Chapter 202: Utopia

"Ah."

Gao Wen nodded:

"Just as I thought."

"Given that guy's personality, he's certainly capable of such a thing."

"How do we respond?"

Solemnity appeared on Xiang Keluo's face.

After entering the Grand Line, especially after arriving in Alabasta, the name Baroque Works frequently reached Xiang Keluo's ears.

It was almost synonymous with power.

Moreover, standing behind them was Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords, just like Hody Jones who had nearly crushed Gao Wen back then.

A ruthless figure who once fought the Pirate King Roger's crew to a standstill twenty years ago.

He had no choice but to be cautious.

However, compared to Xiang Keluo's solemn expression, Gao Wen appeared much more indifferent.

He bent down, took a bottle of rum from under the bar, poured himself a glass, took a light sip, and then said calmly:

"Even among the Seven Warlords, there are differences."

"Among them, the strongest, like Hody Jones, possess the power to fight Navy Admirals, or even the Four Emperors of the New World, those top-tier powers."

"The weak, like Hanafusa, might not even be able to defeat you, Akin, and Roubo Luqi working together now."

"Crocodile was indeed very strong in the past, even once approaching the level of top-tier combat power, but unfortunately..."

"Time's effect on people is not always positive."

"He has grown old."

"His heart has grown old."

Xiang Keluo understood:

"Are you saying he might not be as strong as the rumors claim?"

"What about Baroque Works?"

"A power that dominates a region of the Grand Line must surely have many strong people within its ranks, right?"

"Oh."

Gao Wen put down his glass, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes:

"During the last Martial Arts Tournament, Daz Bones and Mr. 2, who withdrew mid-tournament, were the first and second-in-command of that organization."

Xiang Keluo was stunned:

"Ah?"

Since entering the Grand Line.

The combat power of Gao Wen's crew of officers, boosted by the Experience Money Jar and their increasingly intense internal competition, had skyrocketed by a level.

In terms of pure base power, Xiang Keluo and Akin had already surpassed Roubo Luqi from the Enies Lobby arc in the original story.

Even though Roubo Luqi still possessed Zoan abilities and his stats could be even higher.

Akin also possessed the Bon Bon Fruit, which greatly enhanced his physical body.

After Xiang Keluo mastered Soru, his own speed skyrocketed again; on this ship, no one except Gao Wen and Akin, who had mastered Observation Haki, could even touch him.

Moreover, the two of them had mastered an advanced version of Armament Haki.

If they were placed as the final bosses in the Enies Lobby battle, their performance might not be worse than Roubo Luqi's at that time.

Xiang Keluo looked at the wine glass on the bar and instantly understood why Gao Wen had been so indifferent from the start:

"If Daz Bones were still at the level of a few months ago, he would indeed pose no threat."

"But if we actually fight them, the World Government will surely intervene in a battle between Seven Warlords, right?"

This was Xiang Keluo's greatest worry.

After entering the Grand Line, he had already felt the convenience brought by the status of a Seven Warlord.

Whether in neutral ports or ports within various kingdoms, none would forbid the entry of a Seven Warlord's ship.

For pirates, such privilege was so great it could be called absurd.

Naturally, they would not easily give it up.

"The Seven Warlords are the Seven Warlords, and Baroque Works is Baroque Works."

"The Poneglyphs guarded by the Alabasta royal family for generations cannot see the light of day; does that mean Crocodile secretly controlling Baroque Works can see the light of day?"

Xiang Keluo understood, a hint of a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth:

"You mean..."

"According to your reasoning, the probability of Crocodile making a move is almost one hundred percent."

Gao Wen made his deployment:

"We will split into three groups."

"Let Roubo Luqi and Akin return to Whiskey Peak; that is one of Baroque Works' strongholds."

"You take people and enter the Alabasta interior; there is a casino named Rainbase in Rain Dinners, which is the stronghold of Baroque Works' high command."

"I will take Vivi and the others to Yuba Port to exchange the hostages."

"As long as he dares to make a move, we will simply destroy Baroque Works!"

"Understood!"

"Captain!"

Following Gao Wen's subsequent deployment.

Gao Wen's pirate crew stayed in this small town for a few days, seized two passing small pirate ships, and then the group split up to act separately.

