Chapter 150: Script and Departure

At the same time.

Carera Corporation Dock One.

On a newly framed hull, countless craftsmen bustled about, meticulously refining the ship with their tools.

Vice President Barley sat aside, removed his cigar from his mouth, exhaled a plume of smoke, then frowned at the silent man before him and said:

"Roubo Luqi, have you truly decided to leave?"

Saying this.

A flicker of disappointment passed through Barley's eyes.

After two years together, though this man was silent, he was among the shipyard's finest workers, and his personal bond with Barley was exceptionally strong.

In Barley's eyes, Roubo Luqi and Kaku standing beside him were both men he could trust with his back.

"Boss, this guy's hometown had some trouble—he has to go back."

Kaku placed a hand on Roubo Luqi's shoulder and explained to Barley.

"I see…"

Barley sighed and said:

"If you won't say more, then forget it."

"But if you ever have nowhere else to go, Dock One will always have a place for you—we've always been friends."

Kaku subtly raised a hand to press his hat, hiding his expression in shadow.

Roubo Luqi said without expression:

"I understand. Thank you for your care these past two years."

Barley's lips curled into a smile he could not conceal:

"Asshole, don't say such sentimental things now."

"Get out!"

Roubo Luqi nodded, shrugged off his work uniform, turned, and walked away; Kaku immediately followed.

A few minutes later.

The two sat in a deserted corner, watching the distant sunset sink, silent for a time.

A few breaths later.

Kaku couldn't help asking:

"Not just Miss Kalifa, but even you've been pulled from the mission—are they planning to abandon the design of that thing?"

"No."

Roubo Luqi shook his head, solemnly saying:

"According to what Spandam casually let slip, the top brass are dissatisfied with our progress and have already prepared to bring in others."

"After Kaku and I leave, the mission here will be taken over by the Gabra clan, and even CP0 will get involved."

Kaku nodded, his expression now tinged with greater solemnity.

Having spent over a decade in the World Government's intelligence system, he knew exactly what CP0 meant.

The world's strongest intelligence organization, even called the Shield of the Celestials.

If the World Government had deployed CP0, it meant they had confirmed the design of that thing existed in Water Seven.

Thinking of this,

Kaku's gaze settled on Roubo Luqi before him.

Having worked with Roubo Luqi for years, he knew this man was utterly cold toward enemies, yet still held some feeling for his companions, those who had trained and grown up with him since childhood.

But if that feeling conflicted with the mission, the World Government's will and justice would always come first.

"I understand. You be careful too."

"Mm."

Roubo Luqi nodded and said:

"The top brass have already prepared the script—we only need to follow it step by step."

Saying this,

Roubo Luqi rose directly and returned to his quarters.

After packing his belongings and double-checking to ensure no trace that might expose his identity remained, he boarded the departing ferry with Miss Kalifa.

Several days later.

A rumor began spreading through the Grand Line.

Roubo Luqi, hailed as CP9's strongest in eight hundred years, and former CP9 member Miss Kalifa, were discovered stealing the treasure map left by Captain Unan, wounded hundreds, fled severely injured, and were now fully wanted by the World Government.

Due to their threat, the World Government immediately issued a massive bounty; Roubo Luqi, as the mastermind, had a bounty exceeding one hundred million.

The news instantly shook the Grand Line.

Some questioned the truth of the rumor, but swallowed their doubts upon seeing World Government ships constantly patrolling ports searching for the two.

"That Unan, the legendary man said to possess one-third of the world's gold?"

"If we could get that gold, we could become the richest people on Earth!"

"Damn it! We've got to move too! Can't let the Marines or other pirates get there first!"

Soon,

Even pirates who heard the news joined the frenzy.

Yet the two vanished as if erased from the world, disappearing completely from everyone's sight.

……

……

……

East Sea, Raven Port.

Towards the back mountain.

Two figures were fighting wildly.

Two long blades clashed in mid-air; the scattered blade qi left gruesome slash marks on the surrounding rocks and even severed the nearby mountain peaks.

This fierce battle continued until late at night before finally stopping.

Gao Wen slowly sheathed Guanshi Zhengzong, but his gaze fell on the Fujitora opposite him, feeling a reluctance to part with this friend who was currently the only one capable of aiding him with Conqueror's Haki.

"Have you decided? You leave tomorrow? Will you not consider joining us?"

Facing Gao Wen's recruitment, Fujitora shook his head firmly and said:

"I have now fully understood everything here and witnessed what an ideal city should be."

"If possible, I naturally wish to stand shoulder to shoulder with friends, but peace limited to a single city or land is not what I seek."

"That is not the great righteousness I am searching for."

Gao Wen sighed:

"That is truly a pity."

Fujitora felt the same.

