Chapter 198: Huang Yuan Comes to Negotiate Again

The journey to find the Elephant.

Saint Saint Saiwen originally wanted to take his companions to broaden their horizons and ask the Elephant for some information, never expecting to be forced to take Zou again.

Becoming the King of the Mink Kingdom.

Not only did Saint Saint Saiwen not expect this, Cat Fushe also did not foresee the future unfolding so contrary to expectations.

Cat Fushe had intended to bring back some warriors from the Mink Tribe to be dispersed across various departments of Wano, preparing for Lord Momonosuke's return in twenty years.

To avoid having no one support the young lord when the time came.

But the result was that the family was gone entirely.

Now the entire Mink Tribe regards Saint Saint Saiwen Taro as their supreme, and even more surprisingly, the Elephant's attitude toward Saint Saint Saiwen is excessively good.

Especially when Saint Saint Saiwen transformed into a Green Dragon and carried the entire Zou Island on his back...

The adoration in the eyes of all Mink Tribe members almost seemed ready to overflow from their eye sockets.

It's over, it's all over.

First Wano was lost, then Zou Island was lost; Lord Momonosuke's return in twenty years will be useless.

By then, who will still recognize the young lord?!

Although Cat Fushe did not read many books, he understood what kind of king deserved the people's love.

Expanding territory certainly deserves it.

Saint Saint Saiwen Taro transformed into his Green Dragon form and, with heaven-defying power, relocated Zou to the southern seas of Kuri in Wano, near Amigasa Village.

Not only did he bring the Mink Tribe under his banner, but he also expanded Wano's territory.

Having established such merit for Wano, it has only been a few months since Saint Saint Saiwen became the Raiden Shogun.

So in twenty years,

how vast will Wano's territory be?

Cat Fushe conservatively estimated that in twenty years, the entire New World seas would become Wano's territory.

By that time, the people of Wano would recognize no one but Saint Saint Saiwen Taro.

The young lord... can only be a wealthy retiree.

While Cat Fushe was deep in thought,

Master Tenghu and others, having received the notice, were already standing on the coast of Amigasa Village, prepared to prevent the waves stirred up by lowering Zou Island from reaching the village.

"Mr. Tenghu, you catch the island."

"Understood, Captain."

Master Tenghu used his Devil Fruit ability to control Zou Island, slowly lowering it to sea level,

while Saint Saint Saiwen, relying on the Emperor Tool Water Dragon, redirected all the stirred-up waves, smashing their crests back toward the sea surface.

With their cooperation, Zou Island, the home of the Mink Tribe, henceforth became Wano's seventh region: Zou.

After finishing all this,

Saint Saint Saiwen patted Cat Fushe on the shoulder:

"Old Cat, you have experience interacting with humans; stay here for now. In a while, I will send a Daimyo over to assist you."

"Understood, Saint Saint Saiwen Taro."

Unknowingly, Cat Fushe had already accepted in his heart the fact that Saint Saint Saiwen was the Raiden Shogun of Wano, and felt lost regarding Lord Momonosuke's future.

While Saint Saint Saiwen was pondering who to send, Mihawk volunteered.

"I will stay here."

"Remember to build a house for me, preferably one with a courtyard, so I can grow vegetables when I'm bored."

"Fine." Saint Saint Saiwen nodded.

"Transfer a batch of the Beasts Pirates' minions over here; first, build you a large castle."

Kaido had left in a hurry, leaving many unconscious minions behind who were unable to be taken; they all became laborers, adding bricks and tiles to the construction of Wano.

It is said that some have already worked themselves to death.

"The appointment as Daimyo of Zou will be sent over by the Shogun's Office as soon as possible."

Waiting specifically until Saint Saint Saiwen had made arrangements, Master Tenghu and Yuzhi Xiliu stepped forward and spoke in lowered voices.

"Captain, the World Government has sent an official document stating they will dispatch Garp and CP0 to escort you to the Holy Land; they will arrive in Wano waters in about a month."

"Additionally, during the time we were away,"

"the Undercover King reported back: the Beasts Pirates have already taken Dressrosa."

Saint Saint Saiwen felt slightly surprised by this.

"They acted quite fast; what are the World Government and the Marines saying?"

Kaido and Donquixote Doflamingo plotting to seize Dressrosa is neither a big nor a small matter.

Taken seriously, this is an infringement upon a member nation; the Marines and the World Government will certainly respond.

But from another angle, the Donquixote Family was originally the royal family of the Kingdom of Dressrosa; Doflamingo was merely reclaiming his rightful status.

