Chapter 36: Much Stronger Than Shanks

The Grand Line, the New World.

The Moby Dick.

Whitebeard Edward Newgate, once known alongside the Pirate King Gol D. Luo Jie and the Golden Lion Shi Ji as one of the three legendary pirates.

As a top-tier figure in the pirate world.

In this current era where the Pirate King has been executed, the Golden Lion is imprisoned in Impel Down, and Whitebeard bears the title of the Strongest Man in the World, he is the first Emperor of the Sea since the Great Pirate Era began.

"Old Man, Old Man, big news!"

Ma Ma Ma Erke, with his pineapple hairstyle, handed the freshly bought newspaper to Whitebeard.

"Old Man, that guy from Luo Jie's ship who cooks especially well, Saint Saint Saiwen, has a bounty of one billion."

Whitebeard looked closely; the headline featured a profile view of his side face and chin, along with his signature white hair, belonging to Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

"Gurarara."

Thinking of the fine wine brewed by the white-haired little chef, a smile spread across Whitebeard's lips; back then, that little guy had traded three bottles of fine wine for a lock of his beard.

It truly made the jaws of both crews drop in shock.

"Has the brat Saint Saint Saiwen set sail too?"

"A bounty of one billion, that's incredible."

"But it's a bit strange," Ma Ma Ma Erke added, "it doesn't say what Saint Saint Saiwen did."

Under normal circumstances, the newspaper would introduce the actions of the bountied pirate in great detail as a reference for the Marines issuing the bounty.

Such an abnormal situation, with a bounty of one billion yet no description at all, was extremely rare.

You must know, the one billion bounty now is not the same as when Luffy set sail twenty years later; the value is on a completely different level.

After a moment of thought, Ma Ma Ma Erke voiced his guess.

"It must be related to the World Government."

"Gurarara." Whitebeard patted Ma Ma Ma Erke's shoulder: "Go prepare a banquet to celebrate our chef Saint Saint Saiwen becoming famous throughout the seas."

Back then, when Luo Jie asked Whitebeard for a favor, inviting the commander of the second division, Oden, to join his crew, Whitebeard had jokingly offered to trade the little chef Saint Saint Saiwen instead.

But he never expected Luo Jie to kneel directly, and Oden himself agreed, leaving Whitebeard with no choice but to drop it.

Whitebeard had two great loves in life: valuing his family above all and being addicted to alcohol; Saint Saint Saiwen, who was skilled in both brewing and cooking, was simply the perfect son he dreamed of.

Pity fate wasn't there, and Luo Jie snatched him first.

On this great sea, whether happy or unhappy, holding a banquet is the most important thing.

Led by Old Man Whitebeard, a crowd of sons gathered around him, raising their cups to drink, singing and dancing.

Only a black fat man, upon learning the banquet was actually to celebrate Saint Saint Saiwen's bounty breaking one billion, suddenly clutched his cheek, feeling his teeth ache terribly.

The two missing teeth—were kicked out by the red-nosed brat and the red-haired brat working together, three in total, two of which were picked up by the white-haired brat.

And afterwards, he still didn't admit it, damn it!

The key is, the search didn't even find them, how infuriating!

Teach stared expressionlessly at the profile on the newspaper: the Goro Goro no Mi, a nice ability indeed, but unfortunately, it is a Logia just like the Yami Yami no Mi.

"A guy like this... has a bounty of one billion."

"When will my day to rise come?"

"Teach, come drink!"

The moment the shout came from behind, Teach switched to a face full of honest smiles: "Coming, Sachi."

The East Blue, the Orange Town archipelago.

The waters of Orange Town.

Buggy lay on the deck of the pirate ship, using his Chop-Chop Big Slap on the sky to skillfully catch a passing news bird, taking out the newspaper.

"Let Big Boss Buggy see..."

Snow-white hair, a sculpted profile, a refined chin... the moment these came into view, Buggy's entire body instantly split into dozens of segments.

"Saint Saint Saiwen... one billion?!!!"

Buggy rubbed his eyes, afraid he had misread the number, and when he clearly saw the large characters printed on the headline, he fell directly into a daze.

【Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, former member of the Luo Jie Pirates, bounty one billion, dead or alive!】

In the most inconspicuous corner of the newspaper, Buggy finally found the small print regarding his own bounty.

【Buggy, captain of the Buggy Pirates, active in the East Blue Orange Town archipelago, bounty 5 million】

One billion versus five million; the huge gap did not make Buggy feel upset, but rather relieved that his good brother was becoming famous throughout the seas.

"As expected of Saint Saint Saiwen!"

"Much stronger than Shanks."

Thinking of Shanks, Buggy's good mood instantly dropped by half, even turning him red with anger.

If Shanks hadn't changed his mind two years ago, and the two had successfully formed a pirate crew, then inviting Saint Saint Saiwen on board, combining the strength of the three, they might have become the Pirate King.

How could it be like this now—

Shanks is nowhere to be heard from, wandering who knows which corner, while he, Buggy, is hiding in the weakest sea, the East Blue, having to survive by digging for treasure.

Only Saint Saint Saiwen's one billion bounty is famous throughout the seas.

Two years ago, Buggy had even gone to the Paradise of the Grand Line, trying to catch up with Saint Saint Saiwen's steps...

Now Buggy has changed his mind.

Buggy is afraid: Saint Saint Saiwen will refuse him just like Shanks did.

After all, Saint Saint Saiwen once reached the final island, Laugh Tale, with the Captain and the others, so... what if Saint Saint Saiwen doesn't intend to inherit Captain Luo Jie's will?

He has already broken with Shanks; he can't possibly fall out with his last good brother too.

If Saint Saint Saiwen has plans to form a pirate crew in the future, he will consider joining then; Buggy may not be good at fighting, but he is good at making money!

As long as Buggy is given a treasure map, he can dig up the entire world's treasure.

West Sea, Twin Shedao.

On a small wooden boat that looked strangely like a coffin, Mihawk put down his newspaper, and a sharp gleam flashed through his hawk-like eyes.

"One billion, not bad."

The two-year period has ended; after challenging the last great swordsman, it is time to reunite with the captain.

Over these two years, Mihawk, wielding the black blade Yoru, roamed the Grand Line, from Paradise to the New World, challenging swordsmen of all kinds, fighting nearly a hundred battles without a single defeat.

It carried a certain flavor of Dugu Qiubai.

The target of this journey is Yisheng, thirty-two years old.

He is a Paramecia Weight fruit user, possessing the sword Gambler's Fireline, one of the twelve Supreme Grade Blades, and is a rare master.

As he is about to reach the peak of swordsmanship, opponents on this great sea capable of stirring Mihawk's heart have become as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, growing fewer and fewer.

Perhaps for the rest of his life, only Captain Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen will be qualified to become his opponent.

"My Dao is not lonely."

Mihawk felt incredibly fortunate; the captain he chose is also a great swordsman, possessing a mysterious Supreme Grade Blade no less than the black blade Yoru.

The only regret Mihawk felt was that he had no sweet iced tea to drink for these two years.

Moreover, the food on the sea...

Compared to Saint Saint Saiwen's cooking, it ultimately lacked flavor; Mihawk belatedly realized that his palate seemed to have been spoiled by Saint Saint Saiwen to be much more picky.

Steadily docking the small wooden boat at the port, Mihawk, carrying the black blade Yoru on his back, strode into Twin Shedao according to the intelligence he had gathered.

It is said that Yisheng is addicted to gambling; he should be inside the casino at this moment.