Chapter 377: The Red-Haired Crew with Bloodshot Eyes

As the year-end approaches, red lanterns hang in the streets and alleys of Flower Capital, everywhere exuding the atmosphere of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new; inside the General's Mansion, it is equally festive and harmonious.

Except for Buggy, Red-Haired, Vergo, Enel, Jinbe, Tiger, and the three Moria brothers, who are all out on missions.

The Morning Star Crew is nearly fully assembled.

If one isn't even enthusiastic about issuing year-end bonuses, there must be something wrong with their brain. Moreover, the year-end bonuses are so generous that they are all treasures money simply cannot buy.

However, the moment Saint Saint Saiwen casually pulled out a small notebook,

Foxy lowered his head in guilt; among all the awakened Conqueror's Haki-wielding formal crew members of the Morning Star Crew, only he had yet to master Conqueror's Haki coating.

Yamato and Hancock are merely interns after all, and one is eleven years old, the other fourteen.

If we follow the Captain's logic...

"Sometimes, look for reasons within yourself. You haven't mastered Conqueror's Haki coating after all these years; have you trained seriously? Have you suffocated for your dream?"

This year's year-end bonus is probably hanging by a thread.

Just as Foxy was silently cursing himself, Saint Saint Saiwen's voice suddenly rang out.

"Lucky Roue, comprehensive evaluation: Excellent."

Hearing this, Lucky Roue quickly jogged to Saint Saint Saiwen's side, rubbing his chubby hands as he accepted the large gift package from Saint Saint Saiwen's hand.

"Captain! Loyalty!"

Saint Saint Saiwen smiled and patted his eldest disciple on the shoulder.

"Work hard, the future is yours."

Lucky Roue can be described as a system-less Saint Saint Saiwen ProMax version within the Morning Star Crew; not only is his cooking superb, but he is also proficient in dual-color Haki, body techniques, and gunmanship.

Possessing combat power that does not yield to the Saint Saint Saiwen Warlords of the Sea.

Lucky Roue happily returned to his seat, opened the large gift package to see two dual pistols, one black and one white, and a note; his small eyes immediately widened to roundness.

【Magic Dual Pistols: Ebony and Ivory, bullets sealed with Conqueror's Haki】

Lucky Roue swallowed hard.

The bullets are sealed with the Captain's Conqueror's Haki?

Does this not mean that every single bullet is like the Captain personally striking, making knocking out a Navy Admiral with one shot not a dream?

You must know, the Captain's Conqueror's Haki is the strongest Conqueror's Haki in the world; Navy Admirals cannot last more than two seconds.

Besides the dual pistols, the large gift package also contained a custom-made combat suit.

Lucky Roue knew this.

The Captain has a custom-made combat suit; it is said that it can not only absorb kinetic energy and release it, but also isolate the influence of seawater.

Good heavens, a wave of super-strengthening has arrived!

Sitting beside Lucky Roue, Old Sand, upon seeing the prizes in the large gift package, instantly had his eyes turn blood-red.

Bullets sealed with Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's Conqueror's Haki, if they can hit the target, even a Navy Admiral would likely be injured.

And a combat suit that isolates the influence of seawater!

Old Sand only regrets joining the Morning Star Crew too late to get this year's year-end bonus; next year, no matter what, he must become an excellent crew member.

The year-end bonus, Old Sand will definitely take it!

"Cavendish, comprehensive evaluation: Good."

Hearing this, a trace of desolation flashed in Cavendish's eyes; it wasn't that "Good" was bad, but with "Excellent" Lucky Roue preceding him, his "Good" felt somewhat unworthy of display.

But talent is something destined from birth.

Even with two hundred times the effort, he cannot catch up to the younger Lucky Roue.

"Keep it up, work hard."

"Yes, Captain."

Actually, having a Navy Fleet Admiral father, Cavendish didn't need to try too hard, but Saint Saint Saiwen wanted the crew members to get into an internal competition.

Only when the crew members go crazy with internal competition can Saint Saint Saiwen become more relaxed in the future.

Inviting Mihawk to form the Morning Star Pirate Crew back then, wasn't it all for today?

"Foxy, comprehensive evaluation: Good."

Foxy breathed a sigh of relief: The Captain indeed still values me as always, and has not ignored this year's efforts just because I haven't mastered Conqueror's Haki coating yet.

"Keep working hard."

"Captain, loyalty."

When Foxy returned to his seat, looking at the custom-made combat suit in the large gift package, the corners of his mouth couldn't stop rising.

With the combat suit, in the future, I can dive however I want, never having to fear seawater again!

Although the year-end bonus cannot compare to Lucky Roue's, Foxy is already very satisfied; previously, only the Captain possessed a custom combat suit.

"Yuzhi Xiliu, comprehensive evaluation: Outstanding."

Xiliu's contributions over this past year were visible to all; being crowned with the title "Natural Maniac" is Xiliu's best symbol of glory.

It is completely worthy of an Outstanding evaluation.

To strengthen Xiliu's combat power, besides the Vibranium armor, Saint Saint Saiwen specially strengthened and upgraded Xiliu's sword, Lei Yu.

Of course, it wasn't just Xiliu; the swords of the other swordsmen in the Morning Star Crew were also fed Devil Fruits.

"You've worked hard, Xiliu."

"It is my duty, Captain."

Xiliu was extremely fortunate to have made the decision to join the Morning Star Crew back then; it's not that staying in Impel Down as the Warden was bad, but following the Captain offers a much broader sky.

These years following the Captain, he has not only won fame but also secured a brighter future.

The distribution of the Morning Star Crew's year-end bonuses continued.

The Red-Haired Crew, who had originally just come to join the fun, seeing the Morning Star Crew members one by one receive the New Year's large gift packages from Saint Saint Saiwen, immediately turned their gaze in unison toward Shanks.

Captain, you decide.

Seeing his comrades with bloodshot eyes, Shanks scratched his head, filled with nothing but regret.

If I had known this would happen, why bother coming to join the fray?

Now look: the Morning Star Group is joyfully handing out year-end bonuses, while the Red Hair Group can only stare helplessly.

Shanks actually wanted to give his comrades year-end bonuses too, but his pockets were simply too empty.

Besides, how many people on the Grand Sea could be as extravagant as Saint Saint Saiwen, feeding the swords of the Great Swordsmen on board with Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits?

As for the materials of those custom battle suits, he had never seen them, let alone heard of them.

After a moment of thought, Shanks could only borrow a phrase Saint Saint Saiwen had once said to comfort his comrades.

"Ahem, there will be bread, there will be milk; let's work hard together, okay?"

There should... be some, right?

"Tashigi, comprehensive evaluation: Excellent."

"Buggy, comprehensive evaluation: Excellent."

As the two most skilled money-makers and managers under the Morning Star Group, Tashigi and Buggy joined forces to run the businesses of Wano and Beehive Island with roaring success, earning mountains of gold daily.

It was not only because Wano was so wealthy, but also because Saint Saint Saiwen was the greatest contributor to providing the Revolutionary Army with over two hundred billion in military funds.

"You've worked hard, two great contributors."

Buggy proudly raised an eyebrow at Shanks, his grin stretching nearly to his ears.

"It's what we should do, Captain."

Compared to fighting and killing, Buggy preferred lying on piles of gold and silver treasures every night, counting Berries as he slept.

It was his good brother Saint Saint Saiwen who gave him a stage, allowing him to fully display his talents.

Tashigi was grateful that Saint Saint Saiwen had saved Shi Daila back then, settled them on the Sky Island, and nurtured him for many years.

The grace of saving one's life, the grace of recognizing one's worth.

The Captain's kindness can never be fully repaid!

"Jin Ni, comprehensive evaluation: Outstanding."

"Bear, comprehensive evaluation: Excellent."

Hearing the Captain call her name, Jin Ni hurriedly ran over, holding her daughter Bonney in her arms.

"Little Bonney, quickly call him Godfather."

During Saint Saint Saiwen's visit to Alabasta, Jin Ni gave birth to a daughter, and the name Bonney had been chosen by Saint Saint Saiwen long ago.

Looking at Bear's family of three, Saint Saint Saiwen smiled with satisfaction: at least he had not come here in vain.

People always say that regrets can create classics, but that only applies to stories written on paper. The world Saint Saint Saiwen inhabited was real and vibrant; he did not need to endure avoidable regrets for the sake of so-called sublimation.

"You're a mother now; be more steady."

With that, Saint Saint Saiwen stuffed three large year-end bonus gift packages into Bear's arms.

"You've worked hard, Bear."

"It's what we should do, Captain."

As the second-in-command of Wano's administration, Bear made indelible contributions to Wano's development, achieving feats as great as Master Tenghu's.

The reason there were three large gift packages was actually Saint Saint Saiwen's deliberate intention, aimed at reminding the older unmarried youths of the Morning Star Group: it's time to marry and have children.

Right, Mi-san?

And also Mr. Tenghu and Senior Shi Ji.