Several days later, in a simply furnished yet dignified meeting room,
Kakarot, Lina, Lilith, and the other companions who had set out together from Zou,
along with the later arrivals-Hades, Athena, Slade, as well as Troius Jeno, Hadro, Harlock, and Xiluo, the three of them-all sat upright.
"Comrades!" Kakarot's expression was solemn, his voice low and forceful as he broke the brief silence in the meeting room.
Everyone's gaze turned to Kakarot at once, their eyes filled with concentration, without the slightest hint of inattention.
"Everyone! Some of you left Zou with me, while others joined our family later.
"I believe we all know that we share a common goal-to break this rotten world order and build a better world!
"However, we still lack a formal, fully developed organizational structure."
As Kakarot spoke, his fingers unconsciously tapped the tabletop, producing a rhythmic sound.
After a brief pause, he slowly continued, "Besides those of us here,
"there are also the trading caravan and intelligence organization that Lina had Shu Laibao establish. They share our thoughts and ideals.
"However, there are still differences between us and them.
"We chose to adventure across the seas, seeking like-minded companions and spreading our beliefs;
"while they, under my guidance, are devoted to cultivating comrades who embody our spirit and ideals.
"Over the past few years, Shu Laibao's caravan has traveled back and forth between the Grand Line and the New World.
"They've established small bases on some remote islands without Marine Bases and recruited some comrades as well.
"But unfortunately, the Marines' control over the seas remains strong. Their growth has been severely restricted, and progress has been slow."
"Kakarot, let's talk about establishing the organization first. We can discuss those other matters in detail later."
Seeing Kakarot stray further and further from the subject,