Chapter 53: The Man Called Sea Knight
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
That day, after Elus finished breakfast on his own flagship, he set off once again and boarded the deck of the Moby Dick.
“Yo, Sachi, that roasted seabird last night was delicious!”
He had just come up from the gangway when he saw the Fourth Division Captain Sachi walking out of the cabin carrying a food tray. This man, dressed in a white chef uniform and white pants, looked at Elus with eyes full of gloom, as if he had seen something inauspicious.
However,
Elus didn’t care at all about that disdainful gaze. Instead, he loudly praised the other’s outstanding culinary skills.
As the head chef of the Whitebeard Pirates, Sachi’s culinary skills were absolutely top-notch even in the New World. Ever since mooching a dinner from the Whitebeard Pirates two days ago, he had been mooching their lunch and dinner these past two days.
While Sachi felt proud as the head chef, he was also quite troubled that his kitchen was repeatedly visited by unrelated people, and they would always leave behind some highly valuable and hard-to-obtain precious ingredients, many of which could be used as medicinal herbs, very suitable for elderly people.
This made it impossible for him to refuse,
so he could only let it be.
But the gloom in his heart lingered, so his gaze toward Elus was somewhat subtle.
“Seabird? That’s a Narpo Gallus chicken!”
“Oh! That’s the one. The texture is super good, and that barbecue sauce you paired with it—can you teach it? Let my chef come for apprenticeship. Don’t worry! The apprenticeship gift won’t be lacking. The New World’s maritime transport network is mine now. Whatever ingredients and medicinal herbs you want, I can find a way to get them for you.”
Here, it had to be said that Umit this guy was a genius.
He started from nothing, self-reliant, building from scratch in this godforsaken place in the New World where the magnetic field is chaotic, the seas are treacherous, everything is bizarre, and strongmen roam freely, establishing a vast and tight maritime transport system that greatly enhanced connections between the various sea areas of the New World, gradually giving the once scattered New World a sense of unity.
Well, that might be a bit overstated.
But this was indeed Elus’s true feeling after taking over Umit’s maritime transport network.
As the saying goes, the predecessors plant trees, and the descendants enjoy the shade.
Enjoying the convenience and benefits brought by the maritime transport network created by his predecessor Umit, whom he had personally killed, Elus felt that giving more praise was nothing wrong.
“······I’ll give you a list.”
Sachi said.
Although the Whitebeard Pirates were wealthy and powerful, Whitebeard did not allow slave trading or drugs—those things that ruin people—on his territory. Relying only on various regular income sources, honestly, there was no problem maintaining the operations of the Whitebeard Pirates.
But purchasing some expensive medicinal herbs and ingredients, calculating those additional large expenditures, really gave the captains headaches.
Marco often ventured into extremely dangerous sea areas to find medicinal herbs for the old man, and even for the “Immortal Phoenix,” he would often return with injuries. This showed the perils of the New World.
If he could more easily obtain the needed medicinal herbs and ingredients,
what was teaching some culinary skills?
“By the way, Jinbe is already here.”
Before leaving with the food tray, Sachi told Elus some news.
At that moment,
someone else walked out of the cabin.
It was Whitebeard and a plump, large blue-skinned Fish-Man.
“Kid, you came really early!”
Whitebeard said.
Elus walked up to Whitebeard, looked up at him sitting on that huge chair on the deck, and said with a smile: “If it drags on too long, everyone will get impatient. Better to settle this matter early, so there’s no burden on the mind and no need to keep thinking about it.”
“Right? Mister Jinbe, um, you don’t mind being addressed this way, do you?”
“No problem.”
The 301 cm tall Whale Shark Fish-Man responded in a deep voice.
“Being able to figure out sooner why Your Highness the Black Prince wants to see me is indeed something I eagerly desire.”
“Then speak!”
Whitebeard waved his hand.
This time, he didn’t say anything about not making moves against Jinbe or Fish-Man Island. His mere presence here already expressed his stance.
Elus and Jinbe both understood this.
Elus smiled indifferently, while Jinbe was exceptionally grateful, even somewhat apprehensive and fearful. A choking hot emotion surged in his heart again, and he didn’t know how to repay these countless kindnesses.
“Whitebeard old man······!”
“Jinbe, let’s hear what grand theory this kid has!”
Whitebeard sat like a mountain, hands pressing on the chair’s armrests, lowering his gaze to look at Elus standing before him.
Jinbe stood silently beside him. Clearly, he should be the main person exchanging with Elus, but now Whitebeard had stepped forward to receive Elus, the Fifth Overlord of the New World, bearing that heavy pressure that was hard to endure.
