Chapter 97: That

Gao Wen stood before him, and Jia Sha couldn’t help asking.

“Ah, but now they can finally rest in peace.”

Gao Wen murmured in reply, and Jia Sha’s body went limp, collapsing backward—he rushed forward to catch him.

Only then did he realize Jia Sha’s body had long since reached its limit; weeks of accumulated hunger and exhaustion had nearly broken it.

Jia Sha had merely been holding on by sheer willpower.

Gao Wen flicked Jia Sha’s nostrils to confirm he was alive, then hoisted him onto his shoulder and grabbed the treasure chest containing the Devil Fruit.

He leapt up and landed steadily on his own pirate ship.

After handing Jia Sha over to the ship’s doctor for treatment, Gao Wen turned to glance at the distant pirate vessel.

He raised his hand and slashed.

Hss!

A silver aerial slash cleaved the pirate ship cleanly in two; within a few breaths, it was fully swallowed by the sea.

Only then did Gao Wen turn his attention to the treasure chest in his hands, lifting the lid to reveal the Devil Fruit inside.

“Is this the Devil Fruit?”

Nami leaned over.

She stared at the peculiar fruit, entirely crimson and covered in spines.

She couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it, exclaiming in wonder:

“They say eating it grants incredible abilities—turning into an animal, or controlling lightning and fire?”

And the key point is... they say just this one fruit can sell for hundreds of millions of Berries at auction!

Beside them, Keluo glanced at the fruit, then pushed up his glasses and said coolly:

“But after eating it, you lose the ability to swim—become a complete landlubber.”

“Over ninety percent of this world is covered in seawater. There’s no room for landlubbers.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Gao Wen nodded and said:

“When the cost outweighs the benefit, you definitely don’t eat it.”

“For example, if this fruit’s ability is the Human-Human Fruit in its normal form, it’s pure nonsense.”

Nami blinked:

“Human-Human Fruit?”

Gao Wen explained:

“It grants the ability to turn into a human.”

“But we’re already human.”

“So you gain no special power—and still become a landlubber.”

As Gao Wen’s words sank in, both fell silent, their interest in the Devil Fruit instantly fading by half.

Seeing this, Gao Wen stopped trying to explain further.

His gaze settled on the Devil Fruit in the chest, and he abandoned the idea of eating it immediately.

Though this fruit had drawn the attention of the Seven Warlords, who came all the way from the Grand Line to seize it, it was likely a rare ability—possibly even a Logia or Mythical Zoan.

But it could also be a fruit acquired through a contract, or one with strong auxiliary effects.

Eating it wouldn’t noticeably boost his strength, yet would impose a severe flaw.

Not worth it.

At least until he determined the fruit’s type, Gao Wen had no intention of consuming it.

Thud!

He slammed the chest shut.

Gao Wen turned and walked into the cabin.

The battle was over.

Keluo, remaining on deck, confirmed no survivors remained, then ordered the ship to return.

As the Straw Hat Pirates’ flag vanished beyond the horizon, waves began to churn over the sea before the Red Line.

Bloodthirsty sharks greedily devoured the floating corpses, leaving only a tattered pirate flag, bobbing with the waves.

When a Marine warship arrived, all it saw was endless ocean.

The lead Marine officer frowned, a sense of dread rising inexplicably.

When the Marines pulled up a pirate flag bearing a lizard skull, the officer’s spine instantly chilled.

He immediately ordered divers to explore the seabed—and as expected, they found a massive pirate ship, split cleanly in two.

“The pirate ship under Seven Warlord Hanafuza was sunk in the East Blue. The attacker is suspected to be the East Blue’s most notorious pirate knight, Gao Wen.”

“The East Blue is about to change.”

“This matter exceeds the East Blue Marines’ jurisdiction—report it to Marine Headquarters immediately!”

“Hurry!”

…

Crow Harbor.

The lord had been captured by pirates, and the sole survivor, Jasmine, lacked the authority to command.

Chaos had already engulfed the harbor—ships couldn’t sail normally, and several pirate crews previously driven off by the Cat Brothers had seized the chance to invade, hoping to claim a share.

Under mounting internal and external pressures, Crow Harbor’s situation grew increasingly dire.

Just as Jasmine despaired, Jin arrived with his team.

A Bronze-level fighter, in the East Blue where average bounties were under five million Berries, was an absolute slaughter.

After Jin killed several pirates with bounties above the East Blue average, the surrounding situation stabilized instantly.

Order within the harbor restored at an astonishing pace, and merchant ships coming to Crow Harbor for transit and supplies even outnumbered before.

This was the security that power brought.

In the lord’s mansion.

The Cat Brothers, Zan Gao, and Fan Aoka—barely alive—lay quietly on their hospital beds.

They chatted idly, half-heartedly.

“Hey, what kind of man is that guy?”

Fan Aoka couldn’t help asking.

During his time in Crow Harbor, he’d heard countless civilians and mansion staff speak of Gao Wen.

Their respect and gratitude were unmistakable—he’d never seen a pirate receive such praise from common folk.

Pirates~

Aren’t they all just arsonists, murderers, and looters, leaving ruin in their wake?

Why does the East Blue have such an anomaly?

“Captain Gao Wen?”

Xia Mu saw Fan Aoka nod, and a faint smile curled his lips:

“He was once the Knight Commander of the Goya Kingdom—the man who gave us outcasts a new life…”

Beside him, Feng Kelei nodded vigorously, turning to Fan Aoka with wide eyes:

“That’s right!”

“As a pirate, he’s completely unfit—but as a leader, there’s no greater honor than serving under him.”

Xia Mu’s lip twitched:

“That’s my line!”

“Don’t worry about the details~”

“Asshole!”

“Meow!”

…

The two immediately began wrestling, their heavy wounds doing nothing to stop their escalating antics.

Fan Aoka couldn’t help smiling faintly, yet felt an unspoken regret:

“What a pity.”

“Facing opponents from the Grand Line—even that guy probably couldn’t survive—!”

Thud!

A violent door slam cut off Fan Aoka’s muttering.

He turned to see Jasmine, her expression excited:

“Captain Gao and his crew are returning—they’ll arrive in a few days!”

Fan Aoka froze:

“Gave up?”

“No!”

Jasmine shook her head:

“According to the Young Lady—no, the lord—the two bastards were killed by Gao Wen in just two cuts!”

(End of Chapter)