Chapter 457: Clouds Stir in All Directions, The Decisive Battle Approaches!

Xiang Keluo did not reply, merely lowering his gaze to stare at the newspaper in his hand.

What Daz Bonez could see was naturally not hidden from his eyes; he could even see the World Government's deeper schemes.

Xiang Keluo also understood, however, that these things certainly could not be hidden from Gao Wen.

Looking back now at that man's journey to the peak of the seas, standing on equal footing with the Celestial Dragons, it is not hard to see that everything had its traces.

From the very beginning, Gao Wen had seen this step!

So...

What is the next step?!

Now that the World Government, or rather those standing at the apex of power, have made their move, how will Gao Wen respond?

And regarding the mysterious force that destroyed the Cross Guild, do you have a solution?!

Xiang Keluo fell silent for a moment, pondering quietly.

Various possibilities and various counter-strategies flashed through his mind, yet he still saw no possibility for Britannias to break the deadlock.

The World Government holds the only escape chance, plus that mysterious force; they are almost in an unbeatable position!

Yet the more so it was, the more Xiang Keluo felt a strange premonition in his heart.

"Britannias..."

"Too quiet!"

"Quiet as if they had already foreseen this situation!"

"Boss..."

Hearing these words, Daz Bonez already understood in his heart.

Xiang Keluo had made his decision.

As expected.

In the next instant, Xiang Keluo spoke:

"Our goal remains unchanged; we still head for Britannias!"

"Rather than boarding the World Government's escape ship to become slaves of the Celestial Dragons, never to turn over again."

"I would rather bet everything on Britannias!"

"No!"

"I bet on that man!"

"That guy possesses eyes that transcend the era and everything; he must have already seen the current situation, which means..."

"He might have already grasped the method to break the deadlock!"

"Going there at this moment is the best time to offer timely help!"

Having spoken, Xiang Keluo glanced around, taking the expressions of everyone nearby into his eyes, as the cigar in his mouth glowed red.

His lips split open, and combined with the scar that almost divided his entire face in half, it added even more ferocity.

But only those eyes, at this moment, were terrifyingly bright!

Swish—!

Xiang Keluo casually tossed the newspaper into the sea and said:

"The journey ahead will be even harder."

"If we can cross this hurdle, your dreams, the ideal land you look forward to, can all be realized."

"But it could also be eternal damnation."

"So..."

Xiang Keluo had not finished speaking when he was interrupted by the excited voices of the crowd!

"Boss!"

"Whatever decision you make, we will follow you!"

Mr. 5's tone was firm.

The crowd gathered on the deck at this moment felt the same.

During this time, they had long felt the difference in Xiang Keluo.

This man, who had once been betrayed and viewed companions only as tools, after the destruction of the Cross Guild, carried something indescribable within him.

The meaning of the word "companion" had already changed for Xiang Keluo.

Being willing to carry the burden of himself, who was more of a hindrance than an aid, on the road of escape, was the best proof.

In that case, as subordinates, isn't it only natural to repay the captain's expectations?!

If the ideal land was merely a mirage in the sand sea for those present before, then at this very moment, this dream has the possibility of coming true!

"Hmph~"

Xiang Keluo leaned back against the mast, closed his eyes, and the curve of his lips grew wider and more obvious; finally, a dry, hoarse laugh squeezed out of his throat again.

"Ha~ Ha~ Ha~ Ha~"

This laughter seemed no different from the past.

Yet those present could clearly feel the scorching temperature within it!

"I bet wrong in Alabasta, I bet wrong with the Cross Guild, this time..."

"It absolutely will not be wrong!"

"That monster in Britannias will absolutely not be without a solution!"

New World.

A certain island.

The sea level rose, submerging most of the port; countless buildings were swallowed by the seawater, leaving only their rooftops visible.

The people of the Many Nations, who had long since fled to higher ground, watched all this in a daze, having even forgotten their fear.

The ocean was silent, yet at this moment it displayed its most awe-inspiring aspect!

That silent power was sufficient to swallow most of the port within a mere half-month, and its momentum showed no sign of slowing as it continued to rise!

The oppressive pressure brought by this silence made even Katakuri's heart tremble.

"At this rate of rise, this island will be completely submerged within three months at most, and countless nearby islands have already lost contact; I fear..."

Perospero looked at the report in his hand, his gaze extremely Solemn.

Facing Big Mom, facing Kaido, or even facing those monsters from Britannias, one could still choose to flee if unable to win.

But facing the silent power of the great sea, one could only wait for the hour of destruction.

"We... have no time left~!"

"Katakuri!"

Katakuri silently stared at the newspaper in his hand, offering no response for a moment.

As for the true nature of the current situation, he could not unravel it thread by thread like Xiang Keluo, piercing through the surface to reach the core.

But what he could see was this:

At this very moment, the choice left to him was one and only one.

Katakuri couldn't help but turn his head to look back.

Many of his younger brothers and sisters were still playing and frolicking, barely dispelling the oppressive atmosphere in this makeshift camp.

But on the faces of even more people, there was written nothing but confusion about the future.

Before witnessing with their own eyes the rising sea level swallowing several nearby islands entirely, no one had realized that the silent ocean possessed such powerful and irresistible force.

Even someone as strong as Roger, or even Rocks from God Valley back in the day, such a generation of heroes, would have been powerless to resist such power.

The Lunar Ark thrown out by the World Government was a hook baited with poison.

Katakuri could see this point, but it was already his only chance in the face of the desperate situation before him.

Should he seize it?!

There was no other choice.

Katakuri was clear on this point; ever since he once swung the trident of rebellion against Big Mom, he had already made the resolve to bet everything for his younger brothers and sisters.

But at this very moment...

That unwillingness in his heart was like thousands of gu worms gnawing at his internal organs, constantly writhing.

The palm gripping the trident turned white from Katakuri's excessive force.

His gaze stretched out toward the endless seawater in the distance.

Deep and dark.

Formless.

Capable of bearing all things, yet able to swallow all things with an unstoppable force!

After a long while.

The unwillingness in Katakuri's heart finally turned into a sigh:

"Brother Perospero, we have no choice; even knowing there is a high probability that the Lunar Ark is merely poison bait thrown out by the World Government, we must swallow it."

"I will respond to their call in my capacity as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea..."

Buru Buru—!

A hurried ringtone from the Den Den Mushi interrupted Katakuri's words.

He reached into his robe, took out the Den Den Mushi, and upon connecting, Xiang Keluo's hoarse voice immediately came through.

"Have you made your decision yet, Katakuri?!"

"Ah."

Katakuri responded lightly, yet his tone revealed determination: