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New World, a certain trading hub in the Underground World.
The splendid room spoke of the extraordinary status of its owner. However, at this moment, the room was in chaos, with precious jewels mixed with broken glass strewn all over the floor.
Several scantily clad girls bore whip marks on their bodies, lying on the ground, unconscious or worse.
“Why on earth are Celestial Dragons and Marine Vice Admirals appearing in Alabasta?!”
A handsome man with golden hair roared in frustration, his anger causing the servants outside to tremble, afraid to even breathe.
The destruction of his features marred his beauty, making him appear wicked and fierce. Just like the current state of the room, filled with contradictions and complexities.
“Sir… I don’t think they would be interested in Alabasta.”
The bald-headed butler had to step forward to calm his master: “According to the information from our spies, the Marine Vice Admiral recently took leave and went to Alabasta in search of treasure. Their stay shouldn’t be too long.”
“What?! Just because of this foolish reason, I have to stand by and watch?!”
The golden-haired man’s face was full of unwillingness, his eyes bloodshot.
‘What else can you do?’ The old butler wanted to retort.
Not to mention the intimidation of the Celestial Dragons, just the presence of that Marine Vice Admiral couldn’t be ignored by anyone.
He wields power in both the underworld and the legitimate world and is considered one of the top-level fighters of the era, earning the nickname “Soryu” after advancing to Vice Admiral.
The gains from Alabasta’s operations have already been enough to cover our costs. Let’s endure for now and wait for the storm to pass!
Naturally, he dared not say this aloud, so he continued to bow his head: “Sir, the Marine Vice Admiral has a hot temper, and with the Celestial Dragon backing him, it’s not profitable to provoke him!”
Provoking the Marine Vice Admiral is like choosing between being pushed to the forefront or facing the executioner’s block. Take your pick.
Even you, the head of the house, might not escape. How could it be worth it?
“But I can’t swallow this indignity!”
The golden-haired man said angrily, “Just wait until I find the Ancient Weapon! I will make everyone bow down to me!”
The old butler’s spirit trembled, and he hurriedly approached: “Sir, lower your voice, this matter cannot be spoken of lightly!”
Many people are aware of the Marine’s grand effort to hunt down thieves for the government. If they were to find an excuse to cause trouble at this juncture, even the several influential figures behind the young man couldn’t save him.
“Tsk, I don’t need you to remind me!”
The golden-haired man was taken aback by the words, but still stubbornly persisted.
The old butler understood this very well and stopped speaking, taking out a small knife to start cleaning up the informants on the ground.
Only dead men can keep secrets.
Listening to the sound of throats being slit, coming from a hotel room two streets away, Rob Lucci silently made a check mark on the paper and wrote a note.
“Suspected involvement, but unlikely.”
The paper was covered with a long list of names. If any informants were present, they would surely be shocked.
Because these names, each one of them, are prominent figures in the Underground World!
When their names appear neatly in CP0’s investigation files, the implications behind it are chilling.
“Let’s call it a day here, Kalifa. Have you found anything on your end?”
“Not yet. It seems these guys really came to participate in the trading conference.”
Wearing a white outfit with a cape bearing the government’s emblem, Kalifa rubbed her sore neck from sitting for too long and said, “But I heard many people cursing Saint Lirisk. Shouldn’t we warn them?”
As Celestial Dragons’ loyal dogs, not every member of CP0 has as complicated an identity as zero and zero one.
Being loyal to the Celestial Dragons’ authority is absolute for ordinary CP0 members!
“Cursing? I’m afraid that includes the Marine Vice Admiral as well.”
Thinking of what he had heard, Rob Lucci seemed to be transported back to that dawn in Water 7.
The scene of grabbing the bones of a Dragon with one hand and wielding the ship as a bludgeon, the declaration of “no prisoners,” showcasing the owner’s dominance and brutality to the fullest.
That’s what I aspire to!
“Spandam!!!”
After a moment of silence, Rob Lucci spoke: “Report the results and recommendations to zero one, and pass a message to the Marine Vice Admiral.”
Stare–stare
“Alright, what message?” Kalifa’s facial muscles twitched rapidly, swallowing the words “Why me?” and sighing in resignation.
Big bosses crush the little ones!
“Besides the government and the Underground World, there are also the Yonko Big Mom’s interests behind Alabasta.”
