Chapter 144: Xiang Keluo Awakens

Gao Wen asked directly:

"If we modify this ship, how long will it take?"

After pondering for a moment, the shipwright spoke:

"With Raven Port's current capabilities, if we devote everything to modifying this vessel, it can be launched within a month."

"The speed is far faster than our previous shipbuilding plan."

"That new ship requires far more time than we estimated; the plans for many key nodes have been changed multiple times."

"To truly complete it will take at least half a year."

Gao Wen nodded:

"Then go all out to modify this warship; later, when we find more advanced technology and materials, we will build our own ship from scratch."

According to the shipwright, even if that new ship were completed, its performance would not match this warship.

Gao Wen had no desire to waste effort building a ship that would be obsolete before it even launched; previously, the East Blue offered no better choice, forcing him to act himself.

But now, having become a Warlord of the Sea, Gao Wen had set his sights on the Grand Line, where shipbuilding technology and conditions were far superior to those in Raven Port.

Moreover, he harbored his own ambitions in his heart.

Since he was going to build a ship, he would build one capable of accompanying him all the way until the day he reached the summit.

Gao Wen had no interest in reliving the feeling Straw Hat experienced when he personally burned the Going Merry in Water Seven.

With the major direction settled, Gasa went to finalize the minor details with the group of shipwrights, while Gao Wen took the opportunity to return to Red Longjie.

……

With the conclusion of the Martial Arts Tournament, the rankings of the officers within Gao Wen's pirate crew were finally determined.

The batch of metal inscription plates Gao Wen had previously asked Zango to craft had long been completed and stored in the warehouse; now was the time to use them.

At this moment.

In the center of Red Longjie, inside a bar.

All the officers of Gao Wen's pirate crew had gathered there.

Based on their performances in the Martial Arts Tournament, Gao Wen personally distributed the metal plates in his hand and, honoring his prior promise, allowed them to make one request within reasonable limits.

"Hmph~"

Xiang Keluo gently tucked the gold-plated plate engraved with the number one into his pocket, unable to suppress the pride curling at the corners of his mouth:

"As expected."

"The number one figure beneath the Captain is indeed me?!"

To one side.

Gin held the number two plate in his hand, raised an eyebrow slightly, turned to look at Xiang Keluo, and revealed an expression eager to try.

Originally, the gap between him and Xiang Keluo had been narrowing; now, after obtaining the Bone-Bone Fruit, his combat power had undergone a qualitative transformation.

Even the twin crutches that had always accompanied him were discarded, for the bones throughout his body had become even more formidable weapons.

In just a few days, Gin had found a fighting style suited to him; he only needed time to hone it.

Who was stronger and who was weaker could only be known after fighting.

"Number one will be mine sooner or later."

Gin's tone was calm, filled with an indescribable confidence.

Xiang Keluo's eyes sharpened, showing no retreat:

"I'd like to see just how much you've improved now!"

Ever since sensing the aura of Armament Haki during his battle with Gin a few days ago, Xiang Keluo had devoted all his energy to it over these past few days.

His perception of Armament Haki had become increasingly clear, yet he always fell just short, unable to grasp it despite his efforts.

But now...

Xiang Keluo fixed his gaze on Gao Wen, suddenly feeling eager to try.

After all, as far as he knew.

Gao Wen had long comprehended that power.

Zoro, standing nearby, also looked thoughtfully at the number three plate in his hand, then turned back to glance at Sanji and teased:

"Curly Brow, what do you think I should ask for? After all, the top three can make one request of the Captain~"

Sanji froze, his breathing visibly growing heavy as he instantly ignited with passion:

"Perfect!"

"I'll snatch the number three plate from your hands right now!"

"The beautiful chef lady is mine!"

The two instantly began brawling, drawing bursts of laughter from the surrounding crowd.

Subsequently, the others also received their own plates according to Gao Wen's judgment.

Van Auger number five, the Nyaban Brothers numbers six and seven, Gasa number eight, Zango number nine, Nami number ten...

Looking at the rankings in their hands, everyone actually felt somewhat dissatisfied.

They all turned to their companions beside them, revealing expressions eager to try.

They were comrades, but they were also rivals!

After all.

The significance of the number one plate in Xiang Keluo's hand represented not only the second-in-command of the team but also the strongest individual aside from Gao Wen.

Furthermore, it came with a substantial annual share of the dividends.

Gao Wen saw that although the crowd had quieted down, the fighting spirit in their eyes still burned, even more intensely than before.

He knew then that his combination of an internal team ranking system, dividend rights, and the allowance for reasonable requests had succeeded.

Even though they had lost every match in the Martial Arts Tournament, the atmosphere of fierce internal competition within the pirate crew remained.

From now on, even new recruits who joined later would quickly be assimilated.

Immediately.

Gao Wen, striking while the iron was hot, turned to the crowd and said:

"According to our previous agreement, the top three ranked individuals may make one reasonable request."

Xiang Keluo glanced back at everyone with a slightly guilty conscience, then remembered the page he had torn from the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia earlier and whispered:

"I... I haven't decided yet; we can talk about it later when something suitable comes up."

A Jin copied the example and likewise said:

"Same for me."

Gao Wen then looked at Zoro.

He saw the latter's eyes scanning back and forth over the Guanshi Zhengzong, nearly writing the words 'covetous' across his face.

