Chapter 239

At the same time.

Gao Wen had just arrived at Alubarna, settled Robin, told her the general plan for the future, and was preparing to depart for Whiskey Peak.

"Captain, Roubo Luqi and Miss Kalifa were once part of the World Government, and are even very likely members of the CP organization under the World Government."

Robin spoke up to stop Gao Wen, a hint of worry faintly visible in her eyes:

"I have dealt with them many times before. For these agents, deception and disguise are basic cultivation. I'm worried..."

"It won't happen."

Gao Wen shook his head.

Now, regarding Roubo Luqi and Miss Kalifa, he trusted them one hundred percent. Emotional bonds could be faked, but the Captain System could not be wrong.

Only those who truly recognized Gao Wen's pirate crew and joined with a sincere heart could enjoy the enhancement of the badge, and both Miss Kalifa and Roubo Luqi were on that list.

"Everyone on this ship has a past they cannot bear to recall."

"You are no exception, and neither are Roubo Luqi or Miss Kalifa. But once you board this ship, you are my people, the crew I have recognized."

"I understand."

Robin nodded.

The unease and doubt in her heart gradually subsided at this moment.

She trusted Gao Wen one hundred percent, but the insecurity forged by struggling to survive in the underworld for so long was not so easily erased.

She still needed time.

Gao Wen understood this, so he did not take Robin's words to heart.

Suddenly, a somewhat urgent ringing sound rang out...

"Bu-Bu-Bu—!"

Gao Wen took the Den Den Mushi from his chest and answered it.

"Gao Wen, something has happened!"

Xiang Keluo's cold and sharp voice came through the receiver, and the content made Gao Wen tremble all over:

"That guy Roubo Luqi knocked out Miss Kalifa, injured Van Augur, and left alone. The purpose is unknown, but the possibility that everything before was a disguise cannot be ruled out."

The voice fell silent.

Gao Wen turned to look at Robin, seeing only a pair of uneasy eyes.

Roubo Luqi knew Robin's identity and was even clearer that Robin had now become the Crown Princess of Alabasta.

If this layer of disguise were discovered by the World Government, Gao Wen, Cobra, and Robin involved in this matter would not be able to escape.

With Gao Wen's strength, he naturally feared no pursuit by the Marines, but as the King of Alabasta, Cobra could not escape no matter what.

Compared to that, killing CP organization agents at Whiskey Peak earlier was a trivial matter.

Moreover, Gao Wen simply did not believe Roubo Luqi would truly defect.

"What time is it?!"

Robin was stunned, looked down at her wrist, and answered truthfully:

"It is already past one in the morning."

Gao Wen nodded and brought up the distribution record of the Experience Piggy Bank.

He had previously discovered this bug in the Captain System. Although he could not directly view the loyalty level of the crew, the badge ability would only enhance members who sincerely joined Gao Wen's pirate crew.

Gao Wen glanced slightly and saw that Roubo Luqi and Miss Kalifa were赫然 on the list, immediately letting out a sigh of relief.

Immediately, Gao Wen turned and explained to Robin:

"There must be another reason for this. Haven't you made a similar decision under certain circumstances before?"

Robin was stunned, and a look of realization appeared on her face.

At this moment, whether Roubo Luqi truly betrayed Gao Wen's pirate crew or not was no longer important to her.

What mattered was this trust between them.

"I understand, Captain."

Gao Wen nodded and said:

"I will return to Whiskey Peak first. The plan on your side is temporarily suspended until the problem with Roubo Luqi is resolved."

"Good."

The voice fell silent.

Gao Wen leaped into the air, spread his wings, and departed at a speed far faster than when he arrived.

Confirming that Roubo Luqi was not truly defecting, Gao Wen's hanging heart was put down, but a new problem appeared before him.

That was, what exactly had Roubo Luqi encountered to finally make such a decision.

This could only mean that in Roubo Luqi's judgment, defecting at this moment was the choice more beneficial to Gao Wen's pirate crew.

"The only thing that could make him make such a choice is pressure from the World Government, but the two of them should have been abandoned by the World Government long ago, so why at this time..."

"Forget it."

"Worrying is useless. Let's catch the person first and deal with other things later."

The sun rose in the east.

Gao Wen's figure came whistling from the horizon and landed steadily on the deck of the Raven.

Xiang Keluo and the others, who had not slept all night, instantly surrounded him.

"Captain, there is already some news regarding Roubo Luqi."

Jin stepped forward, eyes lowered, his expression somewhat desolate:

"According to Van Augur, that guy received an order from the World Government and must return to the CP organization to report. It can be basically confirmed..."

