Chapter 116: Only What Is in Hand Is Real

New World, Lei Shen Island.

Bathed in a myriad of thunderstorms, Saint Saint Saiwen let the current flow along his hair and down his shoulders, lazily moving his limbs as if nothing were wrong.

"Refreshing~ ah."

Whether body or mind, this moment felt supremely refreshing.

After spending more than half a month, he finally succeeded in covering the thunder with the dual-colored Haki; it was not in vain that he had played with lightning for three years without forgetting it even while eating or sleeping.

The difference between whether lightning can be covered by dual-colored Haki is nothing short of heaven and earth.

As everyone knows, Haki reigns supreme over all.

Lightning covered by Armament and Conqueror's Haki coating is a power of an entirely different level; it is like letting Tetsuro and Garp punch and clash, and Tetsuro would absolutely be beaten into dust and ash.

The gap here is nothing short of a dimensional strike.

After clearing the field with Conqueror's Haki, Saint Saint Saiwen gained another method for large-scale field clearing—

namely, condensing ten thousand swords from thunder to annihilate all enemies, very fitting for the style of a Great Swordsman.

The next step is to wrap Super Electromagnetic Cannon, Super Giant Thunder Dragon, and Electromagnetic Storm all with dual-colored Haki; whether they can be used is not important, what matters is mastering this technique.

With all goals achieved, Saint Saint Saiwen prepared to return to Honeycomb Island for the banquet; calculating the time, the Whitebeard Pirates should be arriving soon.

Just as he left the thunderstorm area of Lei Shen Island, the Den Den Mushi suddenly buzzed incessantly.

"Moxi Moxi."

Den Den Mushi: "I am Saturn Saint of the Five Elders."

Saint Saint Saiwen pouted, very wanting to retort: You are Saturn Saint of the Five Elders, and I am the Sky Island Lei Shen?

"Ah~ it is my lord Saturn Saint."

"What is your instruction?"

The Den Den Mushi puffed its cheeks, obviously imitating Saturn Saint's satisfied expression: "Barzab, the World Government intends to commission you for a matter."

"Very willing, my lord Saturn Saint."

They say you shouldn't turn down easy money, let alone money from the World Government; as long as it doesn't violate necessary conscience, Saint Saint Saiwen didn't mind working for the World Government.

Who else but him, whose startup has not yet succeeded?

At least a million points are still lacking to truly reach the level of not eating beef.

The experience of a certain Laozu Sect official teaches us: before success, one can discard one's face at any time; after success, great scholars will naturally defend one's scriptures.

In short, Saint Saint Saiwen's bottom line was extremely flexible.

The Den Den Mushi spoke.

"The World Government has a Devil Fruit that accidentally fell into the Giant Kingdom of Elbaf; you only need to retrieve this Devil Fruit."

Saint Saint Saiwen let out a cold, mocking chuckle twice.

"Saturn Saint, considering our previous interactions were quite pleasant, I did not hang up directly.

Who doesn't know that Giant King Harald is part of the World Government? Even the Giant King has not accomplished this, yet you say it so lightly?

Since it is cooperation, be more honest."

Damn it, do you really think of me as a Japanese person to be messed with?

Saying it so lightly, as if sending someone to Elbaf for a quick trip would easily retrieve the legendary Devil Fruit.

If it were truly that simple, how could the God's Knights have failed repeatedly?

The Lightning Squirrel Tielei that Saint Saint Saiwen has been longing for has guarded that legendary Devil Fruit for years; even Harald cannot get close.

The Den Den Mushi paused for a moment, and its tone changed.

"Five Devil Fruits after the matter is done."

Saint Saint Saiwen said in a low, eerie voice.

"Does my lord Saturn Saint not know that there are four members of the Morning Star Pirates among the giants? How can I, this captain, act against my crew?"

The Den Den Mushi seemed to give up: "I didn't expect a man like you to care about such things."

Saint Saint Saiwen shifted his argument.

