Chapter 91

When first captured and imprisoned, Gold Lion constantly reflected: how could he have lost to Barzab Seven, never noticing anything unusual about the ship.

Only these past two days—especially after removing the helm in the afternoon—did Gold Lion finally sense something was off.

Elsewhere, one needed eight hours of sleep daily; on Barzab Seven’s ship, less than three hours was enough to fully restore one’s vigor and spirit.

Upon remembering that the owner was of the Lunarian race, Gold Lion immediately suspected: had the East Sea Emperor been blessed?

Legends of Davy Jones circulated across the seas, and so too did tales of ships blessed or cursed.

Seven smiled faintly.

“Captain Shiki, care to guess?”

Since helping Gold Lion remove the helm in the afternoon, Seven had noticed Gold Lion growing strangely erratic—sometimes laughing to himself, sometimes staring downward in deep thought, and never again uttering a single curse.

Gold Lion snorted coldly.

“Is the contract about to begin?”

Seven kicked the cushion beneath his foot—Elaine Saint.

“Yes, dawn is near. We must deliver this pig of a World Noble to the Marines. Whether we escape successfully from here now depends entirely on you, Captain Shiki.”

If Vice-Captain Rayleigh were here, there’d be no worry about the coating being tampered with—but Rayleigh and Xia Qi were probably still on vacation.

Gold Lion grinned triumphantly.

“Hehehehehe～”

“Barzab Seven, if you’re willing to become my right-hand man, after we conquer the world, I’ll share it equally with you.”

Though unwilling to admit it, Gold Lion knew Barzab Seven’s bloodline and talent surpassed even Loxs and Roger in their prime.

At seventeen, Loxs never did what Barzab Seven did—storming the Shichibukai Order, kidnapping World Nobles to blackmail the World Government.

Such a perfect heir—and yet Roger found him first.

Roger! Of course you are.

“Captain Shiki, while it’s still dark and we have time, let me share some secrets with you—I hope they’ll help.”

When Gold Lion heard of Loxs’s grudges against Davy Jones and Yimu, a flicker of clarity passed through his eyes.

“No wonder Loxs split from us at the Valley of the Gods back then.”

“So it was Wang Zhi who betrayed us.”

Gold Lion admired few people in his life—besides Roger and Whitebeard, the two other legendary pirates who stood beside him, the third was his former captain—Loxs, captain of the Loxs Pirates.

“So many years have passed.”

“The men who once ruled the seas—now only I and Whitebeard remain… and he has no interest in becoming Pirate King, not even seeking One Piece.”

Seven took up the thread.

“Perhaps for Whitebeard, the family aboard the Moby Dick… is his One Piece…”

Gold Lion said nothing more, only lowered his head to stare at his empty legs, lost in thought.

Seven opened the cell door, placed a fresh set of clothes beside the key to the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs, and left the prosthetic limbs behind.

“Dawn has come.”

“Captain Shiki, I’ll play out this drama with the Marines. To cross the Red Line, we need this ship—and the giant yacht next door.”

Try to stay far away from Marygeoise. There’s a terrifying presence inside.

Gold Lion called out, stopping Seven’s departure.

“Who’s with the Marines?”

“Garp, Akainu, Kizaru, several Vice Admirals, twenty Marine warships, roughly twenty thousand Marines.”

Seven dropped one last line, then picked up the cushioned Elaine Saint and returned to the deck.

At that moment, the entire Morningstar Pirates had assembled on deck. Seven pointed to Shilu, clad in a military overcoat, and introduced him to the crew.

“This is our new member, Rain Shilu.”

Shilu stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Mihawk and Tenghu Yisheng—his eyes burning with fierce longing: the desire to become the strongest swordsman.

After a few seconds, he nodded to Da Xiong Jin Ni and Tazolo.

“Gentlemen, a pleasure.”

“Pleasure.”

After the crew had exchanged greetings, Seven kicked the cushioned Elaine Saint beneath his foot.

“We’ll hold the banquet once we reach the New World. Mi Sang, Master Tenghu, Shilu—you’ll stay behind to assist Captain Shiki in crossing the Red Line.”

“Da Xiong, Jin Ni—stay safe.”

“I’m going to deliver the World Noble.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Though already allied with Gold Lion, Seven had made full preparations in case Gold Lion tried to smash both ships into the ground during the Red Line crossing.

Mihawk, Tenghu, and Shilu were more than enough to handle Gold Lion if he turned hostile; Da Xiong and Jin Ni’s mobility would ensure the crew’s safety.

Repairing the East Sea Emperor cost only a hundred points; if the giant yacht broke, so be it—as long as the crew was unharmed.

Of course, that was only the worst-case scenario.

Given Gold Lion’s current erratic mental state and the incriminating photos still in existence, he wouldn’t dare unilaterally break the contract unless he wanted those photos exposed to the entire world.

Seven lifted the bruised and swollen Elaine Saint and flew toward the Marine fleet.

Only after Seven had left the East Sea Emperor did Gold Lion drift out from the cabin.

“Hehehehehe～”

“You brats on Barzab Seven’s ship.”

Mihawk drew his black blade, Yoru; Tenghu Yisheng unsheathed the Gambler’s Fireline; Shilu, seeing this, drew his famed blade, Thunder Rain, from his waist.

The unimpaired Gold Lion—having reattached his helm and prosthetics—was worthy of such a formidable response.

Gold Lion held a cigar between his lips.

“Hehehehehe～”

“Brats, make the ship fly.”

Gold Lion suddenly felt a pang of envy toward Barzab Seven—having recruited such powerful crew members in just half a year, making his own years at sea… seem wasted.

Roger! Fate has favored you so cruelly!

On the other side, the Sabaody Archipelago waters.

Seven hovered midair, holding Elaine Saint like a chicken chick, while below, the Marine Shichibukai Fleet stood ready.

“Saxi bu li da na, Marines.”

On the bow of the Doghead Warship stood Marine Hero Garp, Marine Admiral Akainu, Marine Admiral Kizaru, and several Vice Admirals.

“Born evil, you little pirate brat,” Akainu growled, his cigar clenched, arms now transformed into molten lava.

“Release Elaine Saint at once.”

“Tsk tsk tsk tsk.” Seven slapped Elaine Saint across the face. “World Noble, your pet red dog is barking—make him shut up.”

Elaine Saint opened his swollen mouth.

“Red Dog, shut up already!!”

Elaine Saint’s entire mind was consumed by one thought: escape this demon’s grasp as soon as possible and never set foot in Marygeoise again in this lifetime.

Could he really be kidnapped even within the holy land?

Hearing the World Noble call him “Red Dog,” Akainu’s rage flared crimson—if not for the Five Elders’ repeated orders to return Elaine Saint unharmed, he would’ve already blasted Barzab Seven into ash with molten lava.

Seeing this, Kizaru stepped forward.

Akainu’s temper clashing with Barzab Seven’s sadistic humor—if they kept arguing, who knew what might happen next.

“Barzab Seven, the ransom you demanded has been fully paid. Release Elaine Saint. You know the consequences of breaking ties with the World Government.”

Seven slapped Elaine Saint again.

“See? He knows how to speak properly.”

Elaine Saint nodded frantically in agreement—Kizaru was truly a blessing, a savior, a lucky star… he’d find a way to make him Marine Commander-in-Chief later.

Sensing the two ships behind him had lifted into the air, Seven tossed Elaine Saint into the sea.

“Marines, catch him.”