"Are you watching us?"
After a moment of contemplation, Yi Sheng nodded. "I understand, Mr. Kong Tai. I will disembark here!"
Continuing with Kong Tai and the others might make for an interesting voyage, but it would be meaningless. Therefore, he requested to leave the ship here.
The world to come, though it might improve without the World Government, would not see success solely through imagination.
Overthrowing the World Government and abolishing slavery were Kong Tai's responsibilities.
He, along with countless others who wished for a better world, were the true protagonists of this future. Thus, disembarking here to pursue his own ideals was the most correct decision he could make at this moment.
"Have you decided?"
Kong Tai looked at Yi Sheng without trying to persuade him. After all, Yi Sheng's purpose for boarding was clear: to witness how their group operated, something he had known from the start.
"Yes!"
Yi Sheng nodded.
He stood at the bow of the ship, leaning on his cane sword, and took a step back, slowly bending down to bow to Kong Tai.
"Thank you, Mr. Kong Tai, and everyone, for taking care of me during this time. The experiences I've had will be etched in my memory forever. In the years to come, I wish you all a bright future and a smooth journey."
The crew looked at Yi Sheng, none of them speaking. The noise from the outside made the silence on the ship exceptionally noticeable.
Although their time together was brief, everyone had truly come to regard the blind elder as a companion.
The sudden departure of a companion naturally brought a sense of reluctance.
Yet, reluctance was fleeting. Was life not spent in countless partings and reunions?
No longer the naive individuals they were when they first set sail, they could only offer their blessings to Yi Sheng's departure in silence.
"Haha!! Mr. Yi Sheng, we accept your blessings. I also wish you smooth sailing from here on out."
A Luo was the first to break the silence, stepping forward to embrace Yi Sheng in a farewell gesture.
Then, one by one, the others came forward to bid Yi Sheng goodbye.
At this moment, the Freedom smoothly docked at the pier within the harbor.
"Alright, everyone, goodbye."
Without any hesitation, Yi Sheng turned and jumped off the Freedom. With his back to them, he waved, his wooden clogs making a clacking sound as he walked into the town.
"Mr. Yi Sheng is as carefree as ever!"
Kong Tai leaned on the railing, turned to look at Fei De and the other, and said with a smile, "You two should disembark here as well. We won't say any more blessings. Take this money."
Straightening up, he took a black chest from A Hua and handed it to Fei De. "The money in here is enough for you to open a tavern on this island, and enough for you to live out the rest of your lives peacefully."
"How can this be?"
Looking at the leather case, Fei De and the other repeatedly waved their hands.
"Take it!"
Kong Tai stepped forward and directly placed the leather case into Fei De's embrace. "Look at yourselves now. Do you really intend to beg on the island?"
Shaking his head with a smile, Kong Tai reached for his wine gourd and took a long drink.
"Then we thank you, Mr. Kong Tai, and everyone."
The two were not hesitant individuals. Biting their lips, they accepted Kong Tai's kindness.
They truly needed the money; there was no denying that.
Although they possessed strength, they couldn't engage in the fundamental work of pirates. They hadn't done it decades ago, so why would they do it in their old age?
After thanking Kong Tai and the others again, the two jumped off the Freedom. Unlike Yi Sheng, they didn't leave immediately. Instead, they stood on the shore, silently watching the Freedom depart without stopping.
Only after the cheers from both shores completely faded, and the ship's silhouette was no longer visible, did the two old men exchange glances. With hope and anticipation for the future in their eyes, they carried the black leather case and turned to walk into the town.
Kong Tai ultimately did not kill the pirates, as he no longer cared about them that much.
If he encountered them, he would deal with them, but chasing after them would be needless trouble!
Moreover, the islanders were too enthusiastic, so they did not linger.
Two days later.
Upon seeing the red sky wall that pierced the clouds in the distance once more, everyone on the ship showed a hint of nostalgia in their eyes.
Kong Tai ultimately did not go to see Whitebeard but headed directly to the intersection of the New World and the Red Line.
He intended to cross from here to the first half of the Grand Line to see an old friend.
It was time to fulfill a promise.
On Dressrosa, he had promised Sabo that he would go to Impel Down to rescue Ivankov. This trip was precisely for that purpose.
"Captain, are we still going through Fish-Man Island?"
Brook, leaning on the bow, looked at the dark deep sea ahead, let out a laugh, and turned to ask Kong Tai.
The experience on Fish-Man Island last time was, to be honest, not surprising enough.
Although the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the sea was beautiful, the inhabitants there did not welcome them, so the crew did not feel the same joy on Fish-Man Island as they had on Skypiea.
Hearing Brook's question, everyone turned their gaze to Kong Tai.
"We'll just go straight from here."
After thinking about it, Kong Tai shook his head and did not intend to go to Fish-Man Island again.
The differences between the two races doomed Fish-Men and humans to an inability to coexist peacefully.
Although there were kind individuals among both humans and Fish-Men, and even great figures like Otohime, who lobbied all parties for peace, the chasm between different races was not something anyone could easily bridge.
After all, humans were the masters of the land.
Whether it was Fish-Men or Merfolk, the sea was their domain.
Distinct and clearly defined, this was the most ideal peace for the two races, rather than merging together to achieve a peace that could only exist in fantasy.
Hearing Kong Tai's words, the crew on the ship did not feel much disappointment.
Instead, they looked at the approaching Red Wall with curiosity.
In the past two days, everyone on the ship had realized that Kong Tai's strength had, once again, undergone a qualitative leap.
During these two days, Kong Tai had also told everyone about the Space Dragon.
Besides marveling at the world's wonders, they couldn't help but admire Kong Tai's powerful talent.
This monstrous, beyond-their-imagination growth in strength, while astonishing, also brought them a greater sense of security.
Only the trio of A Hua, however, trained as if their lives depended on it during these days. They seemed to be desperately trying to catch up to something, which had considerably reduced the usual laughter on the ship.
Everyone knew why the trio was behaving like this, and thus, apart from minding their own business, they all felt a sense of urgency.
After all, long ago, after meeting the other shore and learning many truths about the world, they had known that one day Kong Tai would break out of this world and venture into the starry sky, a place they could only look up to.
At that time, it wasn't urgent, but now, it clearly was.
Because they wanted to go too!