Chapter 193: Sorry, Captain Jin

It must be remembered that those Devil Fruits themselves are existences that break the laws of nature, turning the impossible into the possible.

The Munch-Munch Fruit ignores physical properties to arbitrarily combine living beings and inanimate objects; the Merge Fruit manipulates inorganic matter and can even create giants whose size rivals islands; add to that the Scissor-Scissor Fruit, which severs all things and grants them a softness akin to paper...

The mere combination of these three is enough to process any material with any property in this world.

If there were more Paramecia-type abilities, their coordination would allow even more to be accomplished, even reaching a state of near omnipotence.

Constructing a ship would pose no problem whatsoever.

And the most critical issue, how to power the Pluton, has in fact already been solved by Vegapunk.

That is the Mother Flame, a power source that is nearly infinite.

In the original story.

People from the World Government once secretly removed a portion of the Mother Flame to power a certain Ancient Weapon.

That Ancient Weapon fired a single shot that erased the entire Kingdom of Lulusia from the map and even caused a global rise in sea levels.

Such power has reached a degree that cannot be described in words.

Individual strength.

Even as strong as Whitebeard and Luo Jie, under a full-scale release, could absolutely not achieve such a thing.

The power of the Ancient Weapons is no longer something human strength can counter.

In terms of equivalent comparison, beings like Whitebeard and Luo Jie, in Xiang Gaowen's previous life, if they were equivalent to thermal weapons with large-scale destructive capabilities, then the status of the Ancient Weapons would be equivalent to nuclear weapons.

The World Government has ruled the world for eight hundred years; countless strongmen have emerged during this period, including even such formidable figures as Rocks, Red Count, and Luo Jie.

Yet not a single one truly threatened the World Government's rule.

But a controllable Ancient Weapon, combined with a Yonko-level force, could.

And politics is the art of compromise.

When you truly possess the ability to drag the World Government down to destruction with you, it means you can also sit at the table to eat.

Therefore, it is false for Xiang Gaowen to say he was not tempted.

Even though his original goal was merely to create a paradise in the New World where he and his companions could live in peace.

But if this peace were protected by an Ancient Weapon, it would become even more secure.

Xiang Gaowen looked up at Roubo Luqi, his eyes extremely solemn, and said:

"Then let us build a Pluton."

"However, the prerequisite for all this is first obtaining the Pluton's blueprints."

"And this process must not be known to the World Government; otherwise, what awaits us is the Navy's endless siege."

"The World Government will not allow a force possessing an Ancient Weapon to exist."

Saying this,

Xiang Gaowen could not help but add another reminder:

"Even if we fail to obtain it, we must first protect the safety of our own people."

"After all, I also want to try whether my own strength can reach a level comparable to an Ancient Weapon."

Roubo Luqi was stunned, yet he could not help but feel a surge of emotion in his heart.

The idea of a human being comparable to an Ancient Weapon has absolutely no possibility of realization.

The difference in magnitude between them is far too great.

Even Whitebeard, known as the strongest man in the world, empowered by the Tremor-Tremor Fruit capable of destroying the world, could not compare to an Ancient Weapon.

Therefore, in Roubo Luqi's eyes, there was only one reason Xiang Gaowen spoke such words:

To reduce the psychological burden on his companions, so they would not blame themselves too much for failure; but the more he said this, the more Roubo Luqi wanted to repay this man.

"I understand, Captain."

"We have confirmed that the Pluton blueprints are in Water 7; we just do not know where Tom, Luo Jie's shipwright, has hidden them."

"When I originally withdrew from the mission in Water 7, I had already locked onto two targets."

"Iceburg, the general manager of the Galley-La Company and also the mayor, and the missing for many years, Cutty Flam."

Revealing information related to the Pluton meant that he had no retreat left.

But Roubo Luqi felt not a shred of regret in his heart, only an indescribable sense of relief and joy.

After all, Xiang Gaowen was different from the CP organization, which would ruthlessly erase you once you lost your utility value.

Even for subordinates who could no longer keep up with his pace and had become mere burdens, he chose a path of retreat for them.

Raven Port, Red Dragon Street.

Although Roubo Luqi had never been there, he had heard about it from Miss Kalifa and the companions on the ship.

It was a paradise created by Xiang Gaowen for the companions left behind in the East Blue.

"I will personally hand over the Pluton blueprints."

"Uh..."

"Anyway, stay safe."

"Mm."

Time passed in a flash, and it was already deep into the night.

