"This is truly an impressive... collaboration!"
When Gawain offered him a toast, the Whitebeard solemnly clinked glasses with him and then downed the entire pot in one gulp.
He put down the wine jug, sat in the hot spring, and sighed softly.
"Only chatting with a young person like you makes me realize that I'm truly old..."
As he spoke, Whitebeard relaxed his body and lay down in the spring, leaving only his head above water.
"You ask me if I understand you? I have to admit, I've truly seen it all."
You said you're exceptionally good at manipulating others!
Yes, so it turns out I was like a fish caught in a net, becoming your tool from the moment I met you, or even before I met you!
He turned to look at Gawain, a helpless smile on his face.
"Although what you've been talking about regarding the future is just your own speculation and your own judgment about it."
But the old man sitting next to you seems to have actually seen it all.
So, Gawain, are pirates destined to disappear?
"Newgate, pirates are pirates after all. Maybe some are good pirates and some are bad pirates, but good or bad, a pirate is a pirate, isn't it?"
Anyone who is a thief has a reason to harm others!
Whether or not to harm others is a thief's choice, but as long as one wears the identity of a thief, one has a reason to harm others!
Should this kind of identity really be the pursuit of at least half of the world's young people?
Gawain responded leisurely, and then, like the Whitebeard, he lay back in the hot spring.
Feeling the warm water caress him, Gawain gently pressed the service bell beside the hot spring.
As the bell rang, the maids entered carrying a large amount of food and wine. Although they had been stunned by Conqueror's Haki, they had long since woken up.
The maids placed the drinks and food near Gawain and Whitebeard, then slowly left. Gawain ate fruit while continuing to talk to Whitebeard.
"Sometimes I also think, if the world weren't as chaotic as it is now..."
Then I'll truly be blessed.
Look, I am Celestial Dragon. Although I am destined not to get along with my own kind, if I have such a status and still don't know how to enjoy life, then I would be a failure.
He doesn't care about anything, he doesn't fight for anything, he takes his own money, his own woman, and his own boat, drifting between one dreamlike country and island after another.
In that case, although I wouldn't be able to go to the sauna with the World's Strongest Man like I am now.
But I must have been really happy then, right?
"Gulala lala, when has this old man not dreamed of such a thing!"
Hearing Gawain's words, the Whitebeard chuckled contentedly.
"Back then, when I was just a child, I boarded a pirate ship that left my hometown."
I am not born strong like Linlin and Kaido. When I was a child, I was really just a little kid.
"This old man... has truly sailed on many ships and joined many pirate crews..."
He shook his head, Whitebeard, and then stuffed a piece of pineapple into his mouth.
After chewing, he glanced at Gawain and continued to laugh.
"Until later, as you know, I met Rocks."
The captain, while not someone I admire, is undeniably Haki.
I dislike his cruelty and bloodthirstiness, but in that era, Rocks was the strongest pirate in the world. Although I resent his style, I truly admire his strength!
It was through Captain Rocks that I obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, and truly embarked on the path I am on today."
At this point, Whitebeard gave a nostalgic smile and continued laughing.
"At the beginning, the Rocks Pirates didn't have that many people. Linlin and I were among the first to board the ship."
By the way, Gawain, you know, Linlin was so beautiful back then.
I'll tell you a secret, and you must keep it a secret for me. Back in the day, I also pursued Linlin relentlessly.
However, well, later on, Linlin's attitude towards marriage was quite different from my own.
So what can I do? Gurarara, after all, whether it's me or Linlin, we're both pirates!
And how could pirates lack female companions?! Gurarara!!!
Amidst the laughter, the Whitebeard wiggled his toes and looked at Gawain with interest.
"And you, Gawain, the women on your boat are no less beautiful than Linlin was back then."
What are your thoughts? How about we discuss them?
"Why?"
Gawain looked at the Whitebeard with amusement.
"Newgate, you're actually curious about this kind of gossip?"
"Gulala, why can't I be curious? But these are things I can't discuss with my sons!"
Now that I've run into you, and am in such a comfortable environment, if I don't chat about something interesting, then I'll have to go to hell and talk to Roger.
So, among the girls on your boat, do you have any you like?
"Um, what if I said I like them all?"
