Chapter 187: I

New World, Punk Hazard.

Admiral Kizaru was stationed here to provide armed protection for the scientist Vegapunk, ensuring the safety of research projects and facilities.

In the original work, this occurred after the War at Marineford.

Vegapunk transitioned from a civilian scientist to naval personnel, and the Navy Science Division was officially established.

At this time, Vegapunk had no official rank.

He was only in a cooperative relationship with the World Government, which provided funding, facilities, personnel security, and other support, while Vegapunk focused exclusively on military technology development.

This included weapons manufacturing, combat equipment upgrades, and special ability research, all serving the World Government.

Deep within layers of guarded laboratories.

In a sterile-smelling ward, Admiral Akainu lay motionless on his bed, his body plugged with countless IV tubes.

Vegapunk pushed up his glasses.

"Kizaru."

"Sakazuki is pressuring me again."

"You must decide soon—I can hold off at most another month. After that, the World Government will activate the Peacekeeper Project."

Kizaru's face was grim; he couldn't remember how long it had been since he'd said "Kura Kura."

Ever since meeting Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, troubles had come one after another, striking him with no warning.

"What did they say?"

Vegapunk stuck out his tongue and turned to Kizaru, speaking slowly, word by word.

"Mr. Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen is trustworthy."

Kizaru sneered: "Mr.?"

"I'll go over there first. Try to delay things as long as you can on your end. If anything unexpected happens, contact me immediately."

Thinking of Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's harmless face, Kizaru suddenly felt a pounding headache.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen kept his promises, yes—but he was always setting traps; cooperating with that guy meant you'd inevitably fall in, without even seeing it coming.

The kind of trap you couldn't climb out of.

And he was extremely skilled at painting grand illusions to manipulate people.

Four years ago on Skypiea, Kizaru had been fooled by Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's combination of benefits and empty promises.

Although Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen kept his word and never struck the Navy a fatal blow, if he could choose, Kizaru would never again cooperate with Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

Vegapunk sighed.

"The World Government seems desperate. Using Sakazuki's body to develop the Peacekeepers—I can buy at most another half-month."

Kizaru's eyes flickered; he fell silent for a long while, then uttered a single phrase before dissolving into light.

"Thanks."

As the fastest man on the seas, the distance from Punk Hazard to Wano Country meant nothing to Kizaru.

In the past, Kizaru had enjoyed admiring the vast ocean during travel; this time, his heart was heavy.

Four years ago, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had initiated negotiations, and Kizaru held all the advantages; now, he was the one seeking Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's help.

Kizaru had already anticipated the worst scenario: he would very likely be forced to sign a contract of servitude.

Even so, he had no choice but to sign.

What else could he do for Sakazuki?

Lying there receiving treatment wasn't so bad—even if Sakazuki remained unconscious for three or five years, Kizaru could accept it.

With Vegapunk's technology, Sakazuki would one day awaken and regain his sight.

But the World Government…

Planned to use Sakazuki's body as an experimental subject, transforming him into a grotesque prototype Peacekeeper.

"What a bunch of bastards."

Sakazuki had always obeyed the Headquarters and the World Government's orders, loyal to the Navy almost fanatically—yet this was how the World Government repaid him.

Kizaru suddenly realized that Dragon's decision to leave the Navy back then had been right—and Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had been right too.

The world truly was rotten to its core.

Rotten beyond cure—even scraping the bone and draining the poison wouldn't heal it.

Unconsciously,

Kizaru had arrived at Wano Country's waters. Just as he was about to leap over the waterfall into Wano, a bolt of Lei Ting descended from the sky, shaped like an arrow—as if pointing the way…

What terrifying Kenbunshoku Haki.

Kizaru hadn't sensed even a whisper of presence, yet Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had detected him—and had the leisure to shape Lei Ting into an arrow to guide him.

This made Kizaru, who had deliberately changed clothes to disguise himself, feel somewhat embarrassed.

Following the arrow's guidance forward, Kizaru's astonishment grew stronger and stronger.

For even after entering the heart of Wano Country, Kizaru still could not sense where Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen was!

"Did I really underestimate him?"

Kizaru sighed helplessly. Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen was like an iceberg floating on the sea—every time the Navy thought they understood his power, they discovered something even more terrifying.

Kenbunshoku Haki covering the entire Wano Country!

Unheard of. Unseen.

Today, Kizaru had witnessed it.

Finally, the guiding arrow vanished before the Shogun's mansion in the Flower Capital. Kizaru lowered his hat brim and walked into the mansion under the watchful eyes of dozens of samurai.

"Saxi not da na, big bro."

Kizaru's face remained expressionless; beneath his dark sunglasses, no change in his gaze could be detected.

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen."

"I'm here to negotiate terms."

Saint Saint Saiwen wore casual black attire, cradling a small white-furred pendant named Wahei on his thigh.

"Big brother, please come in."

Hyouzou stared silently at Wahei's hair, then glanced at Saint Saint Saiwen's hair, as if he had uncovered some monumental secret.

"Your sister?"

"Sort of."

After entering the hundred-meter-tall hall, a ceiling of glazed tiles resembled a galaxy, with thousands of tiles arranged according to ancient star maps, flowing with shimmering starlight.

The galaxy of starlight poured down, dreamlike and illusory.

There were coiled dragon pillars, gold-dusted lacquerwork, and sandalwood-paper screens depicting the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter…

What an extraordinary luxury.

After sitting down, Hyouzou studied the surroundings for a moment, his expression unreadable.

"You really know how to enjoy life."

Saint Saint Saiwen poured two cups of dandelion wine himself.

"I was poor before, with no choice. Now that conditions are better, of course I must enjoy life properly."

"Big brother, try this."

The General's Mansion, priced at one hundred thousand credits, not only suppresses national fortune and boosts Kenbunshoku Haki perception range by one hundred percent, but its interior space is also extraordinarily luxurious.

Expensive things are expensive for a reason.

After brief pleasantries, Hyouzou stated his purpose.

"Is there any way to wake up Sakazuki? Name your condition—I'll do anything within my power."

"But," Hyouzou quickly added.

"I hope you'll consider our past friendship and not take advantage of me too harshly—I still want a peaceful retirement."

Subtext: I won't leave the Navy. That's my bottom line.

Saint Saint Saiwen did not answer, but asked instead.

"Can Begeponk not do it?"

"With the technology Begeponk controls, waking up Akainu is merely a matter of time, isn't it?"

"Is the Navy really so short-handed? I recall they're conducting some kind of global conscription."

Subtext: Big brother, you have no choice.

The first round of exchanges ended in Hyouzou's complete defeat—who could blame him, since he was the one seeking help.

Hyouzou opened his mouth to speak, but Saint Saint Saiwen interrupted him.

"Big brother, friendship is friendship."

"Cooperation is cooperation."

"You know Akainu despises me intensely—he'd love nothing more than to grind me to dust."

"Before the Navy executed Buggy, how did I treat the Navy? You know better than anyone."

"Precisely because of our friendship, I didn't eradicate him completely. Maintaining the current status quo is best for me—and for the Morning Star Clan."

"Wake up Akainu?"

"And then what?"

"What will Akainu do once he wakes up? He'll launch retaliation against the Morning Star Clan. I'm not stupid—I won't invite trouble upon myself."

"State your terms, big brother."