Accompanied by the familiar system prompt sound entering his ears, today's experience gain was settled once again.

Xiang Gaowen glanced over it roughly; seeing the data was much the same as before, he skillfully opened the experience piggy bank's distribution record.

The names of Roubo Luqi and Miss Kalifa were prominently listed among them.

Although they were merely at the very end, they were truly recognized by the system, which also meant they had officially become members of Xiang Gaowen's pirate crew.

And not, as before, mere leeks.

Luqi's combat power goes without saying, and Kalifa's work ability has also been tested by Bingshan.

For Xiang Gaowen, what mattered most was that with these two joining, others from CP9—Kaku, Gabora, and more—might also be brought on board in the future.

Even the design blueprints of Poseidon might be obtained.

Xiang Gaowen turned to look out the window and saw the deck still lit up; Luqi was directing several craftsmen as they repaired the Raven's propulsion system.

Luqi had changed into the work attire he wore during his undercover days in Water Seven, and the white pigeon named Hadoli perched on his shoulder, occasionally letting out a coo.

It was visibly clear.

Though Luqi still remained stern, he had lost some of the gloom left by his spy career and gained a measure of ease and calm, as if reborn.

"It really is like living again."

Xiang Gaowen murmured, raised his hand to draw the curtain, and the light inside the room dimmed.

On the deck.

Luqi felt something, turned back toward Xiang Gaowen's room, and couldn't help but smile slightly:

"This time, the captain's gaze no longer carries that cold, scrutinizing edge."

"Nn~"

"Hadoli, we've found a good home."

Only the pigeon's cheerful cry answered him; it even spread its wings, flew high, and landed steadily atop the flagpole, surveying everything around.

"Hmph, even you've betrayed the World Government?"

"No!"

"We've been reborn in the Xiang Gaowen Pirates."

At that moment,

a familiar voice reached Luqi's ears.

"What are you muttering to yourself about?"

Luqi turned to see Akin tossing him a bottle of sherry.

He instinctively reached out and caught it, glanced at the unfamiliar pattern on the bottle, and smiled faintly:

"Thank you."

"Huh?!"

Akin froze, as if witnessing something extraordinary:

"You, Mr. Bingshan, actually know how to smile?!"

"Ah."

Luqi pulled out the cork, took a sip of sherry, and swallowed the liquor with its sharp, slightly sour, spicy taste.

When he turned to look at Akin,

his eyes held a touch of apology:

"Sorry, Captain Akin. I've been lying to you all along."

"I, uh~"

"I boarded this ship originally as a spy."

"I know."

Akin nodded, his expression warm with relief:

"I've been waiting for you to say that."

"You know what?"

Luqi paused.

"Ah."

Akin's lips curled into a faint smile:

"Didn't I say before? I'm not stupid."

"How could it be such a coincidence?"

"We just entered the Grand Line, and suddenly we meet someone with a similar past, and then, just as suddenly, we're betrayed?"

"I just saw my past self in you."

As he spoke, Akin clapped Luqi on the shoulder and said:

"So now?"

"I have only one identity now."

Luqi looked down at his clothes, then at the craftsmen still working in the distance, his eyes filled with quiet satisfaction:

"Chief shipwright of the Xiang Gaowen Pirates—and the man who will claim the top seat."

Akin shook his head:

"You're still eight hundred years away from challenging me."

"Who knows?"

Luqi remained unmoved; his entire spirit surged at that moment:

"By the way, in CP9, there was a standard for measuring attack power called Dào Lì."

"With a trained marine as the baseline at ten Dào Lì, I had nearly three thousand. I wonder how much the captain and others have."

Akin recalled Xiang Gaowen's absurd strength and said:

"You'd probably need to add a zero to your number?!"

"Thirty thousand?!"

"I'm just guessing—after all, if the captain uses his Red Dragon Fruit, there's no point even trying."

"That's true as well."

"..."

The two talked further and further afield.

From the Dao Power values of their Bagua companions, to Jin's experience boarding the ship, to Luqi's twenty-plus years as an agent.

They did not know how long they had talked; they only knew that by the next morning, the empty bottles beside them had piled up like a mountain.

Even with Jin's constitution, he was drunk unconscious; yet even while drunk, a faint smile lingered on the corner of his lips.

In the following days.

With the blessing of the Captain's Wrath Badge, Luqi's wounds healed far faster than ever before, completely mending in just two days.

Once the maintenance of the propulsion system got back on track, he rejoined the army of overachievers and began to pick up the Six Powers training again.

