Chapter 346: If Only It Could Be Heavy Again

Having paid the price of two Devil Fruits to invite the Moria Pirates to back him up, Crocodile finally felt a shred of confidence.

"Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen should be reasonable, right?"

Crocodile intended to plot against Alabasta, but since he had only just begun his actions, he had not yet thrown Alabasta into complete chaos.

Even Saint Saint Saint Saiwen could find no fault with it.

Thinking of Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's current status, power, and wealth, Crocodile felt nothing but envy.

Back when his own fame had skyrocketed, the other party had only reached the final island, Laugh Tale, by riding on the coattails of the Luo Jie Pirates.

When Luo Jie was executed at Loguetown.

Crocodile's bounty was 81 million Berries, while at that time Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen was merely known as the Luo Jie Pirates' cook, and even the Navy had been too lazy to publish a bounty for him.

Now, the other party was not only a Celestial Dragon.

But also the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma, with the Morning Star Corps under his command possessing top-tier powerhouses like Mihawk and Master Tenghu, each with a bounty higher than his own.

In just six short years, whether in identity or status, he had surpassed Crocodile by countless times.

Thinking of the misfits of Baroque Works, the ever-calm and composed Crocodile could not help but sigh.

"Truly, it is a matter of timing and fate."

"How did I miss Mihawk?"

Crocodile only learned later that Mihawk had also gone to Loguetown to watch the execution of the Pirate King Luo Jie, yet such a top-tier first mate had gone completely unnoticed by him.

Instead, he had been successfully snatched up by Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

If only it could be heavy again, I would choose Mihawk!

And Master Tenghu, Big Bear, Barrett, and others, all recruited to Baroque Works, to obtain the Pluton and then return to the New World to defeat Whitebeard.

"In the end, I missed Mihawk."

The regret in Crocodile's heart could not be spoken, so he could only take out the Inazuma novel "Racing Wild on the Seas" to soothe his bitterness.

"If only this book had been published years ago."

"Racing Wild on the Seas" tells the story of an ordinary person who accidentally returns twenty years into the past, using his knowledge of future events to start plotting from the Golden Lion's prison break.

The story of how he eventually became the King of the World.

The more Crocodile read, the more he felt the protagonist was himself, even though the protagonist had eaten the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type: Commoner Form.

One punch of the Commoner's Fist, making all beings equal.

How spirited and high-spirited, exactly the same as when he first set sail back in the day.

"Inazuma truly is a land of heroes and wonders."

"Such a thrilling novel, how wonderful it would be if I could have the honor of meeting the author."

Perhaps the novel's immersion was too strong, as Crocodile failed to notice that Mr. 3 Galdino, the Chief Commander of Baroque Works, was standing at the office door, hesitating to speak.

After waiting a moment, Galdino shook his head and left.

Due to the Inazuma novel being excessively popular, copies delivered to Alabasta were hard to come by; Mr. 3 had managed to buy one only for the President to seize it.

President, give my book back!

The first half of the Grand Line, Water 7.

Water 7

As the exclusive vessel of Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, the symbol of the Donghai Dihuang with its dragon-head prow, red sails, and flame flag, had long been deeply ingrained in people's minds, becoming a majestic symbol known to all on the seas.

As soon as the Donghai Dihuang docked at the port.

The CP agents responsible for supervising shipwright Tang Mu and the mayor of Water 7 were already standing at the port to welcome him.

The legendary shipwright Tang Mu had built the Oro Jackson pirate ship for Luo Jie; due to this experience, he was arrested by the World Government, but received a suspended sentence by proposing the Sea Train project.

This was precisely the reason Saint Saint Saiwen had come to Water 7.

After all, they were old acquaintances, and Saint Saint Saiwen now had the power to pardon Tang Mu's crimes.

The moment Saint Saint Saiwen stepped off the ship onto the soil of Water 7, a sea of people instantly knelt on the ground, shouting loudly.

"Welcome, Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, my lord."

