Chapter 413: Turn the Entire World into Britannias!

"What exactly is going on?!"

Gao Wen's brows furrowed slightly.

Instinctively opening the system panel, he saw Vegapunk prominently listed among the recipients of the Experience Piggy Bank.

Has the Captain System malfunctioned?!

Such a thought flashed through Gao Wen's mind, only to be immediately dismissed by him.

After all, from the moment he awakened in the East Blue until now, the Captain System had never once failed.

Moreover, Vegapunk had neither reason nor possibility to betray at this juncture.

Emotionally speaking.

The appearance of Vegapunk's name on the Experience Piggy Bank's distribution list proved he had already acknowledged Gao Wen's will and chosen to join Britannias.

Logically speaking.

Now, with the World Government issuing an all-out wanted order and the Navy joining forces with CP organizations to exterminate him, the only existence in the entire world capable of sheltering Vegapunk was Gao Wen, and no one else!

"We don't know for now; he went missing last night."

Franky wore an equally Solemn Face.

He understood far better than anyone else the value Vegapunk held for Gao Wen and for Britannias.

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

Even many technologies originating from Future Island had been scheduled for implementation.

Vegapunk's ambitions were vast.

He had made major revisions to Pluton's blueprints, preparing to transplant numerous technologies originally belonging to Future Island directly onto Pluton, transforming it into a true aerial fortress.

Once deprived of Vegapunk's assistance, many of Gao Wen's plans would become difficult to execute.

When the seas were pacified, Britannias would face the full wrath of the World Government.

This was something Gao Wen did not wish to see for the time being.

"We searched all night and found nothing!"

"What about War Taowan?!"

"He doesn't know either; he is currently leading the shipyard's craftsmen and guards in a thorough search."

"Is that so..."

Gao Wen instead breathed a sigh of relief, basically confirming that Vegapunk had not intentionally defected.

After all, to Vegapunk, War Taowan was not merely a bodyguard but also a junior he had watched grow up, holding a status nearly equivalent to that of an adopted son.

If Vegapunk's goal had been to flee, he would absolutely not have left War Taowan behind alone.

"You stabilize matters at the Research and Development Department first; I will send people to search on my end."

"Yes!"

Hanging up the phone.

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

At some point, a layer of dark clouds had accumulated in the high sky.

Wild winds howled, Lei Guang rumbled, and the air felt heavy and oppressive; a storm was approaching.

"Does Britannias experience storms of this scale during this season?!"

"Is someone tampering with things?!"

Xiang Keluo immediately realized:

"A Devil Fruit user!"

Gao Wen nodded:

"I probably know who has come."

"The number one man of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon!"

"If it is this guy, we cannot rule out the possibility of him using force to forcibly take Vegapunk away."

"After all, he was once Vegapunk's comrade."

"Monkey... D.?"

Barrett's expression turned cold and hard; this surname reminded him of a certain troublesome old man, a fact soon confirmed by Gao Wen's words.

"Garp's son."

"It's just that..."

Gao Wen's expression revealed mockery:

"This old man believed in justice his entire life, yet his cultivation of the younger generation has been an utter mess."

"Whether it is his son Dragon, his grandson Straw Hat, or his adopted son Roger's child, Fire Fist Ace, they have all walked the path of becoming his enemies."

"In a certain sense, this too is a legacy passed down through generations."

Barrett nodded, a chill emanating from his eyes.

Although Gao Wen had not ordered him to keep a close watch on Vegapunk, what was happening now was undoubtedly a slap in his face.

He found it even harder to accept that his own negligence had caused losses to Gao Wen's crew.

Now that he had already made this place his foothold, he would not allow Vegapunk to leave freely.

"The matter of Vegapunk is my responsibility; I will bring him back."

Having said this, Barrett prepared to turn and leave, but stopped at the doorway to remind Gao Wen:

"Captain."

"The opponent is a former comrade of Vegapunk, appearing here shortly after he entered Britannias; it is entirely possible this is a betrayal involving collusion from within and without."

"The struggle among pirates is not a game of house, but a cruel world of the strong devouring the weak, filled with betrayal and slaughter."

"Do not place too much trust in the promises of others."

"From the moment a contract is born, it awaits its own tearing."

After truly joining the Britannias, Barrett opened his heart and gradually developed his own understanding of everyone, Gao Wen naturally included.

The title of the most benevolent man in the East Sea was no empty boast, and that power which surpassed the world was equally genuine, but this man...

... was far too quick to trust others.

Whether toward himself or toward Vegapunk, who had just joined the crew, his trust was nearly without reservation.

Such qualities were naturally moving in a companion, yet in the world of pirates, they appeared somewhat too naive.

Although Barrett did not dislike such naivety, since he was now one of Gao Wen's crew, he felt obligated to point out the flaws in Gao Wen's actions while simultaneously correcting his own mistakes.

To become the firewall of the Britannias and erase every possible threat!

This was Barrett's definition of his own role!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The heavy footsteps grew increasingly urgent, increasingly distant, until finally they vanished from Gao Wen's hearing.

Xiang Keluo's brows knitted together:

"This fellow... has overstepped somewhat."

Gao Wen paid this no mind; merely watching Barrett's retreating figure, he still felt somewhat uneasy and said to Xiang Keluo:

"If it truly is a dragon, whether Barrett can defeat it is debatable, but he certainly cannot hold it; notify Issho to prepare to intervene and control the situation."

"If anyone truly dares to snatch my people..."

"No matter who comes, they must die!"

Boom—!

Lei Guang flashed, illuminating Gao Wen and allowing Xiang Keluo to see the cold, fierce look in Gao Wen's eyes.

Outside the perimeter of the Britannias.

Within the Okama Bar.

Countless okama, dressed seductively and wearing heavy makeup, danced wildly in the dance hall, provoking waves of frenzied revelry from the crowd.

Slap—!

A piece of underwear, reeking heavily of hormones, landed on Dragon's head.

Expressionlessly, he removed it, turned around to see an okama in the dance hall flirting with him, twitched the corner of his mouth violently, and casually tossed it back.

"Hahahahaha—!"

A rare trace of relaxed smile appeared on Vegapunk's face.

Upon waking, he had already been brought here by Dragon, so this did not surprise him.

Ignoring the earlier awkwardness, Dragon spoke:

"You truly will not return with me?!"

"You know."