Rob Lucci’s expression remained calm as he slowly explained, seemingly oblivious to Kalifa’s widened eyes.
“Even if he undergoes soul interrogation, Big Mom will no longer trust Katakuri as much. Sending him to Alabasta this time is a kind of indirect distancing, making way for Minister of Juice Smoothie.”
“Tell him, he will understand my meaning.”
With that, Rob Lucci hurriedly turned and left.
After digesting the secret information from the commander for a second, Kalifa saw him preparing to use Geppo and quickly spoke up, “Where are you going? Our work isn’t finished yet!”
“There’s a batch of newcomers from the Judicial Island who are carrying out missions in the New World recently.” Rob Lucci sneered, “I’m going to help our former useless senior official Spandam keep an eye on them, see if there’s any potential!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back before dawn tomorrow.”
Boom!
With that, a blast erupted on the spot, accompanied by a cloud of white smoke and dust, and Rob Lucci’s figure disappeared.
Kalifa: “…”
“Heh, men!”
If it weren’t for Spandam’s remark about wasting time on undercover investigations, Rob Lucci, who was in the prime of his power, would have achieved more than this.
This grudge, the proud son of heaven who refuses to admit defeat, the “strongest in 800 years,” Rob Lucci can’t swallow it.
However…
“Can you really keep up with that Monster’s footsteps?”
Kalifa sighed with regret.
Grand Line, Alabasta.
After a silent night, the next morning, Rowen, who wasn’t in a hurry to practice, sat outside the tent in a simple shirt, lost in thought.
Seeing this scene, Lirisk exclaimed curiously and approached, asking, “Did you not sleep well last night?”
“Don’t be silly, we at our level treat staying up for days like playing.”
Rowen waved his hand like a salty fish, sighing, “Zephyr-sensei told me to go out and clear my mind, but I found that I couldn’t relax wherever I went.”
He was annoyed by what happened yesterday!
Lirisk suddenly understood.
“Wait a minute!”
“You mean this leave was suggested by ‘Black Arm’ Zephyr?!”
Lirisk was suddenly shocked.
“Yeah?”
Rowen frowned slightly, turning his head, “Yeah, what’s so strange about it?”
Moreover…
“Black Arm” Zephyr?
Lirisk rarely spoke so politely.
“Sure enough, you’ve already awakened.”
The latter didn’t respond, but instead wore an expression of worldly detachment, looking indifferent.
Then, he suddenly roared in anger, “Are you kidding me?! I just broke through, and you’ve already awakened! Can’t we have a proper fight now?!”
Before Awakening, Rowen was already terrifying. After Awakening, he would be even more astonishing. Lirisk always harbored the thought of having another fight with Rowen, but now, that thought was gone.
“So I haven’t awakened yet!”
Rowen retorted with a twitch of his mouth, “If I had awakened, would I still need to rest and clear my mind? Don’t you understand that this is about adjusting your mindset?!”
“No, what you don’t understand…”
Lirisk had the expression of someone who had been there, “The Awakening of a Logia Devil Fruit is the simplest. Once you learn it, you’ll naturally know it. Unlike us Zoans, who need to strengthen our blood and primal instincts, bit by bit, and enhance our control over Half Beastify and complete Beastify. And we also need to control our inner selves from being consumed by the beastly nature, to avoid becoming idiots like the Jailer Beasts. The stronger you are, the harder it is to control.”
There was resentment in his voice, making Rowen shudder involuntarily.
“What you need to clear your mind for now isn’t to welcome the upcoming powerful force, but to prepare to open the switch.”
Rowen was taken aback, “Are you saying… I’ve already awakened?”
Only when the power is already there is there a need to open the switch.
Zi zi…
He slightly clenched his fist, feeling the thunderous power surging with stamina, and the mysterious Dragon patterns formed by thunder undulating in his body like a beating heart.
Rowen pondered for two seconds.
“Why don’t I feel anything?”
“…”
“Ignoramus!”
Just as Lirisk was about to explain, he suddenly grinned and said, “I have a way to help you activate the power of Awakening, but with your unstable mindset right now, you might get lost in the state of Awakening.”
“So… do you want to try?”
Upon hearing this, Rowen looked at Lirisk with a eager expression in his eyes and stood up after some thought.
“Sure!”
…
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