Chapter 448

After dealing with Kaido, Seven deliberately designed an eighteen-level trial for Ace, targeting his desire to sail out and explore.

Only by clearing all eighteen levels would Ace earn the chance to leave the Sacred Sky City.

“Big brother, are you serious?”

Though he hadn’t eaten a Devil Fruit, Ace had never lacked top-tier mentors throughout the years.

Whether it was his grandfather Garp, Roger’s vice-captain Rayleigh, or the officers of the Morning Star Crew, all were among the greatest masters of the Grand Line.

He had spent years immersed in their presence, absorbing their wisdom.

Moreover, Ace himself had strong foundations, and with his big brother, the World King Seven, he had received the very best education since childhood.

His strength far surpassed that of his peers.

“Of course I’m serious,” Seven nodded.

“Not just the eighteen levels—if you clear the first ten, you can go anywhere you want from now on. No one will stop you.”

Upon hearing this, Ace immediately extended his hand.

“A man’s word is his bond.”

Seven laughed and slapped his palm against Ace’s to seal the deal.

“Even four horses couldn’t pull it back.”

Watching Seven depart, Ace stood with his hands on his hips, grinning endlessly, while the second cohort of the Daoqi Kindergarten gathered around him, all wearing envious expressions.

The second cohort of the Kindergarten loved listening to Buggy recount tales of the seas.

They had long dreamed of one day setting sail across the four seas, witnessing the ocean’s wonders firsthand.

Now Ace had beaten them to it.

“Ace, check who the guardians are.”

Luffy’s words snapped Ace out of his daydream—he’d almost celebrated prematurely.

When Ace opened the list of guardians for the eighteen levels, his face froze instantly, his head buzzing.

First-level guardian: Jinbe.

Second-level guardian: Crocodile.

Third-level guardian: Shiryu.

Starting from the fourth level, Enel, Katakuri, Buggy, Rayleigh, Jabra, Barret, and Tashigi all appeared.

From the eleventh level onward came the Marine Admirals: Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru, along with Red Count, Garp, Shiki, and Whitebeard.

The eighteenth-level guardian was the Giant Prince Loki.

Even though Mihawk and Seven himself didn’t appear, Ace still felt utter despair and overwhelming malice.

Is this even meant for a human to clear?

The guardians started at Warlord-level strength, with Vice-Emperors, Emperors, and Sovereign-tier masters following.

Luffy, Zoro, and the others all drew sharp breaths.

From the trial Seven had set for Ace, it was clear that if they ever wanted to leave the Sacred Land, they’d have to clear the same trials.

“You’re bullying a child! This is too much!”

Ace’s face flushed red with rage as he stormed off to confront Seven, but Luffy and Zoro grabbed him firmly.

“Don’t go, Ace.”

“Think—right now the situation is bad, but what if you go and Dad decides to guard a level himself?”

“Dad would absolutely do it.”

Luffy’s words killed all of Ace’s resentment.

Yes.

Right now, the eighteen guardians—especially the first ten—still offered a sliver of hope. But if he went to complain to Seven...

Knowing Seven’s petty nature, he’d very likely personally guard one of the levels.

Then, not just Ace, but even Charlotte Linlin herself would have no chance to reach him.

If that happened, they’d never leave the Sacred Land—how could they ever explore the seas?!

“Hmph.” Ace snorted.

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don’t look down on the young. One day, we’ll clear these trials and go wherever we please.”

“Brothers, let’s go train.”

This arrangement wasn’t Seven deliberately tormenting Ace—it was meant to make the kids face reality: if you’re weak, train harder.

Forget their status—Blackbeard alone could wipe them all out.

Stay quietly in the Sacred Land and train. When you’re grown, you’ll get the freedom you crave.

Meanwhile,

The United Kingdom’s first matchmaking event concluded successfully in the Sky City, with at least thirty percent of participants finding satisfying partners.

Among them were Buggy, Rosinante, and others.

Buggy had finally won his beauty, and every day he proudly paraded his girlfriend Belo Betty in front of Seven and Shanks.

This relieved Admiral Sengoku of one burden.

After all, Garp’s grandson was already ten years old, and before the matchmaking event, Sengoku had no idea where his own grandson might be.

Now, at least, Sengoku saw the possibility of holding a grandchild within two years.

Praise Seven the Saint once again!

Morgans naturally gave this grand event lavish coverage in the News Paper.

Though the News Paper mentioned Seven the Saint not once, every sentence praised his benevolence—Morgans truly understood the art of flattery.

On the first half of the Grand Line, at the port of Jiayadao.

On the deck of the Queen, Blackbeard carefully tucked the newspaper into his pocket, so Lafitte wouldn’t see it and get angry.

The Lafitte brothers despised the sycophantic culture within the United Kingdom.

Especially that bird, Morgans.

On the subject of cursing Morgans, Blackbeard and Lafitte were in perfect agreement: that bird had climbed to power solely through flattery.

Yet for some reason, Blackbeard felt a strange pang of envy.

Years ago, when Whitehair was still insignificant, Morgans had already begun promoting him in the News Paper.

Blackbeard sank back into depression.

Whitehair met Mihawk on his voyage and had Morgans building his legend—but where was Blackbeard’s Morgans?

At that moment, Blackbeard missed his wife.

Since his accidental marriage to Linlin, whenever he felt lonely, he longed for her warm embrace.

It seemed to make all his troubles vanish.

“Lu Bianyi, turn back.”

Over the years, Blackbeard had led his crew across nearly every corner of the four seas, yet still found no trace of the Dark-Dark Fruit.

He was forced to consider whether he should eat another Devil Fruit to boost his strength first.

Vegapunk had said: his body was unlike any other’s—he could perfectly accommodate three Devil Fruits. Eat one first to grow stronger, then find a way to consume the other two later.

And if he never found the Dark-Dark Fruit, was his entire life going to be like this?

Even in full power, Blackbeard couldn’t defeat his own wife Linlin—how could he possibly defeat the Marine Admirals or the Army’s Three Generals of the United Kingdom?

Moreover, the United Kingdom had the Marine Air Third Fleet Commander, Impel Down’s Warden Magellan, the Giant Prince Loki, and other top-tier Qiangzhe .

With his current strength, he didn’t even have the right to stand before Whitehair.

Eating a Devil Fruit was urgent.