Chapter 284: Is It Really Okay to Take Things This Far?

The next day.

Because they had temporarily cultivated on the ice surface, everyone slept uneasily; even huddled together for warmth, they could not avoid being frozen awake by the cold wind.

When the group set out on their journey again, most wore expressions of utter exhaustion.

In contrast, Yu Gaowen's party, despite suffering from severe lack of sleep, remained radiant and energetic.

One must know that they were undergoing arduous cultivation bordering on self-abuse at every moment, yet their recovery was still better than that of others.

This abnormal situation naturally drew clicks of wonder from the survivors.

Yu Gaowen obviously would not tell them the answer directly, so the others could only attribute this to the physical fitness gained through Yu Gaowen's party's diligent cultivation.

"This is..."

In a corner.

Law had long awakened from his sleep, but feeling his body much lighter than yesterday, his eyes held nothing but indescribable astonishment.

Originally, by his estimation, yesterday's cultivation placed a burden on his body far greater—several times over—than when he previously received guidance from Jin Shizi, yet today not a trace of fatigue remained in his body.

Instead, he could clearly sense the growth of his physique; the magnitude was not large, but it was incomparably clear.

"Did you feel it?"

"Law!"

Bepo curled the corners of his mouth into a slight smile and couldn't help but raise his hand to pat Law's shoulder:

"Your body is far stronger than you estimated; it will never carry fatigue over to the next day."

Law did not speak; he clenched his fist, feeling only a surge of substantial power flowing from his palm, while this body seemed to possess endless energy.

"This feeling..."

"To make one feel clear growth in just a single day?!"

While murmuring in a low voice.

Law subconsciously swallowed.

He couldn't help but turn his head to look at the weights on the ground, and for the first time, an uncontrollable desire surfaced in his eyes:

"If I continue cultivating at this level, will I be able to maintain this rate of growth?"

"Then..."

At this moment, Law's soul trembled uncontrollably.

Instinctively following the desire in his heart, he imagined himself gradually growing stronger, surpassing Roubo Luqi in three months, and slaughtering his way through the Yu Gaowen Pirate Crew in five months...

Simultaneously, his hand reached toward those weight blocks that he had originally viewed as shackles, as self-abusive training equipment only used by mentally unstable humans.

Wait!

Law's hand paused in mid-air, because the corner of his vision caught sight of Bepo nearby, whose face was full of expectation.

"What's wrong, Law? Why hesitate? Why delay?"

"You felt it too, right? The growth of this body, and the feeling of bursting forth with new potential after every exhaustion."

At this moment, Bepo's originally cute and innocent expression appeared increasingly evil in Law's eyes.

It's a trap!

It's a trap to completely assimilate me!

Law suddenly recalled that last night, when he removed the weights from his body, what he had in mind was to return the atmosphere of the Yu Gaowen Pirate Crew to normalcy.

But now, after merely one night had passed, he realized he seemed to have embarked on a path opposite to that.

Was this also within your calculations?

Yu Gaowen!

Law lifted his head to gaze into the distance.

He saw only Yu Gaowen at the rear of the crowd, walking shoulder to shoulder with Fujitora, chatting and laughing, wearing an expression of complete ease.

Recalling how Yu Gaowen had not shown his face even once during yesterday's paired cultivation, Law felt that the doubts he had harbored toward the latter were simply ridiculous.

The best training is never to force subordinates to cultivate with a whip in hand, but to let them gradually become addicted to the process until they cannot extricate themselves!

This man surpasses Jin Shizi not only in combat power but also in this mastery over the human heart!

At this moment.

Law felt he understood Yu Gaowen, and furthermore understood the terrifying nature of such calculations.

That is, even if you understand Yu Gaowen's scheme and know that a trap laid by Yu Gaowen sits right before your eyes, you still cannot resist this man's will.

Because joining this cycle of involution is the best choice, both for Law and for the other members of the Yu Gaowen Pirate Crew!

Da!

Law's hand pressed onto the weight blocks beside him.

In less than a second.

The dense array of weights, along with the handcuffs, were neatly donned upon his body, and he even added a slight amount of extra weight beyond the original basis.

Doing everything possible to squeeze the limits of this body!

Neither team atmosphere nor being a proper ship doctor mattered as much as the thrill and pleasure brought by becoming stronger!

Da!

Da!

Da!

Law strode forward; crisp footsteps rang out on the ice surface, and the footprints he left behind were several degrees deeper than yesterday, causing fine cracks to appear across much of the ice.

Already...

I don't want to think anymore!

"That's right!"

"Haven't you always been yearning to grow stronger, yearning to obtain power enough to crush Doflamingo and even Jin Shizi?!"

"The current you is already walking the right path!"