Regarding the only being he could call a friend, even a soulmate, he too looked forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with Gao Wen to witness the world Gao Wen truly wished to create.

He had this premonition.

This man, whose view of the world transcended the era, would one day truly bring change to this world, but at least not now.

And Fujitora also had his own path to walk.

"I have decided to retrace my steps, using the eyes of my heart, to see this world once more."

"Perhaps by the time I finish the road beneath my feet, we may meet again."

A smile curled Gao Wen's lips.

Since he could not keep the man before him, he would wish him a smooth journey.

"I hope that by then, we can still sit together and drink."

"Definitely."

Fujitora smiled faintly.

The next day, amidst the farewells of Gao Wen and others, he boarded the ship leaving Raven Port to return to Loguetown.

At this moment.

Raven Arena.

The audience displayed a fervor beyond imagination; the sound of cheering was so loud that Gao Wen, standing in the port, could hear it clearly.

For on this day, the Raven Arena finally welcomed its first arena star—Feng Kelei.

After he crushed all opponents on stage with overwhelming force, and before departing, performed an extremely elegant ballet for the crowd.

He directly sparked another round of climax on the spot, with applause, cheers, flowers...

All of this filled Feng Kelei's heart to the brim; the disdainful looks that once appeared in the port were completely gone.

For the powerful combat strength he displayed, sufficient to reach the finals of the first Martial Arts Tournament, had conquered everyone.

His strange makeup, his cross-dresser appearance, and even the heavy makeup on his face had, at this moment, become a unique personal style distinguishing a strong man!

Watching the audience below shouting his name, the thing Feng Kelei had pursued all along was truly realized at this moment.

"This humble one~"

"Has fallen in love with this place!"

Feng Kelei bent down to kiss the arena floor beneath his feet, then reluctantly walked away.

Several days ago.

Gao Wen had released him and his companions from the underground prison.

Upon learning that news of his crushing defeat had been brought back to Alabasta by Daz Bonez, he immediately abandoned the thought of returning to Alabasta.

After all, though he did not know the true identity of the person behind Baroque Works, he understood the other party's ruthless character.

Having failed a critical mission, the other party would not easily let him go; even the companions on the ship would be in mortal danger.

He simply truly defected to Gao Wen's banner and, as wished, became a star fighter at the Raven Arena, receiving resource allocation from Gasha, with plans to cultivate him into a golden star here.

Originally, he had been somewhat anxious whether his presence would be welcomed, but now the applause had broken all his doubts.

Who would have thought.

After merely two appearances on stage, Feng Kelei had his own fans, and his momentum even overshadowed the Cat Brothers, who were also being cultivated as arena stars.

He leaped to become the top star here, dubbed the Crossdresser Queen by fans.

And his former subordinates were directly absorbed by Red Longjie, becoming one of its members.

They could live according to their own will, no longer drifting about on the seas.

He naturally understood that all of this was brought by Gao Wen; it was Gao Wen who allowed him and his companions on the ship to truly realize their dreams.

Gao Wen was naturally pleased with this, after all, Gao Wen himself would eventually enter the Grand Line.

Pirates of the East Sea naturally could not pose a threat to Raven Port; if the Seven Warlords' flag could not even intimidate such petty ruffians, then the World Government might as well cease to exist.

But it was hard to guarantee that some figures active on the Grand Line would not reach out their hands here.

Therefore, necessary military force still had to remain within Raven Port, and Feng Kelei perfectly filled this vacancy.

……

Night fell.

The sea wind howled, bringing waves of chill, yet in the next instant, it was scattered by the rising flames of Raven Port.

It was simply because a banquet was in progress.

All the pirates on Red Longjie, along with the officers of Gao Wen's pirate crew, had gathered here, singing "Binks' Sake" to the music of the musicians.

"Yo-ho-ho-ho~ Yo-ho-ho-ho~"

"Yo-ho-ho-ho~ Yo-ho-ho-ho~"

"Carry Binks' sake~ to your side~ Like the sea wind at will~ Ride the waves and break the wind~"

Accompanied by the music.

Feng Kelei, leading his own crew, danced ballet by the bonfire, drawing rounds of applause.

Seeing this, the Cat Brothers simply joined in, but their clumsy dancing triggered a burst of laughter.

The two suddenly got even more into it, even transforming into two plump Cat Brothers, dancing with even greater effort; their fat bodies swaying, pushing the banquet to its climax.

Soon.

Both were sweating profusely; one on the left, one on the right, they sat beside Gao Wen, casually grabbed a wine glass from the side, clinked it against Gao Wen's, and then downed it in one gulp.

Gao Wen merely watched the two with a smile at the corner of his lips and said:

"Have you decided?"

"Won't you come with me to the Grand Line to see a wider world?!"

(End of this chapter)