Chapter 289: Standing on the Moral High Ground

If it had been anyone else from Luo Jie's crew extending the invitation—even Shanks himself—Jia Ba would have hesitated.

But it was Saint Saint Saiwen.

Jia Ba found no reason to refuse, for Saint Saint Saiwen had offered far too much.

If two solid gold rings were placed upon the open sea, countless souls would descend into madness, fighting until the last drop of blood was spilled.

Yet Saint Saint Saiwen gave them away as casually as if they were nothing more than ordinary trinkets.

Such a debt warranted coming out of retirement, especially since Lei Li had already moved to Wano.

"Leaving Elbaf?"

After the Luo Jie Crew disbanded, Jia Ba settled in Elbaf, found true love, and fathered a son named Kolong with his wife Lipli.

If he moved to Wano like Lei Li, it would hinder Kolong's growth.

After all, Kolong, like all other Giant children, was far too large compared to humans—without playmates, childhood was incomplete.

"No need."

Saint Saint Saiwen paused to think.

"How about becoming the Starlight Crew's representative stationed in Elbaf? Good thing Captain Dongli and Brogy are both in West Village with their crews."

Jia Ba smiled warmly—his junior truly thought things through.

"In that case, I'm fine with it."

Upon hearing Jia Ba agree to come out of retirement, Saint Saint Saiwen, in true equal-opportunity fashion, dumped the entire Starlight Crew officer benefits package into Jia Ba's lap.

"This is a Flight Cloak—it grants the ability to fly."

"This is a Tracking Medal—wear it, and I can locate you anywhere, anytime."

Jia Ba examined the star-shaped medal.

"This one's good—put it on Kolong."

"Let's go home—your auntie's still thinking about your cooking."

For this, Saint Saint Saiwen had prepared in advance—he'd brought along Starlight Crew's apprentice chef, Rachi Lu, for a reason.

There was no choice—the Giants were simply too large.

Cooking for Lipli required more effort than the meals Saint Saint Saiwen once prepared for the entire Luo Jie Crew—he needed help.

"Lu, it's your turn to shine."

Rachi Lu puffed out his chest in assurance.

"Don't worry, Captain—it's just a home meal. I can handle it alone easily."

As a Starlight Crew apprentice chef, Rachi Lu considered himself the Captain's personal first disciple and had seen every kind of grand occasion.

A simple home dinner? Child's play.

But when he saw Jia Ba's wife and son, Rachi Lu finally understood why the crew's officers unanimously regarded Jia Ba as the strongest man alive.

Marrying a Giant woman and fathering a Giant son—he'd become the very definition of manhood.

Even if cooking this meal was no easy feat, Rachi Lu accepted it: he wanted to grow, he wanted to become the kind of man the Captain called a "college graduate."

Seeing Saint Saint Saiwen preparing to help in the kitchen, Rachi Lu grinned.

"Captain, give me a chance to prove myself."

Rachi Lu didn't dream of finding a Giant wife like Mr. Jia Ba—he only hoped to learn a trick or two, so when he came of age, he could finally get some real action.

Otherwise, Yuzhi Xiliu would keep mocking Xiao Chunan.

The Captain was Xiao Chunan too.

Saint Saint Saiwen was about to praise him for his thoughtfulness when he suddenly heard his fat apprentice's inner monologue…

"You little…"

It wasn't that Saint Saint Saiwen remained chaste for Yamato—he knew all too well that lust was a blade that scraped the bone… addictive, and now, with his grand mission unfinished, it wasn't time to indulge.

After toppling the World Government, what kind of woman wouldn't be within reach?

This was called delayed gratification.

Besides, better to channel energy into refining—how to further improve the quality of his Conqueror's Haki.

In the final battle, I'll unleash two tons of Conqueror's Haki and leave the Five Elders unable to even shift form.

——A smooth dividing line——

New World, Dressrosa waters.

With the Golden Lion and Whitebeard arriving at the Beasts Pirates' headquarters, all Four Emperors now gathered on Onigashima.

No sooner had they sat down than the Golden Lion spoke first.

"Gentlemen, on our way to Marine Headquarters, we must not only assert the Four Emperors' reputation—we must stand on the moral high ground and condemn the Marines' despicable actions."

The Marines are already the tyrants of the Four Seas—now they won't even leave the New World alone.

It's outright bullying these honest pirates!

Kuma grumbled in discontent.

"Hey, we're pirates!"

Marines arrest pirates, pirates fight Marines—that's natural law. Why the moral high ground?"

"It's like taking off your pants to fart."

Vierge, seated beside Kuma, quickly whispered: "Boss, Shi Ji's meaning is to seize the initiative in public opinion."

At this, Kuma's face fell.

Someone had twisted the atmosphere of the Grand Line—back then, if you had a disagreement, you just fought; if you could hit, you didn't talk.

Now, before a fight, you launch a propaganda campaign.

So womanish. Not manly at all.

And then there's that brat Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's creation: High-Class Pirates and Low-Class Pirates—even the Beasts Pirates' top commander, Flame Disaster Jin, has suffered greatly from it.

They're shouting and clamoring to become High-Class Pirates.

It's easy to imagine how Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen has ravaged the rest of the pirates on the sea.

What's wrong with being a Low-Class Pirate?!

What's in your hands is real—this simple truth is lost on today's pirate newcomers.

They insist on being some damn High-Class Pirates.

They'd be better off going home to farm.

Kaido sulked, hugging a wine cask; he had expected the Four Emperors gathering on Onigashima to immediately march on New Marineford and establish their imperial reputations.

Instead, they convened on Onigashima to discuss:

How to claim the moral high ground and cloak their rampage in New Marineford with a veneer of nobility.

Kaido said he was truly speechless.

I can understand Gold Lion wanting the moral high ground—he once served in the Morning Star Crew—but that brat Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen is especially skilled at crafting reputations.

Everything about Heavy on Emotion, keeping promises, has been certified by pirates and marines alike.

But why are Whitebeard and Charlotte Lingling stirring up this nonsense?

Do these two old men also want to build a good reputation through their next move?

Kaido truly couldn't understand: how could the Four Emperors rampaging through New Marineford possibly be tied to moral high ground or noble virtue?

The only link among the Four Emperors is that they once served as crewmen under Rocks' Pirate Crew.

Unless someone connected to Rocks still dwells in New Marineford, it's impossible to see any connection.

For a moment, the four Sea Emperors fell silent, each beginning to ponder—how exactly could they claim the moral high ground?

Whitebeard's mind held only one thought: What would Saint Saint Saiwen do if he were in this situation?

Sink New Marineford again?

Then force the marines to sign the New Marineford Treaty, forbidding them from stepping onto the Four Emperors' territories?

If that happened, Admiral Sengoku would surely go mad.

Better to make a huge commotion, so the marines understand: don't entertain thoughts they shouldn't have—only the Four Emperors of the New World decide, and the marines must bow their heads and behave.

Charlotte Lingling quietly edged closer to Kaido.

Whitebeard and Gold Lion both arrived on Onigashima, and both are Mo Ni with Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen—she must maintain good relations with her little brother Kaido.

Otherwise, she might be swallowed whole by Whitebeard and Gold Lion together.

As for claiming the moral high ground?

We've already stormed their doorstep—why even bother with moral high ground?

"Think about it on the way."

"The Four Emperors uniting is all about catching them off guard—if we keep delaying, what if the marines get ready?"

"Makes sense." Gold Lion nodded.

"Let's set out now."