Saint Saturn: Tell Vikengam to Come Back When Convenient

Spandine had indeed treated his superior, Bazzar, as a specimen to showcase his abilities.

And the ability he displayed was not his thorough investigation into the Roger Pirates' many movements.

That required no demonstration; it was simply an ability Cipher Pol should possess.

What he had displayed was the ability to silently erase Saint Vikengam's past from a series of investigations, to bury someone beneath waves and dust.

To the point that even his superior, after investigating the Roger Pirates for so long, did not know that this crucial scholar was actually a junior favored by Saint Saturn.

It could be said that accomplishing such a thing was extremely difficult.

Vikengam was not a widely known figure, but he was still fairly famous in the Holy Land. Yet Spandine had used all sorts of methods to make his superior "fail to recognize" him. It was utterly absurd!

Cipher Pol was the Celestial Dragons' watchdog!

Spandine had messed Bazzar up so badly that he could not even recognize his own master. Was that not impressive enough?

"You are quite capable. How far can you take something like this?" Saint Saturn asked, looking at Spandine.

Spandine had clearly prepared many responses beforehand. As soon as Saint Saturn asked, he replied, "If the young master does not deliberately reveal or announce his identity, and if you permit it, then I am confident that within two years, I can erase Cipher Pol's determination of the young master's identity."

"Is that so?" Saint Saturn raised a hand and stroked his chin. A trace of appreciation appeared in his eyes as he looked at Spandine. "It seems you are very confident in your abilities."

At the same time, it should be noted that Spandine had addressed Vikengam as "young master," a title that only servants of the Jaygarcia Family had the right to use.

For someone of Spandine's status, that was clearly an overstep.

Yet Saint Saturn had not punished Spandine for it. What did that mean?

It meant that Spandine's earlier display of ability had earned Saint Saturn's acknowledgment of that overstep. From then on, he could regard himself as a servant of the Jaygarcia Family.

Spandine had not claimed he could completely erase Vikengam's identity and background. He had only said he could achieve that much within Cipher Pol, which was already incredibly impressive.

If he had dared claim he could alter the Navy's understanding as well, that would have been absurd.

But for Saint Saturn, this was already enough. The Navy could not possibly take the initiative to publicize or spread Vikengam's identity as a Celestial Dragon. Otherwise, they would have many concerns when acting against the Roger Pirates. Up to now, only a very small number of high-ranking Navy officers knew about Vikengam.

As for Mary Geoise, Spandine was a dog raised by the Celestial Dragons. If he dared say he could do such a thing in Mary Geoise, he would essentially be claiming he could deceive the Celestial Dragons. Would that not be courting death?

Not to mention that he could not possibly do it; even if he could, he would not dare show it.

As for Mary Geoise, Saint Saturn had long since ordered, "This ends here." Ordinary Celestial Dragons simply did not care about Vikengam. They spent their days indulging themselves, while elite Celestial Dragons such as Garling had also stopped speaking publicly about Vikengam.

So there was nothing more to say about Mary Geoise either.

At the end of the day, Vikengam had merely been a Celestial Dragon with some reputation in Mary Geoise during his first eighteen years. He was not someone especially important to the world.

As long as the Navy, Mary Geoise, and Cipher Pol kept silent about his identity, then so long as Vikengam did not go around talking about it himself, most other forces across the seas would not learn his true identity.

As for whether Vikengam would talk recklessly?

He would not go around broadcasting it everywhere, but whenever that identity could bring him benefits, he did not mind revealing it.

Spandine had thought Saint Saturn would instruct him to begin handling this matter.

But Saint Saturn gave no such order. Instead, he said, "I am very tolerant of intelligent and capable people, so this will be the only time. If you try to be clever again, Bazzar will be your fate. Vikengam's identity need not be publicized, but neither does it need to be deliberately concealed."

Spandine felt a slight chill in his heart, but outwardly he remained calm as he replied, "This subordinate was being presumptuous. Thank you for your forgiveness, Lord Saturn."

However, in the next moment, Saint Saturn continued, "From now on, do not enter any information about Vikengam within your Cipher Pol into the archives, and erase the notion of him being a scholar. Whatever he does, whatever the Roger Pirates do, you are still to investigate it and report it to me. But only between you and me, understood?"

"Yes, Saint Saturn." Spandine drew a deep breath and answered in a low voice.

He knew he was walking a tightrope again. Doing this sort of private work made it seem as though the Five Elders valued him highly, as though he had become one of their own, perhaps even a servant.

But if the slightest deviation occurred, he would certainly be the first one silenced, just like his headless superior, Bazzar.

Still, if he wanted to climb higher, how could he avoid paying a price?

Though their contact had been brief, Spandine had keenly noticed one thing: Saint Saturn was exceptionally attentive and lenient toward the young master, Saint Vikengam.

Vikengam had become a pirate, and Saint Saturn had chosen to cover for him.

He had now begun studying the Poneglyphs, even the Void Century and the Ancient Weapons. Combined with the Roger Pirates' circumstances, they were very likely planning something major.

Even under such circumstances, Saint Saturn still chose to cover for him.

What did that mean?

It meant that the young master held extraordinary importance in Saint Saturn's heart. In that case, if Spandine could find a way to cling to the young master as well, perhaps he would not be casually silenced?

Without saying anything further, Saint Saturn soon dismissed Spandine.

Afterward, only Ah Fu and a corpse remained in the enormous reception hall.

Saint Saturn did not care about the corpse in the slightest, and Ah Fu did not dare mention cleaning it up at such a moment. He merely stood quietly beside Saint Saturn.

"A scholar? It seems you truly know how to increase your value and weight in your grandfather's heart, Vikengam..." Saint Saturn murmured softly.

Back then, in Mary Geoise, Saint Saturn had personally instructed Vikengam not to continue studying the Ancient Language.

And Vikengam had agreed.

Now, it was obvious that Vikengam had broken his promise. That should have been something that angered Saint Saturn.

Yet at this very moment, Saint Saturn admired Vikengam even more.

Over the past two years, no matter how much trouble Vikengam had caused across the seas, what kind of pirate he had become, or how many billions of Beli his bounty had reached, in Saint Saturn's eyes, all of it could be considered "having accomplished nothing."

Only the fact that he had mastered the ability to decipher the Ancient Language, truly becoming a scholar in this field, and was following the Roger Pirates in exploring the Void Century—even possibly preparing something major—

made Saint Saturn feel that he had not wasted his time, that he was doing proper work, that he was seizing fate by the throat!

After a moment of silence, Saint Saturn spoke again. "When Vikengam comes near Mary Geoise again, contact him. Tell him his grandfather misses him somewhat, and that if it is convenient, he should come home for a visit."

Ah Fu felt relieved upon hearing this, then said, "Yes, Lord Saturn."