Chapter 413

“What exactly is going on?!”

Gao Wen furrowed his brow slightly.

Unconsciously, he opened the system panel—the list of experience savings allocation included Vegapunk.

Did the Captain System malfunction?!

The thought flashed through Gao Wen’s mind, then he dismissed it.

Since awakening in the East Blue, the Captain System had never failed.

Moreover, Vegapunk had no reason—and could not possibly—betray him at this moment.

Emotionally.

Vegapunk’s name appearing on the experience savings allocation list meant he had accepted Gao Wen’s will and chosen to join Britannias.

Logically.

At this moment, with the World Government issuing a global bounty and the Marines and CP organizations hunting him down, the only entity in the entire world capable of protecting Vegapunk was Gao Wen!

“We’re not sure yet—he vanished last night.”

Franky’s expression was equally grim.

He understood better than anyone else Vegapunk’s value to Gao Wen and to Britannias.

Though Vegapunk had joined Britannias for less than half a month, he had already taken full charge of the construction of Pluton.

Many technologies originating from the Future Island had already been scheduled for implementation.

Vegapunk’s ambitions were vast.

He had drastically revised Pluton’s blueprints, planning to transplant numerous Future Island technologies directly onto Pluton, turning it into a true aerial fortress.

Without Vegapunk’s assistance, Gao Wen’s many plans would stall.

Once the seas are stabilized, Britannias will face the World Government’s wrath head-on.

That was something Gao Wen was not yet ready to see.

“We searched all night and found nothing!”

“What about Warlord?!”

“He doesn’t know either—he’s leading the shipyard’s craftsmen and guards to search everywhere.”

“I see…”

Gao Wen exhaled softly, now fairly certain Vegapunk had not defected intentionally.

After all, to Vegapunk, Warlord was not just a bodyguard—he was also a protégé he had watched grow up, nearly like an adopted son.

If Vegapunk intended to flee, he would never abandon Warlord behind.

“Hold the Technology Development Bureau for now—I’ll send people to look for him.”

“Yes!”

He hung up the call.

Gao Wen fell silent, turning to look out the window.

A layer of dark clouds had already gathered high above.

Wind howled, lightning crackled, the air heavy and suffocating—a storm was coming.

“Would Britannias normally have a storm of this scale this season?!”

“Is someone behind this?!”

Keluo immediately realized:

“A Devil Fruit user!”

Gao Wen nodded:

“I think I know who it is.”

“Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army!”

“If it’s him, he might have used force to take Vegapunk away.”

“After all, he was once Vegapunk’s comrade.”

“Monkey… D?”

Barrett’s face hardened—the surname triggered memories of a troublesome old man, and Gao Wen’s words confirmed it.

“Karp’s son.”

“But…”

Gao Wen’s expression held mockery:

“That old man spent his life believing in justice, yet in mentoring his successors, he’s been a complete failure.”

Whether his son Dragon, his grandson the Straw Hat, or his adopted son Ace—the son of Roger—they all ended up opposing him.”

“In a way, that’s a family trait.”

Barrett nodded, his eyes glinting with coldness.

Though Gao Wen had never ordered him to watch Vegapunk, what had just happened was a slap in the face.

He found it even harder to accept that his own negligence might cause losses to Gao Wen’s crew.

Now that he had made this place his home, he would not let Vegapunk leave.

“Vegapunk’s disappearance is my responsibility—I’ll bring him back.”

Barrett turned to leave, but paused at the door and warned Gao Wen:

“Captain.”

“He’s Vegapunk’s former comrade, and he appeared here just after Vegapunk joined Britannias—it’s possible this is an inside job.”

“Pirate domination isn’t a child’s game—it’s a cruel world of survival of the fittest, betrayal, and slaughter.”

“Don’t trust others’ promises too easily.”

“The moment a contract is made, it waits to be torn apart.”

Since joining Britannias, Barrett had opened up and come to understand the others—Gao Wen included.

The title of “most righteous in the East Blue” was no lie, nor was his world-shaking power.

But this man…

Trusted others too easily.

Whether toward himself or the newly joined Vegapunk, his trust was nearly absolute.

Such a trait made him a touching companion—but in the pirate world, it seemed dangerously naive.

Though Barrett didn’t dislike this naivety, since he was now Gao Wen’s crewman, he felt obligated to point out Gao Wen’s blind spots and correct his own failures.

To become Britannias’s firewall—to eliminate every possible threat!

That was Barrett’s self-defined role!

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

The heavy footsteps grew faster and farther, until finally fading from Gao Wen’s ears.

The heavy footsteps grew faster, then farther, until they vanished from Gao Wen’s hearing.

Keluo frowned:

“This guy… overstepped.”

Gao Wen didn’t care—he watched Barrett’s retreating back, still uneasy, and told Keluo:

“If it’s Dragon, whether Barrett can beat him is uncertain, but he won’t stop him—notify Yisheng to prepare to intervene.”

“If anyone dares to take my people…”

“Whoever they are—they’ll die!”

Lightning flashed, illuminating Gao Wen and revealing his cold, stern gaze to Keluo.

Lightning flashed, illuminating Gao Wen’s face, revealing his icy gaze to Keluo.

…

…

…

Outside Britannias.

Countless transvestites, dressed provocatively and heavily made up, danced wildly in the dance floor, sparking wild cheers from the crowd.

Countless transvestites in revealing outfits and heavy makeup danced wildly on the floor, inciting wild cheers.

A pair of underwear heavy with pheromones landed on Long’s head.

A pair of underwear, thick with pheromones, landed on Dragon’s head.

He removed it without expression, turned, and saw the transvestite in the crowd winking at him—he grimaced, then tossed it back.

On Vegapunk’s face, a rare hint of relaxed amusement appeared.

On Vegapunk’s face, a rare hint of relief appeared.

He had been brought here by Dragon the moment he awoke—he wasn’t surprised.

Dragon ignored the awkwardness and asked:

“You really won’t come back with me?!”

[99] “You know.”