Chapter 378: Thank You for the Company

As the two original formal crew members of the Morning Star Crew, whether it was Mihawk or Master Tenghu, they naturally understood Saint Saint Saiwen's hint.

But the great cause is not yet accomplished; how can one marry and have children?

Finding a wife also depends on fate.

It is not as if everyone is like Big Bear, having a childhood sweetheart named Jin Ni.

Even more egregious: Jin Ni actively pursued Big Bear, yet even so, Big Bear rejected Jin Ni's marriage proposals multiple times.

If it were not for Saint Saint Saiwen, whether Big Bear and Jin Ni could end up together remains unknown.

Moreover, compared to finding a wife, Mihawk is obviously more skilled at finding people to spar swords with; Master Tenghu was found by Mihawk back then at the casino on Twin Snake Island in the West Sea.

Mihawk is devoted to swordsmanship cultivation.

Master Tenghu is simply too busy; the entire Inazuma administration is shouldered by Master Tenghu and Big Bear, and sometimes they even have to support Hive Island.

Though the two understood, they still pretended not to.

Golden Lion is too lazy to find women; with the effort spent finding women, it would be better to lead the younger members of the Flying Sky Crew to carve out a vast territory.

And thereby obtain some good things from Saint Saint Saiwen's hand.

"Senior Shi Ji, comprehensive evaluation: Excellent."

Golden Lion, with an unlit cigar in his mouth, floated with his feet off the ground to Saint Saint Saiwen's front and accepted the year-end bonus gift pack.

"Does an adopted son count?"

If an adopted son could also receive a gift pack like Big Bear's children, Golden Lion wouldn't mind learning from Whitebeard to adopt a few more sons on the sea.

What Old White can do, he, Golden Lion, can do as well.

If there is wool to shear, one might as well shear it.

Hearing this, Saint Saint Saiwen rolled his eyes.

"Don't mess around, Senior Shi Ji."

The reason for issuing an extra year-end bonus was for Saint Saint Saiwen to ensure the Morning Star Crew partners marry and have children soon; having children gives meaning and attachment to their struggle.

If, after overthrowing the World Government, everyone learned from him to indulge in pleasure, what then?

Enjoying life is a privilege belonging solely to the captain; the rest of the partners must redouble their efforts to constantly improve, engaging in fierce internal competition!

Golden Lion let out a dry laugh to cover his embarrassment.

"I was just asking casually."

This fellow Saint Saint Saiwen, saying "Senior Shi Ji" with one sentence and "Senior Shi Ji" with the next, is placing him on the fire to roast; having given him enough face, he cannot continue to play the fool.

After floating back to his seat.

Golden Lion did not open it directly like the other crew members; instead, he used Observation Haki to investigate, and upon sensing the prizes inside the gift pack, the corners of his mouth could not help but rise slightly.

"Mr. Tenghu, comprehensive evaluation: Excellent."

Saint Saint Saiwen originally planned to give the Mythical Zoan Vampire form to Zephyr, but after Kizaru returned a certain piece of intelligence, Saint Saint Saiwen changed his mind.

Since the Navy high command is touring Inazuma as a group, there is no need to continue targeting the Navy.

Additionally, it was simply impossible to find a suitable Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit to feed to Master Tenghu's Gambler Flame.

With the day of signing the Abyss Contract with Imu drawing closer, this arrangement had to suffice for now.

Inside the gift pack, the custom Vibranium battle suit was standard equipment; next were the side-effect-free Senzu Beans and one to two billion Berries, as well as weapons or equipment purchased by Saint Saint Saiwen from the trading platform according to each partner's situation.

"You've worked hard, Mr. Tenghu."

"Serving the people."

Master Tenghu very much liked this sentence spoken by the captain; although the captain often acted as a hands-off boss and did not serve the people most of the time.

But regardless, the platform of Inazuma was provided by the captain; indeed, before long, the captain will provide an even bigger stage.

These years, Inazuma's administration has been busy, yet Master Tenghu has never felt tired; whenever he saw Inazuma changing bit by bit in a positive direction, all he felt in his heart was relief and excitement.

Borrowing a sentence the captain once said.

People only do not feel tired in two moments: the excitement of doing evil, and the fervor of rushing toward what one loves.

As for what was inside the year-end bonus gift pack, that was secondary.

Of course, having something is better than having nothing.

"Mihawk, comprehensive evaluation: Excellent."

Even if Mihawk did nothing, merely stationed at Zou's Daimyo Mansion, he still deserved an Excellent evaluation.

But in reality, Mihawk did a lot.

Previously, Mihawk had thought of capturing a batch of baboons and training them all into sword masters, but the plan was never realized due to busyness.

Until meeting the Mink Tribe of Zou Island, Mihawk finally had his wish granted, making Zou the region with the strongest combat power among Inazuma's seven regions.

This single achievement alone warrants an Excellent evaluation.

Moreover, Mihawk is the vice-captain of the Morning Star Crew and one of its founders; even the pirate crew's name was thought up by Mihawk.

"Thank you for the company."

Mihawk was stunned for a few seconds, obviously not expecting Saint Saint Saiwen to suddenly play at being sentimental; in that case...

"You too."

This scene made Old Sand so envious.

Meeting Mihawk once ruins a lifetime, no, he did not discover Mihawk at Loguetown back then.

How could this be!!!

Shanks, who also felt extremely envious, had the Red Hair Crew staying at Zou's Daimyo Mansion during their time in Inazuma; Shanks and Mihawk sparred swords for many days, and the two respected each other.

If only Mihawk were not the vice-captain of the Morning Star Crew, how wonderful that would be.

There is also Saint Saint Saiwen's eldest disciple, Lucci; the Red Hair Crew happens to be lacking a chef.

Suddenly, Shanks noticed Beckman's resentful gaze and could only let out a dry laugh, pretending not to see it.

Fortunately, the Wakanda Kindergarten children, led by young Zoro and young Sanji, surrounded Saint Saint Saiwen, demanding gifts, drawing Bockerman's attention away.

Shanks had just sighed in relief when Bockerman suddenly nudged him gently with his elbow.

"Talents—every single one is top-tier."

"Those two girls awakened all three forms of Haki at such a young age, and that boy with the yellow hair and the one with green hair—extraordinary natural gifts."

Upon hearing this, Shanks's face twisted in bitterness.

"They're all Saint Saint Saiwen's people—don't even think about it."

The outside world says the Morning Star Corps is brimming with talent, but what they don't know is: even the Morning Star Corps' junior interns are each more gifted than the last.

Wa, who awakened all three forms of Haki at eleven, will be at least a Royal Vice-Level master in just a few years.

If he had discovered so many talents anywhere else, Shanks would have insisted on inviting them aboard.

But they were in Wakanda, and all of them were Morning Star Corps interns—Shanks neither dared nor wished to steal them from Saint Saint Saiwen.

Bockerman lowered his voice.

"I heard Saint Saint Saiwen's Holy Mother is taking Wa to Onigashima tomorrow."

Shanks froze in place, unable to grasp what Bockerman meant—until Bockerman wrote a few characters on his palm.

【Going Home!】

Shanks sucked in a sharp breath: Is Saint Saint Saiwen preparing to confront Kaido?

I really want to go and see how Kaido reacts.

But when Shanks remembered that Wa was only eleven, he began communicating with Bockerman through glances.

【It can't be, right?】

Bockerman raised an eyebrow.

【Call Mihawk—let's follow secretly...】