On the shattered land, listening to Gawain's words.
The Kuma, soaking its feet, gently wiggled its toes.
Then he raised his head and looked at Gawain with a stern face.
"If I were you, I should already be dead, Saint Gawain."
After speaking, Kuma looked at everyone around him and asked in confusion.
"I really don't understand why you all still have smiling faces when I try to assassinate you. Are you trying to humiliate me?"
I don't understand why people like you would willingly submit to a Celestial Dragon. Have you never raised your heads, or do you enjoy the feeling of kneeling in worship?
Why would you willingly endure being ridden on by the Celestial Dragon? Why would someone as strong as you do something that aids and abets evil?
In particular, why spare my life?
"Because your life can be used for other purposes."
Gawain smiled and said to Kuma, then pointed to Jinbe and the others.
"As for the 'them' you're talking about, haha, they've never obeyed me."
Among them, Gion obeyed the rules, Jinbe obeyed gratitude, and Rayleigh obeyed righteousness.
At the same time, what they obey is the ever-growing dream and future that I have created for them.
I offer them a possibility, a possibility that can make the whole world a better place, and they are willing to dedicate their efforts to this possibility.
If people are truly willing to be the king's vanguard, then they must know that they are doing so for the king, and the king is fulfilling their dreams!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain patted Gion's arm.
"Do me a favor, Gion, bring me that Bible that Kuma left far away."
"Yes, sir."
Gion got up and headed off into the distance, while Gawain continued speaking.
"Kuma, I asked you before why you always turn to the same page in the Bible."
You said you were looking at your light.
So I asked you again, is your light a dragon, or Revolutionary Army?
You didn't give me an answer.
Perhaps even you don't have the answer; you're just doing what you think is relatively right.
If you are truly certain that what you are doing is absolutely right, if you have truly found the light you are seeking, why do you need to hold it in your hands and examine it endlessly?
But unlike you, who found the light you didn't!
At this point, Gawain nudged Jinbe's arm with his elbow, Jinbe immediately chuckled.
Seeing Jinbe's smile, Gawain continued.
"I am their light!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain's cigarette went out. He threw the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it twice.
He then sighed and continued.
"Sigh, it seems you don't know how to handle yourself either, so I'll just make the decision unilaterally."
In a little while, I'll find Seastone Handcuffs and then add some more scars to your wounds.
Then, your news will make the front page of the World Economic Journal, until the news of your arrest and impending execution reaches the ears of your friends who share your stance.
Then, you will be continuously transported; today you will be transported to Water 7, tomorrow you will be transported to Dressrosa.
You will relentlessly pursue the death penalty on the high seas, and the location where you are executed will constantly change. But you should understand that your death is always imminent, yet you will never truly die.
Why?
Because until your friends finally can't take it anymore and decide to jump out and save you, every day from now on will not be your death day!
If they rescue you, that's great.
I can then use the rest of your life as a trap to eliminate those who saved you. You can truly become the light to illuminate the future of your enemies, and you will also bring a heavy shadow to all your companions.
And if they don't save you, and never do, no matter how painful the news you report, they won't come to your aid.
That's fine, because that's the best way to punish you. At that time, you'll be someone who carries firewood for everyone, but you'll always freeze to death in the wind and snow!
If that were the case, the news that the Revolutionary Army was allowing their hero Kuma to be tortured by the World Government would disappoint the vast majority of young people around the world who might have aspired to join the Revolutionary Army.
The dragon and his crew will become a laughingstock across the entire ocean!
You might say that things may not turn out the way I predict, and perhaps your pain will be a spark that ignites a long-buried rage across the ocean?
Then I laughed, because I'll tell you, go ahead and light them!
After all, it was the Navy, the World Government, and the Five Elders who did all that.
Who would direct their hatred at me and my forces?
And what my fledgling power needs is precisely that kind of chaotic environment—enough to hide and protect me, like a plant thriving in the mud.
You've really helped me a lot!
At this point, Gion happened to return to Gawain's side with the Bible.
Gawain nodded to her, then reached out and placed the huge book on his lap.
Gawain gently wiped the cover of the Bible, Gawain looked up and silently gazed at the Kuma opposite him.