"Roubo Luqi has already defected."

In the midst of these words.

Akkin gritted his teeth, his eyes even redder.

Though he was unwilling to admit it in his heart, and never believed Roubo Luqi would truly choose betrayal.

But now, the evidence was practically irrefutable; he could no longer accept it, nor could he deny the fact laid bare before his eyes.

"The instructor... would not do such a thing!"

"During this time, he has been sincerely instructing us, never hiding anything; from the moment he boarded the ship, it was so."

"That kind of man, though silent and reserved, has a heart more fiery than anyone else's."

"I can feel that."

"Captain Akkin also said that when the instructor faced Fukuroku, he did not strike to kill, and at that time..."

The incident happened suddenly, and Roubo Luqi's sudden violent attack naturally alarmed all members of Gao Wen's pirate crew.

At this moment, even ordinary crew members gradually gathered around.

But as for those on the ship who trusted Roubo Luqi the most, aside from Akkin, it was only them.

The news of Roubo Luqi's sudden defection was, for them, undoubtedly an impossible thing; they all subconsciously believed Roubo Luqi might have other hidden reasons.

The surroundings gradually grew noisy; everyone spoke one after another, yet all were subconsciously defending Roubo Luqi's betrayal.

"Shut up!"

Gao Wen shouted.

Feeling the domineering aura Gao Wen unintentionally radiated, everyone instantly fell silent; all gazes now fell upon Gao Wen, the captain.

For he was the backbone of this pirate crew.

The surroundings fell silent.

Gao Wen reached out and rubbed his brow, his gaze sweeping across the deck; finding no one he sought, he asked:

"Where is Miss Kalifa?!"

"In the cabin, she just woke up."

"Bring her out."

"Yes!"

Two pirates turned and walked into the cabin; a few minutes later, the two emerged carrying the pale-faced Miss Kalifa.

"I'll make this brief."

Gao Wen's voice was cold and hard, carrying an air of imperious authority:

"What exactly happened to Roubo Luqi?!"

"I don't know either."

Miss Kalifa pressed her lips tightly, her eyes red, yet she shook her head firmly.

She knew what Roubo Luqi intended to do.

Return alone to Water Seven to save Kaku and Blueno.

At the same time, completely draw the CP organization's attention onto herself, thoroughly eliminating any suspicion against Gao Wen's group.

Even more critical was this timing: the news that the plans for Pluton existed in Water Seven had already leaked to Whole Cake Island; whether other powers knew remained unknown.

As one of the three Ancient Weapons, Pluton, according to records within the CP organization, possessed the power to erase an entire nation from the map with a single shot.

Not destruction, but complete erasure from the map!

Facing such a weapon, the powers dominating this sea could not help but be tempted.

The Paradise Seven Warlords, the New World's Four Emperors, and even certain powers not on these lists yet equally strong, would converge from all over the world.

Water Seven might become the battlefield for the greatest war of hegemony since the Great Age of Piracy began!

Even with Gao Wen's strength, facing endless opponents, he would inevitably fall.

Miss Kalifa knew this clearly in her heart.

She knew even more clearly that this was Roubo Luqi's will; her friend of many years had taken action to bear all of this for Gao Wen, and he had even prepared to die in Water Seven.

Sacrificing comrades should have been a matter of course for World Government agents, yet at this moment, it made Miss Kalifa's heart hesitate.

Yet her heart became firm when she saw Gao Wen and the crowd behind him.

"He suddenly attacked..."

"Speak the truth!"

Gao Wen's voice grew even colder and sharper.

He felt a strange unease and was no longer willing to waste any time in this place.

"I... really don't know."

Miss Kalifa gritted her teeth.

After experiencing the initial panic, she had calmed down; though the look in her eyes as she gazed at Gao Wen now still held some guilt.

But as a top agent cultivated by the World Government, and the only woman among CP9, her control over her own emotions was far stronger than the other few.

"You won't speak?!"

Gao Wen lowered his head, his emotionless gaze falling upon Miss Kalifa:

"I know."

"That fellow might this time be planning to use his own life to exchange for something."

"And the only thing in this world capable of making him give up asking me for help and choosing to bear all of this alone is the World Government."

"Tsk!"

Gao Wen cursed silently:

"It seems that fool didn't listen to a single word I said to him that night."

At this moment, Gao Wen finally understood what Kuro and the others had felt when he once went alone to the Baratie restaurant at sea to face Hawk-Eye.

This feeling of a companion rushing off to die while you remain completely ignorant of it is truly maddening.

