Chapter 428

Red Land, Holy City in the Sky.

After finally obtaining Wapol, Vegapunk angrily discovered: this kid had no interest whatsoever in developing Devil Fruit abilities or inventing new alloy materials.

Even at thirteen, Wapol was remarkably mature—his entire mind was consumed by—

how to better grovel before Saint Seven and secure some official position within the United Kingdom.

With no other choice—

Vegapunk returned once more to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, hoping to beg Saint Seven for an official post to motivate Wapol to strive harder.

Upon learning Vegapunk’s purpose, Seven smiled and offered advice.

“Doctor, I have a non-solution: back home, we have a saying—when a brat won’t listen, just beat him a couple more times.”

On child-rearing, Seven had plenty of experience—after all, the second edition of Inazuma Kindergarten was practically all brats.

But Seven never beat Luffy or the others; instead, he took the young Straw Hat crew out to run wild, exhausting their energy completely.

As for Wapol?

He wasn’t his own child, so Seven felt zero guilt when he lost his temper.

Hearing this, Vegapunk’s eyes gleamed with interest, yet his face still showed hesitation.

“Saint Seven, this… isn’t it a bit too harsh? What if it triggers rebellion?”

At this, Seven pulled out paper, pen, and seal, and swiftly wrote a formal assignment for Wapol.

“Doctor, then do as you suggest.”

“When you build a spacecraft capable of reaching outer space, then promote Wapol, raise his salary, and appoint him Chief Materials Engineering Officer of the United Kingdom.”

“That brat is all yours, Doctor.”

Why didn’t Seven want to take Wapol along?

He was a looks-based person—he hated ugly faces.

Little Luffy, little Nami—so adorable. Even little Sanji with his golden hair, little Zoro with his green hair, and even long-nosed Usopp were cuter than Wapol.

“Alright,” Vegapunk nodded. “Saint Seven, about the Heavenly King Uranos…”

Seven waved his hand to cut him off.

“Doctor, the renovation of the Red Land and the creation of the Mother Fire Seed take priority over the Heavenly King. The purpose of technology is to improve the people’s lives.”

“Once the Mother Fire Seed is built, you’ll see the true face of the Heavenly King Uranos.”

Hearing that technology’s purpose was to improve the people’s lives, Vegapunk blushed with shame and fled, muttering one last phrase.

“I’ve been foolish.”

Imu the Old Climber had been sent by Seven sixteen years into the future; all assets under the World Government now belonged to Seven, naturally including the Heavenly King Uranos.

Only—

unlike Imu, who used the Heavenly King to intimidate the Four Seas and consolidate the World Government’s rule, Seven had no need for the Heavenly King to maintain the United Kingdom’s authority.

From the ancient giant kingdom, through eight centuries of World Government rule over the Four Seas, to Seven overthrowing the World Government and founding the United Kingdom—

the importance of the three ancient weapons had long since faded.

Remember, Seven didn’t even use the Nika Fruit, nor mimic Nika’s form with the Sui Sui Fruit—he simply crushed Imu with raw brute force.

In a few more years, after mastering the Instant Extreme No-Thought Slash, Seven would only need to wait for Imu to appear, then cut him down in one strike.

Meanwhile, he would welcome back the Giant King Harald.

Leaving state affairs to Tenghu, Da Xiong, and Warring States, Seven was about to go train his swordsmanship when a sudden notification sound froze him in place.

“Ding, since the owner of the Horse Talisman has left the original world, the Horse Talisman will soon be auctioned on the trading platform. You have priority purchase rights. Do you…?”

“Do you…?”

“Do you…?”

After three consecutive prompts, Seven finally snapped back: “Yes, yes, yes, buy.”

“Ding, purchase successful. Cost: three million points. Congratulations, you have obtained the Horse Talisman…”

Staring at the Horse Talisman now fully his, Seven burst into laughter.

“Hehehehe~”

Now that he had the Horse Talisman, what about the rest?

“Damn it.” Seven cursed inwardly.

The Horse Talisman’s user left the Journey to the West world either by tragic death or ascension to a higher dimension.

In short, before a new transmigrator takes their place, Seven would never again have the chance to buy or rent the other eleven talismans.

“Oh my god!!!”

“Horse, couldn’t you have held on just a few more years? I still have over eight years left on my lease!”

“What a loss.”

Soon after, another notification sounded, finally revealing where the former Horse Talisman owner had gone.

“Ding, you have received an invitation from the Warhammer world. Do you wish to leave the Pirate World and descend into the Warhammer world as an arrival?”

“No no no no no no…”

Seven spat out dozens of “no”s in one breath.

Go to the Warhammer world?

What nonsense. Unless Barzab Seven had gone insane, he would rather spend his entire life in the Pirate World than ever set foot in the Warhammer world.

Is that even a place for humans?

You land and get immediately targeted by the God of Wisdom.

Even if you had a one-in-a-million chance of survival, with Seven’s power, you’d either be executed as a heretic or conscripted as cannon fodder.

You’d almost certainly be corrupted by the Four Chaos Merchants.

“Horse,” Seven stared at the Horse Talisman.

“Among all people I, Barzab Seven, know, apart from Warhammer Girl, I’d call you the strongest.”

Who else would dare go to the Warhammer world?

After a moment of reflection, Seven opened the trading platform, hoping to find information on the other eleven talismans—but was blinded by flashing product listings.

【Water-Eye Orb: one million points. Seller’s note: Oh my god, what’s going on? Did you unlock Stage Two? I almost clicked yes… QAQ】

【Love-Inducing Immortal Bean: one hundred thousand points. Seller’s note: Warhammer Girl, wait a few more years till I grow up】

【Pig Talisman: three million points. Seller’s note: Accidentally clicked yes. Please comfort me 55555】

“Huh?” At the sight of the Pig Talisman, Seven immediately checked his balance: 3,080,000 points—and without hesitation, clicked purchase.

“Ding, purchase successful. Cost: three million points. Congratulations, you have obtained the Pig Talisman…”

Looking at the freshly acquired Pig Talisman in his hand, Seven grinned until his eyes narrowed to slits.

“Hehehehe.”

In truth, compared to the Horse Talisman’s ability to repel all external forces and cure all ailments, or the Dog Talisman’s power of immortality, the Pig Talisman only allowed his eyes to fire laser beams.

Kind of like Superman’s heat vision.

But Seven still bought it without hesitation—he had endless gold, so he’d never lack points; what he lacked was the chance to buy the other eleven talismans.

Now that such a golden opportunity lay before him, how could he possibly miss it?

After all, the Journey to the West user had already gone to the Warhammer world; before the next transmigrator arrived, Seven didn’t know how many years he’d have to wait.

Soon after, another talisman appeared on the platform.

【Rooster Talisman: one hundred million points. Seller’s note: Pirate Merchant King, if you’ve got guts, keep buying! Don’t stop, keep going!!!】

Seeing this, Seven quietly closed the trading platform interface, hiding his achievements in silence.

“Horse, survive first, then talk.”

“If you die, one day, all twelve talismans will be mine.”