At this moment, although Kuma still had a cold expression, beads of sweat were involuntarily flowing down his forehead!
At the same time, Jinbe, who was sitting next to Gawain, quietly shifted his position, moving a little further away from Gawain.
Across from him, Rayleigh couldn't help but take off his glasses. He carefully wiped the lenses, then put them back on, looking at Gawain with a hesitant expression.
To Gawain's left, Gion had just returned, wore a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong? Why is everyone so strange, sir? What interesting topics did you discuss while I was away?"
"Nothing."
Gawain chuckled and patted the enormous Bible.
"I'm just saying that the Bible isn't enough to be a spiritual refuge, because it's always teaching people how to worship and convert to the God in their hearts!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain picked up the huge Bible and threw it to the ground.
Then, Gawain looked at Kuma and asked in a cold voice.
"Kuma, do you think what I said is right?"
I think... you're a devil!
As he answered, Kuma swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down his spine!
Never before had Kuma been so afraid of a person!
Kuma stared intently into Gawain's eyes, his breathing becoming heavier and more rapid.
Gawain coldly observed Kuma's expression until he felt it was appropriate, at which point Gawain spoke.
"Kuma!"
He suddenly stood up and walked towards the Kuma. When he was about three meters away from the Kuma, Gawain looked up and saw that the bear was still five meters tall even when it was sitting.
Meeting the Kuma's gaze, which was full of various thoughts, Gawain gave a gentle smile.
"I don't care about your identity as Revolutionary Army. Even if I release you, even if you continue to infiltrate my side, even if you still try to assassinate me from time to time, I don't care."
Look at me, and think carefully. Don't you want to know what my motives are, what my thoughts are, and what kind of change I'm determined to bring to the world, all because someone as dangerous as me?
Even if you don't want to understand me, what about Long? Right now, he has never considered me his enemy.
Even for the sake of your Revolutionary Army, you should at least gather more information about me.
So now, you only have two paths in front of you.
One option is to betray me, and then face the punishment I will give you. From then on, you will become the weakness of the Revolutionary Army and the Dragon, and may bring enough pain to your team at any time.
As for the second one, stay by my side, just like you stayed by Vegapunk's side.
Didn't you say that my value far exceeds Vegapunk's, and that having mastered Poseidon, I am far more dangerous than Vegapunk?
What you may not know is that I possess not only the blueprints for Poseidon, but also the blueprints for Pluton, and Water 7, the city that created Pluto.
So, don't you think this undercover job is more meaningful than your previous one?
"I..."
Hearing Gawain's words, Kuma's mind went blank. He blinked nervously, as if blinking wasn't enough, and then he simply closed his eyes.
Feeling the darkness before him, Kuma closed his eyes and spoke to Gawain.
"No matter how much you say, you can't get rid of one thing, Saint Gawain."
That's it! You want to use me!
"Hehe, you're wrong. I'm not trying to use you; I've been using you for a long time, Kuma."
To put it bluntly, from the moment I decided to use you, you became my power. The only difference is, what I will do with your power!
At this point, Gawain simply took two more steps forward, came to the Kuma's side, and gently patted the Kuma's leg.
"Don't wait too long, Kuma. Actually, you've already made your decision, haven't you?"
From the day you decided to infiltrate Vegapunk, you placed yourself in the Avici Hell.
So what good is going from hell to Purgatory now?
Or is it that Vegapunk is just more charming than me, haha~."
"I..."
Hearing Gawain's laughter, Kuma was in turmoil. He opened his eyes and looked at Gawain, who was so close to him, with fear and admiration.
Meeting the Kuma's gaze, Gawain first smiled, then he burst into laughter.
He laughed loudly and patted the Kuma's leg again.
"You just like being passive, don't you? Fine."
Jinbe, pour all this water out. Kuma is one of us now.
As for his identity Revolutionary Army, so what? We have the Navy, pirates, and the Shichibukai here.
One more Revolutionary Army is nothing; at most, it's just another piece of the puzzle.
Then, Gawain patted the Kuma's leg for the third time.
"As for you, once you're free, just follow behind me like the others. No one will laugh at you; everyone goes through this."
Your shoes are broken, huh? Well, that's fine, don't wear them anymore. This is Amazon Lily, everyone here wears swimwear. Change into a pair of beach shorts similar to mine, haha.
