Chapter 58

The Kingdom of Solbe, eastern coastline.

Gazing at the ship on the horizon—its entire hull painted in blazing crimson, with black-gold dragon-shaped prow, crimson sails, and a flame-patterned flag: the Donghai Dihuang.

Jin Ni's eyes shimmered with wonder.

"What a beautiful ship."

Unlike the distant images she'd seen, the Donghai Dihuang now loomed directly before her eyes—its sheer scale truly mesmerizing.

Thinking that from now on she could not only live with Xiong Sang but also reside on such a magnificent vessel, Jin Ni felt even more satisfied about joining the Morning Star Pirates.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen grabbed Xiong Sang and Jin Ni—one on each side—"Dear crewmates, let's go home."

Xiong Sang, standing 6.89 meters tall, was effortlessly lifted by Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, who was under 2.7 meters—utterly absurd, but what could you do? Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen was strong and could fly.

The three landed steadily on the deck.

Little Robin, dark-skinned and small, ran up happily: "Captain, you're back."

"Mm." Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen introduced.

"Xiong Sang, Jin Ni—this little one is our intern crewmember, Nico Robin."

"Robin—new crewmates, Xiong Sang and Jin Ni."

Jin Ni bent down and gently pinched Robin's cheek; she had seen the bounty poster and knew the girl was the sole survivor rescued by the Captain from Ohara.

So pitiful…

The moment the thought arose, Jin Ni suddenly spotted a woman nearby—six-tenths like Robin—smiling at her.

Captain… you're truly incredible.

Even the World Government was fooled by you.

Hearing the commotion, Mihawk and Master Tenghu, having waited deliberately until Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen finished introducing Robin, walked over as if prearranged.

"Mr. Xiong Sang."

Master Tenghu reached out to shake hands, then awkwardly realized: Xiong Sang was too tall—he couldn't reach.

Master Tenghu's unusually warm enthusiasm made Xiong Sang uneasy: "Hello, Mr. Tenghu."

"Hello, Mr. Mihawk."

"Hello." Mihawk gave a slight nod.

After the introductions, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen first assigned rooms to Xiong Sang and Jin Ni—the ground floor of the three-story villa, the tallest level—and then waved his hand.

"Throw a banquet! Throw a banquet!"

Nothing boosted camaraderie like gorging on meat and clinking bowls— if one feast wasn't enough, have several more.

There's plenty of time ahead.

Thanks to his superb cooking, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen quickly prepared enough food for a forty-person banquet.

There weren't many varieties of food—mostly meat. The most effective way to satisfy a big eater is: meat, meat with strong satiety.

At first, Jin Ni felt a bit shy—after all, it was her first day aboard, and she was a girl…

But when she saw Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen devour a two-meter-long roasted fish in three bites, she felt a surge of solidarity—and immediately dropped her pretense.

Before a full belly, it didn't matter anymore.

Jin Ni even wanted to challenge Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen to a eating contest—who could consume more.

Amid clinking cups and exchanged toasts, the atmosphere gradually grew warm.

"Welcome Xiong Sang and Jin Ni to our family—cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The pirate world has a peculiar phenomenon.

Take the Morning Star Pirates: before forming the crew, Captain Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen was alone; Vice-Captain Mihawk was alone; Master Tenghu was alone too.

Xiong Sang and Jin Ni are better off—at least they have each other.

In the original timeline, Nico Robin was also alone, evading the World Government's pursuit.

Because of Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's intervention, he rescued Robin's mother from the Navy's Holy War bombardment, making Robin the only member of the Morning Star Pirates with family.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen finally understood why Whitebeard could adopt sons everywhere—it's this damned world.

…

As night fell, soft lights glowed across the Donghai Dihuang; from afar, the entire ship looked like a floating castle upon the sea.

Xiong Sang and Jin Ni were tidying their room; Jin Ni vowed to turn it into the coziest home possible.

Robin, with her mother, browsed books in the library—the collection Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had moved from the Tree of Omniscience.

Mihawk sat in the open-air banquet hall, experimenting with the ratio of iced black tea and red wine to soften the flavor.

Master Tenghu sat beside the helm… steering.

