Enjoy Chapter 54!
"Of course we're so thin. All the men and young girls get sent to the royal palace…"
The middle-aged woman sighed, face lined with age and hardship.
"We don't have enough people to work. Every day is just another day survived. I don't know who you two are, but you're young. You can't help—God hasn't discovered you yet, so you'd better hide."
"God?"
Tashigi's eyes widened and she quickly asked,
"You mean the ruler here? Honestly, we may be young, but we're strong. Especially Saitama—he's a Righteous Treasure hero. There's no enemy he can't handle…"
Saitama scratched his head. "Well… at least none so far."
"Thank you for your kindness, but I can't accept it."
The woman shook her head, her eyes void of hope.
"Even a hero can't defeat God. There are monsters hidden here stronger than you know—God must obey them too… If anyone rebels, we all die…"
God… and a monster above even God.
Sky Island sure wasn't peaceful.
As Saitama and Tashigi processed this,
suddenly a sharp noise came from the sky.
Saitama looked up.
Sky Islanders in uniforms and berets, riding flying vehicles, swooped down around them.
"Oh no! It's the God's Guard!"
The woman gasped, pushing Saitama and Tashigi urgently.
"Hurry—if you're caught, you'll be stuck here forever!"
But there was no way her thin arms could move Saitama or Tashigi.
Saitama looked down at her and blinked, unmoving.
Quickly the God's Guard landed and surrounded them, all burly and disciplined.
"You two, from the Blue Sea?"
The lead guard, a hulking man, sized them up and nodded with satisfaction.
"The man's useless, but the woman's pretty enough for tribute to God…"
Saitama looked uncomfortable, picking his nose.
"Hey, what do you mean, useless?"
"Means you're worthless—kill you and it wouldn't matter,"
the lead guard sneered, arms crossed.
"God ordered us to round up all illegal immigrants—there should be more than a hundred. I brought the full force of the Guard, so there's no point hiding. Call out your friends—submit without a fight!"
"We're not hiding anyone,"
Saitama replied flatly, waving.
"But if you want, the rest are on our ship, about ten minutes from here."
"Well, you're smart enough to save yourself a beating!"
Pleased, the lead guard shouted,
"Leave two men to watch these two! The rest, after the others! For God and Szo!"
"—Szo!"
the guard echoed, racing toward Saitama's warship.
With the others gone, Saitama and Tashigi turned to the two remaining soldiers and knocked them out with ease, like grabbing chickens.
Time for some answers.
"Since the villagers are afraid to talk, we'll get it from you…"
Tashigi pushed up her glasses, glaring at the captive soldiers.
"Who is 'God'? And why take all the men and young women? Isn't this excessive!?"
Neither soldier had expected their targets to flip the tables so quickly, but they scrambled to respond.
"Let us go!"
One soldier struggled, snarling,
"To attack the God's Guard is an unforgivable crime! You'll be executed—regret this after you die!"
Saitama said nothing and bonked him on the head.
"Don't act cocky if you're caught."
Bonk. Bonk. Bonk.
The soldier clutched his head, stunned and angry.
"You dare attack!?"
Saitama was unmoved, raising his fist.
"Wait, wait!"
They finally caved, fear overtaking bravado.
"It's no big secret anyway… Listen, baldy! We serve God Enel as part of the Chihli Army of God. It's our duty to serve the civilians, round up illegal immigrants, and enforce God's will! Are you scared?"
"Not even a little."
Saitama just waved his hand.
"But why does your God want all the young men and women? What sort of twisted hobby is that? No proper boss would do this."
"It's… not God's idea…"
The guards hesitated, but their strange pride eventually won out.
"That's because of Sir Golden Lion. Details are above our pay grade, but we know there's a huge plan underway. Soon everyone from below will be ruled by Sky Island's gods!"
Golden Lion?
Saitama thought—this name was very familiar.
Tashigi was younger and didn't know it.
"Are you saying you've never heard of him before?"
The guards were stunned, ready to brag.
"You must have! Sir Golden Lion was once the strongest pirate on the seas! Even underlings from below should know his name!"
"Hm, I think I remember now…"
Saitama's eyes lit up.
"Wasn't the Red Count and Golden Lion both broken out of Impel Down by me…?"
"Since you know, let us go!"
The guards yelled,
"If you cross God or Sir Golden Lion, not even ten lives would be enough!"
"Right! The rest of the Guard are on their way to your ship. They'd better not resist, or if the commander gets mad, you'll suffer a lot more!"
...
Meanwhile—
At Saitama's warship,
the hundred marine elites were easily wiping out the God's Guard with as much effort as it took to slice up vegetables.
Bizarre.
Even Sky Island had this many small-time thugs…