Chapter 43: Clow

Taken together.

Gao Wen’s combat power had undergone a complete transformation, surging several-fold compared to a month ago.

If there was any imperfection, it was Armament Haki.

To be honest, spending over a month without even touching the threshold left Gao Wen with a sense of frustration.

But he quickly shook it off.

Even Luffy, with his legendary-level potential, only grew gradually under the combined theoretical and practical guidance of Lei Li, Bing Wulang, and Kaido.

If he relied solely on self-discovery, he might not even be faster than Gao Wen.

“That’s the greatest difficulty of going it alone—you have to figure out everything yourself, unlike those chosen ones who never lack guidance.”

“But my current growth rate is already very fast.”

“In just over two months since arriving in this world, I’ve walked a path that most people spend years, even decades, struggling to complete.”

If all else fails, I’ll handle Armament Haki once I reach the Grand Line—this East Blue is still too small.

Gao Wen sighed with regret.

Only then did he notice his entire body was coated in sticky impurities.

He turned and walked into the bathroom, rinsed off the grime, and went to bed.

Not long after.

Even breathing filled the room.

…

Several days later.

Several pirate ships, laden with various supplies, sailed into the port of Parra Island.

Zan Gao and his group descended the gangway into the port, their faces wearing a lightness of expression utterly unlike before.

During this time, they had followed Gao Wen’s orders to clear pirate factions near DuYa Port.

All three had bounties exceeding seven million, already high for the East Blue, where average bounties fell below five million.

Gao Wen’s name had spread again—his bounty of eighty-five million meant any pirate with half a brain dared not provoke him.

The rest were unlikely to defeat the trio together, let alone with Zan Gao’s hypnotic ability to forcibly unlock his subordinates’ potential, which greatly boosted the crew’s overall strength.

Gao Wen had once tried letting Zan Gao hypnotize him, and reluctantly concluded only those with weak wills or excessive simplicity could be hypnotized.

At Zan Gao’s level, he could barely hypnotize the Cat Brothers—but it was still enough to dominate the East Blue.

Two enhanced Cat Brothers, as long as they didn’t face someone like A Long, wouldn’t pose much of a problem.

Far away.

Fatty Bu Zhi, one of the Cat Brothers, spotted Gao Wen waiting at the port; his eyes lit up instantly, and he hurried forward, smiling but too excited to speak clearly:

“Captain!”

“This time, it feels strange… uh, it’s just… it’s just…”

Bu Zhi scratched his head, struggling for the right word:

“The people there don’t treat us like pirates—they even made me special dried fish!”

As he spoke, Bu Zhi pulled a wax-paper-wrapped bundle of dried fish from his chest and offered it to Gao Wen like a prized treasure.

Only after Gao Wen ate a few pieces did he grin sheepishly and rub the back of his head.

“I guess that’s a bit rude.”

“But this time, it really felt strange—I can’t explain why, but I… I want to protect that place. I want it to always exist!”

Xia Mu also walked over, placing a hand on Bu Zhi’s shoulder and nodding repeatedly at Gao Wen:

“The children there love my claws!”

As he spoke, Xia Mu lifted his palm.

The sharp claws on his cat-glove had been removed, leaving only soft pink paw pads.

No longer dangerous as before, yet paired with his face, so similar to a cat’s, he now carried a genuine feline aura.

Gao Wen’s lips curled slightly as he murmured:

“If you like it, that’s enough.”

As he spoke, Gao Wen’s gaze passed beyond the Cat Brothers and saw the relaxed smiles on everyone’s faces—he felt reassured.

After the previous incident, the Gao Wen Pirates’ reputation in DuYa Port had been completely reversed; most civilians now treated them with great kindness.

The Cat Brothers’ treatment and the smiles on these people’s faces proved it.

His original agreement with Jia Ba had considered this very point.

Whether the Grand Line or the New World, both were far too dangerous for pirates of average strength—they’d likely only drown.

Moreover, before he secured the title of Warlord or established a stable base, he didn’t need so many men traveling together.

DuYa Port solved the problem of how to house these subordinates.

Even after Gao Wen departs with Clow and others, this arrangement can continue—Jia Ba’s need for force won’t change.

Better to have these men serve DuYa Port as mercenaries, earning a steady wage, than let them roam, plunder, and fight pirates, living from meal to meal.

When he leaves, they’ll still have a way to survive.

Far off.

Clow glanced at Gao Wen, then at the Cat Brothers’ reactions, and instantly understood Gao Wen’s plan:

“Gao Wen has decided to leave these men here.”

“That can’t be right?”

Standing beside Clow, A Jin blinked in surprise and objected:

“How can you cross the Grand Line without a massive fleet?!”

“Hmph.”

Clow smiled faintly:

“Then you still don’t understand the Grand Line—ordinary pirates barely survive there.”

“One battle could kill half your crew, and in that place, there’s no time to bury the dead.”

Huh!

Clow exhaled a smoke ring and turned to A Jin:

“I’m still curious—what exactly did that guy say to make you join his ship?”

“He said I’m free to choose where I go, and that he’d keep the position of battle captain open for me until we reached port.”

Clow’s hand trembled slightly, ash falling to the ground.

“That’s just his style.”

“But.”

“If the captain were me, would you still stay here?”

A Jin shook his head, then nodded again:

“As long as Mr. Gao Wen is here, I’ll stay here.”

Clow sighed helplessly:

“That guy’s luck is absurdly good—but I’m taking this captaincy!”

“….”

A Jin blinked, then turned to look at Clow.

He recalled his several sparring sessions with Gao Wen this month; his gaze toward Clow now held a hint of pity.

That feeling of being utterly crushed from every angle—only the strongest minds could endure it.

A Jin admitted Clow was strong—even back at the port, without luck, he’d already be dead—but the gap between him and Gao Wen was like a chasm.

After a long pause.

Jin barely managed to say:

“Good luck.”

“Ah.”

…

With Zan Gao and the others returned.

A massive bonfire was quickly lit in the port.

A full circle of roasted meat sizzled nearby, releasing rich aromas that made mouths water; neatly stacked bread, fruit, and mountains of alcohol surrounded them.

The feast was reaching its peak.

As everyone drank heartily, the crew’s musicians began playing sailor folk songs; laughter flowed as cup after cup of alcohol went down.

It was then that Clow stood before everyone, gazing calmly at Gao Wen:

“I want to test whether I or you are more worthy to sit in that seat.”

(End of Chapter)