Chapter 420

Red Soil Continent, Sacred City of the Sky.

Inside the governor's mansion uniquely belonging to Saint Saint Saiwen.

Jade pavilions and crystal towers flicker amid drifting clouds and radiant auroras; the courtyard blooms year-round with rare flowers and exotic herbs, springs murmur softly, and petals scatter in the wind.

Thunder the lightning squirrel lies lazily on the grass, his fluffy fur soft as a cushion.

Saint Saint Saiwen lies atop Thunder's round, plump belly, surrounded by elegant figures: Yamato, Robin, and Hancock.

Yamato massages his legs, Robin rubs his shoulders, Hancock kneads his neck, while Xia Ni and Xia Lu sisters serve tea, pour water, and pass pastries.

Time flows quietly; Saint Saint Saiwen is now twenty-four, the perfect age to enjoy life.

The first cohort of children from the Wakanda Kindergarten have grown up: Hancock is sixteen, Robin fifteen, Yamato thirteen.

They graduated successfully from kindergarten.

Perona has become the new leader of the children, leading Luffy, Xiao Shan Zhi, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp in running and playing.

Peace and tranquility reign; the years flow gently.

Nearby, Yuzhi Xiliu had intended to report to Saint Saint Saiwen: the Black Ice Platform had located Elaine's whereabouts. Seeing this scene, Yuzhi Xiliu silently withdrew.

Yuzhi Xiliu had no desire to be written down in the little notebook.

Over these years, Fuzi Fu Yin had repeatedly failed to master Haki, and was constantly recorded in the captain's little notebook—truly pitiful.

He was directly exiled to Impel Down.

"I'll go myself."

After making up his mind, Yuzhi Xiliu teleported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and found Da Xiong discussing work with Master Tenghu.

"Brother Xiong, Sabaody Island No. 1."

Da Xiong asked no questions, simply raised his hand and lightly tapped Yuzhi Xiliu's shoulder—in the blink of an eye, he sent Yuzhi Xiliu to Sabaody Island No. 1.

Under normal circumstances,

the Starlight Corps officers only sought help from Da Xiong, Jin Ni, Bu Lei, or Saint Saint Saiwen—whose combined teleportation ability was strongest—when on urgent missions.

Over time, a tacit understanding formed.

First call "Brother" or "Sister," then state the destination.

At this moment, near the coastline of Sabaody Island No. 1, Blackbeard and his two crewmates—the Black Crew—were gnawing on bread bought from Wapol.

Lafitte silently resolved: find time to gorge himself, to make up for this half-year of miserable living.

Lu Bianyi, ever watchful for Elaine, suddenly gasped in horror.

"Damn it, the born killer's here."

As the saying goes: a man's name, a tree's shadow.

Yuzhi Xiliu's strength is unknown, but his reputation is immense.

He ranks among the strongest deterrents of the United Kingdom, second only to the World King Saint Saint Saiwen Saint and the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk.

The skull towers of Fish-Man Island and the Hive Island are the most authentic testament to his title: Born Killer.

Blackbeard was instantly startled, silently picked up the black bread that had fallen from his shock, and shoved it into his mouth.

He thought Yuzhi Xiliu had come to execute Elaine.

How could this be allowed?

As he chewed the black bread, Blackbeard gave tactical orders to his crew.

"Brothers, I'll hold off Yuzhi Xiliu; Lafitte, take Elaine and retreat; Lu Bianyi, you and Wapol prepare the ship to pick up Lafitte."

"Yes, Captain."

If he could choose, Blackbeard truly did not wish to fight Yuzhi Xiliu.

Once he fought, his strength and whereabouts would be exposed to the United Kingdom's gaze, inviting a siege by multiple Admirals.

But Elaine concerns—

Whether the Black Crew can gain Stussy's approval, and thus secure funding from Stussy and the remnants of the old era, is the key to whether the Black Crew can grow strong and reclaim its former glory.

He absolutely cannot be executed by Yuzhi Xiliu.

Blackbeard was about to move when Lafitte swiftly grabbed his arm and pointed toward a direction with his eyes.

One glance, and Blackbeard's forehead broke into cold sweat.

"Garp... Sengoku..."

Impossible!

Blackbeard had not grown so arrogant as to believe he could fight Garp, Sengoku, and Yuzhi Xiliu alone—he gritted his teeth and retracted his orders.

"Brothers, we're retreating!"

After lying in wait on the Sabaody Islands for half a year, with Elaine's capture imminent and the Black Crew's expansion on the horizon, it all ended in nothing.

Blackbeard didn't understand.

Why would executing a plain ordinary Celestial Dragon require three top experts: Admiral Sengoku, Hero Garp, and the Born Killer Yuzhi Xiliu?

Could it be that under Bai Mao's command... there are so many top experts they have no place to use them?

Unworthy tears streamed down Blackbeard's lips.

The four members of the Black Crew entered a nearby restaurant to eat, avoiding Sengoku and Garp, while occasionally glancing toward the sea—at Yuzhi Xiliu conversing with Elaine.

Seeing this, Wapol whispered.

"Captain, I'll go find out what's going on."

Blackbeard ignored Wapol's suggestion and turned to Lu Bianyi.

"Lu Bianyi, you go."

Then Blackbeard continued.

"Kid, don't think meeting an Admiral means you can escape—give up that idea now. One day a pirate, always a pirate."

Want to escape? There's no door.

Not long after, Lu Bianyi returned, his face wearing a look of torment and gloom.

"Captain, they're not here to capture anyone—they're said to be organizing the first Martial Combat Grand Tournament, with the Paradise branch set on Island One..."

Upon hearing this, Blackbeard grunted bitterly.

Such bad luck? Damn it.

We were about to successfully capture Elaine—yet we fell just one step short, forced to watch helplessly as Yuzhi Xiliu took Elaine and his wife away.

"Captain, what do we do?"

Lafitte was also puzzled; logically, the captain would never make such an arrangement—so the problem must lie with Stussy.

Could it be that capturing Elaine was Stussy's last-minute decision?

"For now," Blackbeard paused, "we must contact Stussy and inform her of the situation here."

"Got it." Lu Bianyi pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed: "Something went wrong—the target was taken by Yuzhi Xiliu."

The Den Den Mushi mimicked Stussy's tone.

"Congratulations—you've passed the trial. In half a month, someone from the Flower Kingdom of the West Sea will contact you."

Staring at the disconnected Den Den Mushi, Blackbeard stood frozen in shock, even wondering if he'd misheard.

"Brothers… did we succeed?"

"Yes, Captain." Lu Bianyi could barely hide his excitement: "I get it now—it doesn't matter whether we found the target; what matters is the half-year of effort we poured into pursuing it."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Blackbeard waved his hand.

"Brothers, let's move out."

Meanwhile, in the Sky City of Heibing Tai.

Having compiled all half-year intelligence on Blackbeard into a dossier, Stussy prepared to personally report to Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

This arrangement served two purposes: one, to gain recognition from the old-era remnants of Blackbeard's perseverance; two, because Vegapunk told her that Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen and Blackbeard were deeply incompatible.

Stussy hoped: through her half-year of tormenting Blackbeard, she might make Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen smile.

It was because Vegapunk had once told her: "If you wish to become truly human, I cannot help—but Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen certainly can."

Though she was an artificial human, she too wished to advance.