After lying on his back for a moment, feeling the scalding water, Gawain exhaled a breath, then turned his head to glance at the Whitebeard.
"How does it feel? Being able to soak in a hot spring like this after a battle makes all our hard work in this life worthwhile, doesn't it?"
"Gulala, Gawain, you're so young, why do you always talk like us old men!"
The Whitebeard stretched his toes slightly, then continued speaking with a smile.
"As for a lifetime of struggle, don't say that. I've never struggled in my entire life!"
In this life, I've just drifted along with the tide. What's the point of being called the best in the world or the Emperors of the Sea?
"Gurararara, don't I understand? How could pirates possibly have an emperor?!"
At this point, Whitebeard closed his eyes and briefly submerged his head in the water.
A moment later, he sat up, his beard drooping.
"But this hot spring is really comfortable!"
If you weren't Celestial Dragon, but a pirate like me, I would definitely invite you to be my brother!
"In that case, I could enjoy hot springs like this every day!"
"Ha ha!"
As soon as Whitebeard finished speaking, Gawain immediately laughed along with Whitebeard, saying as he laughed.
"Luckily you didn't say you wanted to adopt me as your son, otherwise I would have been really angry."
"But Whitebeard, you actually enjoyed the free hot springs more, didn't you?"
"Just call me Newgate, why bother with any nicknames?"
I am Edward Elric Newgate, and I will never change my name or surname.
As for what you mentioned about free...
Gawain, you're right! I absolutely love any sport that doesn't cost money!
So you've found out my secret?!
Whitebeard's tone suddenly changed, and he revealed a fierce expression. Faced with the seemingly ferocious Whitebeard, Gawain simply lay in the hot spring with his eyes closed.
"Is there anything we can't find...?"
As he spoke, Gawain took out a cigarette from the side, lit it, and exhaled smoke as he spoke.
"You're clearly doing something kind, why are you worried about me finding out?"
Or do you think I'd use that island you've protected for so long... the former Lawless Island, now a paradise, to threaten you?
No, that's not my style. Others can use underhanded methods to deal with me, and a few of my men can use the same methods to turn the tables on others.
But you should be able to understand, I can't do that, I can't even think that."
"Yes..."
The Whitebeard nodded leisurely.
"A leader is the soul of a team. Your will and choices will determine the direction of you and your entire force, Gawain."
Even if you or I are sitting at the highest point, we can't always avoid bad things happening.
But as long as we set our mind and vision high enough, even the most wrong things can lead to the right results!
But if we're heading in the wrong direction, no matter how hard the navigator tries, he won't be able to correct our course!
At this point, Whitebeard looked at Gawain with admiration.
"After I learned that your flag had replaced mine and was hung on Fish-Man Island, I was really worried that you would harm the place."
But once I learned what you had done, my heart was at ease.
How could someone willing to hand over the dream that Fish-Man Island has pursued for hundreds of years to them be my enemy? Haha!
So, Gawain, I've also investigated your background.
So your investigation into me cancels things out, right?
"Of course it cancels out, otherwise, would we both be going to slip and fall in the hot spring?"
Gawain smiled and waved his hand, then asked with amusement.
"To be honest, it's only in places like this that I can barely put up a fight with you, right?"
"Ah, your strength..."
Hearing Gawain's self-deprecating humor, the Whitebeard grinned.
"Let's not talk about your strength anymore. You can't even beat my stupid son Teach now, even though he's so weak he doesn't even have a bounty. Gurarara!"
So, Gawain, if you trust me, go find a Devil Fruit that's powerful enough, and then eat it!
Don't follow Roger and Rayleigh's example. What good will not using a Devil Fruit do? Will it make someone of equal strength superior?
And you, as Rayleigh's current captain, have that blind young man and a strongman like Gion under your command!
Honestly, just thinking about your position makes me feel dangerous for you!
Whitebeard gave a wistful look, and continued thoughtfully.
"You should know that I was once a sailor on Captain Rocks' ship."
Back then, Rocks' subordinates were a group of guys like us, powerful enough to make all pirates tremble.
But so what? The stronger a person is, the more determined their goals become. I don't know what you used to gather them together.
But what if one day, you can no longer achieve their goals, or rather, you have already achieved their goals...?
