Chapter 392: Count Him Unlucky (Blind Date Round Three!)

Clack!

Clack!

Clack!

Ivankov, stepping in high heels, walked toward War Taowan, who sat awkwardly in a corner, and before the latter could speak, refilled the wine glass in his hand!

"This is to treat our benefactor!"

"War Taowan~boy~"

"Oh~"

"Ah~"

War Taowan glanced down at the wine glass, downed it in one gulp without hesitation, set it aside, then turned to look at Ivankov, hesitating to speak:

"You..."

"Are you wondering why I don't leave this dangerous place and return to the Revolutionary Army?!"

War Taowan nodded.

After all, the military strength amassed within Britannias had reached an outrageous level.

He had seen several members of the Knights of the Round Table; even those ranking lower possessed monstrous strength, making it no exaggeration to compare them to the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

As for Xiang Keluo and A Jin, who ranked at the top, among the people he knew, only the handful of individuals standing at the pinnacle of the Navy could possibly fight them.

Added to that was Gao Wen, the world's strongest knight...

Such an exaggerated lineup already possessed the capability to confront the Navy head-on by their own power!

Not like Whitebeard, who staked his life to pave the way for the new era.

But a true war!

Pirates capable of challenging the Navy...

Looking across the eight-hundred-year history of the World Government, the one who came closest to achieving this was Rocks, over thirty years ago.

Yet Rocks failed, whereas Knight Gao Wen...

Is in the prime of his life and invincible!

Faced with such an opponent, even the Revolutionary Army would have to detour around him.

For Ivankov, the best choice was naturally to depart as soon as possible; otherwise, once Gao Wen changed his mind and decided to use his identity for some scheme, he would possess no power to resist.

"This place... has surpassed the future that Dragon and I envisioned!"

Ivankov plopped down beside War Taowan, boundless fervor surfacing in his eyes.

By now, he even felt somewhat grateful that Xiang Keluo had captured him and brought him to this country back then.

If not for that, he would never have witnessed what a nation without nobles, where everyone is equal under the law, actually looks like.

But now...

He had seen it!

"War Taowan boy!"

"Have you ever felt how this country, this nation dominated by Knight Gao Wen, differs from anywhere else?!"

War Taowan stroked his chin, closed his eyes to ponder for a moment, then slowly opened them:

"Stability, peace, and... the look in people's eyes here is different."

"Different from anyone I've ever seen, whether people of Mary Geoise, Marines of Mary Geoise, pirates, or commoners!"

As he spoke,

War Taowan lifted his head, gazing toward the distant dance floor.

The music in the bar grew increasingly frenzied.

Within the dance floor, people of various appearances twisted their bodies freely along with the music.

Merchants in suits, soldiers who had removed their armor yet could not hide the traces of training, and even ladies who carried a hint of pride yet smiled with exceptional joy, clearly having once been nobles...

Everyone on the dance floor had shed their labels, stretching their bodies to their heart's content.

Such a scene, if it appeared anywhere else in the world, would be deemed bizarre, even shocking.

The mental imprint of hierarchy and status, which the Celestial Dragons had spent hundreds of years etching into the minds of the entire world, had been utterly shattered in Britannias.

"Exactly!"

"It is the look in their eyes!"

Ivankov nodded, following War Taowan's gaze to look into the distance.

Neon lights flickered as countless beings from different strata, wielding different resources, and whose statuses Ivankov viewed as worlds apart, all enjoyed this moment of leisure together.

Even though Ivankov had witnessed such scenes countless times over these past few days, he still felt a shock arising from the depths of his heart.

This was because not just on the dance floor, but in every place visible within this country, certain barriers between people were gradually being broken!

Britannias was different.

From the very first day he set foot in this country, Ivankov had sensed this,

yet he could never quite articulate exactly what was different.

It was only when Ivankov gradually integrated into this place and witnessed bit by bit the living conditions of the people of Britannias that he understood the difference between them.

Although some rotten habits still remained, and although people would still subconsciously assume a fawning and humble posture when facing certain high-ranking figures,

the spines of the people here were gradually straightening!

Although that process was slow, requiring perhaps years or even decades to erase what was etched into people's hearts,

even the slightest change could not escape Ivankov, who had once led the Revolutionary Army to every corner of the world to witness its most tragic aspects.

Fair laws had granted former nobles and serfs equal power.

The invincible military might of the Knights of the Round Table had brought stability and prosperity far surpassing that of any other nation in this world.

But two years ago, before the Knight Gao Wen entered this country, it was still known for being closed-off, xenophobic, and dangerous.

At that time, the Revolutionary Army attempted to enter Britannias several times, only to be blocked by local forces, yet they still gained some understanding of the country; back then, Britannias was absolutely not as prosperous as it is today.

The one who brought all this about was the man who had just stepped onto Whitebeard's shoulders and ascended to the pinnacle of the world's strongest with an almost overwhelming posture.

As long as Gao Wen's banner still stands tall in Britannias, the prosperity here will continue.

Inexplicably.

Such a feeling arose in Ivankov's heart.

He now even somewhat regretted why he had been so eager to extricate himself.

If he had known earlier about everything happening here, known that this country had undergone a transformation akin to being reborn within just two years, he would have met that man even if it meant gambling his own life.

This place...

"Although it differs from the future I imagined, there is no doubt that even among countless possible futures, Britannias remains one of the most beautiful possibilities!"

"This is the world that Dragon and I have always been chasing!"

War Taowan stared blankly at Ivankov.

He and the latter had actually only met a few times.

The first time was when Ivankov saved him, with him trading his life for Ivankov's freedom.

The second time was now.

But this time, War Taowan saw something on Ivankov's face that he had once seen on Vegapunk's face!

A fervor for truth, for faith, for dreams!

"I've decided!"

"I will stay here!"

"I will use my eyes to witness the possibilities of this country!"

"I want to see just how far the Knight Gao Wen can go!"

War Taowan nodded blankly:

"Then what about your companions..."

Ivankov shook his head:

"Although my Den Den Mushi have all been lost, Dragon holds my Vivre Card; finding me there won't be difficult."

"If I guess correctly, members of the Revolutionary Army should already be on their way; it will be either Karasu or Sabo coming, as only those two possess abilities best suited for finding people."

"Is that so..."

War Taowan nodded, and seeing that Ivankov had made arrangements for his subsequent actions, he rose to leave, only to be directly called back by Ivankov:

"War Taowan boy~"

"Since you have nowhere to go after parting ways with Vegapunk, you might as well come with me to take a look at this country."

"To see their laws, and whether there is hidden evil beneath their bright exterior."

War Taowan was stunned, reached up to scratch his head, and replied:

"Then I'll temporarily be your bodyguard."

War Taowan looked at the table before him, skipped over the exquisite sweets, and reached his hand toward the rice balls in the middle that no one else wanted.

"As for payment, let's just use this."

"Hmph, strange hobby."

Ivankov shook his head; although he did not understand why War Taowan was so obsessed with rice balls, he did not dwell on it, saying lightly: