Chapter 221: Blackbeard Pirates' First Mate

Seeing the Donghai Dihuang dock steadily at the port while Saint Saint Saiwen did not disembark, Lei Li seemed to recall something, and the curve of his upturned lips grew even more unrestrained.

Still afraid of snakes?

Lei Li lightly stepped his left foot on the ground, used the momentum to leap, and landed on the deck of the Donghai Dihuang.

"What important matter could possibly be so urgent that Saint Saint Saint Saiwen Lord would make a special trip to Amazon Lily?"

Lei Li knew Saint Saint Saiwen feared snakes, which is why he realized there must be something important; otherwise, Saint Saint Saiwen certainly would not have come to Amazon Lily.

Amazon Lily has little else to offer, but the entire island is full of snakes.

This is because every resident of Amazon Lily has a snake coiled around them, possessing the ability to transform it into a weapon at will...

For someone like Saint Saint Saiwen who fears snakes, Amazon Lily is simply the ultimate nightmare hell.

Saint Saint Saiwen let out a dry chuckle twice.

"I have a matter and need your help..."

【Here is the situation: a giant Sea King stole my treasure, and I am asking you to help me retrieve it.】

A glint flashed in Lei Li's eyes; he did not expect Saint Saint Saiwen's Observation Haki to possess the ability of telepathy, just like the Red Count.

"No problem," Lei Li nodded and agreed.

"I will tell Xia Yi."

"Let Xia Yi come along; I will explain the specific reasons to you in detail later."

After finding the pure gold, Saint Saint Saiwen did not want to return to Amazon Lily just to pick people up.

He must first return to Wano to forge the flashy mount, the Frost Dragon, and then seek Dr. Vegapunk's help to feed the Mythical Zoan-type Cerberus to the famous blade, Autumn Water.

Afterwards, he still needs to go to Alabasta.

"Alright, wait here for a moment."

Although unclear on exactly what Saint Saint Saiwen was up to, Lei Li chose to trust Saint Saint Saiwen unconditionally.

First, Saint Saint Saiwen would not betray them, and since they were heading to Wano for a vacation anyway, it was indeed a bit awkward for Saint Saint Saiwen to be the only man on the entire island of Amazon Lily.

Before long, Lei Li, carrying a backpack, arrived at the port of Amazon Lily together with Xia Qi.

Xia Qi, with a lady's cigarette in her mouth, teased.

"Saint Saint Saint Saiwen Lord, are you preparing to take us to Wano to enjoy a life of leisure?"

"Xia Yi," Saint Saint Saiwen took the backpack: "Let's board first; we will talk on the way."

Xia Qi also realized at this moment: since Saint Saint Saiwen was being so secretive, there must be some great secret.

"Very well."

On the deck of the Donghai Dihuang, Lei Li exchanged a brief greeting with Baret; after all, they were former comrades, and now served under Saint Saint Saiwen.

"Long time no see, Baret."

"Long time no see, Lei Li."

Watching the three enter the captain's cabin, Baret continued practicing the technique of Conqueror's Haki coating.

Just as the Donghai Dihuang raised its sails and set sail again, on Fish-Man Island located ten thousand meters beneath the sea.

Using the Whitebeard Pirates' identity, Blackbeard successfully infiltrated Fish-Man Town to search for suitable Blackbeard Pirates crew members.

When he left the Whitebeard Pirates, Blackbeard had also imagined that upon setting sail, he would meet his own "Mihawk," just like Little Bai Mao did.

However, the reality was very heartbreaking.

Traveling all the way from the New World to Sabaody, and then diving from the Sabaody Archipelago down to Fish-Man Island, he had not encountered a single decent talent.

But Blackbeard was not discouraged.

Since he chose to set sail, he could not stop; stopping would make him a stepping stone for others to rise, unless he had accepted his fate from the very beginning.

Blackbeard clearly had not accepted his fate; otherwise, he would not have made the determination to break away from the Whitebeard Pirates' protection and set sail again.

Moreover, if Little Bai Mao could do it, there was no reason Blackbeard could not.

Holding the mindset of copying Little Bai Mao's homework, Blackbeard suddenly realized: the Roger Pirates had a fish-man, the Whitebeard Pirates had a fish-man, and the Morning Star Pirates had a fish-man.