Gawain revealed a teasing smile, while Whitebeard, upon hearing his words, immediately showed an expression of "I knew it."
"Gurala, that's what men are like, such a nostalgic youth!"
Unfortunately, after I left the Rocks Pirates and chose to form the Whitebeard Pirates...
I have no chance to stop now!
Whitebeard sighed regretfully.
"The New World was in chaos during the time Captain Rocks died. Although the Great Pirate Era had not yet begun, the struggle for Rocks' former territory was intense."
Whether it's me, Linlin, or even that monster-like brat Kaido.
As we fought, we shattered the feelings that had become somewhat distant in the past.
More and more pirates are joining our ranks, and we are no longer alone. Although I have no dream of becoming king, the interests of my men and sons all need my care.
Without territory, my sons won't even be able to afford a bowl of good wine. If they can't afford wine, where will I, the old man, beg for it?
Gradually, I defeated one opponent after another. Even though I never considered them opponents, I inevitably became their target.
When I was weak, I was pushed forward by the times. At that time, I wanted freedom, and I thought that if I was strong enough, I could be free.
But as I grew stronger, I was still pushed along by the times. By the time I became the number one in the world, I didn't even have any brothers left to tell jokes.
And so I became the least free person in the world.
I also long to let go of everything and take my sons back to my hometown to live in seclusion.
By then, I won't need to deal with one challenger after another. If I run out of money for wine, I'll just have my sons capture some pirates to earn bounties.
Then I'll go ask my sons for some wine, glug glug!!!
Amidst the laughter, the Whitebeard clapped his hands.
"Cheng Wang, Gurarara, besides Roger, how many people in this world truly want to become the Pirate King?"
Roger, before being diagnosed with his terminal illness, also had no intention of becoming the Pirate King. Unfortunately, fate intervened, and Roger fell ill.
Realizing they were about to die, even someone like Roger started to panic!
He quickly sought out the most powerful doctor of the time, Crocus, and then desperately began collecting the Poneglyph.
In order to reach Laugh Tale, he even borrowed my crew member Oden!
And so, he collected all the Poneglyph in a year and arrived at Laugh Tale, but who could have imagined that Laugh Tale would only hold a colossal joke?
Whitebeard shook his head listlessly, then let out a long sigh.
"Alas, as we talked, I couldn't help but reminisce about the old days; it's truly heartbreaking."
Even if I am the World's Strongest Man, I only have one heart, and I will eventually grow old and die.
I really wanted to conquer time, but I've won my whole life, yet I can never win against time again.
Whitebeard cautiously approached Gawain and then whispered.
"Let me tell you another secret: every time I fight these days, my heart aches as if I'm about to die..."
He clenched his fist and gently pounded his chest.
"Just like I said, I really envy Linlin, and that brat Kaido."
Their bodies are simply too outstanding, and their talents are simply too powerful!
But I am not like that. I am just an ordinary person. Even my height only increased after I became powerful.
So, Gawain, you just talked to me a lot, but I don't really care about those things.
I have no idea how much longer I have to live. If your plan drags on for three to five years, I might just die on my own.
While I am alive, I would never, as a pirate, betray the interests of pirates!
But if I die...
Whitebeard suddenly looked at Gawain and nodded solemnly.
"If I die before your plan begins, then... you shall take my place and continue your plan!"
As for my territory and my sons, I will talk to them before I die. A hero like you will surely gain their approval!
In that case, your goal of bringing stability to the world would be easier to achieve, and I actually look forward to living in such a world!
If I could live my life again, I would rather be a worker in my peaceful and stable hometown than be the so-called number one in the world during some chaotic era!
With your help, my sons will surely be safer.
Of course, if I'm still alive and kicking at that time...
Gulalalala, then come and kill this old man yourself!
I don't have your brains; all I've ever done in my life is fight!
But I know one thing: no matter what great achievements you want to make, someone like you desperately needs prestige!
And this vast ocean, gurgling and rumbling, what could be easier to become famous than killing this old man!
Over the years, I've encountered countless guys who wanted to defeat me.
Some people are so outstanding that even I, an old man, have to give them a shout-out, like that brat Crocodile.
"But as for the rest of the people, they completely fail to interest me!"
