Chapter 167: The Third Division of the Big Fleet

New World, Whole Cake Island.

Xia Luote Lingling put down the news paper; her slightly plump face still bore the grace of her youth, along with deep unease and disbelief.

"Katakuri, you were right."

"The Morning Star Pirates really won—they erased Marineford with a single blow from Barzab."

"It looks like fake news."

As if remembering something, Lingling suddenly stood up, the fat on her belly jiggling duangduang.

"Katakuri."

"Quickly call Clarity and the others back."

"Hurry, hurry!"

Katakuri's expression was strange.

"Mother, I've already ordered them to return."

"Clarity was… quick enough—he pretended it was a birthday gift for Barzab and covered it up."

Xia Luote Lingling's face was full of shock.

"Explain?"

"What gift?"

Katakuri had no choice but to explain in detail.

"When I called Clarity, they had just arrived at Hive Island and were spotted by Ma Ma Ma Erke, who was on guard duty—just as it happened, a news bird landed."

"Both sides read the news paper."

"Clarity immediately ordered all the ship's supplies moved to the harbor… claiming it was a birthday gift for Barzab's nineteenth birthday."

"They should be on their way back by now."

Such a clever maneuver made even Katakuri unable to refrain from offering a word of praise:

The foolish younger brother has finally grown up.

Lingling exhaled deeply, her face beaming with joy.

"This matter… Clarity handled it well."

The Morning Star Pirates' achievements were too formidable; destroying Marineford was something even the legendary Rocks never accomplished.

What kind of monster did Roger raise?

Nineteen years old, bounty fifty-two hundred million Berries.

It wasn't that Lingling was afraid—anyone who became a pirate had long since accepted death.

It was out of respect for Barzab's power level, and to avoid unnecessary trouble and war.

Whole Cake Kingdom is vast and powerful,

and it truly cannot afford to provoke a formidable enemy like Barzab, who is overwhelmingly strong and always kills without mercy.

When they seized Hive Island, Wang Zhi and his ten thousand pirates slaughtered every single one of Barzab's men without mercy.

In this battle at Marineford, Barzab physically erased Marineford from the map.

That man, Barzab… whoever provokes him dies.

With the Morning Star Pirates' near-supernatural record, Whole Cake truly cannot stand against them.

"Katakuri."

"Prepare another birthday gift, and you personally deliver it to Hive Island after some time."

"By the way, send along photos of your sisters too—if we can arrange a marriage with Barzab, that would be best; otherwise, any member of the Morning Star Pirates will do."

Katakuri did not argue—he understood his mother had no intention of becoming enemies with Barzab.

Or rather,

on the current seas, no force dared face Barzab's blade.

He was simply too overwhelming.

New World, Hive Island Harbor.

Clarity sat cross-legged, holding a feast with Ma Ma Ma Erke, Bista, and Doflamingo.

"Captain Barzab is truly powerful."

"The battle at Marineford was the very spirit of piracy!"

"This drink—to piracy!"

Ma Ma Ma Erke only smiled silently at Clarity's flattery—he knew exactly why the Big Mom Pirates had come.

What a joke.

Who delivers gifts while the host is away?

They simply assumed Barzab would surely lose at Marineford and seized the chance to seize Hive Island and expand their territory.

They never expected the news paper to arrive so timely.

Though Clarity and the others turned pale and trembled upon reading the news, they still had to accept Ma Ma Ma Erke's invitation to the feast.

"Come on, come on—drink it all!"

After drinking their fill but before finishing their meal, Ma Ma Ma Erke stood at the harbor, watching the Big Mom Pirates' ships depart.

"Ma Ma Ma Erke."

Bista asked, puzzled.

"Why let them leave? Look at how terrified they are—we could have captured them and waited for Barzab's return to deal with them."

Ma Ma Ma Erke grinned wickedly.

"Of course we could have detained them."

"But if we wait for Saint Saint Saiwen to return and go to Whole Cake Island ourselves, we'll get even more. You know, Saint Saint Saiwen never loses out."

Vista chuckled, "You flexible-minded folks are truly detestable."

"Fortunately, we are all on the same side."

"By the way, on the Moby Dick, they must already know Saint Saint Saiwen's bounty exceeds the Old Man's. I'd love to see the Old Man's expression."

Ma Ma Ma Erke shrugged.

"The Old Man will surely be extremely happy, perhaps even want to drink a few more cups of wine on the occasion."

While the two sighed and chatted idly,

Black Fatty Teach, sitting on a wooden crate at the dock, held a newspaper in one hand and a wine jug in the other, feeling only darkness ahead.

With Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen present, his life of walking on thin ice would not only fail to reach the peak, but he might not even reach the opposite shore.

Although the newspaper did not reveal the detailed process of the Marineford battle, just from the results—

Marineford became history, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's bounty was five billion two hundred million Berries, and the Morning Star Pirates possessed two Great Pirates with bounties of five billion each.

Dual Emperors... or even a Four Emperor crew.

Mihawk and Master Tenghu, possessing Supreme Grade Great Swords, were equally not to be underestimated.

How could Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen be so lucky?

The bounties of seven executives and two interns totaled over seventeen billion.

Damn it!!!

What exactly are the Marines doing?!

A bunch of useless trash!?

Teach already foresaw one hundred percent that Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen would definitely ride the wave of a great victory and continue to stir up blood and rain in the New World.

Beehive Island is just the beginning; so what will be Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's next target?

Wano Country? Or the Whole Cake Islands?

Or even the entire New World sea area is highly likely to fall under the Morning Star Pirates' sphere of influence.

If it were me, Teach, possessing such terrifying power under my command, I would definitely seize the entire New World sea area and then directly attack the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, how will you choose?

The first half of the Grand Line, Paradise.

The deck of the Donghai Dihuang.

"Captain Buggy, we revere you."

The minions of the Buggy Pirates, who originally thought they were doomed in the hands of the G5 Branch Marines,

never expected that Captain Buggy's brother was the Emperor of the Sea: the Great Pirate with a bounty of five billion two hundred million, the captain of the Morning Star Pirates: my lord Lei Shen Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

Buggy's look of pride on his face could not be held back, and he immediately chuckled.

"Don't call me Captain anymore."

"Saint Saint Saiwen is our Captain."

Hearing this, the former Buggy Pirates' Vice-Captain Foxy immediately stood at attention and saluted.

"Captain Saint Saint Saiwen, my name is Foxy,"

"a Paramecia-type Slow-Slow Fruit user. Please, please agree to let me join the Morning Star Pirates; I can start as an intern."

Buggy elbowed him.

"We are the Third Division of the Great Fleet of the Morning Star. I am the Third Division Captain, and you are the Vice-Captain."

Buggy was extremely satisfied with this result; it preserved the Buggy Pirates' banner while allowing him to be with Saint Saint Saiwen, no longer needing to worry about being arrested by the Marines.

"Saint Saint Saiwen, where are we going?"

Saint Saint Saiwen, about to accept Barrett's challenge, said without turning around.

"To retrieve my famous sword, Autumn Water."