With your abilities, sitting in the highest position would be far too dangerous!
Rocks was strong enough, but even so, we still fell apart back then!
Although Garp and Roger did a lot of work, I must say that the crew's own laziness and ambition played a large part in the problem!
So, Gawain, hurry up and strengthen your abilities as quickly as possible!
To my sons, I will tell them that dreams can be everything, and dreams never die!
But for you and me, I must say this.
This is an incredibly realistic ocean, where only strength is the foundation of everything!
Only the strongest person in the world has the right to make everyone accept his current dream and his future dream, Gawain!!!
Suddenly, the Whitebeard raised his hand, instinctively wanting to pat Gawain's head.
Noticing Whitebeard's movement, Gawain quickly looked up, stared at Whitebeard's hand, and rolled his Byakugan.
Seeing Gawain's Byakugan, the Whitebeard was slightly taken aback, and he quickly put his hand back into the warm water.
"Ahem, I truly admire a young man like you! Haha!"
"Yes, I can't accept it, but I can understand you."
Gawain flicked his cigarette ash with a smile, then looked at the Whitebeard and laughed.
"After all, the reason you've gotten to where you are today is because you like to have sons!"
"Gulalalala, explain carefully, let this old man see if you truly understand me!"
Whitebeard looked at Gawain with interest.
Facing the Whitebeard's gaze, Gawain smiled and continued speaking.
"Imagine a guy who would treat all the children of the world as his own."
A person who hopes to bring all the happiness in the world to all children.
Shouldn't he have your kind of Haki?
"The whole world..."
As soon as Gawain finished speaking, the Whitebeard sighed with emotion.
"You're right. On the contrary, I'm not as outstanding as you say. I haven't thought about the world; I just don't want to hear any child cry!"
At this point, the Whitebeard turned to Gawain and asked him a question.
"You've already spoken my dream, so what about yours?"
You should know that your Conqueror's Haki easily overwhelms me!
I want to see just what kind of dream could bear such an intense Conqueror's Haki!
Suddenly, the Whitebeard sat up, cross-legged in the water, and looked at Gawain with utmost solemnity.
And Gawain...
Despite the Whitebeard's serious attitude, he remained lying there leisurely. He pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"How can your small wish for family reunion compete with my ideal of changing the whole world?"
When you look at each child, do you know that I am also looking at you from a higher place?
When you yearn to bring a happy childhood to every child, what I want to do is bring happiness and a peaceful life to everyone!
My determination is to create a completely different world for you, and for everyone in this world!
I will rule the Four Blues, sweep across the land, unify the world, and completely end this terrible situation that has lasted for thousands of years and involved hundreds of countries in constant warfare, so that people of all ages in the next era can enjoy true peace!
I will also sweep away all evil forces, tearing you and all the thieves who share the same name as you into the garbage of the times!
I will also wrest the right to rule the entire world for the past eight hundred years from the Five Elders and the World Government!
This is my goal, sounds simple, right?
It's just...
"To unify and rule the entire world."
"Hiss!!!"
Whitebeard gasped, staring incredulously into Gawain's eyes.
"Dominating the Four Blues, sweeping across the six directions, unifying the world!"
As he said this, he clenched his fist.
"Even Joy Boy never made such a decision. What he wanted to do was merely a byproduct of your goal, which was to bring freedom and equality to all slaves!"
The Whitebeard vigorously rubbed his beard.
"Damn it, I actually used the word 'that'! This is truly... eye-opening!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Whitebeard swallowed hard.
"Aren't you afraid that after hearing your voice, I will tear you to pieces right here and now?"
"With my physique, even if I were weakened by the seawater, I wouldn't be someone that ordinary pirates with a hundred or two hundred million taels of silver could withstand!"
"Ha ha..."
Gawain shook his head in disbelief at Whitebeard's threat.
"If I don't even dare to speak my own voice to you, how can I dare to tell my voice to everyone else in this world?"
If I'm even ashamed to voice my goals, how can I dare say that I'll definitely achieve them?
Newgate, think back carefully. Has any person who changes an era been a wicked person who even conceals their ultimate goal?
Even if that secretive guy wins the final victory, the world won't change a bit because of him!