Xiang Keluo, Van Augur, Nami, Sanji, and a host of ordinary crew members steered the Crow toward the Rainbase in the Alabasta interior.

Roubo Luqi, Mr. 5, and Zoro turned back toward Whiskey Peak.

Gao Wen, taking Miss Kalifa, Vivi, and others, went to the agreed location at the Canola Port, preparing to return her to the Kingdom of Alabasta.

Several days later.

Vivi stood on the deck of a seized small pirate ship, watching Gao Wen's pirate crew split into three, as a layer of tears misted her eyes.

Even though she did not know what decision Gao Wen had made, seeing this scene, she understood that Gao Wen intended to intervene in Alabasta's internal affairs.

Originally, she had given up on this plan, preparing to save this country by her own strength.

She never expected that after passing through that small town, the situation would take a dramatic turn.

"Ikaram~"

Tears the size of beans slid from the corners of Vivi's eyes.

She threw herself into Ikaram's arms, and the emotions she had suppressed in her heart were completely released in that instant.

"Sanji was right."

"If Mr. Gao Wen sees all this, he absolutely cannot stand by and watch with cold eyes."

"Waaah..."

Standing on the deck, Gao Wen heard most of what Vivi said and couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile:

"So I was calculated by my own people?"

"I was wondering why the route of this voyage has always been within the Bastan Realm, even passing consecutively through so many destroyed towns."

"With Nami's abilities, she should have been able to completely avoid such things."

"However."

"In the end, it was my own choice."

"These guys understand my personality a bit too well."

The pirate ship raised its sails and, following the direction of the sea breeze, slowly sailed toward the distance.

In the abandoned small town.

Robin's figure slowly emerged from the yellow sand.

She watched the pirate ship carrying Gao Wen until it disappeared at the end of her vision.

"Splitting into three routes; has he already decided to intervene in Alabasta's affairs?"

"I just don't know..."

"Whether it is excessive confidence in himself, or because of that woman."

"The Princess of Alabasta, Vivi."

Robin turned and walked into the bar that belonged to her.

Creak~!

The door opened.

The light inside the bar was still dim, yet it carried a hint of warmth.

Aside from a half-finished bottle of rum and two wine glasses on the bar counter.

There was also a sticky note attached.

Robin slowly tore off that sticky note, but her gaze trembled slightly when she saw the content Gao Wen had left:

"Nicole Robin, do you want to join my ship?"

"We will find a place to take root in the New World and create an ideal land where everyone under this pirate flag can survive."

"—Knight Gao Wen"

For a moment.

The bar fell silent.

Only the phonograph continued to turn; amidst the booming sound, soft music scattered into every corner of the bar.

"Another... ideal land?"

Robin looked at the sticky note in her hand, her expression complex, even revealing a trace of coldness.

When the Baroque Works was first established, and every member joined and fought to the death, the goal was to create an ideal land right here.

But on such a barren piece of land, struggling to survive is already extremely difficult; an ideal land of freedom?

It is naturally Crocodile's lie.

"Is this another lie, or... is there really a man childish enough to want to oppose the World Government's will with his own strength?"

Robin's eyes dimmed.

She had countless times raised a sliver of hope to see the sunlight due to someone's accidental kindness.

But what she waited for the next day.

Was either the pursuit by the World Government and the Marines, or one after another of ambitious men like Crocodile.

Near-endless betrayal and flight had left her physically and mentally exhausted.

Even knowing that Crocodile's use of her was merely simple exploitation, either for temporary stability or for the Alabasta Poneglyph.

She had chosen this temporary shelter.

But now another man extends an olive branch to her again, using the very reason Crocodile had long since lost credibility.

"Forget it."

"I should not hold any hope for this world."

In the midst of his words.

Robin crumpled the note Gao Wen had left into a ball, raised her hand to toss it into the trash can, yet slowly withdrew her hand.

She unfolded and smoothed out that note bit by bit, then placed it inside the book in her arms.

"Buru buru—!"

The urgent insect bell suddenly rang out.

After connecting.

Crocodile's hoarse voice came through the receiver.

"Nico Robin, where are you?"

Robin let her eyelids droop, flipping through the book in her hand, yet her gaze remained fixed on that note.

"In the temporary base in Baruto Town."

"Did you meet anyone?"

Robin paused slightly, turning her head to look at the distant sea.