“Mister Jinbe, why did you become one of the Seven Warlords?”
Elus didn’t fuss about formalities and directly broached the topic standing on the deck.
“To protect Fish-Man Island.”
Jinbe answered frankly.
That candid attitude and sincere gaze made anyone who saw it understand at a glance that this was an upright and honorable man.
Every word he said was truer than gold or silver.
This was a man worthy of the title Sea Knight.
“But isn’t Fish-Man Island currently protected by Whitebeard old man’s flag?”
“It’s shameful to say, but having the identity of a Seven Warlord can avoid targeting from the World Government and Navy. Whitebeard old man’s flag can protect Fish-Man Island from pirate invasions, while the Seven Warlord identity suppresses the estrangement between Fish-Man Island and the true power holders of the human race.
Who are the true power holders of the human race?
Naturally, it’s the World Government, Marie Geoise.
Even Whitebeard wouldn’t deny this. No matter how renowned he is, he can only make pirates fear him like tigers. The ones dominating human development and relations with other races are still the World Government and the big shots in Marie Geoise.
“So, if I say I hope you give up your Seven Warlord identity, what is your opinion?”
After a brief interaction and understanding Jinbe’s temperament, Elus gave up beating around the bush and got straight to the point.
“I see, Seven Warlords, kid, you’ve set your sights on this position!”
Whitebeard realized suddenly.
He finally understood what Elus wanted to do.
“Giving up the Seven Warlord identity······ but, Your Highness the Black Prince, the so-called Seven Warlords are, plainly speaking, pirates who accepted the World Government’s invitation due to their own reasons and ambitions. The pirates get what they want or satisfy their ambitions, and the World Government achieves the strategy of pirates checking pirates.”
“Your Highness the Black Prince, you’re not even a pirate. Even if I agree to give up the Seven Warlord identity, you can’t take the vacancy I leave behind.”
Jinbe analyzed seriously.
For the Seven Warlord identity, Jinbe actually didn’t value it at all. He only accepted the World Government’s invitation because he needed the benefits it brought.
“Joracor Mihawk, is he a pirate?”
Elus suddenly asked.
“······Your Excellency Mihawk, he, he is······” Jinbe was stumped.
Mentioning Joracor Mihawk, most people’s reaction is “Who?”, and only when “Hawk Eyes” is mentioned do they suddenly realize—oh, the world’s greatest swordsman······ Yes, even the Navy’s first impression of Hawk Eyes is the world’s greatest swordsman, not a member of the Seven Warlords.
As for whether Hawk Eyes is a pirate?
This question would stump many. The famously solitary Hawk Eyes—is he a pirate? No pirate crew, no fixed territory, just sailing alone on the sea, seeking swordsmen worthy of crossing blades with.
He even grows vegetables when living alone on Kuraigana Island, and handles his own food personally in the kitchen.
To call him a pirate
would be quite a stretch.
“Whitebeard old man, you’ve probably met Hawk Eyes before. Do you think that man is a pirate?” Elus shifted his gaze from the speechless Jinbe to Whitebeard’s face.
“That is a pure swordsman.”
Whitebeard stated bluntly.
“The Seven Warlords, in my view, is indeed a system established with the idea of pirates checking pirates, but whether one is a pirate isn’t the key point. The most important thing is having the prestige to deter pirates and the strength to strike them down. Whether I can inherit the Seven Warlord position is my business; whether you’re willing to give it up is what you should consider.”
“Even so······ please forgive me for not being able to give up the Seven Warlord identity. Fish-Man Island still cannot······”
“Don’t reject so quickly. I’ve only stated my request; I haven’t told you the compensation yet!”
Elus interrupted Jinbe’s words.
“Even if you’re going to reject, at least hear my compensation first.”
Jinbe opened his mouth, looked at the smiling Elus, and slowly closed it.
“This might not sound nice, but Whitebeard old man is already advanced in age. How much longer do you think that flag can protect Fish-Man Island?” Elus pointed at the flag fluttering on the main mast of the Moby Dick.
Jinbe’s expression changed abruptly, and he immediately shouted loudly: “What did you say?! Old man won’t······”
“Shut up!”
Overwhelming pressure came crashing down like a toppling mountain.
The voice
was instantly stuck in his throat, unable to come out.
“Kid, don’t go too far!”
The tsunami-like Haki blocked that terrifying pressure. The calmed Jinbe only felt cold sweat dampening his temples. Before, seeing Elus smiling amiably had made people forget this was a monster who fought BIG·MOM for three days and two nights without a victor.
