Chapter 202: Small Lantern Fish

The New World seas.

Another sunny morning.

On the deck of the Emperor of the East Sea, Kappu squinted at the scar already healed on his hand.

Originally, Kappu had come only to mooch food and drink, but he discovered that now he needed only three hours of sleep to feel fully refreshed, and even his wounds healed faster.

All these things clearly indicated.

【This ship is definitely suspicious】

【You've been found out, Kappu Sense】

The teasing voice in his ear made Kappu feel as if he had returned to the God Valley eighteen years ago.

Back then, Rocks had used this very method to ask Kappu and Luo Jie: Kill me.

Listen to the voices of all things!

【No wonder you're Luo Jie's brat—you've got such a bizarre ability】

【I'll take that as a compliment】

Kappu was about to retort, then suddenly realized that besides listening to the voices of all things, Saint Saint Saiwen also possessed a form of Observation Haki similar to Red Count—

The ability to see through a person's heart.

Thinking of how Saint Saint Saiwen possessed top-tier Conqueror's Haki, ultra-long-range Observation Haki perception, Observation Haki foresight, mind-reading, and the ability to hear the voices of all things...

Kappu finally couldn't help muttering under his breath.

Shit!

【Brat, why would someone like you willingly become trash Celestial Dragon?】

During the God Valley Hunting Competition, Kappu had witnessed Celestial Dragons brutally slaughtering civilian slaves, which was why he had repeatedly refused promotion to Admiral.

He had not left the Navy solely to protect the Navy.

Kappu truly couldn't understand.

Saint Saint Saiwen was so powerful and so young; if he developed just a few more years, he could surely defeat the master of the Five Elders—yet he insisted on becoming a Celestial Dragon.

【If Luo Jie found out…】

【The captain would surely praise me】

【I have no choice—after the Marineford War, I was spotted by Im, so I had to temporarily serve under Im,

If one day I'm fully corrupted and controlled by Im, you must kill me】

Saint Saint Saiwen had no guilt whatsoever in playing the victim.

He wasn't trying to win Kappu over—he simply didn't want Kappu the old bastard to keep targeting him in the future.

Among all the Navy's top combat power, Buggy is barely an ally; Zhen Guo just suffered a defeat and won't dare target Saint Saint Saiwen for many years.

If he could win over Kappu, he'd only need to watch out for Kuzan and Akainu from now on.

Hearing this, Kappu had nothing to say.

Since Saint Saint Saiwen was spotted by Im, there really was no good solution except rebellion.

But with the current strength of the Morning Star Crew, rebelling against the World Government, allied nations, and the Navy would result in over half their number dying.

Im, the Five Elders, the Divine Knights, the Navy's Three Admirals…

The Morning Star Crew's chances of victory are indeed slim.

【You're trying to buy time?】

【Guess】

The telepathic exchange ended here.

Inside the captain's cabin of the Emperor of the East Sea, Saint Saint Saiwen was scribbling in his little notebook, marking the top combat power the World Government possessed from memory.

Kappu and Buggy were excluded.

Kuzan had a question mark beside his name.

Zhen Guo and Akainu were crossed out—they were the Maintainers, firmly upholding the existing order.

Additionally, crossed out were also—

Im's little sister.

The Five Elders: Satan Saint, Vochuli Saint, Nasi Shourang Saint, Pite Saint, Maz Saint.

The Divine Knights: Speed Bump, Somaz, Chilingong, Manmeiya Junzi…

According to Da Xiong Jin Ni, twelve members of the Divine Knights appeared during the God Valley era eighteen years ago.

Compared to that, the Morning Star Crew still had no clear advantage.

They still needed to grow stronger.

If Yamato were older, Saint Saint Saiwen would absolutely ride a Tyrannosaurus to Kaido the old bastard's door to propose marriage and absorb the Beasts Pirates.

There was actually a way to solve this.

For example,

Use the Suisui Fruit's ability to age Yamato up, fulfilling the dream of kicking down Kaido's door—but Saint Saint Saiwen couldn't live with himself if he did it.

Moreover, these were all external forces.

The only true reliance was his own strength; Saint Saint Saiwen still needed 1.6 million points to unlock and awaken his third Devil Fruit.

Or use the Suisui Fruit's ability to successfully simulate Im's Devil Fruit power.

If he achieved either one, Saint Saint Saiwen would have enough confidence to overturn the World Government's table.

If he achieved both, he had no idea how he could lose.

Before that, he should first reach Mary Geoise and seal Im's contract.

"Captain, Captain."

Lachi Lu's excited shout rang out.

"Mr. Karp just dove into the sea and caught a big one—we'll have a feast soon."

No wonder it's Karp—he actually dove into the sea to hunt a small… lanternfish—to get Saint Saint Saiwen to cook for him personally.

Saint Saint Saiwen flashed onto the deck and, seeing the dying small lanternfish lying there, his eyes lit up instantly.

Fuck, this is Luffy's grandfather?

Could fate be this generous?

The Golden Lion and Buggy spent over half a year searching without success, yet Karp casually caught one.

Even if it's not the giant lanternfish carrying pure gold, at least there's a lead.

"Cough—" Saint Saint Saiwen cleared his throat lightly.

"Today is not auspicious for killing—let it go."

"Nani?!" Karp muttered.

"Saint Saint Saiwen, brat, this rare catch took me a great deal of effort…"

Before Karp could finish,

Saint Saint Saiwen silently slipped a badge tracker and a fairy bean into the lanternfish's belly, then swiftly tossed it back into the sea.

"Lachi Lu, treat Admiral Karp to good food and drink—I'm returning to Wano for some business."

Watching Saint Saint Saiwen vanish,

Karp felt something was deeply off about Saint Saint Saiwen—extremely off—but he couldn't pinpoint why.

Was it related to that sea king?

After leaving the Donghai Dihuang, Saint Saint Saiwen pulled out a radar map and tracked the real-time location of the badge tracker inside the small lanternfish.

Why bother attending some damn World Meeting when pure gold and freedom of points are within reach?

If he could find the giant lanternfish, Saint Saint Saiwen would have endless points and unlock and awaken his third Devil Fruit.

He wouldn't need to keep dragging things out with Sister Im—he could just flip the table and rebel outright.

However.

The fantasy was beautiful; reality was cruel.

Saint Saint Saiwen awkwardly realized: the small lanternfish, perhaps still traumatized from being captured by Karp, remained constantly active in the deep sea.

And Saint Saint Saiwen was a Devil Fruit user—reviled by the sea, unable to enter the deep sea.

"Fuck me!"

Saint Saint Saiwen paced frantically, yet had no solution.

The only non-ability users on the Morning Star Crew were Mihawk and Lachi Lu—even if they could enter the sea, they still couldn't stay active in the deep sea for long.

At this moment,

Saint Saint Saiwen's urgency to invite the fat blue man, Jinbe, aboard was stronger than his desire for Yamato to come of age.

If Jinbe were here, there would surely be hope to find the giant lanternfish and lure it out of the deep sea.

After tracking for three full days and nights, confirming the badge tracker was still inside the small lanternfish, Saint Saint Saiwen temporarily returned to the Donghai Dihuang.

"Call me when we reach Mary Geoise."

After dropping those words, Saint Saint Saiwen collapsed into sleep.

Too much of a failure.