"They are my brothers, my dearest friends and family; five Devil Fruits are obviously not enough."

Since it is already known that the World Government, even when dispatching spies, was willing to pay a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, then one must open one's mouth wide.

In terms of wealth, the World Government in the entire pirate world is absolutely unmatched everywhere.

How much treasure and how many Devil Fruits the World Government has collected over eight hundred years, even the old traitor Oda probably cannot calculate.

The Den Den Mushi tested: "Six?"

Saint Saint Saiwen smiled slightly: "Twenty, pay half as a deposit first, and pay the balance after the matter is done."

Once the deposit is in hand, the initiative is no longer in the Five Elders' hands; when to set out, and whether the legendary Devil Fruit can be obtained after arriving in Elbaf, all depend on Saint Saint Saiwen's word.

Of course, a one-off deal certainly won't work.

But if an accident occurs after handing the legendary Devil Fruit to the World Government, then it has nothing to do with Saint Saint Saiwen, and it is worth planning carefully.

The Den Den Mushi blew its mustache and glared.

"Four Devil Fruits as deposit is absolutely impossible; at most I can give you three Devil Fruits as deposit, Barzab. This matter is not being handled by you alone."

Hearing this, Saint Saint Saiwen made a quick decision: get the three Devil Fruits as deposit first; promising more is just a castle in the air.

Only what is in hand is real.

Right, Kaido the old geezer!

"Let it be four as deposit; if someone completes it early, I will return it to you then; of course, it can also be treated as a deposit for the next commission."

"You know, I, Barzab, have always kept my promises, spoken once and done, and have a sterling reputation."

The Den Den Mushi opened its mouth: "Deal."

"However, there are too many pirates establishing themselves in the New World; I am afraid I cannot send the deposit within a short time..."

Saint Saint Saiwen cut him off: "I'm right near the Red Line now; send someone to deliver it."

The Den Den Mushi barked, "Baa-baa-baa-baa!"

"What?!"

"What are you doing on the Red Line?"

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, we already made compensation for the Buster Call; what more do you want?"

Saint Saturn's reactive outburst made Saint Saint Saiwen understand a few things: the Five Elders were truly afraid he would lurk outside Mary Geoise hunting Celestial Dragons.

"See, you're getting agitated again."

"I just happened to be passing by."

"Have someone deliver it to the port on the New World side of the Red Line; remember to hurry, I still need to return to Beehive Island for my birthday!"

Hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Saint Saint Saiwen flew at top speed toward the Red Line port; after retrieving the Mythical Zoan-type Nue form of the Bird-Bird Fruit, Big Mom had already returned to Beehive Island.

Mary Geoise, the Holy Land, the Palace of the Ancient Capital.

Inside the spacious, brightly lit palace, Saint Saturn handed the Den Den Mushi to Saint Vought, his expression somewhat unnatural.

"He mentioned celebrating a birthday with us... what is his intent?"

Saint Natsuro, cradling the First-Generation Wado Ichimonji, rarely smiled, yet a faint smirk curled his lips.

"What intent? He's asking you for a gift."

Only then did Saint Saturn grasp the meaning; his face twisted as if he had eaten a Devil Fruit: him, a dignified Five Elder, the world government's second-in-command, actually being asked by a pirate for a birthday gift!?

Simply outrageous!

But then again, they had already reached a preliminary cooperation with Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, and were even about to pay him four Devil Fruits as a deposit.

Just one birthday gift.

Give it; we must give it!

"I'll go prepare the deposit," Saint Saturn said as he rose, looking at the other Four Elders.

Saint Vought quickly chimed in: "Help me prepare a birthday gift for Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen."

Saint Natsuro: "Seconded."

Saint Pitt: "Seconded."

Saint Maz: "Seconded."

Saint Saturn left the palace in a foul mood, heading once more to the Holy Land treasury to select Devil Fruits as a birthday gift for Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, muttering as he chose.

"Damn it!!!"

"These four guys!!!"