Seeing this scene only strengthened Saint Saint Saiwen's resolve to overthrow the World Government; he did not need people to kneel and worship him to demonstrate his so-called noble status.

But ironically: the very thing used to make people rise from the ground was that so-called noble status.

"Rise."

Saint Saint Saiwen did not show any displeasure; after all, he had not yet completely broken the rules: being within the rules meant one must obey them.

"Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, my lord, this way please."

Glancing at the mayor of Water 7 before him, a faint sigh of regret rose in Saint Saint Saiwen's heart: the blonde lady Kalifa was not here at this moment.

Without the silk-stockinged human pillar to embellish it, Water 7 ultimately lacked a bit of its unique charm and flavor.

The mayor spoke while walking and smiling.

"Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, my lord."

"The document pardoning Mr. Tang Mu arrived yesterday; Mr. Tang Mu is free now."

"However, he still insists on building the Sea Train."

"Please rest assured; the Sea Train is of utmost importance to the World Government, and the Water City government and CP agents will certainly cooperate with Mr. Tang Mu."

"Thank you." Saint Saint Saiwen changed the subject: "Let them disperse, and take me to find Mr. Tang Mu."

"Yes, Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, my lord."

If any other Celestial Dragon had visited Water 7, the mayor and CP agents might have worried about the Celestial Dragon encountering danger.

But since it was Saint Saint Saint Saiwen who came, there was nothing to worry about.

Even if the four Emperors of the New World arrived together, as long as Saint Saint Saint Saiwen was present, Water 7 would be the safest place on the seas.

Before long, Saint Saint Saiwen reunited with Tang Mu, whom he had not seen in many years, at a construction site of the Sea Train.

"Saint Saint Saiwen... Holy Lord."

Dismissing the entourage from Water 7, Saint Saint Saiwen chuckled and teased, "Mr. Tang Mu, seeing me, shouldn't you kneel to pay your respects?"

Hearing this, the apprentices following Tang Mu, Iceburg and Franky, pretended to kneel, but Tang Mu grabbed them both and held them back.

"Saint Saint Saiwen is just joking with you."

Sensing that Saint Saint Saiwen was not angered by his master's gesture, Iceburg pressed his lips together, really wanting to retort.

Master, if you had said you knew Holy Saint Saint Saiwen earlier, why would your apprentice have to squander all his fortune to save you!

"Sayonara, Saint Saint Saiwen."

"Sayonara, Mr. Tang Mu."

Looking at Saint Saint Saiwen's height, which was taller than his own, Tang Mu was suddenly filled with emotion: Who could have thought that the Luo Jie Pirates' cook could grow to this step in just six short years?

Transforming from a pirate into a Celestial Dragon, and a genuine one with immense power at that.

A casual word from him could make the Five Elders sign a pardon document.

Tang Mu bent over and bowed deeply.

"Saint Saint Saiwen, thank you."

This "thank you" came from the heart, thanking Saint Saint Saiwen both for pardoning him and on behalf of the Fish-Man race.

As a Fish-Man of the Horned Fish-Man tribe, Tang Mu often kept in touch with his fellow Fish-Man from the Luo Jie Pirates, Jinbe, and had also heard that Saint Saint Saiwen, representing the World Government, had secured great autonomy for the Fish-Man race.

"We are all one family, no need for politeness."

"By the way," Tang Mu patted his head, "these are my apprentices, Iceburg and Franky."

The moment he saw Franky, Saint Saint Saiwen couldn't help but recall Franky's unreliable father—Queen the Plague of the Beasts Pirates.

Of course, the desire to recruit him also became active.

Although the Donghai Dihuang does not need a shipwright, Inazuma does.

"Mr. Tang Mu, my ship is still short a shipwright."

Hearing this, Tang Mu's eyes instantly lit up.

He felt happy to find jobs for his two apprentices, and at the same time could hand over the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton to Saint Saint Saiwen for safekeeping.

"Saint Saint Saiwen, let's go hold a banquet first."