At this point, Whitebeard excitedly patted Gawain on the shoulder.
"If it were you, I would definitely be motivated, so hurry up and improve your strength!"
Even though I am an old man in my twilight years, I am not someone you can easily shake with your frail physique!
"I set sail at eight years old and have fought my whole life. How can I, someone like me, die on my sickbed?! Gurala!!!"
"Well..."
Gawain shook his head, uninterested, at Whitebeard's words.
"It does sound like an exciting suggestion, but actually, it's not what I need at all."
Newgate, don't get so excited so easily, okay?
If in the future I truly have the strength to kill you, then whatever I do with that strength will be more meaningful than killing you.
In particular, given my desire for stability, the longer you live, the greater my benefit.
I even have a plan to end the Great Pirate Era started by Roger. The best way to do that is to let a new Pirate King emerge in the world!
"Let the new Pirate King announce to the world that he has obtained Roger's treasure, and then with a little modification, the Great Pirate Era will naturally come to an end."
At this point, Gawain patted the Whitebeard's arm.
"Well, Newgate, if you really admire me as much as you say, then don't just cooperate with me by being used by me, but go and chase after the throne of the Pirate King."
I will help you.
If you become the Pirate King, very few pirates will disagree. That would really be a huge help to me, my friend!
"Gurarara!!!"
Whitebeard was amused by Gawain's suggestion and shook his head as he laughed.
"Don't joke around, what Pirate King? That's a seat only hot-blooded idiots would sit in!"
If I were twenty years younger, I might actually agree to your request. After all, if your dream came true, the world would truly be at peace!
But now..."
Whitebeard looked intently at Gawain.
"Am I, in your eyes, the most suitable Pirate King right now?"
Even if I become king, my body won't be able to hold on for much longer!
The stability you need requires someone who can help people get used to the Pirate King's identity, gradually adapt to Pirate King existence, and then realize that the Pirate King isn't all that special, right?
But look, how could I be that kind of person?
After saying that, the Whitebeard looked at Gawain.
"However, on the other hand, you have always treated our pirates' dream, the title of Pirate King, as a ruthless tool and exploited it cruelly."
Such behavior truly saddens this old man.
But I can't get angry at you, because Pirate King is the dream of almost every pirate, but compared to yours, that dream seems far too narrow!
As soon as he finished speaking, the Whitebeard picked up a jug of wine and took a big gulp.
He put down the wine jug and gave Gawain a persuasive look again.
"However, just like I said, I still suggest you improve your strength as soon as possible. Your dream is too big, so big that without enough strength, it simply won't be enough to support it!"
Remember this, Gawain: in this world, the weak do not deserve to exist in the world of the strong!
Even with those three monsters protecting you, it's nothing to me today.
They are indeed troublesome, but even if all three of them attack at the same time, I can hold out for at least a few hours!
As for you, if I really wanted to, I could withstand several attacks from Rayleigh and the others and kill you in the blink of an eye!
Yes, you are Celestial Dragon, so of course I won't lay a hand on you. After all, I'm not Rocks.
But this is only for now!
Now you can rely on your Celestial Dragon identity and the fear that other powerful individuals have of this identity to survive.
But when you finally reveal your true colors in the future...
By then, nobody will care whether you're Celestial Dragon or not!
This world belongs to the strong, and you... you've already missed out on so much!
I can tell that you probably hadn't even started exercising last year, right?
You've missed too much time; you've even missed the period when your skills improve the most.
Between the ages of seventeen and twenty—that's the golden age for every strong person, and you've completely missed that period!
So if I were you, I would definitely accept my suggestion.
Go find a world-renowned, truly powerful Devil Fruit to make up for the golden age you've already missed, and save you more training time so you can possess the power to sweep Four Blues sooner!
In my opinion, my Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the Yami Yami no Mi from back then, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit with the strongest attack power, almost every Mythical Zoan, and the Logia which ranks higher in the hierarchy.
Those can save you at least ten years of cultivation time!
You want to unify the ocean, gurgle gurgle!
I, too, long to have a proper battle with a hero like you while I'm still alive!
As for today, pshaw!
Today was so boring!
Rayleigh is no Roger after all; that old guy is far from it, gurararara!