Chapter 400: It Was I Who Betrayed You

Decrees and military orders flowed in an orderly fashion from the Sky City to the Marine Headquarters, the Revolutionary Army, and nations such as Inazuma and Elbaf.

The entire sea thus boiled over.

Upon receiving the notification to implement justice, Enel and Smoker, who guarded the East Blue, along with Marine officers in the South, West, and North Seas, instantly felt their blood rush to their heads.

These were all newcomers who had joined the Marines after the Battle of Marineford; in their hearts, their resentment toward Saint Saint Saiwen was not as deep as that of the old guard.

In the past, the Marines could not break free from the World Government's control, and the justice they practiced belonged to the Celestial Dragons.

Now that the World Government has been overthrown, and even the Five Elders have been captured alive by Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, the Marines can finally act with full freedom to carry justice through to the end.

East Blue, Loguetown Branch.

"I've long been displeased with those nobles."

Smoker, with two cigars in his mouth, said, "Enel, how about we go and slaughter every noble in all the allied nations of the East Blue?"

Enel glanced sideways.

"Not a good idea."

"Our mission is to coordinate with the Revolutionary Army to ensure stability in the East Blue, liberate slaves, and simultaneously eradicate slave traders."

"As for how to deal with those nobles, that is for Saint Saint Saint Saiwen to decide."

Under normal circumstances, Smoker might have argued a few points, but upon hearing the name Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, he could only helplessly nod.

"You make sense."

Smoker's reaction was the true reflection of everyone on the seas who had watched the live broadcast: they simply could not muster even a shred of thought to resist.

This was because Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's power had long surpassed all reason, completely transcending the realm attainable by humans.

The unknown is the greatest fear.

Regarding the strength of the Four Emperors and the Marine Admirals, those who had encountered them at least held a general concept in their minds, understanding exactly how powerful these people were.

But facing Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, all that remained in everyone's hearts was blankness and terror.

No one knew whether Saint Saint Saint Saiwen would continue to summon a giant city out of thin air and smash it into any corner daring to defy him.

Such majestic heavenly might—who could possibly stand against it?

Those who had not watched the live broadcast reacted differently; this group first did not believe the World Government had been overthrown, and second, did not believe anyone could sever the Red Line.

They further felt that anyone who could say, "Summon a city from the sky with a casual gesture," must absolutely have a problem with their brain.

This group naturally went about their own business.

The ones truly feeling panic were the old ruling class: the kings, nobles, and great merchants of the former World Government member and non-member nations.

These vested interests, who lived off the World Government, knew very well that the slave system was never a moral issue, but the foundation of their wealth, power, and extravagant lives.

Mines, plantations, shipyards, underground arenas, spare parts trade... countless industries relied entirely on the unpaid flesh and blood of slaves.

Once the slave system was abolished, it would be equivalent to directly stripping away more than half of their assets.

How could this be allowed?

Yet, awed by Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's supreme might, they dared not raise the banner of rebellion, so they could only secretly plot and discuss: whether there was still room for maneuver.

Sabaody Archipelago, Slave Auction House.

Inside a heavily guarded underground secret chamber.

The Shipping King Umit, the Loan Shark King Dofield, the Warehousing King Gibson, and the Funeral Home King Packer gathered together.

"That birdman Morgans has now climbed high and is unwilling to continue working with us."

Dofield shifted his tone.

"Umit, you once worked for Saint Saint Saint Saiwen; what kind of person is this my lord?"

Umit understood the subtext in the words: whether they could maintain their business and wealth by paying a portion of the price through submitting to Saint Saint Saint Saiwen.

"If it were someone else, perhaps one could still maneuver a bit."

But if facing Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, all those past tricks and methods simply would not work."

Having spoken, Umit let out a light chuckle.

"Do you not yet see clearly? The wealth, beauties, power, and status we hold as treasures are utterly worthless before the King of the World."

These fellows must have broken brains, actually fantasizing about dealing with Saint Saint Saint Saiwen the same way they dealt with the Celestial Dragons.

