The Erudite Advancement Quest (Continued)

"Oh! Adrian! Are we heading deeper into the New World, or turning back toward Paradise?"

Lumi's voice rang out from the helm.

"After Wano Country, the next stop should be the legendary strongest nation, Elbaf, right?"

Adrian looked over.

"That's right!"

Lumi leaned out from behind the wheel and floated toward him.

"Elbaf has lots and lots of huge giants, and they're all incredibly strong!"

Adrian thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"No. It's not time to go to Elbaf yet. That country is... too sensitive!"

"Sensitive?"

Lumi tilted his head, puzzled by Adrian's words.

Adrian offered no further explanation. "Let's prepare to head back. We'll sail through the New World for a while, clear out any stray pirates we run into, then return to Little Sky Island Weatheria!"

With his business in Wano Country settled, a long stretch of peace lay ahead.

Adrian intended to use that time to complete the Erudite side quest.

In short, it came down to one thing.

Study!

After nearly half a month at sea, Adrian returned to Little Sky Island Weatheria.

But an unexpected piece of bad news awaited him.

"Shanks... ran away?"

Adrian frowned slightly at Enel, who stood before him looking uneasy. His voice gave nothing away.

"Y-yes!" Enel answered, at a loss.

A red gleam flashed through Adrian's eyes as he activated Observation Haki. At its peak, his perception swept across all of Weatheria in an instant, then spread toward the other Sky Islands.

But after searching, he still could not sense that familiar presence.

The Golden Leek had actually grown legs and run off from his own field!

Adrian could not put a name to what he felt. It was a strange sense of loss.

On the other hand, leaving peaceful Little Sky Island of his