Chapter 155: All I Want Is an Attitude

Kalifa's body paused slightly, and a hint of understanding appeared in her lowered eyes.

Clearly, Akkin's refusal was also within his understanding.

But the fact that he had not handed himself over to the Marines to exchange for a bounty already showed that his character matched the intelligence reports.

Thinking of this,

Kalifa raised her head, as if making an important decision, and gritted her teeth, saying:

"I know who you are, Ghost Akkin, one of the subordinates of the new Warlord of the Sea."

Akkin's eyes narrowed, and his expression grew cold:

"You know my identity?"

"Ah!"

Kalifa nodded:

"At this point, there is no need for me to hide it from you anymore."

"Roubo Luqi and I were once agents within the CP9 organization under the World Government."

"But after this mission, that bastard Spandam wanted to seize Uman's treasure map and pinned the blame on us."

"Because of this, Roubo Luqi and I were hunted by the World Government."

Kalifa showed a resentful expression, her beautiful face almost twisting.

"Roubo Luqi and I decided to go all the way and simply seized the treasure map ourselves."

"As long as we obtain this treasure map, we can find Uman's gold, which is one-third of the world's gold."

"It would be useful for you, and also for Gao Wen's Pirate Crew behind you!"

Akkin said calmly:

"Aren't you afraid I will just snatch the treasure map?!"

"I..."

Kalifa's pupils contracted.

Roubo Luqi, standing nearby, struggled to open his eyes at that moment.

He slowly sat up, coughed out a large mouthful of blood, yet the killing intent throughout his body was more solid than ever before.

"If you dare to make a move against her, even if I die, I will kill you. I mean what I say!"

Upon hearing these words, several pirates following behind Akkin immediately raised their flintlock pistols, looking coldly at Roubo Luqi and the other.

At this moment,

Roubo Luqi's heart suddenly rose.

This was because they were gambling this time.

Gambling that Gao Wen's Pirate Crew would value them, gambling that the other party was interested in the secrets within the World Government, but since it was a gamble, there was a possibility of losing.

If they really fought the man in front of them here, all the arrangements made beforehand would be ruined, not to mention

that Gao Wen's Pirate Crew would inevitably be on guard against such operations in the future, making it difficult to infiltrate again.

Furthermore, looking at Akkin before him, Roubo Luqi's eyes held only an indescribable wariness.

Although he had never fought Akkin, even by instinct he could judge that the man standing before him was probably not weaker than a Rear Admiral or even a Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters.

If he were in his prime, even if Roubo Luqi could not defeat him, escaping would not be a problem, but now it was uncertain.

This was the part that truly exceeded the intelligence he had obtained.

Not only had Knight Gao Wen grown rapidly, but his subordinates had also undergone a complete transformation within half a year, truly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Sensing this, Roubo Luqi became even more convinced that Gao Wen's Pirate Crew harbored a secret unknown to others.

"Roubo Luqi!"

"Stop talking!"

Kalifa also realized the danger.

She turned and gave Roubo Luqi a look; seeing the latter understand and lower his head in silence, she then said to Akkin:

"If we die here, you will never get that treasure map!"

"..."

Akkin fell silent.

The warehouse suddenly became quiet, and the atmosphere around them chilled to the freezing point.

A few breaths later,

the killing intent on Akkin's body subsided, and the chill around them suddenly dissipated.

Kalifa felt her whole body lighten, and she saw a hint of friendly smile appear on Akkin's face, which looked like that of an evil ghost:

"Only the Captain can decide whether to help you, but I can give you a chance to persuade the Captain."

Having said this,

Akkin took out a Den Den Mushi from his chest, dialed it, and immediately Gao Wen's voice came through the receiver.

"Moshi Moshi?!"

"Akkin?"

After Akkin briefly summarized the situation here, he handed the phone over to Kalifa.

"Captain Gao Wen, I can give you Uman's treasure map, but I need you to intervene and protect me and my companions!"

For a long time, no sound of Gao Wen came through the receiver, and the scene fell silent again, but both Akkin and Kalifa and Roubo Luqi were waiting for Gao Wen's decision.

On the other end,

in the Captain's cabin of the Raven,

Gao Wen pressed the microphone of the Den Den Mushi, savoring the information Akkin had sent back, and the corners of his mouth gradually curved up.

"I just entered the Grand Line, and Luo Bu Lucci and Miss Kalifa were already being hunted for betraying the World Government; even their hiding place happened to be Red Rose Port, right on my必经 path."

"Killing the donkey after the mill is done, seizing credit and shifting blame—given Spandam's character, he would certainly do such a thing, but..."

