Chapter 318: It

At this moment, Baki felt at peace.

Compared to Shanks' tragic past, his own rejection by Shanks back then meant nothing.

Baki hated Shanks because he believed Shanks had betrayed their original promise—not fulfilling Luo Jie's final wish.

But he had ignored how lost Shanks had been at the time.

Luo Jie was gone, and all of them were heartbroken; Shanks, burdened by his origins, didn't know where to go.

Saint Saint Saiwen was right—

It wasn't them who were wrong, it was this world.

Besides, Baki was a little envious of Saint Saint Saiwen—Luo Jie had shared all his secrets with Saint Saint Saiwen, something Baki and Shanks would never enjoy.

Sigh, Luo Jie had better eyesight.

Even as a child, Saint Saint Saiwen stood out; in hindsight, Luo Jie's decision to entrust his secrets to Saint Saint Saiwen was truly brilliant.

Saint Saint Saiwen had no idea Baki was lost in daydreams—his read-heart Haki never targeted those he knew well.

"Shanks is here. Let's go meet him."

"Alright."

Southern coast of Inazuma, Jinhua Port.

Jinhua Port lies in the Bai Wu region, one of the two major ports into Inazuma, alongside the Tuwan District mining site, and also the primary port for exporting sea-stone goods from Inazuma.

Oni Island had been moved by Kaido.

As the Daimyo of Zou, Mihawk's reputation in Inazuma ranked second only to Raijin General Saint Saint Saiwen and the Chief Administrator and Daimyo of the Flower Capital, Master Tenghu.

Inazuma is a land that produces swordsmen and blade-smiths.

Mihawk and his Supreme Grade Sword, Yè, are the ultimate aspiration of every swordsman and blade-smith.

Yet Mihawk never cared for such empty fame.

He only wished to measure every worthy swordsman on this sea with his black blade, Yè.

Shanks, possessing top-tier three-color Haki, exceptional swordsmanship, being Luo Jie's heir, and not a Devil Fruit user, was undoubtedly the most suitable opponent.

Precisely for this reason, Mihawk had specifically asked Jin Ni to help deliver him to Jinhua Port to await Shanks.

Yet Mihawk never imagined—

A certain white-haired one broke all rules, arriving directly above the Redd Fortress via a spatial portal.

On the deck of the Redd Fortress,

Shanks was chatting idly with Lei Li when he suddenly sensed something and looked toward the mast.

There, he saw Saint Saint Saiwen and Baki already smiling, seated on either side of the sail.

"Saxi doesn't talk to me, Shanks."

The voice, carried by the sea wind, fell softly like an old greeting, instantly pulling Shanks back to many years ago.

Back then, the three of them had sat on the lookout platform of the Golden Jackson, carefree, just like this.

Breathing the salty sea breeze, listening to Saint Saint Saiwen hum an unknown tune.

Shanks had once believed: they would stay with Luo Jie's crew forever, forever, forever, visiting every corner of the sea.

Until Luo Jie decided to disband the Luo Jie Crew and disembark with Saint Saint Saiwen in the South Blue, until a year later Luo Jie surrendered to the Marines.

Memories flooded his mind, and Shanks smiled.

"Saxi doesn't talk to me."

"Saint Saint Saiwen, Baki."

"It's good to see you again."

The sea is the ultimate symbol of freedom, yet freedom is never a gift without cost—danger walks always beside freedom.

This sea lets you ride the winds as you please, yet in the next second can swallow all in raging storms and endless darkness.

Fortunately, they were all doing well.

And when Saint Saint Saiwen landed on the deck, his three-meter height brought such pressure that Shanks truly wanted to ask:

Brother, what the hell have you been eating these past years? We were the same height six years ago.

"Let's go home first."

The instant Saint Saint Saiwen finished speaking, the Redd Fortress shuddered violently, lifting off the sea and soaring hundreds of meters into the sky toward Inazuma.

Seeing this,

Every member of the Lei De-Haired Crew, including Shanks and Beckman, instantly had question marks floating above their foreheads.

As everyone knows,

Only the Gura Gura no Mi of the Golden Lion and the Moku Moku no Mi of Master Tenghu can make ships fly.

So the question arises:

Why is our Redd Fortress flying?

Shanks had intended to ask Saint Saint Saiwen directly, but when he noticed Baki seemed to be treating him kindly, he immediately grinned and slung an arm around Baki's shoulder.

"Baki, why did the ship suddenly start flying?"

Shanks was certain: the Redd Fortress couldn't fly before reaching Inazuma—the problem must lie with Saint Saint Saiwen.

"Hmph!" Baki turned his head away, pouting.

"You're clueless, right? Saint Saint Saiwen ate the Suì Suì Fruit—he's a Suì Suì user who can mimic any Devil Fruit ability."

"Nani?!" Shanks' pupils dilated: "Isn't it the Hito Hito no Mi, Mythical Beast Type, Lei Shen form?"

Baki gave no answer to this question.

Baki had forgiven Shanks, but that didn't mean he'd reveal Saint Saint Saiwen's secret.

Even the World Government had ordered Marine high command not to disclose the details of the Marineford War—naturally including the secret that Saint Saint Saiwen consumed two Devil Fruits.

"My constitution is special; it can accommodate the power of two Devil Fruits."

A single, light remark from Saint Saint Saiwen shattered the entire Lei De Hair Crew's understanding.

One Devil Fruit is already absurdly strong, yet he can consume two at once.

Is there no justice left?!

It is beyond what even those favored by fate can describe; perhaps 'Chosen One' is more fitting.

Worse still, the Paramecia-type Age-Age Fruit has been developed by Saint Saint Saiwen to the point where it can mimic the ability of any Devil Fruit.

It is simply more terrifying than the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

No wonder the Lei De Force has taken flight.

By using the Age-Age Fruit to mimic the abilities of the Spring-Spring Fruit or the Heavy-Heavy Fruit, all of this is naturally possible.

The title of the strongest Paramecia-type Devil Fruit will likely change hands from now on.

So, just how strong is Saint Saint Saiwen, who possesses two Devil Fruits, at this moment?

Shanks suddenly felt an itch in his hands, eager to know just how vast the gap between him and Saint Saint Saiwen truly was.

Seeing Shanks's eager expression, Buggy crossed his arms and prepared to watch the show.

Even as powerful as Golden Lion and Whitebeard, these two legendary pirates whose ships were as famous as Luo Jie's, were no match for Saint Saint Saiwen.

The Emperor Kaido couldn't even break Saint Saint Saiwen's defense.

Let alone Shanks.

Little Shanks actually wants to challenge Saint Saint Saiwen? How laughable, how laughable.

Having grown up with Buggy since childhood, Shanks naturally understood the expression on Buggy's face.

"Hey, Buggy, what's with that look? Do you have no confidence in me at all?"

"I'm afraid you'll get beaten by Saint Saint Saiwen and cry."

"What kind of joke is that? I'll get beaten and cry?"

"It's not impossible."

Seeing the two quarrel the moment they met, neither Saint Saint Saiwen nor Lei Li had any intention of stepping forward to stop them; instead, they watched from the sidelines.

Just as they had years ago in Luo Jie's crew.

Before Buggy and Shanks fought with genuine anger, the ship's official crew treated the two interns as lovers who fought.

Beckman and others followed suit, quietly admiring a captain quite different from the usual.

Indeed, Shanks and Saint Saint Saiwen are brothers, but Buggy is the true love.