Chapter 154: True and False

"That's true."

The bartender nodded, then shifted his attention elsewhere and began listlessly cleaning the stains on the counter.

The female bartender propped her chin with one hand, her eyelids drooping as she looked at the wanted poster; all she saw was a familiar face and a bounty exceeding two hundred million.

"This face... why does it look a bit like that person just now..."

"I... I... I..."

Realizing what she had done, she felt her legs go weak.

"The one I was just flirting with is... a Warlord of the Sea?!"

"Knight Gao Wen?!"

After Gao Wen left the bar, he asked around for information on the CP organization, and the answers he received were largely the same as what the female bartender had said.

This also meant that the news of Luo Bu Lucci and Miss Kalifa betraying the CP organization was likely true.

But for some reason, Gao Wen felt something was off about it.

After all, in the original story, even after being backstabbed by Spandam, Luo Bu Lucci and his group still returned to the CP organization, and Lucci even got promoted to become the commander of CP0.

He was never someone who coveted treasure, let alone someone who would do such a thing for a treasure map.

Either he was backstabbed again, or there was a trick to it, a trap set in advance... but who would be worth him going to such lengths?

After some thought, Gao Wen still found no answer, so he simply returned to the ship with Xiang Keluo.

Even then, Xiang Keluo's face still bore that mischievous smile from earlier; he immediately put his arm around Fan Oka, who was on guard duty, and began talking about what had just happened.

A few minutes later.

The laughter on the ship grew to two, then a third... a fourth...

In less than half an hour, the Raven was filled with sounds of merriment.

Some even secretly pondered whether they should give the newcomers a lesson on the story of Gao Wen and Wang Fei that they simply had to tell.

But when they noticed the look in Gao Wen's eyes, as if he wanted to eat them alive, they promptly swallowed those improper thoughts back down.

On the other side.

Jin, accompanied by several subordinates, searched the port and finally found the target of his trip.

The black market selling weapons.

Sanji and Nami were responsible for food, fresh water, and sea charts; the task of purchasing weapons naturally fell to Jin.

When he had previously served under Krieg, he was the second-in-command, so he was well-versed in matters like arms deals and ammunition replenishment.

Weapons like cannons, though not of much significance to Gao Wen and the others now, could still serve as a warning or a means of dispersal in many situations.

Therefore, even if they were not highly valued, they still had to be present.

Behind the Port of Red Rose.

Jin followed a portly man and slowly walked into a hidden warehouse.

Creak!

The warehouse door opened, releasing a musty smell.

The smoke-like haze consisted entirely of cold weapons that had been sitting who knew how long, covered in rust; they were so dull they couldn't even chop vegetables, let alone cut people, and there wasn't a single sign of firearms, cannons, or ammunition.

Jin glanced over and asked in confusion:

"What does this mean?!"

The portly man finally turned to look at Jin; the sycophantic smile on his face gradually faded, and his gaze turned incredibly cold.

His name was Fuo, the largest arms dealer in the Port of Red Rose; of course, if the situation was right, he wouldn't mind playing the part of a pirate.

And now that Jin's combat power had risen to Silver, with his killing intent refined within and his face pale like a sick ghost, he appeared to Fuo as a qualified fat sheep.

"My lord, we can provide arms, ammunition, and even excellent cold weapons commonly used on the Grand Line, all of which are rare masterpieces."

"As for the price... it will be slightly higher than elsewhere."

Swish!

Dozens of armed guards instantly surrounded Jin and his group.

The guards raised their flintlock pistols high, pointing them at the heads of Jin and his companions; clearly, if Jin made any move, they would fire immediately.

The threat was evident in their words and actions.

Jin looked around; how could he not know these people intended to rob him blind?

However, these people posed no threat to him whatsoever; instead, a presence that made even him feel threatened was emanating from inside that warehouse.

Jin sniffed the air, his eyebrows furrowing slightly:

"Are those people inside yours as well?!"

Fuo was slightly stunned, then shook his head and said:

"What nonsense are you talking?"

"This warehouse has been sealed for seven days; how could there be anyone inside?"

As he spoke, Fuo's expression grew cold.

He was no longer bothered to maintain the disguise; he turned to look at Jin, his face twisting into a grotesque grin.

He had clearly already viewed Jin, who looked like a sick ghost, as his next meal.

