Walking out of the laboratory, Leiyi did not hesitate in the slightest and headed straight toward the hot springs.

At the same time, he was also considering Vegapunk's situation.

There was no doubt that Vegapunk was his angel partner.

Over the past three years, whether it was Devil Fruit development or the production and research of mobile phones, the help provided to him had been immense.

Now, right before parting ways, he even gave him a final gift; this sentiment had to be acknowledged.

Furthermore, science was the primary productive force—this had already been verified countless times in his past life, so no matter what, he definitely had to protect Vegapunk.

Therefore, even if he didn't pick a fight with the World Government this time, he would eventually come into conflict with them in the future because of Vegapunk.

Now, at the very least, he had shaken off the role of a mere tool.

However, this was still not enough. Although the World Government would not cause trouble for him in the short term, Leiyi would not entrust his safety to Imu's contempt.

The reason he jumped out at this critical juncture was also because the sea was about to become even more chaotic.

The World Government would no longer have the energy to mobilize combat power to deal with him.

After all, once he returned to the Marines, the cost of dealing with him harshly would definitely far exceed that of an ordinary Four Emperors pirate crew.

Yet, this was still not enough.

He needed a more solid and unshakable prestige.

Therefore, Leiyi planned to emulate Garp by obtaining enough military exploits in the upcoming Summit War—military exploits far surpassing Akainu's—to serve as his amulet.

Only then would the World Government be unable to take action against him from the Marines' level.

At least on the surface, it had to be done this way.

At this moment, the Transponder Snail rang out once again.

"Hahaha Leiyi, what are you doing right now? Can you hear me?"

A hearty laugh came through, and it was easy to tell that the old man was in a very good mood right now.

As for what Sengoku wanted to say, Leiyi already had a clear idea.

"Old man, why are you calling in the middle of the night? Don't you know people need rest?"

"???"

In the fleet admiral's office, Sengoku was in a great mood this time and showed a lot of magnanimity toward Leiyi's reaction.

"What's wrong with you, brat? Did you eat gunpowder?"

"Is there anything important? If not, I'm hanging up and we'll talk tomorrow."

"Hey! Wait."

Sengoku hurriedly spoke up.

"Commander-in-Chief Kong just sent a transfer order recalling you to headquarters to report on your duties. Hurry back. What did you do, brat? You're quite efficient."

"Knowing too much won't do you any good."

Sengoku: (╬◣д◢)

This... exactly who is the fleet admiral here, you or me?

Remembering that Sengoku had been a bit irritable lately and deciding not to provoke him for a short while, Leiyi reacted extremely quickly and hurriedly spoke seriously before Sengoku threw a tantrum.

"Understood. Vice Admiral Leiyi will hurry back to headquarters to report on his duties as soon as possible."

"...You wait right there. I'll dispatch a warship to pick you up."

"No need. I still have things to do, and I'll head over myself when the time comes."

Slap—

Hearing that Leiyi still had things to do, Sengoku immediately felt unhappy.

After all, the matter of provoking Kaido had just passed not long ago, and the fallout hadn't been dealt with yet.

Tsuru was busy dispatching additional forces all over the world.

Various hidden intelligence posts in the New World had also been fully activated, determined to keep a dead lock on all movements within the territories of the Four Emperors.

He was simply afraid that an accident would happen then.

Evidently, after simmering for so long, Leiyi's ability to cause trouble hadn't decreased; instead, it had increased. During this sensitive period, he had to keep him firmly under his nose to feel at ease.

Giving an awkward chuckle,

Sengoku said, "Um, what urgent matter do you have that's more important than a war, that you must handle it right away?"

"It's nothing much, just planning to go to Wano Country to pick up some things."

"Oh, you're picking up some things... Wait, where did you say you were going? Wano Country?! That Wano Country of Kaido's? And you're going there to pick things up?"

"Hey, why are you roaring so loudly?"

"Leiyi, you're going to provoke Kaido again? No way! Now that the World Government has finally agreed to your transfer order, there must not be any further complications. I don't allow it."