Bepo curled the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with an indescribable sense of recognition.

He likewise equipped his own weighted gear, strode forward, walking shoulder to shoulder with Luo, doing everything in his power to burn off the last shred of strength in this body.

The morning sun rose, shining upon the endless glaciers, like countless pieces of gold right before one's eyes.

These projections left by the refraction of sunlight were naturally not sunlight, but the one thing Luo understood was that what lay before him was truly gold.

One drop of sweat, one share of harvest!

Strength is the foundation!

……

Ahead.

Several figures who were likewise in arduous training noticed Luo's abnormality and stopped one after another.

"Now that's more like it!"

Xiang Keluo nodded in satisfaction.

Walking shoulder to shoulder with him, Akin likewise watched Luo with an appreciative gaze:

"He should have already felt the joy that comes from constantly growing stronger."

"It is a stimulation far surpassing what so-called cigarettes, alcohol, women, and even forbidden drugs can bring!"

"Strength!"

"Strength is the foundation!"

"When you use absolute force to tear the enemy before you into pieces, it will bring an incomparable thrill!"

"Besides……"

Amid his words.

Akin raised his head to gaze afar, his gaze falling upon Yu Gaowen, his eyes carrying unwillingness, and even more an indescribable resolve:

"At the very least, I cannot be left too far behind by that man."

"I don't want to one day, like the cat-man brothers and Zango, be forced to retire in the East Blue because my strength isn't up to par."

"At the very least, I must become the stepping stone for the captain to reach the top!"

Once these words were spoken.

The surrounding members of the Yu Gaowen Pirates all revealed gazes as scorching as fire.

Bodies that had originally been exhausted all erupted with astonishing potential at this very moment!

"Woo la——!"

"Super!"

After a strange cry, Franky charged ahead, dashing toward the distance.

Although more than half of his body had been replaced by steel, and the effect training could have was almost zero.

But this did not hinder his thought of walking shoulder to shoulder with everyone.

In his eyes, this was a man's awakening, a man's romance!

"That's too sneaky, big bro Franky!"

The Square Sisters immediately grew anxious, spread their strides, and at once chased after Franky's footsteps.

Akin, Roubo Luqi, and the others also put away their playful mood, and all began their own training.

For a time the survivors' main force became lively, with the Yu Gaowen Pirates' training maniacs' resounding shouts everywhere.

Such a crazy posture; if it were anyone else, they would probably think they were a bunch of perverts from who knows where.

But in the eyes of the survivors, there was only an indescribable longing and gratitude.

They understood that it was precisely this group of people who seemed abnormal, yet possessed an upright, fiery heart.

Now they had all come to know that Yu Gaowen's group were not some Marines, but pirates.

But it was precisely this group of pirates who, at the critical juncture of life and death, helped them block the demons invading Water Seven.

This is a righteousness unrelated to status!

A righteousness that transcends the Marines!

After all, the real Marines had originally intended to bury them along with Water Seven into the sea.

"Go for it!"

Accompanied by a childish voice ringing out, the cheers from the crowd gradually grew louder!

"Go for it!"

"Mr. Xiang Keluo! Captain Akin! Go for it!"

"Mr. Sanji, I want to have your baby~"

A delicate female voice rang out; Sanji stumbled underfoot, excitedly turned his head to look at the crowd, and what met his eyes was a girl with a green braid, beside whom was also a blue rabbit.

"Oh~"

Sanji waved at the girl, a calm gentle smile on his face:

"A child's first priority right now is to grow her body first."

Having said that, Sanji turned and returned to the main training force, yet the steps under his feet became much lighter at this moment.

……

In the distance.

Yu Gaowen looked at this scene, the corner of his mouth slightly curled, his gaze falling upon Timmy, and he also recognized the girl's identity.

She was named Timmy, a half-blood between mermaid and human, living together with Granny Kokoro, who had once served as the stationmaster of Water Seven's "Shift Station."

Surviving this battle in Water Seven and now retreating with the main force can only be called luck.

What truly left a deep impression on Yu Gaowen, however, was Granny Kokoro.

Granny Kokoro was once a mermaid; alas, now advanced in years, she once shattered Sanji's beautiful dreams in Water Seven in the original story, smashing the filter through which he viewed mermaids.

"I hope that kid gets a bit luckier this time."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Yu Gaowen shook his head, signaling Xiang Tenghu to ignore it; the latter chuckled lightly, then shifted his attention to Law, unable to resist letting out a sigh of admiration:

"Young people are indeed young people; the speed at which they bow their heads is truly fast."

His tone carried a hint of depression.

On that day, he had made a verbal bet with Yu Gaowen, estimating that within a month, Law would lose his composure and seek out Yu Gaowen, yet this fellow couldn't even hold out for three days.

