Why did Kong Tai say they had to leave immediately?
It was something one could figure out with a little thought.
Kong Tai had killed a Celestial Dragon, defeated Admiral Kizaru, and fought the Hero Garp. Although he claimed it was a draw, any observant person, at least those like Rayleigh who had been watching closely, tended to believe that Garp had been unable to defeat Kong Tai and had retreated.
With such a terrifying individual remaining on Sabaody Archipelago, the common people were scared, the Marines were scared, and the pirates were also scared.
As long as he stayed on Sabaody Archipelago, there was no hope of recovery.
And the ones suffering the most would be the common people.
That was why Kong Tai had proposed leaving soon.
He could feel the island rejecting him; staying longer would only increase the resentment of the common people.
Aside from disgusting the Marines and the World Government, it was utterly useless. Everything that needed to be done had been done, and he had even fought Garp, whom he had always wanted to fight. There was no need to stay here any longer.
It was better to leave quickly and head to Fish-Man Island, to the New World. The scenery there would be another world entirely.
As for the Holy Land Mary Geoise, not far from here…
He would consider it once his control over space improved further!
It wasn't that far away anyway.
...
After leading his companions to Shakky's bar for a good meal, they did some extensive shopping. With the North Blue strong liquor prepared by Shakky, and after bidding farewell to Shakky and Rayleigh, Kong Tai and his group headed directly towards where they had landed on the island.
Gazing at Kong Tai and his companions, who seemed to radiate a halo in the sunlight,
Rayleigh and Shakky stood at the entrance of the bar, their eyes filled with an unnamable emotion.
They had seen countless geniuses in their lives, but none as astonishing as Kong Tai.
They had a feeling that with Kong Tai's departure, the New World, which had been tending towards a peaceful state due to the existence of the Four Emperors, would once again be thrown into chaos.
Shakky did not know whether this situation was good or bad, but it was what Rayleigh hoped to see, because his captain had thought the same way.
Only through countless trials and tribulations would truly supreme powerhouses emerge at the apex, and only such individuals could go to the final island to witness the true great treasure, thereby witnessing the scenery they had once witnessed.
However, if Kong Tai was aiming for that, he would likely be disappointed, because he could sense that the great treasure was not waiting for someone like Kong Tai.
Even though Kong Tai appeared to be only seventeen years old, Rayleigh could sense that he was actually a very mature, even somewhat old-souled, individual.
Such a person would not be swayed by hot-blooded impulses on a rational level, and that great treasure…
It was essentially a joke.
"Haha!!"
As if recalling something, Rayleigh couldn't help but laugh, then shook his head and turned to walk back into the bar.
Shakky tilted her head, looking at Rayleigh, a trace of tenderness appearing in the depths of her eyes. Holding a cigarette in her right hand, she brought it to her lips, took a deep puff, and then also turned, following behind Rayleigh into the bar.
The liveliness was short-lived. The place quickly returned to its former tranquility.
...
By the sea, Kong Tai took out the glass sphere containing the Thousand Sunny from his pocket and, with a wave of his hand, threw it towards the sea ahead.
The glass sphere soared into the air, and the Thousand Sunny within it rapidly enlarged, eventually returning to its original size. With a "pop," it burst like a bubble and fell into the sea, creating a faint splash against the waves.
The entire process was witnessed by the three members of the Firebird's crew, their faces filled with amazement.
"This is too magical!"
The subordinate on the left exclaimed.
"Mmm-hmm!!"
The subordinate on the right nodded incessantly.
Firebird, however, gazed at Kong Tai's retreating back, his face full of adoration.
"Is there anything Big Brother Silver Hair can't do?"
He knew Big Brother Silver Hair was human, but those who didn't would definitely think he was a true god, a god lost to the mortal world.
"Alright, Firebird, we'll part ways here. Although we haven't spent much time together, thank you for the righteous reporting you did for Bass."
"The New World is a sea vastly different from Paradise. I imagine your president has told you this? Moreover, with your strength, to be honest, going to the New World would be courting death. There aren't many Marines there to maintain order."
Kong Tai turned and looked seriously at Firebird, the reporter who had initially followed him as part of his deal with Morgans.
"Yes!" Firebird snapped back to attention and nodded at Kong Tai.
"The president did say we should stop at Sabaody Archipelago and that we would work at the newspaper's headquarters afterward. I will be following the president directly."
"Good. That's good," Kong Tai looked at Firebird and smiled warmly. "Firebird, I consider you a friend. If you ever need anything in the future, feel free to call me. You know our ship's Den Den Mushi."
"Yes, I know," Firebird, slightly emotional, bowed deeply to Kong Tai. "Thank you, Big Brother Silver Hair, for your care throughout this journey."
Without Kong Tai's care, he might still be staking out pirates who might become famous at the entrance of the Grand Line. Those pirates wouldn't be as easy to deal with as Kong Tai, and he might have been killed by them at any moment.
Without Kong Tai, he wouldn't have achieved his current fame.
As a reporter, he had witnessed the battle on an ore island, the downfall of the Shichibukai "Crocodile," and now he had witnessed the Celestial Dragon incident, the battle between the legendary Hero Garp and Kong Tai, and the battle between Admiral Kizaru and Kuina.
None of this was something an ordinary reporter could capture. And yet, he had experienced so much in such a short period.
If he brought back the news from Sabaody Archipelago this time, he would instantly become like his predecessor, the News King, and become Morgans's true right-hand man.
Therefore, he felt an unparalleled gratitude towards Kong Tai.
"Alright," Kong Tai, with a thought, helped Firebird up and smiled. "We're friends, no need for thanks."
"Oh, right," Kong Tai said, as if remembering something. "After you go back, you can tell your president that I will be going to 'Dressrosa.' If you want news, you can wait for me there first."
"Dressrosa?"
Firebird's pupils contracted.
Even though he was a reporter from Paradise, he knew whose territory Dressrosa Kingdom in the New World belonged to.
Was Big Brother Silver Hair completely going against the Shichibukai?
After all, Doflamingo was completely different from Crocodile. Not only was he a Shichibukai, but he was also a true king and one of the underworld's dark kings, codenamed "Joker."
But then he thought about who Kong Tai was.
He instantly became excited.
He bowed to Kong Tai once again, knowing this was Kong Tai looking out for him.
Otherwise, Kong Tai wouldn't have had to tell him this.
"Alright," Kong Tai looked at Firebird with amusement. "Stop bowing all the time. Why be so formal!"
"Okay, Big Brother Silver Hair."
Firebird straightened up, his face beaming with a smile.
"Then we'll be going now. See you in Dressrosa."
"Mm!" Firebird nodded.
Kong Tai turned, and with his companions, headed towards the Thousand Sunny, which was no longer rocking.
Behind them, Firebird and his two subordinates raised their hands and waved continuously.
They knew that Kong Tai's departure marked the beginning of a true legend, not just a fleeting fame reported in their newspaper.
How fortunate they were to have earned the friendship of such a significant figure!