"Hand over the money, and I'll let you leave with your limbs int—!"

Pfft!

Fro's words cut off halfway, for no sound could emerge from his throat; a pure white bone spike had shot from Akin's fingertip and pierced his windpipe straight through.

The surrounding guards only then reacted, but by then Akin had already vanished from sight.

The next instant.

They felt a chill run along their necks; touching them, they discovered only warm, fresh blood.

One by one, the crowd clutched their necks and fell to the ground, twitched slightly, then lost all breath.

"Hah... hah... hah..."

Fro gasped for air, yet could only feel his life constantly slipping away; a cold sensation seized his heart.

He knew he was about to die.

Only now did he realize what kind of existence he had provoked, and finally understand why Akin's face had worn that same indifferent expression from start to finish.

As if he were merely weeds crushed beneath a foot on the roadside.

For his threat held no meaning whatsoever to him.

A few breaths later.

Fro drew his last breath.

Akin flicked the blood from his body, fixed his gaze on the warehouse, and said coldly:

"Come out yourself, or I'll burn this place down!"

His temperament differed from Xiang Keluo's; he had no patience for such roundabout schemes.

As long as it was Gao Wen's command, he would complete it at the cost of his life; any threat standing before him would be leveled by force.

A few breaths later.

Seeing no movement from within, Akin picked up a flintlock pistol from the ground and aimed it at the gunpowder inside.

His finger had just touched the trigger.

A weak voice echoed from within the warehouse.

"Wait!"

Immediately, a graceful golden-haired woman emerged from the warehouse.

Blood stained the woman's garments; her steps were unsteady, her face deathly pale; clearly, she had gone hungry for a long time.

It was Miss Kalifa, who had been hiding here for so long.

Looking at Akin before her, a faint, barely perceptible glint flashed in Miss Kalifa's eyes, yet her voice softened, even carrying a hint of a sob:

"You are pirates, aren't you? If possible, please save me and my companions, even if I must pay any price!"

As she spoke, Miss Kalifa pressed her lips tightly together, knelt on both knees, and buried her head directly into the dirt.

"Miss Kalifa!"

"I do not need you to do this!"

Akin paused slightly, raised his hand, and ordered the subordinates behind him to lower their guns.

At that very moment, a weak yet cold and hard voice, like stone, came from behind:

"Are you also a dog of the World Government?!"

Roubo Luqi struggled to his feet, wounds across his body bursting open and oozing blood, yet he showed not the slightest emotion.

Instead, his face remained cold as he stepped in front of Miss Kalifa, adopting the posture of one willing to die for his companion.

"Luqi..."

Miss Kalifa called his name softly, turned to exchange a glance with Roubo Luqi, then looked back at Akin.

They had disguised themselves for so long, calculating precisely that Gao Wen's pirate crew would arrive at Red Rose Port.

Originally, their plan was to sneak directly onto Gao Wen's ship, then stage a performance of companions sacrificing themselves for one another.

Combined with the arranged tragic backstory, Luqi's own combat power, and her own beauty, they were highly confident of gaining Gao Wen's approval and slipping into Gao Wen's pirate crew.

After all, according to the intelligence they had obtained, the Knight Gao Wen was precisely the type of person who valued companions above all.

That was why he had spared the Ghost Akin before, even inviting him to join his ranks and become a capable assistant.

Encountering Akin early had shattered their plan, yet it also offered them another opportunity.

Luqi gritted his teeth:

"I have only this one companion left now; no matter what, I will not let you—!"

Before his voice could fade, he fell backward, as if completely unconscious.

Relying on the ability of Life Return, Luqi controlled every muscle in his body to tear his wounds wide open; blood instantly flooded the ground.

What a miserable sight!

"Please, save him!"

Miss Kalifa顺势 buried her head even lower, almost pressing it into the dirt:

"I will do anything you ask!"

A flicker of reluctance passed through Akin's eyes, for he thought of his former self.

Back at Raven Port, he too had stood before Gao Wen just as Miss Kalifa had, to keep Creek alive, yet he was still treated by Creek as a tool and nearly lost his life on the spot.

In this moment, the Ghost felt a pang of compassion, yet he remained rational.

After all, if his impulsive action brought trouble to Gao Wen, he could not accept it under any circumstances.

"I can pretend I never came."

(End of this chapter)