As emotions churned within his heart, the Haki radiating from Gao Wen's body grew even more turbulent, sweeping across the surroundings like a violent gale.

Creak—!

The deck beneath his feet could not withstand Gao Wen's Conqueror's Haki; hairline cracks appeared, crimson lightning snakes flickered in the void, and the overwhelming pressure left everyone gasping for breath...

"Gao Wen!"

Kuro could not help but call out in warning.

Only then did Gao Wen notice that many companions around him had already lost consciousness, unable to endure his Conqueror's Haki, with even Nami having collapsed to the ground.

He retracted his Haki, and the invisible pressure surrounding them vanished instantly.

"We're saved!"

"The Captain is furious; it's terrifying!"

"Far more terrifying than ever before; his strength has grown even stronger!"

The ordinary pirates, soaked in sweat, gasped heavily.

Akin and the others likewise wore expressions of horror; facing pressure on the level of a Yonko for the first time, they felt their minds go completely blank.

Having calmed down, Gao Wen lowered his gaze to look at Miss Kalifa; seeing her utterly innocent expression only confirmed the suspicion in his heart.

He took a deep breath and began connecting the dubious points of the affair, attempting to find some clues within them.

Very quickly.

Gao Wen's eyes gradually brightened.

Regarding those CP0 agents eliminated previously at Whiskey Peak, the World Government likely hadn't discovered it; otherwise, wanted posters for these two would have been issued long ago.

The title of Seven Warlords of the Sea could not protect two high-ranking agents who knew the World Government's secrets.

In other words, from the World Government's perspective, Roubo Luqi and Miss Kalifa might not know that the organization had secretly dealt with them behind the scenes and could still be used as pawns.

Viewed from this angle, the two initially received orders to infiltrate under his command; now, one of them, threatened or ordered by the World Government, had departed, leaving the other behind...

This meant that a task originally meant for both of them to execute was now being handed over to Miss Kalifa alone.

Then where should Roubo Luqi have gone?!

If following the original trajectory of the world, then at this time Roubo Luqi should be at...

As Gao Wen pondered, a place name slipped from his lips:

"Water Seven!"

Miss Kalifa's body suddenly stiffened; although only for an instant, she immediately returned to normal.

But such an obvious movement, how could it possibly escape Gao Wen's notice?

"Roubo Luqi's destination is Water Seven!"

Gao Wen stated with absolute certainty, then he turned his head to look at Miss Kalifa:

"You and Roubo Luqi have been companions for so many years; surely you do not wish to see him die either."

"I will now give you two choices."

"First, you reveal Roubo Luqi's objective and whereabouts, and we will go together to bring him back."

"Second, I will wipe out Water Seven, and while I'm at it, wipe out the nearby Enies Lobby as well."

"I..."

Miss Kalifa opened her mouth.

At this moment, her already pale complexion turned even paler.

She pressed her lips tightly together until they were bitten through, oozing a layer of bright red blood.

"Why?!"

"Why go to such lengths for Roubo Luqi?!"

This time.

Without needing Gao Wen to remind them, the others gradually realized it as well, and a chorus of hoarse roars erupted on the deck.

"He is the... instructor of this ship!"

"Without that guy, even if we reach our destination, there will be a piece missing from our hearts!"

Miss Kalifa raised her head, only to see pairs of reddened eyes.

This intensity of emotion, so overwhelming it was hard to bear, was something she had never experienced before, and the psychological defenses she had laboriously constructed completely collapsed at this moment.

"Captain, please... please save him!"

"Roubo Luqi received orders from the World Government; in order to clear his suspicions and regarding Kaku and Blueno, whose fates are unknown, he chose to return alone to Water Seven!"

"And there is a very high probability that place will become a battlefield!"

Miss Kalifa seemed to lose all strength; feeling her body go limp as if about to collapse, she instead fell into Gao Wen's arms.

Gao Wen exhaled a long breath; before he could speak further, excited voices already rang out from the crowd behind him.

"Isn't that a matter of course?!"

"The instructor belongs to us while alive and is our dead man when deceased!"

"Beneath this flag, too many companions have already died; Roubo Luqi will not be the next!"

Zoro rested a hand on his sword, Sanji burned a cigarette between his lips, Kuro stood with hands behind his back, Akin held a smile on his lips yet his eyes were frighteningly fierce...

Everyone's posture differed, yet what they displayed was the same pure will.

"So this is our answer!"

Gao Wen's gaze was sharp as he turned to look at the distant sea, which was gradually beginning to churn; his voice was calm, yet utterly resolute:

"Next stop."

"Water Seven!"

(End of Chapter)