Chapter 65: The White Town, Frevans

"Excuse me, are you talking to me?" The man in the suit turned to Roja, looking puzzled.

"Yes, from what I've seen, you seem like a good person. So why would you want to join the Donquixote Family?" Roja asked, puzzled.

"As far as I know, the Donquixote Family isn't exactly friendly. Their actions could be described as pretty ruthless," Roja said, eyeing the man.

Roja had been watching this man for a while. He'd seen him feed stray kittens and help a girl get home. Clearly, he was compassionate and gallant. Yet, he had still chosen to join the Donquixote Family.

"What's your name?" The man in the suit paused as they approached the gate of the Donquixote Family and came over to Roja's side.

He couldn't quite figure out why he felt compelled to talk to this young boy. Maybe it was because making this decision wasn't easy for him. Or perhaps he sensed that Roja wasn't as immature as he seemed.

"Asherat Roja, but just call me Roja," he replied.

"I'm Senor Peake, but you can call me Peake. Although, I prefer Senor," the man said, his neat suit and sunglasses giving him a dignified appearance.

Despite his formal attire, his voice was gentle and unpretentious. He sat beside Roja, uncaring of the dust on his pristine suit, and lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag.

"Are you a Marine, Roja?" Senor turned his head to the side, exhaling smoke as he asked.

"No," Roja shook his head. "We might still be on unfriendly terms with the Marines for a while."

"Oh? Then are you a pirate?" Senor inquired.

"No," Roja replied with a smile. "I'm with the Revolutionary Army."

"What's that? Are you guarding a kingdom?" Senor asked.

"No, the Revolutionary Army is all about overthrowing the Celestial Dragons and nobles, freeing the people, and ending exploitation and oppression," Roja explained.

"Wow, that's quite a noble cause," Senor remarked calmly, his expression unchanged, as if nothing could faze him.

"I envy you. You've already found your life's purpose at such a young age," Senor said, taking another drag of his cigarette. "Roja, I believe everyone should have a goal, a reason to live."

"But I don't have one. I can't seem to find meaning in my life," Senor confessed.

"Since I was young, I've been indifferent. After my parents passed away, I had no one else. I worked as a clerk in a bank, but one day, I realized my life was empty," Senor continued.

"Without family or friends, work became dull and meaningless. I don't know what to do with my life. It feels like nothing I do matters," he added, his expression still calm as if discussing someone else's life.

"I do good deeds and help others, but it doesn't give my life any purpose," Senor admitted. "Maybe it sounds like I'm complaining. Just consider it the ramblings of a strange man."

"So, I'm thinking of doing some questionable stuff. Maybe then I'll find some meaning in life. But, of course, you're still young. Don't follow my lead. I'm a weirdo," Senor admitted with a chuckle.

"Alright, I've run out of cigarettes and words. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. You're an interesting person, whereas I'm just boring. Well then, goodbye, Roja," Senor said, standing up and brushing the dust off himself.

"Wait, Mr. Senor, before you join the Donquixote Family, would you consider visiting the Revolutionary Army?" Roja asked, looking at Senor.

Roja had a sense of Senor's inner struggles. He could tell this was a man searching for meaning, someone who didn't have much attachment to this world.

Honestly, Roja couldn't guarantee that the Revolutionary Army's cause would resonate with Senor, but he felt compelled to at least suggest it. 

"Don't rush your decision. If you wait a bit longer, you might encounter different people and experiences that could change your perspective," Roja advised.

Senor remained silent, looking at Roja through his sunglasses with calm eyes.

To Senor, this young man seemed just as peculiar as he was.

He placed another cigarette in his mouth and lit it, then calmly replied, "Your proposal seems intriguing, young man."

For Senor, any suggestion from this mysterious boy seemed worth considering.

"Enemies of the Celestial Dragons, enemies of the nobles," he mused.

"Diamanti: So, Senor, you're defecting? How did you end up with the Revolutionary Army?"

"Rao G: Another world's Senor joining the Revolutionary Army? Now that's intriguing, G."

"Delinger: Isn't this the definition of betrayal? Come on, Senor, give us an explanation."

The members of the Donquixote Family were either joking or expressing their thoughts in the chat room.

They were surprised by Senor's decision to join the Revolutionary Army, but they found it somewhat understandable.

After all, Senor was always an odd one out in the Donquixote Family, with his unique style and behaviour.

"Doflamingo: This is a matter from another world. Let's not dwell on it. No matter where you come from, you're all family here."

Doflamingo was cautious, ensuring that internal conflicts wouldn't arise due to Senor's decision.

By addressing the matter as the leader, he aimed to both appease Senor and prevent further discord.

However, Senor seemed unfazed by any contradictions or attacks directed at him now.

He watched with excitement as the huge screen in the sky showed him choosing to join the Revolutionary Army in another world.

Then, he firmly grasped the hand of the woman lying with dull eyes on the hospital bed and spoke softly.

"Did you hear that, Lucian? In another world, I'm not a pirate. I'm with the Revolutionary Army. If I were with them, you wouldn't have left that rainy night. If I were with them, you wouldn't be like this now."

"If I were with the Revolutionary Army, even if we never met again, as long as you could still smile as you did before, that would be enough," Lucian replied.

The tough man in the peculiar and humorous baby clothes held his wife's hand on the hospital bed, and his voice choked with emotion. "Your smile gives meaning to my life."

"Please smile again, Lucien."

"What do we do now?" Senor, the man in the suit who once thought life was meaningless, asked Roja from behind.

"For now, I'm not familiar with many things. Our long-term goal in North Blue is to free the Kingdom of Lubni. I came to this island to investigate the Donquixote Family," Roja explained.