From Kaido's perspective, there was no other outcome for the Marines going to a pirate's territory besides starting a war.

Besides, what could a Marines possibly need to pick up in the territory of the Four Emperors? Plundering it would be more like it.

Snatching a pirate's belongings—isn't that just going there to provoke them and pick a fight?

"Rest assured, this time I'll just take a simple stroll around and come back."

"No, absolutely not."

"You don't trust me? This time I won't even cross paths with Kaido."

"Should I believe you?"

(￣ェ￣;) Recalling Leiyi's style of doing things, Sengoku felt even more anxious.

If both Four Emperors stormed Marineford together at that time, just thinking about the scene made Sengoku feel a chill down his spine.

"No way, Leiyi. Just stay put on the island; a warship will arrive immediately. There is an emergency mission."

"Huh?"

A war was about to break out; what other mission could possibly count as urgent right now? Leiyi expressed deep skepticism.

Besides, this was the New World! Did they think they were just dropping by for a visit, where you could hail a cab and have a ship pick you up at your doorstep the next day?

"What mission?"

"Never mind that. You must not move; the ship will be there immediately."

Beep—Beep—

Hanging up the phone, Sengoku secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that it was a good thing he had arranged for a ship in advance. Otherwise, if he had waited for the procedures to be approved layer by layer, the war might have already ended.

Why was it that even though the Marines had added a top-tier combat power, he felt even more exhausted and even a little panicked?

At this moment, he had already made up his mind that once Leiyi returned, he must find an excuse to properly discipline him.

He absolutely could not let him cause trouble again.

However, turning around, he felt great again.

The Marines were, after all, an affiliated organization of the World Government, and the pressure he bore was immense.

In his mind, since the World Government had already agreed to release him, it meant the matter regarding the Celestial Dragons was over.

This Leiyi had some intelligence; presumably, the World Government had seen Leiyi's strength and therefore no longer pursued the matter.

Next, he could concentrate on preparing for the war against the Whitebeard Pirates.

He would coordinate the logistics for this war. If he handled it brilliantly, relying on this achievement, he might be able to climb higher or even directly secure Kong's position.

This was the highest military achievement.

Sengoku was full of fighting spirit.

He just didn't know how long this joyful mood would last once he learned the details of Leiyi's "intelligence."

In stark contrast, Leiyi was extremely depressed at this moment because the hot spring was completely empty.

Leiyi had returned too late.

Clearly so obsessed with defeating Kaido and facing the path to becoming stronger right before her eyes, why did she treat it so lightly?

Yamato, I am very disappointed in you.

Where was your belief? Where was your persistence?

Matters having reached this point, Leiyi lost the urge to take another soak.

Patting the documents in his hand, he wondered whether he should take a detour to Wano Country first.

With the extreme speed of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, even if the warship dispatched by Sengoku really arrived tomorrow, one night was enough for him to make a round trip.

It would merely make the journey a bit rushed, and he might cause a small commotion while searching for the blade, since he didn't know the exact location either.

Although the attribute points collected might not be much, the enhancement was very comprehensive.

However, a short-term boost might not necessarily be as significant as the things Vegapunk had given him.

Thinking about it this way, the cost-performance ratio of looking for the blade was so low—insipid to eat, yet a pity to discard.

The boost from super strength to himself was obvious. Since this time's item could be emphasized repeatedly by Vegapunk, the enhancement was definitely extraordinary.

What kind of trash system was this anyway? Its enhancements couldn't even compare to a local native.

Trash system.

But the numerical improvement was also real; once he got his hands on it, he could perform a bit more calmly on the battlefield.

He was a bit conflicted.

How about he just work a bit harder and take all of it? Being busy is a good thing.

Just as Leiyi was pondering, he found that he had already returned to the entrance of his bedroom, and at the same time, his train of thought was interrupted by the situation inside the room.

There was someone in the room.

Could that fellow York be planning to launch a Night Raid on him again?

No, the breathing and magnetic field didn't feel right.

Sensing carefully, Leiyi's expression turned bizarre.