With this trial, Luqi sensed a difference from the past.

At this moment.

In the open space within the shipyard.

Jin, Keluo, and others were all practicing the newly acquired Marine Six Powers nearby.

With the blessing of the Captain's Wrath Badge and the targeted experience feedback from the Experience Piggy Bank directed at the Six Powers, everyone's training speed could be described as advancing a thousand li in a single day.

Luqi mingled among the crowd, pointing out everyone's shortcomings without holding anything back, yet he did not neglect his own training.

From the Ultimate Art Six-King Gun to the Paper Art Martial Body, the essentials of the Six Powers were gradually unfolded by him.

He even sparred one by one with Zoro, Sanji, and even Jin, Keluo, and Van Augur.

He felt as though there was an inexhaustible amount of strength within his body.

The amount of training that would originally have brought him down now merely made him feel a hint of fatigue.

"This feeling..."

Luqi panted heavily, looking at his own hands in confusion.

He finally understood a little.

The words that pirate had spoken to him when he first boarded the ship: no matter to what extent one trained, one could recover by the next day.

"Is it because of a change in mindset?"

"In the past, I never considered myself a member of Xiang Gaowen's Pirate Crew, but now that I truly regard them as companions, has there been a change?!"

"It must be."

"It is also because my heart has been liberated, breaking free from constraints."

"From now on, my speed of becoming stronger will be even faster!"

In the midst of his words.

Luqi raised his head to look at Jin and Keluo sparring in the distance, a flame of eagerness flashing in his eyes.

"I will surpass you all, until I become the existence second only to the Captain!"

Night fell.

The sky was dotted with stars.

Under the night sky.

The members of Xiang Gaowen's Pirate Crew once again started a banquet.

Everyone sat around the bonfire, listening to the songs of the ship's musicians, laughing, drinking, and speaking nonsense that no one could understand.

Chopper sat in Nami's lap, taking a huge bite of the marshmallow in his hand, and stammered:

"Captain, is tonight another banquet to welcome new members?"

"Well~"

Xiang Gaowen waved his hand and replied perfunctorily:

"I just found a reason to hold a banquet; as for the reason..."

"That's not important!"

Saying this.

Xiang Gaowen raised his wine glass, shook it toward Luqi and Miss Kalifa, then downed it in one gulp, saying:

"Then... welcome the new members once again!"

"Ooh~~~"

Immediately, a chorus of howls like ghosts and wolves rose from the surroundings.

Everyone raised their cups and drank heartily; two pirates even walked over to the bonfire and began dancing a comical dance, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Only Luqi and Miss Kalifa in the distance exchanged a glance, seeing a hint of relaxation in each other's eyes.

"Say, Miss Kalifa, do you still want me to ask the Captain for you?"

A blush rose on Miss Kalifa's pretty face; she hurriedly stuffed the bread in her hand into Luqi's mouth and said in angry embarrassment:

"Mind your own business!"

She couldn't help but look toward Xiang Gaowen's direction; her red lips parted slightly but she ultimately said nothing, only turning back to look at Luqi and saying:

"Why ask about such things so clearly?"

"It doesn't matter who has been in his heart, but there must be me in his heart; otherwise, why did he rush to carry me back that night?!"

"Uh..."

The corner of Luqi's mouth twitched.

He really wanted to say that if Xiang Gaowen had been a little slower that night, you would have been done for.

But the situation now was, after all, different from before.

At that time, the reason he wanted Miss Kalifa to withdraw was that if she kept staying here, she would only hurt herself.

But now that they had already resolved to leave the World Government and join Xiang Gaowen's pirate crew, there was no problem at all with Miss Kalifa taking a liking to Xiang Gaowen and even taking action on it.

Roubo Luqi hesitated for a moment and muttered:

"That's true."

"But from now on, this place, this ship, wherever this flag flies, is where we will make our home."

"I will not allow anyone to destroy this place."

"No one!"

"Of course."

……

……

……

At the same time.

Within the borders of Alabasta.

The sandstorm outside the window had already subsided; the civilians who had been hiding in the buildings streamed out of their houses one after another, picked up shovels, and cleared the surrounding sand and dust.

Xiang Keluo sat in his own office, holding the receiver of a Den Den Mushi, listening to his subordinate's report:

"BOSS, we discovered traces of Knight Xiang Gaowen near Whisky Shanfeng!"

"According to the intelligence we've obtained, this place wasn't originally on their route — I'm afraid they've come for us!"

"What should we do?!"

(End of this chapter)