"When necessary, we can use the Donquixote Family to resist the Marines and buy more time for the people of the Lubu Electric Kingdom," Roja added.

"So that's why you've been hanging around the Donquixote Family," Senor remarked.

"Now that the investigation of the Donquixote Family is almost complete, I'm planning to head to Frevans next," Roja said, considering his next move.

"It's the largest producer of platinum lead in North Blue. I need enough platinum lead to make bullets. In the coming period, I may purchase a large quantity there."

"Purchasing a large quantity of platinum lead might draw the attention of the World Government, so we need to investigate first to find a more discreet method," Roja advised.

"Agreed," Senor replied calmly.

Roja sighed, feeling helpless. He was certain that the moment he mentioned heading to Mariejois, Senor would maintain his calm demeanour.

Back at the hotel, Roja introduced Senor to everyone. At the same time, they decided on their next destination: the white town of Frevans in North Blue.

"Frevans."

In the chat room, those familiar with the place might gasp.

Those who knew the truth behind the destruction of this country would feel the darkness and chill of this world.

"Frevans."

Trafalgar Law's expression twisted with pain.

It was his hometown, a town destroyed by the World Government, the royal family, and neighbouring countries.

People dying in gunfire, hospitals consumed by flames, a hell on earth shunned by the ignorant.

"Please, save this country," Law silently prayed.

Even if it was just another world, he hoped that Roja could save Frevans.

"The White Town of Frevans isn't very far from the Kingdom of Lubni, about a four-day journey," Roja explained.

Four days later, Roja and his group arrived at the port of Frevans.

The island where Frevans is located stands out with its distinct features.

One notable characteristic is its size—it's larger than the Kingdom of Lubni.

Despite its vastness, the island hosts only three countries.

The island resembles a long loaf of bread, with Frevans situated in the middle.

"It's stunning here. White Town, Frevans, is hailed as the purest, most beautiful island in North Blue," Belo Betty praised without reservation.

Other crew members joined in, admiring the rich and picturesque town of Frevans.

Unlike Lubni, where coal and steel smelting pollute the air, mining platinum and lead in Frevans isn't as damaging. The air remains fresh, and even the miners wear smiles.

Roja's expression mirrored the peace he felt, much like the calm Senor beside him.

As he gazed upon the pristine town, Roja recalled a line from Sa Rocks' sailing diary that he had read before.

"The colours of this country aren't as pure as I imagined," Roja remarked.

"As before, I spread out to investigate, but I have a few requirements. You should remember them well," Roja said in a serious tone.

"First, try to avoid using tableware with platinum-lead paint. Second, avoid eating foods sweetened with platinum lead. Third, refrain from using cosmetics containing platinum lead. Fourth, try not to contact lead and platinum in the lead-uranium mines directly," he instructed.

"Why, Mr. Roja?" some soldiers of the Revolutionary Army asked suspiciously.

"These are basically the characteristics of Frevans," Roja explained. "I suspect that the platinum lead in this country is poisonous. Comrades, be careful, and avoid consuming or being exposed to platinum lead for prolonged periods," he warned seriously.

"If my hunch is correct, this country may harbour a darker secret, much like the uncertain fate of the Kingdom of Goa, but the darkness here runs deeper," Roja added.

"Yes, understood, Mr. Roja," the soldiers acknowledged.

Frevans, while primarily a town, encompassed a considerable area, so the group split into ten teams for their investigation.

Each team was tasked with exploring different parts of the white town, focusing on identifying channels for purchasing platinum lead or lead bullets.

Additionally, they were to investigate a terminal illness unique to Frevans, recorded in Sa Rocks' sailing diary. Afflicted individuals developed white skin all over their bodies before succumbing to the disease.

Roja took two newcomers, Senor and Belo Betty, under his wing, teaching them the ropes of investigation and guiding them on what to look for.

They soon encountered a gentle and kind young nun named Mo Jiu, who was twelve years old.

During conversations with Mo Jiu, Roja gathered a lot of information.

Her parents had passed away a year ago from a terminal illness known as the white disease in Frevans. Initially, a patch of skin on the body would turn very white, spreading until it covered the entire body, resulting in death.

Despite advanced medical skills in Frevans, the cause of the white disease remained elusive.

The illness first appeared in Frevans in 1478, initially thought to be a rare terminal disease. However, it has claimed numerous lives since then, with some doctors fearing its spread.

Mo Jiu, having lost both parents to leukaemia, was deeply concerned about the disease.

"You're really strong, Mo Jiu," Roja remarked, smiling as he touched the little nun's head.

"I firmly believe that there is no true absolute despair in this world, and the merciful and compassionate hand of salvation from the Heavenly Father will surely reach out to us," Mo Jiu said, making a prayerful gesture.

"Heavenly Father?" Roja pondered. "Compared to Heavenly Father, I prefer to create with my own hands."

Two days later, the ten teams reconvened.

Regarding the purchase channels of lead bullets, they had discovered numerous options, but large-scale purchases through official channels were deemed unfeasible. As for the black market, it was suspected to have Marine or CP informants, given the high probability of their presence, unless the World Government was remarkably naive.

Concerning the white disease, the investigation confirmed Mo Jiu's account. Since leukosis emerged in Frevans 44 years ago, the number of patients has steadily increased. Most cases exhibited minor symptoms with minimal impact on life, but the sheer number of cases indicated underlying issues within Frevans.

As Roja contemplated, the phone bug in his possession rang.

"Roja, we're nearing the Red Line. In three or four days at most, we'll reach the waters around the Kingdom of Lubni," Fujitora's voice came through the bug.

Finally, the revolutionary development of the Kingdom of Lubni could begin in earnest.

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