Chapter 187: The Entire Process Was Wrong, Yet the Result Was Completely Right!

Several days later.

The introductory manual for the Six Styles, which had barely warmed in everyone's hands, received its first version update.

"Six Styles... Advanced Version?!"

Xiang Keluo looked at the cultivation manual Gao Wen had just distributed, feeling only that it was absurd.

Unlike the others, he was clearly aware of the origin of this advanced Six Styles version.

Now that Gao Wen had released the advanced version, it proved he had nearly perfectly mastered the Six Styles; the ultimate proof was the Six Styles Secret Art, Life Return, annotated at the end of the advanced manual.

"How long has it been?!"

"Even counting the time before we entered Drum Kingdom, since Roubo Luqi and Miss Kalifa joined, it has been less than two months."

"Does that mean that monster perfectly mastered the Navy's Six Styles in just two months?"

"What kind of freak is this?!"

Xiang Keluo took a deep breath, set the booklet aside, and turned to gaze at the undulating sea in the distance, his eyes filled with confusion and incomprehension:

"Are we really the same species?!"

"No matter how you look at it... this speed is simply too absurd, isn't it?"

At this moment.

Xiang Keluo even overturned all his previous judgments.

He truly realized.

Gao Wen had never been hiding his strength; rather, he learned quickly, unimaginably fast, beyond all reason.

"I was so foolish... truly..."

"What are you muttering about?"

Ah Jin walked over in a few strides and casually placed a hand on Xiang Keluo's shoulder.

"Nothing, the wind on the deck is a bit strong, I'm a little scared."

"Don't scare me..."

While the two were chatting nonsense, on the other side, Roubo Luqi, who had just received the advanced Six Styles version, was completely dumbfounded.

Even with a mindset as firm as his, he couldn't help himself for a moment and nearly stumbled to the ground.

"Luqi... you..."

A pirate looked at Luqi with tears of emotion, an indescribable fire seeming to flicker in his eyes:

"You actually brought out your trump card, the advanced Six Styles techniques, just so everyone could become stronger?!"

"Luqi, no, Instructor!"

"During this time, your guidance for us, we will keep it in our hearts."

"Aside from the Captain, no one has ever guided us so closely on how to become stronger; it is truly too moving!"

Speaking thus.

This pirate couldn't hold back and burst into tears on the spot, sparking wild resonance among the surrounding pirates.

In their view.

Only Luqi and Miss Kalifa on this ship were proficient in the Navy's Six Styles, so only they could have written this advanced Six Styles version.

Even though Luqi denied it repeatedly, everyone took it as mere modesty, having already decided in their hearts that the Navy's Six Styles had been disseminated by Luqi.

"Seeking neither fame nor profit, devoted solely to contributing to the pirate crew."

"Luqi, in this aspect, I am not your equal!"

"I fear that even among all the officers, you are the one most loyal to the pirate crew."

The crowd surrounded Luqi, sobbing with emotion, the fire in their eyes making Luqi's hair stand on end.

He exerted tremendous effort to barely break free from the crowd, escaping like a fugitive into the ship's cabin, with Miss Kalifa following him in upon seeing this.

A few minutes later.

In the suite, the two sat facing each other, their expressions incredibly Solemn.

"Things have become serious!"

Lucci Heavily threw the Six Styles cultivation manual in his hand onto the table, his tone cold and sharp:

"This advanced Six Styles version released by Gao Wen already involves high-level Six Styles content, even including Six Styles Secret Arts like Life Return."

"Very few people within the Navy and the World Government master this technique!"

"Our previous deduction was wrong!"

"The identity of the mole Gao Wen buried within the Navy cannot be low; it could be a high-ranking member of the CP organization, or even a general or admiral."

"This time, we have truly caught a big fish."

Miss Kalifa nodded:

"When their ship docks at the next port, we will send the message back."

"Mm."

Luqi responded with a sound.

The two exchanged a glance, confirming their previous thoughts in their hearts.

Luqi (Miss Kalifa) cannot continue this mission!

The organization's high command must transfer him away!

Several days later.

Gao Wen's pirate crew anchored at a port.

Due to their status as Warlords of the Sea, nearby pirates fled at the sight of them; no fool dared provoke Gao Wen. After resupplying, they set sail once more.

Miss Kalifa and Roubo Luqi also took the opportunity to transmit their intelligence.

