Chapter 367: Xia Luote Says

Amid the vast and boundless waters of the new world, the Donghai Dihuang sails through the waves.

With the captain temporarily away on business, the four who had just advanced from trainees to full crew members were setting up a banquet on the deck, feasting and drinking wildly.

At first, Lao Sha was somewhat reluctant, but under Lachi Lu's warm invitation, he chose to join the banquet.

He only realized it later.

In yesterday's duel, Lachi Lu had held back.

This chubby fellow with a simple, honest smile, who often held a roasted leg of lamb in his hand, was even stronger than Jack in his pink dragon form.

Thinking of this, Lao Sha felt quite speechless.

The Morning Star Crew truly brims with talent; someone as strong as Lachi Lu, capable of at least a fifty-fifty fight with him, had previously served only as a trainee on the ship.

One can only imagine how powerful the pillars of the Morning Star Crew—the officers—must be.

"Lao Sha," Lachi Lu said with a smile, "your old rival, Barrett, would be very happy if he knew you were here."

Hearing the name Barrett, Lao Sha fell into memory.

A few years ago, he and Barrett fought a battle to a draw; at that time, he had even invited Barrett to join his ship, but since neither would yield to the other, it ultimately came to nothing.

He never expected that after so many years, the two of them would end up joining the same pirate crew.

Fate is truly mysterious beyond measure.

"In recent years, Big Brother Barrett has challenged the captain almost every day; although he has never won, he has thereby mastered Conqueror's Haki Armament."

Lao Sha understood Lachi Lu's hint.

After Wano, Barrett would very likely spar with him to complete the battle from many years ago.

In this moment, Lao Sha suddenly felt some regret.

Regret that in these years, busy searching for Poneglyphs, he had neglected cultivation; not only had his dual-color Haki made little progress, but his Devil Fruit ability also remained at the level of many years ago.

"Conqueror's Haki Armament... Morning Star... how many people in our crew have mastered Conqueror's Haki Armament?"

Upon hearing this, Foxy F counted on his fingers and said.

"The captain, the first mate, Senior Shi Ji, Mr. Big Bear, Barrett, Katakuri; currently, there are only these six."

"Although Mr. Hancock, Mr. Xiliu, and I have awakened Conqueror's Haki, we have never mastered the technique of Haki Armament."

Having spoken, Foxy F added another sentence.

"Yamato should be close to mastering it too; the captain often secretly gives Yamato extra lessons."

"Who is Yamato?" Lao Sha asked in astonishment.

If Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen was teaching this Yamato so carefully, this Yamato must not be an ordinary person.

"Yamato is Kaido's daughter."

"Nani?!" Lao Sha's gaze narrowed slightly: "Since she is Kaido's daughter, how could she be in our crew?"

Could it be that Kaido and Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had reached some unknown deal in private, leaving his own daughter in the Morning Star Crew as a hostage?

"That is a long story."

Foxy F explained: "When we drove the Beasts Pirates out of Wano, the captain did not wipe them out completely but kept Yamato by his side."

"As for the specific reason, we actually do not know."

In fact, Foxy F had some suspicions about this but dared not speak up for fear of being noted in the captain's little book.

Do not think the captain is harmless in daily life; if he truly gets angry, Marineford is the best example.

Immediately after, Lao Sha asked again.

"If I remember correctly, Katakuri is Charlotte Lingling's son; how could he also be in our crew?"

Perhaps having played with conspiracies too much in recent years, Lao Sha always felt there was something very wrong here.

First came Yamato, the daughter of Emperor Kaido, then Katakuri, the son of Emperor Lingling; with children from two Emperors joining the Morning Star Crew, it is hard not to think too much.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen has grand designs indeed.

"We do not know either."

Lachi Lu poured a cup of wine for Lao Sha: "The captain just went to the Whole Cake Island, and brought back Katakuri and Brûlée."

Upon hearing this, Lao Sha felt only that heaven was unfair.

He had spent years of effort and energy, yet only recruited a few misfits; Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen went out casually once and managed to recruit an Emperor's own son into the crew.

There must be some unknown secret here; otherwise, Charlotte Lingling would never easily let people go.

What exactly is the reason?

Lao Sha's heart itched uncontrollably, never before so urgently longing to arrive at Wano immediately to find out the truth.

Matters concerning the secret plots of two Emperors and Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen could certainly not be a small thing.

Just then, Corazon, who had been beaming with a brilliant smile just a second ago, received a phone call and silently left the banquet table.

Such an abnormal scene made Lao Sha glance subtly toward the bow of the ship.

Corazon's reaction was not quite right; if it were a call from Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen or any other member of the Morning Star Crew, there would be no reason to go so far away.

Moreover, when he answered the phone just now, Corazon's expression was somewhat panicked; although it was only for an instant, Lao Sha still caught it.

The Morning Star Crew... every place reveals something strange.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed Lao Sha's mind, recalling the technique Corazon used yesterday, which looked very much like the Six Powers of the Marines.

Is Corazon a Marine?

A mocking smile curled on Lao Sha's lips.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, you are not so good either; you didn't even notice a Marine spy planted beside you, and you still have to rely on me...

No, Lao Sha rubbed the wine cup.

He had only been on the ship for a short while and could already detect Corazon's strangeness; Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen and the other members of the Morning Star Crew could not possibly have failed to notice.

Deliberately keeping a Marine spy by his side?

Or perhaps, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen and the Marines had also reached some unknown deal?

The children of two Emperors, a Marine spy... Old Sha fell into deep thought, feeling more and more that the Morning Star Group was strange in every way.

And at the bow, Corazon covered the Den Den Mushi.

"Father, if the Five Elders hadn't pressed so hard, the Captain wouldn't have bothered leaving Diaoqi; our journey has just been sightseeing."

"There really is no special plan."

"If there were a plan, could I not tell you?"

Hearing this, Sengoku breathed a complete sigh of relief: "That's good, Xiao Mi Guo, you must pay close attention to your own safety."

"Rest assured, Father."

Corazon hung up the Den Den Mushi, silently speaking in his heart: Sorry, Father, the Captain discovered I was a spy long ago.

But the Captain not only did not execute me, he also let me stay in the Morning Star Group: to open my eyes and see this world.

Diaoqi has undergone earth-shaking changes in recent years, which Corazon has seen with his own eyes.

To realize the Captain's great dream, to liberate the oppressed seas, one can only stabilize Father, thereby making the Marines lower their guard.

Putting away the Den Den Mushi, Corazon returned to the banquet without showing any emotion.

At the same time, at Marine Headquarters.

With the guarantee of his beloved son Corazon, Sengoku let out a long sigh of relief.

"I told you so; Saint Saint Saint Saiwen could not possibly prepare so quickly. Even if he were to rebel, it would probably be many years from now."

Putting down the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku donned his Marshal's cloak, preparing to tell this good news to his three old companions.

Xiao Mi Guo said: Diaoqi has no plans recently.

As for whether Xiao Mi Guo would lie, Sengoku dreamed that Xiao Mi Guo had just lied.

Lying means—

Xiao Mi Guo has already taken firm root in the Morning Star Group, and his loyalty to Saint Saint Saint Saiwen far exceeds that of the Marines.

This is a tremendous good thing!