"Speaking of which, Gion, what do you think of my beach shorts? Do they suit my style?"
Haha~.
Gion immediately smiled, pointing to Rayleigh beside her.
"Look for yourself, sir, your beach shorts are almost exactly the same as Rayleigh's!"
"Well..."
Gawain's face immediately turned awkward.
"Oh no, my aesthetic sense has been mistaken for that of an old man. Am I precocious?"
Upon hearing this, Rayleigh relaxed his furrowed brows, then smiled and patted his beach shorts.
"Is it embarrassing to wear the same outfit as someone else? My taste is definitely not bad!"
"Isn't it true that there's absolutely no difference among those in their seventies and eighties?"
Gawain asked with a smile, and his question made everyone in Gion laugh. Amid the laughter, Jinbe quietly kicked over the seawater bucket, and Kuma silently stood up and went behind Gawain.
Gawain narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, and naturally took the lead, walking towards the distant beach.
Meanwhile, in the direction of Amazon Lily, with the brief spread of Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki, the girls who were carrying supplies and preparing for the banquet fell down one after another.
After leaving the palace, Elder Nyon hurried to check on her fellow countrymen. When she saw that they were only unconscious, Elder Nyon was finally relieved.
Beside Elder Nyon, the female soldiers who hadn't been affected anxiously reported to Elder Nyon.
"Your Majesty, those men... they started fighting amongst themselves!"
"Yes, the fighting was so intense! The ground over there in the forest was completely overturned, it was terrifying!"
"It's alright!"
Faced with the panicked people, Elder Nyon calmly waved her hand.
"Wake up all the unconscious men. I'm going to the beach to check on the sailors!"
We can't participate in their battle, but I can use the navy to investigate what exactly happened!
As soon as she finished speaking, Elder Nyon led the Second Sister and Third Sisters of the three sisters towards the beach.
When she arrived at the beach, she was stunned, because at that moment, the marines on the beach were doing something similar to what they were doing on Amazon Lily.
That is... helping up one of our own who had fainted...
Seeing this, Elder Nyon breathed a sigh of relief. Since even the Marines were dizzy, the possibility that it was all an unexpected event was much higher.
So Elder Nyon put on a smiling face and greeted the Momonga and Lucci.
Seeing Elder Nyon approaching, the Momonga pursed its lips and said seriously.
"I'm so sorry, this unexpected situation has caused you trouble!"
Upon hearing this, Elder Nyon quickly said with a kind smile.
"Please don't say that, Lieutenant Vice Admiral. I'll send people to support you right away."
"And what about the other side where the battle is taking place? Do they need our support?"
"Thank you, but no need!"
The Momonga said with a stern face.
"Unless your Empress recovers, you alone are not capable of participating in such a war."
Besides, things have calmed down already, so we should be able to see the results soon!
After saying that, the Momonga ignored Elder Nyon and continued looking towards the forest.
Meanwhile, on the beach, Shirahoshi was dejectedly hanging her head and crying.
Lucci and the Momonga were completely focused on navigating the dense forest, while Kalifa was still comforting her new best friend.
"Princess Shirahoshi, don't cry, Gawain will be alright!"
Kalifa tried to persuade her in a low voice, but even after hearing her words, Shirahoshi still couldn't understand.
She lowered her head and asked Kalifa in anguish.
"But... but how could this happen? Just a second ago everyone was chatting and laughing. I thought we were all friends. Waaah!"
But then, in the next second, he suddenly wanted to kill Gawain!
Gawain was such a good man, why did he do that? Why?!
Why are there always people who want to assassinate good people? My mother was like that, and so was Gawain. Why?!
Why is it always the good people who have to die?!
As Shirahoshi wept, the distant sea was churning with undercurrents, but in the tension, no one noticed Shirahoshi at all.
Until...
Teng!!!
Whoosh!!!
Countless super Sea King, each over 800 meters tall, suddenly sprang out from the waters near Amazon Lily!
In an instant, the overwhelming Sea King completely blocked out every ray of sunlight from the beaches of Amazon Lily.
The next moment, he turned his head to look at the Momonga and Lucci and the others in the sea behind him.
They could no longer speak!
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