Soon.

Both reports landed on Spandam's desk.

Looking at the two reports—similar in content yet different in detail—Spandam grimaced in frustration.

"Roubo Luqi claims Miss Kalifa's plan will fail, possibly costing her life, and urges me to recall her."

"Miss Kalifa claims Roubo Luqi is physically compromised and unable to complete his mission, and urges me to recall him."

Spandam's lip twitched; he gripped the sword at his waist, seething with rage:

"Are you two playing games with me? The target isn't even secured, and you're already turning on each other?"

He never imagined that the two elite agents he had personally selected would encounter this problem instead of completing their mission.

"I… damn it!"

"Forget it."

Spandam's face twisted into a bitter frown.

He forced himself to calm down, thought it through, and made a decision.

"Neither of them will be recalled."

"Their current situation differs from when they were in Water Seven; they've already blended into Gao Wen's crew on the surface."

"Recalling one abruptly would expose the other, and recalling both would ruin the mission—my promotion plan would be dead."

"And that old bastard is pressing me harder and harder…"

Mentioning Spandaryn, Spandam's gaze grew dark.

His relationship with his father had already shattered; both wished to crush the other beneath their feet.

He had dispatched agents to investigate Spandaryn's dealings with Crocodile in Alabasta—and progress had been made.

"Gabra has infiltrated the side of the escaped Alabasta Princess Vivi; following the trail will lead us into Baroque Works and the Alabasta royal court."

"Even if Vivi discovers his identity later, we can claim he was investigating Baroque Works and didn't know her true status."

"This is the only good news…"

"No!"

Spandam's gaze fell upon the reports submitted by Roubo Luqi and Miss Kalifa. His pupils shrank; he shot to his feet:

"Intelligence has been leaked? There's likely a mole from Gao Wen's pirate crew inside the World Government or Navy?!"

"Here it comes!"

"My chance for promotion and fortune has finally arrived!"

"Even…"

Spandam's eyes shifted, recalling Spandaryn's threats to him; his gaze grew colder:

"You forced me to do this, old man!"

Spandam clenched his teeth, pulled a pen from a nearby holder, and began drafting a report for CP headquarters based on the intelligence returned by Roubo Luqi and Miss Kalifa.

In this report, he subtly—and not so subtly—shifted blame onto Spandaryn, aiming to trigger a World Government investigation against him.

"You've held this position far longer than I have. I don't believe your hands are clean. If the higher-ups investigate, they'll find something!"

…

Soon.

Spandaryn's report stirred upheaval within the World Government and Navy.

The Six Powers, as the accumulated lifeblood of countless generations of World Government elites, were of irreplaceable importance.

This time, even the Five Elders in Mary Geoise intervened, demanding a full investigation and the removal of all implicated personnel.

The Navy's Criminal Investigation Division also swiftly launched an inquiry.

One by one, Navy officers—though uninvolved in this case—were toppled for corruption, collusion with pirates, or deliberately allowing pirate strength to grow.

Within just a few days, dozens of Navy officers had been removed and placed under investigation.

As the Navy's Criminal Investigation Division screened Gao Wen's past, a familiar name appeared before Hei Ma Tian Zheng.

"Vergo, Vice Admiral of New World GL-5 Branch!"

At the Navy high command meeting:

Tian Zheng raised his doubts and presented a series of evidence. He wore black sunglasses, his hair immaculately styled, facing the Navy's senior officers.

"When Gao Wen's pirate crew was in the East Blue, they infiltrated Crow Port under Vergo's name."

"But his activities were confined to the East Blue—how could he possibly have known about Vergo?!"

On the Admiral's seat, Sengoku frowned slightly and questioned:

"Vergo?!"

"There's no possibility he colluded with Knight Gao Wen."

"In the years since he took command of G5, he has brought order to its problems, personally suppressing numerous internal uprisings."

"Even G5's unruly soldiers hold him in high regard."

Tian Zheng nodded and said:

"He did not collude with Knight Gao Wen. But our investigation uncovered something interesting."

He glanced at Sengoku, hesitating as if unsure whether to speak.

"Speak!"

"He has engaged in some kind of deal with another Warlord of the Sea."

"The other... Warlord of the Sea..."

Sengoku froze for a moment.

A familiar face flashed before his eyes and vanished; it was Rosinante, his adopted son long since deceased.

