Chapter 37 Wisdom! Xia Qi's Extortion!
The Grand Line, which many pirates consider hell, can be "conquered" by a group of ordinary people?
Wisdom shook his head and said, "No, they are not ordinary. Do you know what the biggest difference is between humans and beasts?"
"Wisdom!"
"That's right. Humans don't have the natural ability to survive in water like fish-men, nor the tall and strong bodies of giants. We are born weak, but the world has endowed us with wisdom, allowing us to learn and thus possess infinite possibilities."
Wisdom said loudly, "Compared to you, they are ordinary people, indeed. But I think they are not ordinary, because they are all intelligent people."
"You're right, they are a respectable group of people. I really hope I can meet them," Lister remarked.
A ship full of talented people who escaped from the Western Sea—if we gather them together, Arkham Academy will have a complete knowledge system.
"Really?" Wisdom stood up excitedly.
"Hmm? You mean, they're still on the island?" Lister's eyes lit up.
"As ordinary people, we can't even do heavy work. We are the lowest-value slaves. But sometimes, weakness is a way to survive. Because we are weak, slave owners don't even bother to install explosive collars. Because we are inconspicuous, we can eke out a living. I know five guys who escaped. They live like rats in a stinking ditch. They were all scholars from the Western Sea."
Lister stood up happily and said, "That's wonderful, that's wonderful!"
He told Wisdom, "Actually, I am the principal of a school. I came to the Grand Line hoping to find suitable teachers for the children, and I think no one is more suitable than you."
"Principal?" Wisdom was surprised. Although Lister was tall, his still young face revealed his age.
Lister and Wisdom talked all night.
Lister's unrestrained and leaping thinking made Wisdom feel as if he had returned to his days studying at Ohara, surrounded by wise scholars, where the collision of ideas sparked brilliant and dazzling sparks.
Having endured countless hardships, Wisdom's wisdom returned to its original simplicity. His rich experience and profound knowledge also won over Lister, who benefited greatly from it.
At daybreak, Lister ordered the hotel waiter to bring him two breakfasts.
"I'm going to contact my friend, Lister!" Wisdom said excitedly. Lister's blueprint for Arkham Academy had rekindled his lost strength, and he was full of energy.
"Don't rush, Wisdom. You should get some sleep first. You're not as young as I am anymore," Lister reminded him.
Wisdom shook his head and said, "No, it's been eight years. We've been waiting for an opportunity, and now it's here. Like you said, we're not young anymore, and we need to cherish our time even more."
With Wisdom gathering his scholar friends, Lister's purpose in coming to the Sabaody Archipelago was half achieved.
At noon, in area 13, "Xia Qi's Extortion Bar."
Lister confirmed that this was the place and pushed open the door to enter.
"Welcome! What would you like to order?"
Lister looked over and saw a woman with short black hair sitting at the bar, facing away from him. Her right hand rested on the table, holding a cigarette, and in front of her left hand was a steaming cup of coffee. She was reading a newspaper leisurely with her legs crossed.
"A cup of coffee, no sugar!" Lister put down his suitcase, sat at the bar, and took off his hat.
Xia Qi walked behind the bar, and soon after, she made coffee and pushed it to Lister.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, please enjoy!"
There were no other customers in the shop. Lister stirred his coffee with a spoon and said, "I heard they sell intelligence here?"
Xia Qi rested her left hand on her right elbow, elegantly took a drag of her cigarette, flicked out a wisp of smoke with a faint fragrance, and said, "What kind of information do you want? My prices are much higher than others. You must have heard of me to be able to find this place, right?"
"I'm looking for a place, how much?" Lister took a sip of coffee; it was a perfect balance of sour and sweet, bitter and fragrant—worth the price.
"That depends on the value of that place."
Misty Island!
Xia Qi held her cigarette, thought for a moment, and said, "Sorry, I've never heard of that place, but I can help you find out. 5 million Berries, how about that?"
5 million Berries to inquire about a place whose existence is still unknown? That's quite a bargaining chip.
Lister did not show disappointment on his face, and smiled, "Okay!"
"Misty Island? I've heard of that place."
Um?
Lister suddenly turned around, and the wooden door was pushed open. A man with long, gray, curly hair walked in. His weathered face showed a gentle smile. He had a beard, wore glasses, and had a vertical scar on his right eye.
"Hey, Shakky!"
Good afternoon, Rayleigh!
Rayleigh strolled over and sat down next to Lister.
Lister took a sip of coffee to calm his nerves.
"You know me? You seem surprised. We haven't met before, have we?" Rayleigh looked at Lister.
Lister smiled slightly and said, "I've heard about Rayleigh, the vice-captain of the Roger Pirates, from a friend."
"Oh?"
"Bucky!" Lister lied without blinking.
Rayleigh's smile remained unchanged as he sighed, "That kid! It's been so long since I heard from him. Is he doing well?"
"He was a pirate in the East Blue and was known as Buggy the Clown."
"I see. If he knew Shanks was going to the New World to compete with other great pirates for the title of Fourth Emperor, he would definitely be unwilling, right? Hahaha..."
Rayleigh couldn't help but laugh when he thought of Bucky and Shanks' "grudge." Back then, Bucky was the ship's clown and left a deep impression on everyone.
"The Fourth Emperor?"
Rayleigh nodded and said, "Yes, after Roger, Whitebeard Edward Newgate, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido of the Beasts were all revered as emperors by pirates. However, every year young pirates venture into the New World. Some of these great pirates submit to the three emperors, while others are full of fighting spirit and keep challenging them. Shanks, known as the Red-Haired Man, is the latter."
"So, Shanks will become the Fourth Emperor?"
"In the New World today, there is no man more suitable to be the Fourth Emperor than him."
It must be said that Rayleigh had a keen eye.
"But what does that have to do with me?" Lister shrugged.
Rayleigh was slightly taken aback. If it were any other young man, he would probably be fired up and unable to control himself after hearing those words. But Lister remained calm and composed, which was quite surprising. He couldn't help but laugh and say, "You're an interesting fellow too."
Rayleigh took a sip of the coffee Shakky had brought him and said, "You're looking for Misty Island, aren't you? I've heard of that place. It's in the New World!"
"The New World?" Lister raised an eyebrow, but was not surprised.
"Yes. On an island shrouded in mist year-round, there is a mysterious ancient town. There are no living people in the town, as if it is asleep.
Occasionally, travelers who come to the island will die silently at night, turning into mummies and sleeping forever.
Thus, the legend of the Sleeping Ancient Town on Misty Island was born."
Rayleigh read aloud as if reciting a book.
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