The next day, at the 80th Navy Branch's Command Office.
"What? Go to Navy Headquarters? No way!"
Kevin shook his head, rejecting Captain Romi's proposal. "I'm eating well and sleeping well here. Why would I go to Navy HQ? That place is filled with monsters—I haven't even mastered Haki yet."
Behind his desk, Captain Romi's eyelid twitched slightly.
Haki is something only elites from HQ typically master, right? Even he himself, after years of service in the West Blue, had barely retained his Armament Haki.
Mind, body, and technique: Haki begins with a strong will and resolve, followed by physical control and technical skill. When one's spirit wanes, the strength of Haki, named for its dominating essence, also diminishes.
This was exactly why Romi wanted Kevin to head to Navy Headquarters, rather than staying in the comfortable environment of West Blue.
After a moment's reflection, Captain Romi returned to an earlier subject.
"The matter you asked about has been settled."
"Hm? The public execution of Pirate King Roger in Loguetown?" Kevin asked quickly.
Captain Romi nodded but chose not to address the execution directly. "The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, is scheduled for execution this month. A figure like him was captured—don't you want to be a hero, like Vice Admiral Garp?"
Kevin shook his head without hesitation.
If it hadn't been for Garp and Roger, Uncle Kuma might've had an easier time. And that Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, which Kaido eventually ate, might have become an asset in the future.
Besides, Pirate King Roger wasn't actually captured—he turned himself in, knowing he didn't have long to live. By using his execution, he made "One Piece" a legend that countless people would chase.
The Great Pirate Era—a harsh time for ordinary people.
Also, the surname "Gol" intentionally left out the "D" initial.
One of those five ancient tyrants from Mary Geoise, Jaygarcia Saturn, had nearly frightened him to death when he was a baby.
Sigh…
Captain Romi exhaled in resignation.
"You'll leave tomorrow."
"Hm?"
"Tomorrow, you'll take the Navy's route over Reverse Mountain straight to Loguetown in East Blue."
"Really? Captain Romi, your connections at HQ are impressive!"
Captain Romi replied with a smug grin. "I may not be on par with those monstrous figures, but my network is strong!"
Kevin chuckled and asked, "I heard you studied under an Admiral back in HQ, Captain. So how did you end up here in the West Blue?"
Romi paused, then looked at Kevin.
The atmosphere at Navy Headquarters might not be the best place for this kid. The proximity to the Sabaody Archipelago... that was part of why Romi had come back to the West Blue in the first place.
"Enough. Go prepare. Someone will meet you in Loguetown. If you change your mind then, you can follow him to HQ."
Kevin shrugged and stepped out.
If this had been five days ago, he might have gone to Navy HQ.
After all, with its proximity to Sabaody, he could have used Shadow Clone Jutsu to scout the area, potentially disrupt the slave trade, or, if lucky, secretly target a Celestial Dragon—what a haul that would be!
But with the Flying Nimbus now giving him unparalleled mobility, it wouldn't take long to travel from West Blue to Sabaody.
If he could also get a Transformation Jutsu, things would be perfect.
Alright… no side jobs today. I'll pack up tonight and leave tomorrow.
Might as well go out for a drink.
...
Lasgap Town, situated at the entrance of Reverse Mountain and near the Red Line crossing, had become a hub for merchants traveling to other seas.
As commerce boomed, entertainment blossomed.
Despite this, no black-market operations dared encroach on Lasgap, not even the Capone family among the Five Black Hand Mafia.
So, the lovely ladies were genuinely lovely, and the services were legitimately wholesome.
Sipping his drink, listening to music, and watching the women perform, Kevin joined in the cheering and whistling.
Soon, the performance ended, and soft music began as the lovely ladies took the stage once more.
The floor workers started selling flowers, offering patrons the chance to buy a drink with a dancer for 50,000 berries.
"Would you like a flower, sir? Mina performed wonderfully today, and I noticed she glanced your way several times!"
A young boy, around six or seven, energetically promoted his flowers to Kevin, using some sales tricks.
Kevin could tell the boy had repeated the same pitch several times.
He patted the boy on the head. "Kid, other than my drink, my pockets are emptier than my glass."
At this, some men nearby laughed.
"Haha! New around here, kid? Executioner Kevin is notoriously stingy!"
"He only pays for his entry drink, never a berry more, ha!"
"Not like there's a shortage of folks wanting to buy him a drink—he just won't accept."
...
Kevin raised his glass to the crowd, drained it in one gulp, and headed toward the restroom.
His break was over. He had work tonight and a departure for East Blue tomorrow.
He'd already extracted the locations of two hidden treasure sites the day before, after using the black flames on a pirate and a mafia boss.
The pirate's loot—money, which he needed as he prepared to flip the world on its head.
A few minutes later, Kevin emerged from the restroom as a shadow clone and returned to his seat casually.
Meanwhile, the real Kevin, with a different hairstyle, clothes, and a mask, slipped out of the hall.
Soon, a yellow cloud descended from the night sky, landing in a nearby alley, and carried a figure upward, heading into West Blue.
Flying was far faster than sailing; in just a few hours, Kevin returned with two chests full of gold and jewels, carefully stashed away.
As expected, the mafia was wealthier than pirates.
Over the two years he'd served as West Blue's executioner, Kevin had done this many times, though it used to take far longer without the Flying Nimbus.
"It's still not nearly enough…" he sighed. Two years remained, and research required more than just money.