East Blue Governor's Personal Invitation

"Luo Wen, Luo Wen, the East Blue Governor is here to see you!"

Nami shouted excitedly, with a squad of Marines following behind her.

Leading the Marines was Rear Admiral Karen, with Smoker at his side.

Nami had never imagined that she would get involved with someone as important as the East Blue Governor.

"What's going on?"

Seeing Luo Wen chatting and laughing with Tashigi, Nami and the Marines behind her were all dumbfounded.

Nami walked over to Luo Wen, a surge of jealousy rising in her heart.

How long had she even been apart from Luo Wen? He already had a little fangirl by his side.

Wasn't his charm a little too ridiculous?

Smoker and the Marines from Loguetown were equally puzzled. Wasn't that their Tashigi? Why was she so close to Luo Wen?

But with the East Blue Governor standing there, none of them dared say it aloud.

"You must be Mr. Luo Wen. You truly are young and promising."

Karen broke the awkward silence. He had not come here to watch young people get jealous.

"I am Rear Admiral Emers Karen of Marine Headquarters, the current East Blue Governor."

Karen revealed his identity, clearly showing just how highly he regarded Luo Wen.

"I'm Luo Wen, a Bounty Hunter."

"What did you come to see me about?"

Luo Wen responded politely, but his tone was exceptionally flat. He clearly did not hold the governor in much regard.

With a scumbag like Captain Nezumi serving under him, and with strength that was only so-so himself, Luo Wen truly had no reason to give him face.

Yet Captain Nezumi was an absolute scandal in the East Blue. The news had been suppressed, and only Karen and a handful of high-ranking officials knew.

The surrounding Marines did not know the truth and glared angrily at Luo Wen. This was the highest-ranking Marine officer in the East Blue, the idol of countless Marines throughout the sea.

Even if you were Luo Wen, the strongest Bounty Hunter in the East Blue, you should not look down on him like this.

"Shut up! Don't embarrass me!"

Smoker roared around his cigar. He could not stand seeing his subordinates act so presumptuously.

As a headquarters colonel and the highest-ranking officer stationed in Loguetown, he naturally knew why Karen had come to find Luo Wen.

Like Karen, he had no desire to become enemies with Luo Wen over a scumbag.

Luo Wen merely swept his gaze around the area, and the restless Marines immediately fell silent.

Like a lion inspecting its territory, rabbits and rats alike became utterly quiet.

Even Karen and Smoker were intimidated by that imposing presence, and wariness toward Luo Wen rose in their hearts.

Nami and Tashigi, standing beside Luo Wen, were equally shocked. His majesty sent a shiver through their bodies and raised goosebumps on their skin.

At that moment, the worth of the East Blue's strongest Bounty Hunter rose yet again.

Everyone understood that in the East Blue, Luo Wen was the strongest Bounty Hunter in the East Blue.

On the Grand Line, Luo Wen was the strongest Bounty Hunter on the Grand Line.

"Mr. Luo Wen, we mean no harm."

Vice Admiral Karen withstood the pressure and spread his hands toward Luo Wen, showing his goodwill.

Coming in person had indeed been the right decision. Luo Wen was absolutely worth his attention.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly. My time is valuable."

After the disturbance caused by the Marines, Luo Wen had lost his patience.

Luo Wen looked at Karen, wanting to see what he was up to.

"I am extending the invitation to you once more. I hope you can join the Marines."

"If you agree, you will immediately become a headquarters colonel and enter the core development ranks!"

"With your potential, you will surely have a place among the future three admirals."

Karen looked sincerely at Luo Wen.

This was the best treatment he had applied for from headquarters. The Marines had never made such a promise to anyone before.

To undo the negative impression Captain Nezumi had left on Luo Wen, Karen was going all out.

He had argued with Fleet Admiral Sengoku for a long time before securing these terms.

Karen was extremely confident. He believed Luo Wen would not refuse such generous conditions.

All the surrounding Marines were stunned, each looking at Luo Wen with envy.

As long as Luo Wen agreed, he would soar to the heavens in a single step.

He would start as a headquarters colonel and be placed in the core development ranks. They would never receive such an opportunity even in their dreams.

And Rear Admiral Karen's assessment of Luo Wen was that he possessed the terrifying potential to reach the level of the three admirals.

They were the World Government's highest military power. Every admiral was one of the rare monsters of the world, a radiant existence viewed as a nightmare by countless pirates.

Nami and Tashigi also watched Luo Wen nervously. If he agreed, would their agreement still count?

"It sounds good, but I refuse."

Luo Wen did not hesitate in the slightest and directly rejected Karen's invitation.

Forget a headquarters colonel position—what if they made him an admiral outright? Luo Wen had no interest in being the Celestial Dragons' dog.

Joining the Marines was absolutely impossible!

Still, he would not mind poaching talent from the Marines. There really were quite a few capable people within their ranks.

"He actually refused!?"

The many Marines found it unbelievable.

Faced with such generous conditions, Luo Wen had rejected them so decisively.

For a moment, the Marines all felt a deep sense of defeat.

The positions they treasured and the treatment they did not even dare dream of were not even worth a moment's hesitation in Luo Wen's eyes.

"Why? Can you tell me the reason?"

Vice Admiral Karen was stunned. This was a development he had never considered.

Could someone really refuse such treatment?

Karen stared at Luo Wen in astonishment. He truly wanted to crack open Luo Wen's head and see what was inside.

"I don't want to be bound. I want to do what I like."

Luo Wen's answer was exceptionally simple.

In this world, he naturally intended to do whatever he wanted.

No one could bind him, and no one could make him do something he did not want to do.

"Just for that? Do you know what you are giving up?"

"The Marines' full support, Rokushiki, Haki, swordsmanship, and the wholehearted instruction of Marine veterans!"

"Your potential would be awakened as quickly as possible, and you would become a top-tier powerhouse as fast as possible!"

Karen understood Luo Wen's mindset, but he did not understand his choice.

He was part of the Marine upper ranks, so he naturally knew about the darkness within.

Heavenly Tribute, Buster Calls, Celestial Dragons—the Marines had their own helplessness as well.

But compared to the treatment he was offering Luo Wen, those unavoidable compromises were nothing at all.

Karen vigorously described the benefits of the Marine core ranks, trying to change Luo Wen's mind.

"I still refuse."

Even in the face of Karen's grand promises, Luo Wen did not hesitate in the slightest.

If he did not have his cheat, he really might have joined the Marines and leveled up slowly.

But he had the God-Tier Roleplay System. His strength grew at an utterly unreasonable rate, so there was naturally no need for him to wrong himself.

Swordsmanship and martial arts—the inheritances came built into his templates.

As for Haki, he only needed to find Crocodile and harvest that experience pack to learn it anyway.

Then he could advance further by finding Kaido, who would teach him Conqueror's Haki Infusion in three swings of his club.

Wasn't that faster than joining the Marines and learning bit by bit?

"Since that is the case, I will not force you."

"If you ever change your mind, the Marines will always welcome you."

Karen's expression turned bitter, but he steadied himself and remained friendly toward Luo Wen.

For a neutral powerhouse with limitless potential like this, even if he could not recruit him, he still had to maintain a good relationship.

Karen was not too upset. He still had a backup plan.