That marine, who should have been hailed by the world as a god yet possessed a kind heart, had also died at the hands of a Warlord of the Sea.

And the name of that man, Sengoku would never forget until the day he died.

Sengoku's eyes instantly turned red:

"Tang Jikede—Donquixote Doflamingo?!"

"Correct!"

"Vergo's identity is highly likely that of a member of the Tang Jikede Family; he may have been placed as a spy within the Marines over a decade ago."

"Good!"

Sengoku gritted his teeth, the fury in his eyes nearly reaching the point of wanting to devour anyone in his path.

For a moment, even the high-ranking Marines present were stunned.

Throughout his life of campaigning, Sengoku had faced countless powerful enemies, including legendary figures who roamed the seas like Roger, Whitebeard, and Shiki, yet he had never once displayed such a ferocious demeanor as he did now.

"Sengoku..."

Tsuru murmured softly, while Garp and Zephyr nearby likewise looked dim-eyed.

They understood the reason behind Sengoku's reaction.

It was solely because his only adopted son, that young man who had infiltrated Doflamingo's side, had been betrayed by their own people and died tragically many years ago.

Boom!

Sengoku slammed his palm onto the conference table, splitting the thick wooden board outright; the sound squeezed from his throat resembled that of a vicious ghost from the abyss:

"Investigate!"

"Investigate to the very end!"

"If it truly is Vergo... I will handle it personally."

As he spoke, Sengoku's demeanor gradually returned to normal.

But only those familiar with him knew just what kind of rage he was suppressing at this moment.

At the same time.

Within the CP organization, a search for traitors was also underway.

As Spandam had expected, the CP organization's primary focus centered on his father, Spandine.

A group of CP agents surrounded Spandine's residence, only to find it empty.

Upon learning that the CP organization had begun purging traitors, Spandine fled overnight.

Even without formidable combat power, the keen instincts accumulated over decades of agent work still allowed him to slip away from the encirclement of CP members.

At this moment, aboard a cruise ship on the Grand Line.

Spandine, now dressed as a merchant, stood on the deck with two trusted subordinates, gazing out at the distant sea.

He had originally thought that, by virtue of knowing those unsavory dealings Spandam conducted in secret, he could easily manipulate him.

He never expected Spandam to act with such decisiveness that he hadn't even had time to react.

"That brat has grown up; only with such ruthlessness can you survive longer in that man-eating organization."

A hint of relief appeared on Spandine's face, yet there was also an indescribable bewilderment.

After the incident, he had immediately sought aid from the one who had issued him orders, only to be ruthlessly abandoned.

"As expected, in the eyes of those swine at Mary Geoise, apart from themselves, everyone else is nothing more than a toilet."

"Once problems arise, they simply throw you away."

Spandine's gaze gradually turned cold and sinister:

"Relying on power ultimately leads to abandonment; only strength is everything, yet by the time I realized this, it was already too late."

"Without the protective skin of the World Government, my transaction with Crocodile naturally cannot continue."

"But I have basically figured out his objective in Alabasta."

"That is one of the three Ancient Weapons, the most evil warship said to be capable of destroying an entire island with a single shot—Pluto!"

"It's just... where should I go next?!"

In Spandine's eyes, the sinister cruelty faded, leaving only indescribable bewilderment.

Yet at this very moment.

The deck darkened as some colossal object swept across the horizon, blocking out the sunlight.

Spandine instinctively looked up and witnessed a shocking scene.

Several islands floating amidst the clouds swept past the horizon, covered in dense vegetation and teeming with gigantic, strange beasts.

"What... what is that?!"

Alongside Spandine's confusion, an extremely arrogant laughter echoed from the sky.

"Hahahahaha—!"

In the next instant, a face both familiar and strange rushed over from the distance.

The moment he recognized the visitor's identity, light reignited in Spandine's eyes.

Several days later.

Inside the CP organization.

A meeting was underway; countless high-ranking officials sat around the conference table, yet not a single person spoke, the atmosphere oppressive and solemn.

Until the man seated in the main position slowly opened his mouth:

"The CP organization, the World Government, and the Navy have all completed self-inspections, rooting out numerous parasites."

"Many have fallen from power, yet not one was due to leaking the Six Styles; moreover, our people have discovered something quite interesting."

(End of Chapter)