Chapter 40: Ohara Demon-Slaying Decree (Part One)

West Sea, Twin Serpent Island waters.

The Donghai Dihuang, with a black dragon prow and crimson sails, sailed toward Ohara.

On the grass-covered deck, Mihawk gazed at the three-story Western-style mansion before him... and fell into deep thought.

"Adam Tree?"

"Mm."

Saint Saint Saiwen began introducing the pirate ship to the crew.

"The Donghai Dihuang was built by the Adam Tree. It runs on both wind and electricity. This three-story mansion has floors nine meters high, prepared for our taller companions."

"Mihawk-san, Mr. Issho, you may go to the second or third floor and choose a room you like."

"If you prefer a more open view, you can also stay in the crow's nests atop the two masts."

Mihawk nodded slightly: "And you?"

"Me?" Saint Saint Saiwen chuckled: "The large villa at the stern is the captain's quarters, bar, bathhouse, cinema..."

The configuration of the Donghai Dihuang gave Saint Saint Saiwen a feeling: those ten thousand points were truly well spent; the value for money was maxed out.

Mihawk immediately asked Saint Saint Saiwen for several bottles of iced black tea, then leisurely chose a room with an open view on the far left of the third floor.

Issho stood on the deck, bewildered.

"Mr. Saint Saint Saiwen, I haven't decided yet."

Owed ten billion Berries to this person; in principle, such a debt of gratitude warranted joining the ship, but Issho still felt some resistance in his heart to becoming a pirate.

"Mm." Saint Saint Saiwen said while steering the ship.

"Mr. Issho, actually the Marines suit you better, but I hope you will make your decision after we reach Ohara."

"At that time, whether you leave or stay, we will still be friends. As for those ten billion Berries... just repay me whenever you have the money."

Issho's inner conflict was within Saint Saint Saiwen's expectations.

How to put it.

Issho had wasted many years on Twin Serpent Island; he was no longer a hot-blooded youth who would be swindled onto a ship on a whim.

Issho, in his thirties, needed time to adapt to making such a huge change.

Moreover, the reputation of pirates is not very good to begin with.

In fact, if he could choose freely, Saint Saint Saiwen himself would also want to join the Marines; although the Marines are flawed in some aspects, they remain the main force protecting civilians.

Pity, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had long since been marked as a crew member of the Pirate King.

Most pirates, whether for fame or wealth, commit arson, murder, and robbery without any evil left undone; pirate crews more like the Straw Hats, resembling adventure groups, ultimately belong to the extreme minority.

Take an example.

After eating God's Arrow and Conqueror's Haki, I am the gluttonous Kid—the captain of the Kid Pirates, Kid, once slaughtered all the civilians who mocked his dream.

Right or wrong aside, his actions are the bloody, most truthful portrayal of pirates.

"Thank you."

Issho said thank you many times tonight.

Electric sparks crackling with a sizzling sound emerged from Saint Saint Saiwen's fingertips as he warned: "Attention, the ship is about to accelerate."

The Donghai Dihuang's advantage: electric propulsion.

As a user of the Goro Goro no Mi, Saint Saint Saiwen possesses nearly infinite electrical energy; as long as he has stamina, the Donghai Dihuang can keep accelerating.

While steering with one hand, the electric current swirling around Saint Saint Saiwen's fingertips was fed into the electric propulsion system.

Buzzzzzz~

The roar of the engine sounded, and the Donghai Dihuang instantly cut through the sea surface, rushing forward at five times its normal speed.

West Sea, Ohara waters.

Ten Marine warships stretched across the sea surface, their prows uniformly facing forward, forming a grim arc amidst the waves.

At the prow of the warship at the center of the formation, Sakazuki, the current Marine Headquarters Admiral, put down the newspaper in his hand.

"These cowards actually compromised with pirates."

Sakazuki, thirty-three years old this year, has a rigid character and ruthless methods that leave no room for mercy; he allows no trace of evil to exist.

He is the pirate's least desired encounter among the Marines.

Without exception.

When pirates encounter other Marines, they will likely be captured and then imprisoned in the underwater Great Prison of Impel Down; but if they encounter Sakazuki...

Pray for your own luck.

Upon learning that the World Government had paid ransom to pirates to redeem the Celestial Dragons who had been kidnapped, Sakazuki was like an erupting volcano, so angry he turned red-hot.

"We shouldn't have agreed to Luo Jie's conditions in the first place."

"If not for that, how could a mere cook from the Luo Jie Pirates be so arrogant?"

Sakazuki's roar left the assembled Marine soldiers too afraid to respond; only Kuzan spoke softly.

"The World Government agreed."

"Hmph!" Sakazuki turned his head: "So what if the World Government agreed? Is that a reason for the Marines to let the Luo Jie Pirates go?"

Kuzan put his hands in his pockets and said no more.

Just like the Devil Fruits they consumed, Kuzan and Sakazuki have not gotten along well for most of the time since joining the Marines.

The mole, the current Marine Headquarters Admiral, secretly tugged at Kuzan's clothes: "Kuzan, do you have any news on Sauron?"

"Him..." Aokiji shook his head.

"Perhaps he has already returned to Elbaf. Why do you ask?"

The mole smiled awkwardly: "You know, Doll is Sauron's subordinate; she has been asking me about him these past few days..."

"Understood." Kuzan exhaled a breath of cold air.

Regarding the impending Demon-Slaughter Order, Kuzan resisted it from the bottom of his heart, yet he was helpless.

The Five Elders issued the order, Fleet Admiral Sengoku signed it, and five Vice Admirals with ten warships and over ten thousand Marines would execute it; it was not something his personal will could obstruct.

Kuzan inexplicably felt a bit envious of Borsalino; he simply ran errands—rescuing the kidnapped Celestial Dragons—and was directly promoted to Fleet Admiral.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku submitted the promotion report in the morning, and the Five Elders approved it in the afternoon; the efficiency was terrifying.

Unlike him... making difficult choices was the only way to get a chance at promotion to Admiral.

If someone came to obstruct in a while, the hope of promotion and a raise would likely go up in smoke immediately.

However, surely no one would dare to come.

Five Headquarters Vice Admirals, ten warships, and over ten thousand fully armed Marines; with such a configuration, Kuzan truly couldn't think of anyone bold enough to dare stop them.

Thinking of this, Kuzan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Hearing the laughter, Sakazuki turned his head and glared: "Kuzan, what are you laughing at?"

Sakazuki's bizarre reaction made Kuzan laugh even louder: "Ah, la la la la la."

Finally, the ten Marine warships executing the Demon-Slaughter Order, carrying ten thousand Marines, arrived at the shore of Ohara.

CP9 Chief Spandam, clutching the Golden Den Den Mushi to activate the Demon-Slaughter Order, strode arrogantly onto Ohara's land, not forgetting to turn back and instruct.

"Wait for my signal before acting."

The Ohara scholars researching the Void Century, especially Clover D. Clover, were the primary villains the Five Elders ordered must be eliminated.

Rarely encountering such an opportunity, Spandam prepared to fully enjoy this power from on high.

Arriving before the Tree of Knowledge, Spandam waved his hand: "Kick the door open; capture every scholar inside, leaving not a single one."