Chapter 80

"The person who taught you the method to cultivate Haki."

"Garp?"

"Mm." Lei Li nodded. "If it were him at his peak, he should have reached that realm."

"Not even the Pirate King Luo Jie reached it?"

Luo En was somewhat surprised.

Lei Li shook his head: "Luo Jie and Garp fought many times; what Luo Jie excelled at was Observation Haki, while Armament Haki was Garp's strength."

"I see."

Luo En nodded gently, tilted his head back to drain the fine wine in his cup, then turned to look at Lei Li beside him and asked curiously:

"Observation Haki—has anyone reached the fourth stage?"

"I don't know."

As Lei Li picked up the wine bottle to pour into his cup, he said: "I've never heard of it, nor witnessed it. Reaching the third stage of Observation Haki allows one to foresee a fragment of the future; as for reaching the fourth stage... hmm... I can't even imagine it."

"But if Luo Jie were still alive, he would likely have had the chance to reach that realm." Lei Li lowered his head, gazing at the bubbling Sabaody wine in his cup, and chuckled softly: "After all, that fellow's Observation Haki was so extraordinary."

Luo En understood the meaning behind Lei Li's words.

The Pirate King Gol D. Luo Jie possessed the highest grade of Observation Haki, granting him the ability to hear the voice of all things.

Most people who awaken Observation Haki lean toward depth, such as Xia Luote Katakuri, who can foresee a fragment of the future.

Or they lean toward breadth, such as Enel from Skypiea, who could monitor the entire island with his Mantra.

Almost everyone who awakens Observation Haki possesses one of these two specialized traits.

The Observation Haki awakened by Luo En was the same, leaning toward depth, but he was still far from reaching Katakuri's realm.

The highest grade of Observation Haki, however, not only combines both of these traits but also additionally possesses the ability to hear the voice of all things.

In the entire world of pirates, beings with this ability are far fewer than those who master Conqueror's Haki.

One could say that among hundreds of millions, hardly one emerges.

Yet Luo En was curious about one thing.

Between his Transparent World and the ability to hear the voice of all things, which was stronger and which weaker?

………………

After bidding farewell to Lei Li.

Luo En boarded a merchant ship and departed from the Sabaody Archipelago.

Luo En, draped in a military-green long trench coat, stood by the deck railing; as he watched seabirds dancing in the sky, the words Lei Li had spoken involuntarily echoed in his mind.

"Those who yearn for freedom and resist constraints are called pirates in this era, are they..."

He fell into thoughtful silence.

Previously, he had thought that within this chaotic world of pirates where good and evil blend, he would simply strengthen himself, avoid becoming entangled in various conflicts, and follow his heart to pursue a free, unrestrained, and wonderful life in this magnificent pirate world...

Now it seemed that this goal had been somewhat too simplistic.

Luo En rested his chin on his arms folded over the railing, his clear black eyes filled with contemplation as he gazed at the sea before him, while the slightly fishy sea breeze gently stirred his soft black hair.

"Indeed, I must see this world more clearly..."

Suddenly, he noticed someone watching him.

He turned his head to look.

There, by the deck railing to his side, beside a noble Lady wearing a hat, two exquisitely dressed twin girls in princess dresses, with short orange-red hair and rather cute appearances, were secretly watching him.

Seeing Luo En looking over.

The two little girls averted their gazes, their small faces flushing red, and shyly shrank behind the noble Lady's skirt.

Luo En smiled at them, his expression gentle.

This world of pirates also holds many beautiful things, does it not...

…………

Inside Xia Qi's Rip-Off Bar.

Lei Li lifted his wine glass, watching the ice cubes clink against the glass walls, emitting a crisp sound.

Xia Qi, smoking, looked at him and asked:

"When you saw him off just now, what did you say to him?"

"Nothing much, just asked whether he used his full strength when challenging me."

"And then?"

Xia Qi was somewhat curious.

"He shook his head."

Lei Li gazed at the bubbles rising in his wine glass, his eyes full of emotion.

"Hoo..."

Xia Qi exhaled a puff of smoke: "Truly a youngster one cannot see through; it's been a long time since I've seen such a young person..."

"Haha."

Lei Li laughed heartily and drained the Sabaody wine in his cup in one gulp.

"This great sea is about to become lively again; that lad's voyage this time will surely stir up quite a storm."

"Xia Qi, the next time we see that lad, his name will surely resound across the seas; he might even become a renowned great pirate, hahaha."

Xia Qi glanced at Lei Li: "You seem quite eager for him to become a pirate."

While pouring wine, Lei Li shook his head gently:

"It is not that I wish it; rather, in this current era, pure adventurers who pursue freedom are no longer allowed to exist..."

Xia Qi continued smoking, saying nothing more.

…………

【PS: 8 updates posted, more tonight!! Begging for subscriptions, flowers, reviews, and monthly tickets!!】

72, The Gunshot in Despair (9/8, begging for subscriptions!)

【Host: Luo En.

Age: 14.

Qi and Blood Value: 1536.

Sun Breathing mastery: 100%

Transparent World lv3.

Sword Dao: Iron-Cutting Realm (Newly Entered)

Weapon: Great Grade 21 Sword — Lei Qie.

Permanent Buff: True Meaning of Tempering a Thousand Times (Binding…)

Armament Color Haki lv5.

Observation Color Haki lv3.

Conqueror's Color Haki lv0.

Soru: lv6.

Moon Walk: lv5.

Rankyaku: lv5.

Special Skills: Mechanical Mastery, Navigation Mastery, Language Mastery, Healing Art.

Special Noble Phantasm: Gate of Babylon.】

During these two and a half years, Luo En had sailed with the warship and signed in at several dozen islands. The vast majority only rewarded ten Qi and Blood points, the rest of the rewards were few and far between, and some were not even useful.

The Special Noble Phantasm Gate of Babylon, and the Healing Art.

These could be considered among the more satisfactory ones for Luo En.

Luo En, sitting in his room, slowly opened his eyes. With a single thought, the famed blade Lei Qie slowly emerged from the void behind him, its tip pointing downward, hovering beside his hand.

Then, following Luo En's will, it gradually sank back into the void, which rippled like the surface of water.

His Gate of Babylon was not connected to a treasury of gold and treasures, but to his system space.

In truth, the ability of this Noble Phantasm was dispensable for Luo En, who possessed a system; it was merely rather cool in form.

That alone was enough.

Luo En looked out the window, where white clouds, blue sky, and the sea formed a harmonious painting.

"According to what Lei Li said, my current strength on the Grand Line should be considered not bad, provided I don't run into some tricky Devil Fruit users."