Hearing this, Yuzhi Xiliu's expression became somewhat awkward.

"According to the Undercover King: Donquixote Doflamingo is currently negotiating with the Five Elders."

"Except for the Undercover King, our intelligence agents currently hold relatively low positions and cannot access such classified information for now."

After occupying Wano, Saint Saint Saiwen redistributed positions for the Morning Star Group executives.

Internal affairs are mainly handled by Master Tenghu, Kuma, and Jin Ni; intelligence work is led by Yuzhi Xiliu; and Tazuro and Buggy are in charge of transactions to make money.

Soldier training was assigned to Barrett.

Shiki is stationed at Hone Island, while Saint Saint Saiwen and Mihawk are stationed in Wano.

Saint Saint Saiwen is also responsible for controlling the future development direction of the Morning Star Group and recruiting new crew members.

"Understood." Saint Saint Saiwen looked at Yuzhi Xiliu.

"Spend the money freely. For the colleagues in Impel Down who need bribing, just submit a report on how much is needed, and I'll approve the order."

"Once the World Conference ends, I'll go to the Marine Headquarters to lift the bounties on everyone."

"Also, get the files on the prisoners in Impel Down's Level 6 as soon as possible; I'll need them later."

"Yes, Captain."

After assigning their respective tasks, Saint Saint Saiwen returned to the Donghai Dihuang and sailed the ship along the Wano Country waters toward the nearest port.

In the past, with no subordinates, he had to do everything himself; now that the Morning Star Group is vast in both family and enterprise, Saint Saint Saiwen only needs to oversee the general direction.

When it is time to delegate, one must naturally delegate; otherwise, how can the subordinates and partners grow quickly?

Just then, the phone rang.

"Little brother, is it convenient for me to come over now?"

"Come to the Shogun's Mansion."

About half a day later, at the Flower Capital Shogun's Mansion.

Kizaru had gone to great lengths to disguise himself, putting on dark sunglasses, lowering his hat brim, and wrapping himself up tightly before arriving at the Inazuma Shogun's Mansion.

As soon as he sat down, Kizaru went straight to the point.

"I can join the Morning Star Pirates."

"But you must not leak this news to the outside world; it is forbidden to leak it until I retire."

If it were not for Sakazuki, and if the World Government had not been pressing so urgently, Kizaru would never have agreed to join the Morning Star Group.

Precisely because Vegapunk could not wake Sakazuki in the short term, and the World Government wanted to mass-produce Pacifistas based on Sakazuki's prototype.

The accumulation of various factors created this situation: a Marine Admiral joining a pirate crew.

Both terrifying and absurd.

"Old brother, rest assured."

"I'm not stupid; how would I voluntarily leak the Morning Star Group's spy identity within the Marine high command?"

"Are there any other conditions? Just say them all at once."

To wake Sakazuki, Kizaru was even willing to join the Morning Star Group using his identity as a Marine Admiral; this indeed greatly surprised Saint Saint Saiwen.

The bond between Kizaru and Akainu is so deep.

Truly, good best friends for a lifetime.

After speaking, Kizaru seemed to have lost his soul, and only after a long while did he speak softly.

"There is only one condition: I must absolutely not be made to kill Marines; this is my bottom line."

Sakazuki, you have truly harmed your older brother! To save you... my lifelong reputation is ruined.

"That goes without saying," Saint Saint Saiwen smiled.

"Inazuma is about to become a member nation of the World Government; we and the Marines are naturally on the same front."

"The reason for this specific request is simply to avoid some unnecessary trouble in the future; I hope you can understand, old brother."

"The contract is made; may we both uphold the agreement."

"Welcome to the Morning Star Pirates."

Looking at the hand Saint Saint Saiwen extended, Kizaru sighed and slowly reached out to grasp it.

"Captain... my lord..."

"Old brother, just call me Captain; we pirates are not like the Marines, we don't have so many formalities."

Having spoken, Saint Saint Saiwen took out a Senzu Bean.

"Old brother, will you make me regret this?"

Hearing these words, Kizaru, as if hearing the funniest joke in the world, could not help but sneer.

"Little brother."

"How many photos did you take this time? Did you start recording as soon as I entered?"

As the saying goes, the first time is strange, the second time is familiar.

Four years ago, the loss suffered on Skypiea remained vivid in Kizaru's memory; naturally, he understood that Saint Saint Saiwen must have resumed his old trade and arranged for people to frantically take photos and record videos.

Only this time was different from the last.

This time, he had truly boarded a pirate ship.