The Blackbeard Pirates must also recruit fish-man crew members.

He, Blackbeard, was copying the Pirate King and two Emperors of the Sea; it couldn't possibly be wrong!

The sound of an argument coming from not far ahead pulled Blackbeard out of his contemplation.

"Arlong, Chief Tiger said we should take you to the Marine recruitment office first; if the Marines do not accept the fish-man race, then contact Impel Down..."

"Hmph, those two joined the Morning Star Pirates; why should I, Arlong, join the Marines?"

"Is it that I, Arlong, do not look like a pirate?"

Hearing this, Blackbeard grinned, revealing two rows of teeth missing two teeth.

His Mihawk had arrived!

Indeed, his Blackbeard luck was not bad either.

From the argument, Blackbeard drew a conclusion: the long-nosed fish-man named Arlong knew the two fish-men invited by Little Bai Mao, and from the tone, it was not hard to see that—

Arlong was not afraid of those two fish-men.

The octopus fish-man beside Arlong, although short in stature... could barely serve as an emergency food source.

With this, two crew members were secured.

Next, on the journey from Fish-Man Island to Reverse Mountain, if luck was good enough, perhaps a third or fourth crew member could be encountered.

Although he could not rule the Grand Line, securing a territory in the West Blue should be no problem, right?

Blackbeard silently followed behind Arlong, preparing to find a secluded place to issue an invitation to join the ship.

With Blackbeard's strength, unless he revealed himself voluntarily, Arlong—who had parted ways with Aladdin in discord—would never notice he was being followed.

Arlong arrived alone at the shore of Fish-Man Island.

"On what grounds can Tiger and Jinbe be pirates, yet force me to join the Marines?"

"How can such logic exist in this world?"

In Ah Long's understanding: if one can blame others, blame others; if one cannot blame others, blame this world.

The humiliation left to Ah Long by that Celestial Dragon named Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, Ah Long will never forget in his lifetime.

"I, Laozi, have recorded this grudge. One day, I will kill all Celestial Dragons."

Blackbeard, who had followed here, felt in that instant that he had finally found a like-minded comrade: he, Blackbeard, was also determined to kill all Celestial Dragons!

"Brother, do you also want to kill Celestial Dragons?"

"Who are you?" Ah Long asked warily.

Blackbeard grinned and laughed wildly.

"Zhe hahaha~"

"Brother, let us set sail to become pirates."

"I will be the captain, you will be the first mate, and together we will overturn this world and kill all Celestial Dragons."

The reason he promised to let Ah Long be the first mate was partly that Blackbeard had no one under his command at the moment.

The other reason was that Blackbeard believed: a fish-man who could shout out killing all Celestial Dragons must not be lacking in strength, right?

Ambition and strength should match.

"Just because of you?" Ah Long sneered: "Why shouldn't I be the captain and you the first mate!"

The light in Blackbeard's eyes grew brighter.

Such courage is indeed bold; no wonder he, Blackbeard, took a liking to this fish-man.

Cowards are not worthy to associate with him.

"Brother, let us fight. If you win, you be the captain; if I win, I be the captain. How about that?"

Ah Long narrowed his eyes slightly.

To fight or not to fight, that is the question.

Judging by the momentum of this black fat man before him, he seemed far stronger than that swordsman who defeated him and Hachi with a single 'whoosh' one day.

Whether he can win is secondary.

The most important thing is to leave Fish-Man Island first, to avoid being bound by Aladdin and others to the Marine recruitment office, or sent to Impel Down as a jailer.

Thinking of this, Ah Long let out a cold snort.

"I, Ah Long, disdain to bully you in the water."

"As long as you can take me away from Fish-Man Island, what does it matter if I recognize you as captain!"

The light in Blackbeard's eyes instantly grew even brighter: Brother Ah Long has such spirit; he is great talent!

"No problem."

"Brother Ah Long, do you have other friends..."

Ah Long coldly smiled and interrupted: "A group of rats and sparrows; how can they associate with us."

"Good!" Blackbeard grinned,

"Brother Ah Long, let us go now!"