"Alright, let's go!"
Kong Tai sat up and looked at Ah Hua and the others, who were waiting below the castle with their luggage. He smiled and said, "It's time to set off. At our speed, we should reach Wano Country in less than a month. We can take our time appreciating that legendary land then."
As he spoke, he paused and looked at Koko, refraining from saying the words, "I hope you won't be disappointed when we get there."
Koko tilted her head, a smile on her lips and her face full of joy.
She nodded and gave a soft "Mm."
Kong Tai stood up, pulled Koko up, and with a surge of strength, carried her in his arms and leaped from the highest point of Gess.
"Mr. Kong Tai."
As soon as Kong Tai and Koko landed, Charles, who had now changed his name to Gess and was the King of the Kingdom of Gess, and Sophie, bowed respectfully to Kong Tai.
Kong Tai paused for a moment, then with a thought, he helped the father and daughter up.
"You two! How many times have I told you, there's no need for this."
He shook his head and then looked at Sophie, saying helplessly, "And Sophie, aren't we friends? Why have you become like this too?"
When they moved to Gess, Kong Tai had told Charles and the others that the flying dragon had come for him, and the destruction of Cocoyasi Village had been a result of him being caught in the crossfire.
There was no need for Kong Tai to hide this from Charles and the others.
However, after a moment of stunned silence, their attitude towards him remained unchanged.
These people treated him like a god, their eyes always filled with adoration whenever they saw him, which made him very uncomfortable.
Whether it was adoration or respect, he had seen plenty of it on his journey, but he had never encountered people who worshipped him as a deity.
And the first thing the residents of the island did after Charles and the others moved to Gess was not to repair the houses, but to build a statue of him in the central city below.
His eyesight was excellent.
A month was enough time for the common people here to build it.
So, standing here, he could clearly see a very tall statue erected in the center of the city below. The face, the posture – it could only be him.
He never expected that one day, he would become someone's faith.
"Heh heh!" Sophie glanced at Kong Tai, her expression becoming lively. She winked playfully and bowed again, "Yes, Mr. Kong Tai."
"You..."
Kong Tai shook his head helplessly.
Since arriving in Gess, Sophie had gradually recovered, no longer as reticent as she had been on the Going Merry.
Responding to Kong Tai's helplessness, Sophie straightened up and chuckled. She stepped forward, took Koko's hand, and whispered something to her, punctuated by clear laughter.
Turning, Kong Tai looked at Indigo, who was standing to the side, and asked, "Indigo, is everything ready?"
After all, this was Indigo's hometown. Kong Tai didn't know Indigo's personal history here. After arriving on the island, Indigo had gone to the back mountain alone. Kong Tai assumed that was where their clan used to live.
Kong Tai had visited it; it was a small village that had been completely reduced to ruins.
Beneath the village, there was an underground space filled with many books and various medical equipment that was no longer usable.
Indigo had spent the last period of time in that underground space.
"Kakakakaka!"
*Pffft pffft pffft!*
Indigo turned to look at Kong Tai, took a step forward, spread his hands, and kept gesturing.
Seeing that Kong Tai didn't understand him, a hint of anxiety appeared on his face.
*Pffft pffft pffft!*
His movements became even faster.
Kong Tai looked at Indigo, a frown creasing his brow, "Speak human."
"Urgh!"
Indigo's animated gestures stopped abruptly. His hands dropped, and his body seemed to lose all energy and spirit, slumping as he said, "Everything is ready. I've organized all the medical books there and put them in the newly built library in Gess."
He then looked up, his energy and spirit instantly returning, and said happily, "I believe it won't be long before many doctors appear here."
He was incredibly happy that Gess could regain its prosperity.
After all, this was his homeland. Although he could no longer see his kin, so many people had come from Cocoyasi Village, filling it with life again.
With so many people, and with the protection of their team, it wouldn't be difficult or take too long to restore Gess to its former glory.
And when their voyage ended, he could return to his homeland again, no longer a wanderer.
"Mm!"
Kong Tai nodded and patted Indigo on the shoulder.
Then he withdrew his hand and his gaze swept over Ah Hua, Robin, Brook, and Koko. He could feel their anticipation.
After all, this was the second longest island they had stayed on since setting sail. They had long yearned to set out to sea, where many places awaited their adventure.
He withdrew his gaze, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He took out the glass bead containing the Going Merry from his pocket and tossed it forward.
The glass bead shimmered with blue light in the air, growing larger with the wind, and finally returned to its original form, floating in front of them.
Kong Tai's figure disappeared in the distance and reappeared at the top of the Going Merry's mast. He raised his hand and shouted, "Let's go, brothers!"
"Ah!"
Ah Hua and the others roared, eagerly jumping onto the ship first.
"Yohohoho~"
Brook, with gentlemanly grace, bowed to Charles and Sophie. "We're leaving now, Mr. Charles and Miss Sophie. We look forward to Gess being completely prosperous when we visit next time."
"Mm!" Charles nodded and smiled at Brook. "Thank you for your blessings, Mr. Brook. I believe I will not betray your trust."
"And I..."
He puffed out his chest, his face full of confidence. "I will lead Cocoyasi, lead Gess, and restore its past glory."
Then he turned and bowed to Indigo. "And thank you, Doctor Indigo, for your help during this time. Thank you for helping us find so many medical books. We will certainly not let these medical books go to waste. Thank you."
"Kakakakaka!"
"Yohohoho!"
Indigo and Brook let out a loud laugh, turned, and jumped onto the ship.
Robin smiled at Sophie, reached out and ruffled Sophie's hair, then glanced back at the slightly ancient castle behind her, her eyes filled with a satisfied smile.
She had been studying the history of Gess during this time. Although the history here was short, it was also ancient, so she was satisfied.
She turned around, took a step forward, and unlike Ah Hua and the others, she didn't jump directly onto the ship. Instead, she walked step by step up the stairs of the Going Merry.
"Alright, Sophie, I'm leaving too. Take care."
Koko let go of Sophie's hand, then nodded at Charles. Her body transformed into a streak of lightning and disappeared.
After Koko boarded the ship, Kong Tai steered the Going Merry to turn around. With a bang, like a sharp sword, it surged forward.
Hearing the sound, countless people working on the island put down their tools and looked up at the Going Merry, their eyes filled with boundless gratitude.
They all regarded Kong Tai and the others as heroes, especially Kong Tai, whom they considered a god.
Only when the Going Merry had completely disappeared did they lower their gazes and redouble their efforts.
They vowed to help Gess regain its glory by the time Kong Tai and the others returned.