He is the King of the World, after all.

Whatever he wants, he needs only a glance, and countless people will eagerly present it; even offering wives and daughters would cause no worry.

"And..."

Umit took a book from his chest.

"To use the words from the Inazuma novel 'In the Name of the People': Saint Saint Saint Saiwen has long transcended vulgar interests; how could a person with a heart for the world and ambitions spanning the four seas be swayed by such fly-trapping, dog-chasing trifles?"

While the other three underground kings pondered, Umit secretly pressed the sound-transmitting conch in his pocket.

"To be honest with you all, I have already offered all my assets, and my shipping company has been placed under the jurisdiction and management of the United Kingdom; I am now the first General Manager of the United Kingdom Shipping Company."

Dofield instantly turned pale with shock.

"You... you... gathered us here..."

Umit clapped his hands.

"Exactly as you thought, I betrayed you... no, I have captured you rebels for Saint Saint Saint Saiwen my lord."

Before Dofield and the other two could react, a figure smoking a cigar suddenly appeared in the secret chamber.

It was none other than Yuzhi Xiliu, an officer of the Morning Star Group, known as the natural-born killer.

Umit bent over, his face full of smiles.

"My lord Xiliu, except for the Queen of Happy Street who has not yet arrived, all the heads of the underworld are here."

Xiliu nodded slightly: "Well done."

Dofield, Gibson, and Packer, upon seeing that the newcomer was Yuzhi Xiliu, completely gave up struggling.

A man's name, a tree's shadow.

Whoever came, if not Yuzhi Xiliu of the Morning Star Corps, even if another high-ranking member, they would have fought desperately for a chance at freedom—but the man who arrived was precisely the Morning Star Corps' most bloodthirsty killer.

According to rumors, over the years, no fewer than eighty thousand pirates, if not a hundred thousand, had fallen to Xiliu's blade.

The three had no doubt.

The moment they so much as moved, Xiliu's demonic blade, Lei Yu, would sever their heads and add them to the pile of skulls.

"We are willing to surrender, only asking to meet my lord Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen."

Even now, the three were still trying to bargain.

Though Yuzhi Xiliu was a high-ranking officer of the Morning Star Corps, they were no slouches either—they were kings of the underworld, masters of the sea's lifelines.

But the issue was: surrendering to Xiliu was as different from submitting to my lord Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen as heaven is from earth.

Naturally, the three hoped to sell themselves at a high price.

"Want to meet the captain?" Xiliu sneered, as if hearing the most absurd joke in the world.

"What rank are you, to even dream of meeting the captain?"

With that, Xiliu waved his hand.

"Take them away."

This scene on the Sabaody Archipelago was no isolated case; with the new regime just established, countless others were scrambling to surrender, begging only to serve the United Kingdom.

Not even selling their former business partners was too much—some would sell their very souls.

After all, such an opportunity came but once in a thousand years.

If one could only secure a foothold in the United Kingdom, even as the lowliest government clerk, prosperity would surely come one day.

Worse still,

Some had set their sights on Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's hometown, Housha Village in the East Sea, willing to sell every possession just to emigrate there and wait for the King of the World to return home.

Truly, the myriad faces of humanity.

Enel, Smoker, and others patrolling the Loguet Coast suddenly realized what was happening as they watched ship after ship head toward the Konomi Archipelago.

"Enel, what should we do?"

Enel did not answer, but asked instead.

"Want to advance?"

Smoker nodded frantically.

"I want to advance so badly."

Compared to Enel's rank of Colonel (Daizuo), Smoker's rank of Sergeant Major (Shangshi) was seven full tiers lower.

If Smoker were to catch up to Enel through normal service, he'd likely need twenty years—now that a shortcut presented itself, how could he miss it?

"Turn around," Enel waved his hand: "Destination, Kokosia Village, Konomi Archipelago."

"Huh?" Smoker exclaimed: "Isn't my lord Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's hometown Housha Village?"

"Moved to Kokosia Village."