At this moment.

Gao Wen and his group had long since vanished.

She picked up the receiver and said calmly:

"If a dried corpse buried in the sand counts, then I suppose I have met someone."

"Is that so?"

Crocodile on the other end of the receiver fell silent, yet this lasted only a few seconds before he spoke again:

"Return to Alabasta first; our operations must accelerate. Deciphering the Poneglyphs is something only you can do."

"Understood, BOSS."

A few minutes later.

The lights in the bar went out; with Robin's departure, this small town lost its last trace of vitality.

……

……

……

Time passed; several days went by.

Rapeseed Flower Port.

This is one of the few large ports in the Kingdom of Alabasta, famous throughout the Grand Line for its perfume production.

Even though Alabasta is destitute, this place should have been extremely prosperous, with countless merchant ships passing through.

Yet now it was utterly silent.

When Gao Wen piloted the small pirate ship he had stolen to arrive here, the entire port contained only that one pirate ship beneath his feet.

"Cleared the area in advance?"

"That's hardly surprising."

Gao Wen murmured, then led everyone off the ship and proceeded into the port according to the agreed location.

The journey was silent.

Quickly.

Several Kingdom of Alabasta guards appeared within Gao Wen's line of sight.

Leading them was a short middle-aged man wearing glasses on his nose, bowing and scraping with a sycophantic expression:

"My lord Gao Wen, this is the ransom prepared."

The middle-aged man beckoned to those behind him, and a guard placed a leather suitcase before Gao Wen, opening it to reveal neatly stacked cash inside.

"Please hand Princess Vivi over to us."

Gao Wen did not look at the cash on the ground; his gaze fixed on the middle-aged man.

Although the middle-aged man had attempted some degree of disguise, his unique hairstyle was far too conspicuous.

Gao Wen recognized his identity at a single glance.

Mr. 3, Galdino, the third figure of Baroque Works.

In terms of combat power alone, he did not even rank in the top five within Baroque Works, but his conduct was despicable, unscrupulous, and his bottom line extremely flexible.

In this regard, he had even reached a point where Crocodile held him in high regard.

That fellow Crocodile indeed intends to make his move here; I wonder what tricks you will pull.

A faint smile curled Gao Wen's lips; he signaled to someone nearby, and Owl and Wataru stepped forward, pressing a bound woman with her hands tied and a hood over her head.

"The person you want."

Mr. 3 removed the woman's hood, only to see an extremely haggard face.

He picked up the photo beside him for comparison; seeing that the photo and the person shared seven-tenths resemblance, he set his mind at ease.

After all, Vivi had been in exile for several months and had been imprisoned by Gao Wen's pirate crew, suffering greatly; some change in her appearance was understandable.

With the hostage secured, Mr. 3's expression instantly turned cold.

He raised his hand to push his glasses; the lenses reflected light under the moonlight, and his entire demeanor became strangely chilling:

"Throughout this journey, Princess Vivi owes much to you, sir, but I do have a request."

"Speak."

Gao Wen's lips curled slightly; sensing the killing intent everywhere around him, his expression became utterly indifferent.

"Could you please... die!"

The words fell to the ground.

Between the surrounding buildings, flames suddenly flashed, as a continuous stream of bullets and artillery shells shot toward Gao Wen, engulfing him in an instant.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Dust and smoke billowed everywhere.

MR3 curled the corners of his mouth into a smug smile:

"Even without the Boss making a move, I can handle this matter—!"

Hiss!

MR3 had only spoken half his sentence when he felt a chill across his chest; gushing blood flowed from the wound on his torso, dripping onto the ground.

He turned his head in a daze, only to find Vivi before his eyes completely transformed.

Golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, mature and alluring, her eyes indifferent, clearly marking her as a formidable figure who had killed countless people.

Where was even a trace of her previous demeanor?

He had fallen into a trap!

By the time MR3 realized this, it was already too late.

The wound on his chest stripped him of all power to resist, carrying his life away with it as it faded.

At that same moment.

From within the distant dust and smoke, two tall figures suddenly darted out, attacking the Baroque Works assassins lurking nearby.

One transformed into a tall and agile werewolf, its claws and fangs ferocious.

The other's white hair fluttered wildly, shaping itself into fingers that pierced into human bodies like bullets.

(End of Chapter)