Chapter 401: Become Bigger and Stronger, Restore Our Glory

First came Morgens’ live broadcast, then news papers distributed across the four seas— the overthrow of the World Government spread thoroughly across the ocean.

With the Marines and Revolutionary Army suppressing rebellions in the four seas, no major upheaval ensued.

Of the original World Government’s 170+ member states, and countless non-member states, many declared their willingness to join the United Kingdom.

Of course, the four seas are vast.

There were also ambitious individuals attempting to stir chaos while the United Kingdom remained unstable, seeking greater gains.

Marine hero Garp and former Marine Admiral Zephyr led their troops to suppress the rebellions.

Compared to the rebellions emerging in the four seas, the formerly most chaotic New World remained unusually quiet.

After all, the New World is the domain of Wano and the Four Emperors, and among them, Whitebeard, Gold Lion, and Kaido were all founding heroes of the United Kingdom.

Naturally, no one was allowed to steal the fruits of victory.

Charlotte Linlin, the only one not among the founding heroes, was consumed by fear of Seven’s revenge and focused entirely on mending their relationship.

Not only did she cause no disturbance, she even dispatched her own pirate crews to maintain order and stability in nearby waters.

Meanwhile, Punk Hazard.

Lafitte was fleeing with Blackbeard on his back, evading pursuit from the Morning Star Corps’ First Division and the Giant Warriors of the Great Mallet Brigade.

If you’re going to act, you might as well act the whole part.

But it was Blackbeard who suffered.

Every attack from the Giant Warriors was blocked by Blackbeard, who had become Lafitte’s living human shield.

Even so, Blackbeard’s eyes filled with tears.

“Lafitte brother, I misunderstood you.”

Blackbeard never imagined:

In his darkest hour, the man he’d branded a traitor—Lafitte—had infiltrated Punk Hazard alone, risking his life to rescue him.

“Captain, you really need to lose weight.”

Lafitte was miserable.

Seven had already overthrown the World Government; by the time of the World Conference three months from now, he would surely ascend to the throne of World King.

The Morning Star Corps, as the captain’s most loyal faction,

whether its officers, full crew members, or interns like him, would inevitably rise in status—no doubt securing high-ranking positions in the United Kingdom, or at least promotions and raises.

Yet while the rest of the crew looked toward bright futures, he’d been assigned this miserable task by the captain.

Infiltrate. Infiltrate beside Blackbeard.

Infiltration was bad enough.

He’d joined the Morning Star Corps late and had no significant achievements, yet now he had to carry Blackbeard and break through a hundred Giant Warriors.

This was bullying the honest man!

Lafitte really wanted to scream: “Hey, giant brothers behind me, go easy! We’re on the same side!”

But remembering the captain’s crucial mission and the promise of promotion and raise, Lafitte gritted his teeth and pushed himself to maximum speed.

Lafitte didn’t understand.

Blackbeard had been modified by Vegapunk for a year and a half—how had he grown even fatter?

“Sorry, Lafitte brother.”

Blackbeard endured the pain in his buttocks without defending himself.

What could he do? After lying in bed for a year and a half, all he did was sleep and eat, and Vegapunk had injected him with strange genetic factors—of course he’d gotten fat.

Thinking of his years at sea, with nothing but Lafitte beside him, Blackbeard felt a wave of sorrow.

“Brother, thank you for coming to save me.”

“Hey, we’re brothers,” Lafitte ran desperately forward: “Captain, let’s escape first, then talk.”

As they neared the harbor, Lafitte set Blackbeard down, switched to a princess carry, then leapt into the air, flying toward a ship on the distant sea.

Behind them, Donquixote Doflamingo and Buggy drew their weapons.

“King—”

Doflamingo’s longsword and Buggy’s great axe clashed with full force—the terrifying shockwave… perfectly and precisely skimmed the edge.

Watching Lafitte and Blackbeard sail away, Doflamingo grinned.

“With our performance like that, Blackbeard will surely believe it.”

Buggy scratched his head.

“I don’t get it—our captain’s already become World King, so why let Blackbeard go? Isn’t that raising a tiger to harm yourself?”

“Heh,” Doflamingo laughed cheerfully as he explained, “In the captain’s words, it’s better to expose all threats openly than let those vermin hide in the shadows and scheme!”

“Blackbeard is the lantern the captain has put forward, drawing all the vermin together.”

“And with Lafitte among them, we’ll be able to eradicate them all in one strike.”

Hearing this, Buggy was stunned.

“We’re both Giants—why has your brain suddenly become so sharp?”

Doflamingo smiled and pulled out a specially printed book.

“Vergo’s ‘Sayings of Seven,’ currently only circulated within the Morning Star Corps—every method to become smarter is inside.”

“Nani?” Buggy flipped through it for a moment and sighed.

“No wonder Vergo’s called the King of Infiltrators—he’s a master at sucking up.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Blackbeard lay on the deck, ignoring the still-bleeding wound on his buttocks, breathing deeply of the salty sea air.

Though modified by Vegapunk for a year and a half, he’d turned misfortune into fortune, absorbing the Lunarian and Ancient Giant bloodlines.

Only half of the Baccania bloodline had been absorbed—would that cause problems?

With his power greatly enhanced and freedom regained at last, Blackbeard finally burst into wild laughter.

“Hehehehehe~”

After a long while, Blackbeard pressed one hand against his wounded buttock and patted Lafitte’s shoulder.

“Brother, you’re now my first mate.”

“You and I, together, will make the Blackbeard Pirates bigger and stronger, restore our glory, and one day become World Kings.”

“Captain,” Lafitte nodded firmly.

“I believe you can do it.”

World King?

Brother, do you even know what you’re saying? The captain overthrew the World Government yesterday, captured the Five Elders, destroyed Mary Geoise, and summoned a sky city from the heavens.

The Marines, masters of the four seas; the Revolutionary Army, vast in number; three of the Four Emperors…

Elbaf, the world’s strongest nation; Fish-Man Island’s Ryugu Kingdom; the powerful Alabasta—all are the captain’s subjects. What do you plan to use to become World King?

The king of a sewer?

“Captain, where do we go next?”

Blackbeard’s face twisted into a sly smile.

First, return to Paradise—bring back our little intern.

Viper’s escape with his luggage had become one of Blackbeard’s most shameful memories since setting sail.

As long as Viper is my man, he’ll be my man forever.

Run? Not a chance.

“Captain,” Lafitte paused: “I have a good suggestion.”

“The World Government’s three major departments—the Marines have surrendered to Saint Seven, but Impel Down and Enies Lobby haven’t moved yet. Let’s observe from afar, then act as opportunity arises.”

“Impel Down?” Blackbeard nodded.

“Good, it’s on the way.”