"Isn't that a bit too coincidental?"

Gao Wen's gaze gradually brightened.

He thought of Stussy.

More than half a month before he left, the Joy Street under Stussy's control had already established itself in Raven Port, even gaining the favor of the nobles of the East Blue.

"So that woman reported my impending entry into the Grand Line back to the CP organization?"

"Is the World Government preparing to plant a spy under my command?"

Gao Wen did not find this strange; after all, the CP organization was built for exactly this, and Lucci's group was especially adept at such long-term infiltration missions.

In the original story, during the Enies Lobby arc, apart from Lucci's group hiding in Water 7, the Owl and Jaguar led by Jabra had also just returned after completing their missions.

What they executed was most likely similar to Lucci's role.

This time, however, it was my turn.

Gao Wen then realized that, unknowingly, he had already come into the World Government's sights.

Under normal circumstances, there would be no reason to allow a spy to enter one's ranks, since Gao Wen was not so bored as to seek trouble for himself.

But if the person coming was Luo Bu Lucci, then this matter was worth discussing.

The strongest person in CP9 for eight hundred years, a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, proficient in the Six Powers; if he develops normally in the future, Luo Bu Lucci would at least reach the level of a Warlord or one of the Three Calamities.

The key is that Lucci is a Zoan-type, and a Zoan-type user with Golden Potential!

If he could truly be recruited, he could almost single-handedly cover Gao Wen's future Zoan-type Devil Fruit experience.

Moreover, all members of the CP9 organization are proficient in the Six Powers.

And this technique likely points directly to Haki; even if it does not reach that stage, as a pure combat skill, it is extremely comprehensive.

"But can a crew member who does not genuinely join be recognized by the System?"

"In any case."

"Trying it won't result in a loss."

Thinking this,

Gao Wen made a decision in his heart; he picked up the microphone and said calmly:

"I do know of Uwan's treasure, but it was merely a lie; that gold had already gone missing long before he died."

"Because he found something he considered more precious than gold."

"What thing?"

Miss Kalifa froze, countless thoughts flashing through her mind in an instant.

From hidden secret treasures, to powerful Devil Fruits, to ancient weapons capable of shaking the world.

The voice reaching her ears, however, left her utterly stunned.

"It was the process of seeking gold, and the companions who stayed by his side."

"..."

Akainu's lips curled into a slight smile; clearly, this was the answer that matched his inner thoughts.

Miss Kalifa's gaze gradually grew Solemn, and Lucci beside her was the same.

That Uwan's treasure was a lie was a fact they had known all along.

After all, the World Government would not use vast amounts of gold to aid the enemy.

An agent brutally backstabbed by the World Government, the bond of comradeship, plus Uwan's treasure map—this was originally a perfect script arranged by the CP organization for them.

Combined with Gao Wen's previous activity patterns and style of handling affairs, this combination should have been a hundred percent capable of moving this man who had just become a Warlord and still believed in so-called comradeship.

But now, a problem had arisen at the most critical link.

Luo Bu Lucci's eyes instantly turned cold, already beginning to consider how to escape; even Miss Kalifa quietly placed her hands behind her back.

However, their movements were interrupted in the next instant by Gao Wen's voice.

"However, I admire those who cherish their companions."

Miss Kalifa had just sighed in relief when she heard Gao Wen continue:

"Since the treasure map is useless, then bring something else as your token of loyalty."

"I want the complete Six Powers!"

"This..."

Miss Kalifa froze, her expression sinking.

The Six Powers, as combat techniques perfected over centuries by the Navy and the CP organization, two violent institutions, through the efforts of countless strong men, are top-tier in both functionality and practicality.

More importantly, the Six Powers are a skill that aids Haki cultivation.

If giving Uwan's gold to Gao Wen was aiding the enemy, then handing the Six Powers to Gao Wen was uprooting the World Government itself.

For a moment, Miss Kalifa hesitated.

It was only because she was unsure whether, for this mission, letting the Six Powers fall into the hands of a group of pirates was truly worth it.

She instinctively argued:

"Cultivating the Six Powers is far more rigorous than you imagine; even entering the basics requires several years, or even a decade."

"It holds no meaning for you; rather than spending time on the Six Powers, you should continue developing your own power."

"I—!"

"What?"

Gao Wen spoke, cutting off Miss Kalifa's words:

"You are all being hunted by the Navy; logically, you could use World Government assets to secure a place to hide, isn't that a guaranteed profit?"

"Or could it be... that all of this is a play acted out by you?"

(End of Chapter)