How could Gao Wen not notice?

"This one is off-limits; but if you want a famous blade, I happen to know where to find one, and we can go look for it later."

Zoro's mouth stretched into a grin:

"Then let's do that; I'll reserve a famous blade."

Gao Wen nodded; having made this promise before everyone, he would not go back on his word later.

This gesture made everyone present even more envious.

After all, as long as one secured a top-three spot, whether it was money or treasures, anything within the pirate crew's capabilities and not too outrageous could be obtained.

Considering Gao Wen's current strength, it was basically equivalent to a single wish-granting opportunity.

The scene instantly boiled over.

This was especially true for a certain individual who originally had the strength to contend for a top-three position.

"Woo-oh—!"

Sanji ignited on the spot, turned around, and dashed like the wind into his training room; moments later, the sound of rocks being kicked apart rang out.

Clearly, for the sake of a beautiful female chef, he was willing to bet everything!

Gao Wen's mouth twitched, and he continued announcing the subsequent rules:

"Each person has one chance per month to challenge someone ranked higher."

"Challenges can only go upward, not downward."

"Furthermore, the opportunity to make a wish is based on the team's internal ranking after the annual Martial Arts Tournament concludes, occurring only once a year."

A few minutes later.

The crowd in the bar dispersed, yet instead of going out to enjoy themselves, they silently sought places to train.

Clearly, the Martial Arts Tournament had ended, but the true struggle for them was just beginning.

……

……

……

"You sensed the Armament Haki within your body?"

Behind the hills of Raven Port.

Gao Wen looked at Xiang Keluo before him, his face written with undisguised delight.

According to his expectations, after more than two months of special training, the physiques of Xiang Keluo and A Jin had reached the threshold where Haki could be induced.

But exactly how much time would be needed to truly sense the Armament Haki within one's body remained a question.

Some people could go from nothing to mastery in a few months, while others spent decades yet failed to even enter the door.

Xiang Keluo was clearly the former, possessing talent beyond Gao Wen's expectations.

This made Gao Wen feel increasingly that the potential calculation provided by the System could not completely represent a person's innate talent.

After all, that was an upper limit of normal growth predicted based on existing data.

But factors such as comprehension, conviction, Devil Fruits, and human modification could all raise this upper limit, even, like Gao Wen himself, directly elevating it from Silver to the current Legendary rank.

More importantly.

Once Xiang Keluo successfully awakened Armament Haki here, Gao Wen would have a leek to harvest for his own Armament Haki cultivation later.

Instead of being like before, relying solely on himself to grind.

Even though his talent had now increased to Legendary, significantly boosting his own cultivation speed, compared to other skills that took off within months, it was still oddly slow.

"I already felt it during that battle with A Jin earlier, but despite training these past few days, I haven't found the method."

Xiang Keluo stated his purpose directly:

"As it stands, relying purely on cultivation holds little meaning."

"I want to try using the pressure you bring to help myself break through this limit."

Sensing Xiang Keluo's will, Gao Wen's face grew slightly more serious, and he said indifferently:

"Have you thought it through? You might die, you know?!"

"Of course!"

Shing!

Before the sound had faded.

Xiang Keluo's figure traced an afterimage in mid-air, and in an instant, the sharp claw blades in his hands struck killingly before Gao Wen!

He knew that between his current self and Gao Wen now yawned a vast chasm; only by exerting his utmost strength could he possibly awaken Armament Haki amidst such a desperate situation!

Hiss!

The claw blade slashed through Gao Wen's body, yet not a drop of blood flowed out.

While Xiang Keluo was stunned, a chill ran down his back; a blade coated in jet-black Armament Haki had already sliced open the clothes on his back.

The sharp edge left a bloody mark on his flesh and skin, yet it also allowed him to truly feel the attack of Armament Haki with his own body.

The air instantly fell silent.

Xiang Keluo felt as though he had grasped something; the Haki within his body grew increasingly restless, yet it remained nothing more than loose sand, unable to coalesce into a concrete form.

Naturally, it was impossible for him to coat it onto a weapon, or even his body, as Gao Wen did.

"Where is the difference?!"

Xiang Keluo frowned tightly, unable to find the answer.

Gao Wen perceived his confusion; the blade in his hand did not pause in the slightest, and in an instant, he rushed before Xiang Keluo.

The blade danced, leaving streaks of wounds across Xiang Keluo's body.

For a moment.

Xiang Keluo was too busy defending to do anything else, yet his perception of that energy grew clearer and clearer; at this very moment, Gao Wen's voice reached his ears:

"Do you remember?"

"Haki is a power born from the heart, born from will!

"It is inherently a part of your body, so naturally it should be subject to your control, just as you do not need to consciously control your breathing.

"You already possess Armament Haki, so naturally you can control it; do not set up obstacles for yourself—the path before you is already a smooth one!"

Xiang Keluo's figure suddenly froze.

He was inherently a person of extraordinary comprehension, and in an instant, he understood Gao Wen's meaning.

It was at this very moment that the Armament Haki he had previously sought in vain transformed into strands of black qi, coiling around Xiang Keluo's arm and his claw blade.

Subconsciously, he swung the claw blade, clashing it against the Guanshi Zhengzong in Gao Wen's hand!

"I... succeeded?!"

"This is... Armament Haki?!"

(End of Chapter)