Chapter 462

Red Earth Continent, Holy Sky City.

After his one hundred and first defeat at the hands of the first gatekeeper, Shihping, the mischievous little demon king Ace sat slumped on the ground, sighing heavily.

Perhaps due to his profound desolation, Ace failed to notice the shock and disbelief on Shihping's face.

"You… you… are you Mr. Luo Jie?"

Shihping rubbed his eyes, confirmed again and again that the man behind Ace was none other than the deceased Pirate King Luo Jie, and suddenly felt his world collapse.

"Mr. Luo Jie, I didn't mean to crush Ace's confidence—I was ordered to do this by the captain."

Good heavens!

Could it be that defeating Ace so many times finally made the long-dead Luo Jie lose patience, and now he's appearing in broad daylight to defend Ace?

But… this kind of bullying? It's got a clear source and a clear debt—everything was arranged by the captain!

Shihping was about to explain further when Luo Jie clapped him on the shoulder and gestured with his eyes for Shihping to look behind him.

When Shihping saw Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen smiling nearby, he nearly burst into tears.

"Captain… I…"

It's over, completely over—because he was so terrified by the sight of the long-dead Luo Jie that he blurted out nonsense and accidentally angered the captain. Will Shihping ever have a good day again?

"You did well, Shihping."

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen seemed unconcerned; he not only praised Shihping for his diligent gatekeeping but also extended an invitation.

"Come, let's go have a drink together?"

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen pulled Shihping away, actually hiding nearby to watch the show unfold.

Not long ago, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen revived Luo Jie, reunited him with his wife Lujio, and Luo Jie immediately insisted on meeting his precious son Ace.

That's why this unexpected scene unfolded.

When Ace saw a strange uncle with a mustache staring at him with deep affection, he blurted out:

"Uncle, who are you?"

"I'm your dad."

Hearing this, Ace froze for two seconds, then his shock instantly turned to rage.

"I'm your dad!"

Who in this sea doesn't know that his father Luo Jie died years ago? Ace was raised by his mother, Brother Barzab the Saint, and Grandpa Karp.

"Precious son, I really am your dad!"

"Long-nose-hair," Ace growled, "Get lost before I slap you."

Even if this man looked exactly like his dead father, Ace wasn't stupid—how could someone dead for years suddenly reappear?

Resurrection? That's only believable to three-year-olds.

"Don't think just because you look like my dad you can come here to trick people—get as far away as you can, or I'll kill you."

Luo Jie's face fell with a mournful expression; only now did he finally understand why Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had gone back in time just to revive him.

This rebellious son was truly infuriating!

But they hadn't seen each other in years, and his precious son had never known a father—could he really beat his own child right after returning?

At that moment, the young Straw Hat crew, freshly released from school, passed by and saw Ace arguing with a strange uncle—they hurried over.

"Ace, who is this uncle?"

Luo Jie lifted his chin triumphantly, ready to receive the stunned, reverent gazes of the young Straw Hat crew upon seeing the Pirate King.

Yet, aside from Ace muttering a few curses, nothing happened.

Luffy even stepped right up to Luo Jie.

"Uncle, is your name Luo Jie? But Uncle Luo Jie died many years ago."

Though he didn't know who this kid was, Luo Jie faintly sensed a resemblance to someone familiar in this boy.

"Kid, who is Karp to you?"

Luffy answered without hesitation.

"He's my grandpa, and also Ace's grandpa."

"Nani?!" Luo Jie's face flushed with rage: "Damn Karp."

Entrusting Lujio and her son to Karp's care had been Luo Jie's last resort—even though he had already picked up Barzab from the East Blue's Housand Beach years ago.

But back then, Barzab was utterly incapable of caring for a pregnant Lujio, and Luo Jie's crew had already disbanded—he had no choice but to beg Karp for help.

But Luo Jie never imagined Karp, that bastard, would become Ace's grandpa.

Then what was Luo Jie?

Naturally one generation lower than Karp?

"Huh?" Luffy scratched his head. "Uncle, do you know my grandpa?"

"Good boy," Luo Jie forced a sincere smile: "Go take me… Grandpa… to see your grandpa."

Back then, when he was already terminally ill, it was understandable.

Now that he's been revived, cured of his illness by Barzab, Luo Jie vowed to fight Karp for ten days and ten nights to settle who's superior.

Whoever loses automatically drops a generation.

Soon after, when Luffy's group brought Luo Jie before Karp, Karp showed no surprise—only an expression of "I knew it."

"Saxi didn't tell me, Luo Jie."

"Saxi didn't tell me, Karp."

As both men's red-black Haki barely emerged, a far more powerful Conqueror's Haki surged forth, drenching Luo Jie and Karp in cold sweat.

Luffy and the others remained completely unaffected.

"Hey, you two old men, over a hundred years old combined—go fight outside."

Luo Jie's wish to spar ultimately came to nothing, for Buggy, Shanks, Lei Li, Jabba, and others, having received the news, had long since surrounded Luo Jie.

Buggy and Shanks threw themselves into Luo Jie's arms, both crying until their features twisted.

"Captain! I missed you so much!"

For Buggy and Shanks, Luo Jie was a father figure; having experienced the separation of life and death, the two cherished this bond even more.

Seeing this scene, Saint Saint Saiwen silently took out a Den Den Mushi to record this moment of long-awaited reunion.

Seeing this, Lei Li and the others felt helpless yet wore smiles of relief, as if they had returned to the days aboard the Oro Jackson.

Back then, Saint Saint Saiwen often secretly photographed Buggy and Shanks crying on the ship.

Who would have thought that after so many years, even now that he had become the undisputed King of the World, Saint Saint Saiwen remained the same youth as before, not a single bit changed.

Perhaps for them, this should be the best ending.

The news of Luo Jie's resurrection was not widely publicized, yet it sent the United Kingdom's high command into a frenzy, howling and competing wildly.

Especially the Morning Star members, who had previously known that Saint Saint Saint Saiwen possessed many wondrous things, such as pure gold that granted immortality.

And now, the matter of Luo Jie's resurrection once again refreshed their understanding of Saint Saint Saint Saiwen: Good heavens, is there anything the Captain cannot do?

Immortality, resurrection...

Is the Captain truly a god fallen to the mortal world?

Then what are we waiting for? We must make the Captain see our loyalty!

Given the Captain's Heavy on Emotion nature, since he could resurrect Luo Jie who had been dead for years, if one day they unfortunately perished, they would rely entirely on the Captain.

With such a boss, loyalty is a must!

The Morning Star members' wild competition, like a row of toppled dominoes, once momentum was gained, dragged the entire United Kingdom high command into it.

The chain reaction spread layer by layer, causing all departments, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force, Impel Down, and Enies Lobby, to join the competition.

With his subordinates competing wildly, Saint Saint Saiwen gained more time to cultivate.

At the same time, waiting for the old man Imu eight years from now.