Those knees are just too soft~

"It seems I truly possess no luck in gambling; it appears I cannot visit the casino for the next few months."

Yu Gaowen cast a peculiar glance at Xiang Tenghu.

On this man, one could easily find numerous positive qualities.

But no one is perfect; if one must speak of Xiang Tenghu's trivial flaws, one is that, like Chopper, he cannot handle praise, and the other is his fondness for gambling.

A blind man who loves to gamble basically has the words "fat sheep" written on his face, thus attracting many ill-intentioned individuals to cheat in secret, only to end up falling beneath Xiang Tenghu's blade.

It is hard to say whether this constitutes a form of entrapment.

While pondering this,

the Den Den Mushi in Yu Gaowen's arms suddenly emitted a series of urgent rings.

"Captain!"

Gasha's voice, carrying a hint of Solemnity, came through the receiver:

"A faction from the New World wishes to take over the operation of the peripheral betting for the Martial Arts Tournament."

"The other party's whereabouts are mysterious, yet their spending is extremely lavish; they likely have a significant background."

"From the New World?"

Yu Gaowen's brows furrowed slightly.

The Rapeseed Flower Port in Alabasta had already been allotted by Cobra to Robin, serving as the future venue for the Martial Arts Tournament.

That old fox Cobra had calculated a move here.

Since Rapeseed Flower Port needed reconstruction anyway, this allowed him to save a large sum of expenses.

However, Yu Gaowen did not mind this, after all, he was already in the wrong regarding this matter.

But the important thing was,

Once the second Martial Arts Tournament was successfully held in Alabasta, the entire first half of the Grand Line and even the Four Seas would boil over because of it, and the revenue generated from the peripheral betting would be an astronomical figure.

To give up the revenue from peripheral betting at this time?

Yu Gaowen was not stupid.

Though he did not know that person's identity, possessing such a sharp and poisonous eye meant they were absolutely no small character.

Several familiar names instantly popped into Yu Gaowen's mind, unfortunately, none of them were figures capable of posing a threat to Yu Gaowen.

In this era, those capable of threatening Yu Gaowen were none other than the World Government and the Four Emperors of the Sea—no, the Three Emperors.

The majority of Big Mom's fleet had been lost in the battle of Water Seven; even though she herself had escaped, the problem now before her had long since shifted from how to expand to how to defend her existing territory.

The other Emperor, Kaido, was firmly entrenched in the natural barrier of Wano Country, making few overt moves in recent years, while Whitebeard and Shanks were even less likely to engage in such behavior, as their pursuits and vision did not lie in this.

As for the remaining cats and dogs... let one come, and Yu Gaowen would chop one down!

"Handing over the peripheral betting at this time would be akin to slicing flesh from our bodies."

"Reject them."

Gasha remained somewhat worried:

"If this provokes someone From the New World..."

"Gasha, we are the big shots now; it is they who should consider the consequences of offending me!"

"Yes, Mr. Yu Gaowen!"

Gasha's tone clearly rose several notches, carrying an indescribable excitement.

She had long learned from Nami and others exactly what Yu Gaowen had done, and her admiration for Yu Gaowen in her heart was beyond words.

As long as this man stood behind Raven Port, all winds and waves would calm!

Gasha had such an intuition!

"Mm."

Yu Gaowen nodded and continued:

"Notify me immediately if anything happens over in the East Blue."

"Yes!"

"He rejected it?!"

Gran Tesoro.

Lord Tai Zuo Luo sat in his office, toying with the ring on his finger, a trace of surprise in his eyes:

"Leaving no room for any negotiation?"

Bacara shook his head, a trace of reluctance in his eyes, yet utterly helpless.

"Have you seen the hidden benefits behind it?"

Lord Tai Zuo Luo reached out and rubbed his brow:

"As expected, existences capable of defeating a former Legend are not so easily fooled."

Even though the World Government had concealed matters, for Huang Jincheng, investigating the great battle that occurred in Seven Water Capital was no difficult task.

Yu Gaowen killed Jin Shizi in a frontal assault!

Such a feat, even the Four Emperors of the New World could not achieve, let alone Huang Jincheng.

Yu Gaowen and his group were someone they dared not provoke, yet to directly abandon such enormous benefits, they were even more unwilling.

The office fell silent for a moment.

His initial plan had never been to swallow up the operating rights for the Martial Arts Tournament's peripheral betting in one gulp; this was merely a bargaining tactic.

He had not expected that there would not even be an opportunity to negotiate.

"Since a frontal approach won't work, then we approach from the side; who is cooperating with him now?"

"Also... find Yu Gaowen's contact information!"

"I will negotiate with him personally."

(End of Chapter)