Whitebeard had blocked the spiritual pressure Elus released for Jinbe.
“Sorry about that, Whitebeard old man. Seeing someone deny the objective law of birth, old age, sickness, and death got me a bit heated for a moment.”
The spiritual pressure retracted, and Elus maintained his unchanged composed smile.
“Birth, old age, sickness, and death? Hmph!”
Whitebeard, who had straightened up, slowly leaned back again.
“Mister Jinbe, I understand you’re probably full of admiration for Whitebeard old man. As I said, these words aren’t pleasant, but they are the objective laws of the world’s operation. Though legend says the Op-Op Fruit can grant eternal life······ but whether that’s true or not is really hard to say. Whitebeard old man is no longer young.”
Elus looked at the sweating Jinbe and said slowly.
This time,
Jinbe didn’t immediately refute or deny. He turned his face and looked at Whitebeard sitting on the chair.
“Give up the Seven Warlord identity. As compensation, after Whitebeard old man unfortunately······ passes, I can replace Whitebeard old man in continuing to protect Fish-Man Island.” Elus continued.
But—
“Gurarla lala!”
Whitebeard burst into laughter. “Kid, why does your compensation sound like you’re trying to steal my territory?”
“This isn’t stealing; it’s pre-ordering.”
“What a cunning kid.”
“It’ll happen someday anyway, right?”
Whitebeard laughed twice without denying it.
“Of course, using a future promise as compensation is indeed a bit sly······ How about this! Jinbe, let the Eckmond Kingdom and Ryugu Kingdom form a contract to become allied nations! It might not be that easy, but it can gradually try to eliminate the estrangement between humans and Fish-Men. This should also be the dying wish of Tiger and Queen Otohime, right?”
“Boss Tiger, Queen Otohime······ Your Highness the Black Prince, I didn’t expect Your Excellency to even know about these matters!”
Jinbe frowned.
The matters of Tiger and Queen Otohime weren’t exactly secrets, but digging into the details wasn’t simple. Since Elus knew even their dying wishes, it was clear he had really put effort into researching Fish-Man Island.
“Even if, Whitebeard old man······”
Jinbe gritted his teeth, still avoiding those inauspicious words, and skipped straight to: “In the New World, besides Whitebeard old man, there are other Pirate Emperors! There’s no reason Fish-Man Island has to choose Your Excellency, right?”
“Of course there is a reason.”
“What?”
“Don’t you get it? Among the Four Emperors, the youngest Red-Haired is still much older than me. No matter how monstrous BIG·MOM and Beasts are, they can’t resist the erosion of time. Compared to choosing Pirate Emperors who might fall anytime, isn’t my identity the most suitable for dealing with Ryugu Kingdom?”
Ryugu Kingdom is, after all, a proper country.
Compared to relying on pirates, allying with the Eckmond Kingdom, also a World Government member nation, would better reduce the World Government’s hostility toward Fish-Man Island.
“Moreover, Fish-Man Island is the bridge connecting the New World and Paradise. Such a crucial place is safest in my own hands. I’m planning to extend my maritime transport network toward Paradise, centered on the New World, reaching Paradise, and finally radiating to the Four Seas······ Fish-Man Island is an indispensable link······”
Elus kept emphasizing the importance of Fish-Man Island to show his determination.
As he spoke,
he set his sights on Whitebeard again,
“Whitebeard old man, let’s cooperate too. Fish-Man Island is still your territory right now. How about you take Fish-Man Island’s passage rights as a stake in my maritime transport network?”
“You should ask Neptune about that. I’m just providing protection to Fish-Man Island, not enslaving Ryugu Kingdom.” Whitebeard said matter-of-factly words that ordinary pirates couldn’t comprehend.
“That’s even better. I think that great Sea Knight should be easier to talk to than you, Whitebeard old man.”
“······I haven’t agreed yet!”
Jinbe looked gloomily at Elus, who was already pondering how to deal with Ryugu Kingdom. His gloomy mood was simply indescribable.
“So you’re rejecting me?”
Elus looked over.
“······”
Jinbe tightly closed his mouth. This feeling of being cornered was absolutely awful.
“Jinbe, make your choice! No matter what you choose, you are a friend of the Whitebeard Pirates.” Whitebeard spoke at this time, proactively relieving Jinbe’s psychological burden.
“Whitebeard old man······”
Jinbe’s tears were about to fall.
He clenched his teeth, not knowing how to say that sentence.
But,
he ultimately had to give an answer.
“If you can bring peace and tranquility to Fish-Man Island, what does it matter to give up this Seven Warlord identity?”