No sane person would assign such a duty—but Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen called it "training Mr. Tenghu's Observation Haki."

Captain Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, meanwhile, took out the pirate world map in his cabin and searched for a suitable base.

He first eliminated the Four Seas.

Since the era of Rocks, through the Three Legendary Pirates, the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, and the Great Pirate Era, no Imperial Pirate Crew had ever made the Four Seas its home base.

The Four Seas are the World Government's core territory.

World Government allied nations, Marine branch bases, stable shipping lanes…

All these factors combined made the Four Seas an extremely high-risk location for a home base.

The Grand Line, however, was different.

Especially the latter half—the New World—with its extreme weather and chaotic magnetic fields, it was a natural fortress, difficult to defend and nearly impossible for the Navy to intervene on a large scale.

Meanwhile.

To find the final island, Laugh Tale, one must collect the Poneglyphs scattered across the Grand Line and reach their designated points; these crucial clues are almost entirely concentrated within the Grand Line.

For top-tier pirates aiming to find the One Piece, the New World is the final arena.

In fact, Saint Saint Saiwen possesses a Log Pose pointing to Laugh Tale, but then again, the New World is bustling with excitement; one cannot miss it.

Gazing at the New World map in contemplation for a moment, Saint Saint Saiwen drew a circle on Hachinosu Island.

Hachinosu Island, also known as the Pirates' Paradise.

The island's most famous landmark is a fully functional hotel—a colossal skull-shaped castle.

It was once the stronghold of the legendary Rocks Pirates; after the Rocks Pirates disbanded, their former crew member Wang Zhi has occupied Hachinosu Island to this day.

"Wang Zhi," Saint Saint Saiwen grinned, revealing a pirate's exclusive excited smile: "It's you."

Besides gold mines, Wang Zhi has plundered a great deal of wealth over the years; as a high-ranking pirate, Saint Saint Saiwen naturally intends to rob a low-ranking pirate.

Once the Morning Star Pirates have stabilized on Hachinosu Island for a while, they will then plan for Wano Country.

As of now, the crew configuration of the Morning Star Pirates is as follows—

Captain, Cook, Navigator, Shipwright, and Helmsman: Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

Vice-Captain and Helmsman: Dracule Mihawk.

Combatant and Helmsman: Master Tenghu.

Priest and Doctor: Bartholomew Kuma.

Intelligence Officer and Quartermaster: Jin Ni.

Official Non-Active Member: Gild Tesoro.

Apprentice Crew Member: Nico Robin.

With such a configuration, they could indeed clash with the Beasts Pirates; while not guaranteeing a total victory over Kaido, they would at least not be defeated.

But then again.

The current situation in Wano Country is complex; the Beasts Pirates are entrenched on Onigashima, biding their time, while that fool Oden is still dancing naked in the streets of Flower Capital.

Oden's Kozuki Family, his nine Red Scabbards, the samurai of Wano Country, and the affiliated Shimotsuki Family, etc., need Cutey to help clean them up.

After Kaido leads the Beasts Pirates and Blackbeard Orochi to physically purge the ruling class of Wano Country, Saint Saint Saiwen will make his heroic entrance—plucking the peaches.

Thus, the difficulty of seizing Wano Country drops drastically.

While driving away Kaido and the Beasts Pirates, he can also crown the Wano Country Thunder General, and keep Kaido's daughter Yamato as his captive Lady.

By then, let's see how the old man Kaido chooses.

Years later, having a few chubby sons with Yamato, and taking the opportunity to absorb the father-in-law's pirate crew, it would be a complete victory.

"Hehehehe, I'm so bad!"

【69】 Before transmigrating, Saint Saint Saiwen's nature was pure and good; for over twenty years he neither killed nor set fires, yet he lived his life in a mess.

Before crossing over, Saint Saint Saiwen's nature was pure and good; for over twenty years he had neither killed anyone nor set a fire, yet he had lived his life in a complete mess.

After transmigrating, unfortunately polluted by the pirate world, he retained only necessary conscience but lived more and more comfortably.

After sighing with emotion, Saint Saint Saiwen put away the map and shouted toward the small Robin who was currently in the library.

"Robin, call everyone for a meeting."

"Yes, Captain."