It wasn't York, but Yamato.

Was this big beauty being so sensible that she was ready to give herself away just like that?

Or was she electrified into a high? Being so impatient that she ran straight into his bedroom.

Was this an invitation to battle, or naked provocation?

However, this was Leiyi's turf; it was impossible for Leiyi to avoid her sharp edge.

Even though Leiyi had clearly realized the numerical gap between the two of them while soaking in the hot spring just now.

He had to admit that even an ambitious youth standing tall between heaven and earth would inevitably feel a bit lacking in confidence when facing such a gap.

After all, he couldn't use Haki for this kind of thing, and Armament Haki: Hardening would cut off perception—wouldn't that just turn him into a mere tool?

Senior Gaban, where are you? This junior has a huge doubt here and is eager to seek your guidance, hey!

It was just that the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be loosed.

Avoidance was the behavior of a coward, while courage was the hymn of mankind—let this storm come even more fiercely!

Pushing open the door and entering,

the alluring and sensual scene before his eyes made Leiyi momentarily dazed.

Yet, contrary to expectations, Yamato wasn't waiting for him with full sincerity; she was already fast asleep.

No matter how good one's physical constitution or recovery ability was, the mind would still grow fatigued.

Under continuous combat, once things stopped, it was easy to get drowsy.

It was just that her sleeping posture was heavily rule-breaking.

She was still wearing that ordinary leopard-print bikini. At this moment, those few scarce pieces of fabric had all shifted slightly due to Yamato's ungraceful sleeping posture.

In the darkness, Yamato's chest rose and fell rhythmically, her curves were astonishing, and a pair of plump, meaty long legs were even more eye-catching.

Even more conspicuous was her plump, upturned buttocks with smooth lines, which had clearly undergone training.

Leiyi couldn't help sighing inwardly—what a naturally gifted setup.

However, Yamato clearly wasn't sleeping peacefully; her indistinct sleep-talking pulled Leiyi's drifting thoughts back.

"Don't... dungeon... Leiyi..."

Hearing this series of lines left Leiyi with a head full of black lines.

What on earth was Yamato dreaming about? Why did the content feel somewhat improper, and he was even in it?

It was just that the furrowed look on Yamato's brows didn't look like she was having a very fun, high-spirited dream.

It looked more like a nightmare.

However, as the fragmented information pieced together, Leiyi quickly realized it wasn't what he had thought.

Holy crap, it really was a nightmare. With Yamato's carefree and boisterous personality, she actually had nightmares too.

At this point, Leiyi remembered that he hadn't arranged a room for Yamato, which was why she could only come here.

At the same time, he thought of Yamato's previous predicament.

What did Yamato have to face on Onigashima? He wouldn't dare say anything else, but being locked up in a dark, sunless dungeon was a given.

She had no mother since childhood, and her pirate father was cruel.

She even lived in Onigashima, a valley of villains like that.

Naturally, no pirate ever guided or taught her.

Holy crap, Leiyi felt like he had discovered a blind spot.

Thinking about it carefully made one's hair stand on end. This was even more outrageous than those parents who sent their kids into institutions—what kind of abusive father behavior was this?

No wonder Yamato thought about patricide every single day.

Locked up like this in an environment swarming with villains, it would be a wonder if she didn't nurse a grudge; it was already a miracle she hadn't become a mental patient.

So looking at the current situation, was this being locked up to the point of developing childhood trauma?

Also, this wasn't a civilized society; in troubled times, who didn't have some childhood trauma, tragic stories, and pasts?

For a moment, a trace of pity surfaced in Leiyi's heart once again.

Forget it, the matter of looking for the blade could wait until tomorrow; he would stay and sleep with her.

Even if she hugged him, threw those plump, long legs over his body, or even pressed down on him all together and suffocated him, he would accept it.

Who told him he had already decided to build a crew?

If you want to lead a crew well, you always have to bear things that ordinary people find hard to bear.

Wait, this was his own place to begin with; staying behind to rest was a matter of course, and he didn't need to find an excuse at all.