It is for this reason that we call every person who changes an era a hero!
But what I want is not just a simple victory; I want to change the world, right?
"Sharp!"
Whitebeard let out a heavy sigh, then lay back down in the hot spring and closed his eyes.
Time passed slowly, and after several seconds of silence, Whitebeard continued with a sigh.
"I have lost the right to comment on your dreams; they are simply beyond my comprehension. Peace, happiness, and stability are things I can still talk about."
But unification...
That was a scene that had never appeared in the past five thousand years!
As for this old man..."
Whitebeard paused for a moment, then sighed.
"We are still enemies after all, aren't we? I'm afraid I've already blocked your path!"
"No, it's not that bad. Whether it's you, other pirates, the Revolutionary Army, Affiliated Nation and non- Affiliated Nation, or even the World Government and the Five Elders."
You are not my enemies; you are merely obstacles in my path.
As for who my enemy really is?
In my opinion, I only have two enemies.
One is fate, the other is myself, that's all.
Gawain looked at the Whitebeard, reached out and extinguished his slightly damp cigarette. After finding an ashtray, Gawain continued speaking to the Whitebeard.
"And that's why I invited you to meet here."
In order to remove the obstacles in my path, I must turn some of my obstacles into obstacles to those obstacles.
Now we know each other well, even though we've only known each other for a short time and there's a significant age difference between us.
But regardless, we can call each other friends.
So, Newgate, how about doing me a favor?
"Oh?"
The Whitebeard grinned.
"You said you'd get rid of this obstacle, yet you still want me to help you?"
"Gawain, I can't very well follow Roger's example and hand myself over to you to be Execution Platform, can I?"
"Haha, how could that be? Quite the opposite! What I want is not for you to die, but for you to continue living!"
Gawain finally became serious. Even when he talked about his dreams and goals earlier, he was not as serious as he was now when he talked about his future plans.
After all, for Gawain, no matter how lofty his ideals were, they were just distant finish lines. The plans he had at hand were the cleats and shoelaces he needed to organize!
No matter how you approach your dreams, the destination is always there, and it never changes.
However, if the spikes are not properly aligned and the shoelaces are not tied...
They're going to collapse on the road!
Seeing Gawain's solemn expression, the Whitebeard man frowned and also became solemn.
Then, Gawain said.
"Over the next three to five years, I will continue to recruit every strong individual on this vast ocean. Once I believe that I and my subordinates are strong enough, I will make a decision!"
I need your cooperation on this, Newgate!
At that time, I will completely seal off Reverse Mountain and Fish-Man Island, and I will ensure that no pirate from any of the Four Blues can enter the Grand Line!
I will ensure that no pirate on the Grand Line can ever enter the New World!
Most importantly, I will seal you and all of you Emperors of the Sea in the New World.
You will forever lose the opportunity to step out of the New World!
"This...?!!"
"Don't interrupt me!"
Gawain said coldly, then sat upright in the hot spring and solemnly continued speaking to the Whitebeard.
"I have carefully assessed the world situation, and in my opinion, the danger posed by bandits outweighs everything else at present."
Those who do not engage in production but live by plunder—the more such people become role models for the world, the more the world will continue to collapse!
Therefore, whatever I do in the future, and however I do it...
As long as I still want to bring stability to the world, the first thing I need to deal with is you, all of you, and all the pirates in the world who leave their homes, abandon their families and friends, and aim to plunder others!
It's rather cruel of me to say this to you.
But I'm sorry, Newgate, in my eyes you're about to drag the world down.
When you long for your children to grow up healthy, have you ever thought about this?
If the child's father chooses to go to sea, no matter how wealthy the child's life is, the child's childhood will be unhealthy!
And you, you possess a shining quality that catches my eye, and you are also a role model for almost every young pirate in the world.
In addition, you even happen to occupy the entrance and exit in the direction of the New World; your territory is right at that entrance and exit!
I don't need you to do much for me. On the day I make my decision, we will be mortal enemies.
But I hope you can do me a small favor.
When I'm on this side of the Grand Line, blocking you on the other side of the New World.
"I hope you can also stand on the side of the New World and block the Navy and the World Government, who will inevitably take advantage of my opportunity to launch a full-scale attack on the New World!"