossal warship lay motionless in this stretch of sea, its Navy flag flying high and snapping in the wind.

Whooshing!

The ocean current stirred, emitting a crisp, melodious sound.

Meanwhile,

Farther out at sea, another equally colossal warship was slowly approaching, heading toward the stationary vessel.

The warship parted the calm sea, sending ripples cascading across the surface.

Soon after,

the two warships came alongside each other.

Then,

a middle-aged man clad in the Navy's Justice coat stepped forward slowly, ascending the gangway and crossing from the first warship onto the second.

Upon closer inspection,

he was clearly a Navy Headquarters Vice Admiral!

His body was bulky and fat, his scalp completely bald, with hair growing only along the sides of his smooth head, giving his face a comical appearance.

At his waist,

he carried two sheathed swords!

Clearly, his swordsmanship must be exceptionally outstanding.

He was a dual-sword style master!

And this man was Vice Admiral Jiermi, from the Navy Headquarters.

A swordmaster of immense strength, also proficient in both colors of Haki!

As his feet landed firmly, Jiermi stepped alone into the other colossal warship and made his way to the spacious deck.

"Vice Admiral Jiermi."

The trainees on deck—including Smoker, Tina, and others—all showed Jiermi deep respect.

As Navy recruits, they naturally felt uneasy and restrained in the presence of a Headquarters Vice Admiral.

Clearly,

this warship carrying Smoker and the other trainees was the very vessel led by Zefa, on which the cadets embarked for their graduation trials.

Moments later,

Zefa arrived on the scene.

"General Zefa."

The moment he saw Zefa, Vice Admiral Jiermi immediately bowed with utmost reverence.

In the Navy, rank is this strictly hierarchical!

A higher rank crushes the lower one.

Only a handful of elder figures like Kapu could ignore the Navy's rigid class structure.

"Admiral Kong has already informed me."

"Come with me. Bai Huzi Ershi is imprisoned in the ship's hold, bound by chains made of special material."

"Moreover…"

"He is currently bearing a heavy burden of injuries; though he has Awakened, he is utterly drained of strength and cannot move. Do not give him large amounts of food, or else, once he extracts the nutrients from it,"

"his wounds will heal rapidly, and then even these specially made chains won't hold him—that would be a major problem."

Zefa led Jiermi toward the prison, his face full of solemnity as he gave his instructions.

"General Zefa, rest assured—I will personally guard him!"

Jiermi nodded seriously.

How strong is Bai Huzi Ershi?

He knew full well.

He was a monster whose power rivaled that of a hundred-million-Berry pirate!

Even he…

possessing the combat strength of a Navy Vice Admiral—had no absolute confidence in capturing such a monster!

Therefore,

when dealing with a monster like this, no amount of caution is ever excessive.

Quickly,

under Zefa's guidance, Jiermi arrived before the prison door.

Immediately after,

he clearly saw

Bai Huzi Ershi, Weibul, imprisoned within.

Thick chains, as wide as an arm, nearly wrapped entirely around Weibul's body, binding his limbs and locking his movement.

Moreover…

the countless wounds on his body had not yet healed.

His entire body was scarred.

Covered in wounds.

One could clearly see.

This person had suffered extremely severe, grievous injuries.

In a short while, it was obviously impossible to recover to the original state.

If nutrition wasn't replenished in time, recovering from these bodily injuries — who knew how long it would take.

At close range.

Jilmi sensed it very keenly.

An incomparably vast, terrifying pressure slowly radiated from Weibull's body.

Even though the other party was bound and already bearing a heavy burden of grave wounds…

Yet Jilmi could still feel a pressure that was fully present.

He could be certain.

The pirate before his eyes, before being wounded, must have been terrifyingly powerful!

The kind he himself could not contend with!

Otherwise,

After the other party was bearing a heavy burden of grave wounds, it would be impossible for him to still bring such an intense, dreadful pressure.

"Very strong!"

"Whitebeard II, truly lives up to his name."

"It is said he possesses the great power of Whitebeard in his youth."

"Now it seems these rumors were not exaggerations."

Jilmi, his face full of gravity, sized up Weibull as he thought this in his heart.

Fortunately.

Weibull was already bearing a heavy burden of grave wounds.

Otherwise,

He truly did not have enough confidence to be able to escort Weibull to Impel Down for imprisonment completely intact.

With his strength, he had absolutely no confidence he could take down Weibull.

Thinking of this,

Jilmi could not help but look toward Master Zefa beside him, his tone full of reverence as he sighed with feeling: "Admiral Zefa, on this sea I suppose only you could take down a great pirate of this level with ease."

This time Jilmi had rushed here from Marineford precisely because Fleet Admiral Kong had personally given the order, tasking him with coming to take over Whitebeard II and escort him to Impel Down for imprisonment.

But Kong had not briefed him on too much.

Therefore.

Jilmi also did not know.

In fact, Weibull had not been captured and taken down by Master Zefa personally.

And upon seeing Weibull's utterly wretched figure,

He instinctively connected it.

It must have been Admiral Zefa personally taking action to be able to beat a great pirate of this level until he was battered all over.

"Me?"

"Then you've misunderstood."

"Whitebeard II was not captured and taken down by me personally."

Master Zefa let out a rueful laugh.

"Huh?"

Jilmi was stunned.

He was utterly dumbfounded.

Clearly, he was caught off guard by Master Zefa's words.

Immediately,

He instinctively asked: "Not you? Then who else could it be? Who else could possess such powerful combat strength? Besides, isn't Whitebeard II locked up in the prison of this warship by you?"

"In the entire warship…"

"Besides you, there are only a group of students left."

Thinking it over from every angle,

He could not figure out the meaning of Master Zefa's words.

If not Master Zefa, then who else could it be?