The next morning, at six o'clock, Yixiao lay on her silk bed, which she had never enjoyed before, fast asleep with a contented smile on her face.
But then...
A series of sounds of beatings, along with muffled groans from the man, reached his ears.
If it were just an ordinary voice, Xiao wouldn't mind, but after getting to know Gawain's voice had already been added to his watchlist.
Gawain got beaten up?!
Yi Xiao suddenly sat up in bed!
Actively releasing his Observation Haki, Ikko quickly sensed that it was Gawain sparring with Gion.
Puzzled, he listened to the clock, wondering if he had overslept.
I think I parted ways with Gawain around 2 a. m. last night and went back to my room to rest.
How come I only felt like I slept for two or three hours before Gawain woke up and started exercising?
In a moment of confusion, a smile revealed the direction of the clock hands.
Six o'clock in the morning...
Oh, so I wasn't mistaken; I really did only sleep for a little over three hours...
So...
For a moment, the expression on Yi Xiao's face as she listened to Gawain's voice on the bed was as if she were listening to a monstrous beast.
Since Gawain should go to bed as late as I do, shouldn't he?
How do adults manage to get up so early?!
With a huge grudge in his heart, he smiled, put on his clothes, and strode out of his more than 300-square-meter private cabin, onto the deck.
Walking along the path between the rest area and the pool, he crossed the volleyball court and arrived beside Rayleigh and Jinbe, who were lying on beach chairs watching the sunrise.
Upon seeing Issho approaching, Jinbe solemnly stood up and bowed to him.
"Welcome to the team, Mr. Yixiao!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jinbe up and gave Yi Xiao a thumbs up.
"I still vividly remember those meteorites from a few days ago. I never imagined that there was a hidden monster like Mr. Yixiao in this ocean!"
"Haha, you're too kind, Mr. Knight of the Sea!"
He responded with a smile.
"Although new people always emerge in this vast ocean, there will always be people like me who are unwilling to stand up for the various forces of the past."
For example, I know a guy named Aramaki. Although he has a yakuza-like style, he's actually a reclusive person with a strong sense of justice.
"Oh?"
Upon hearing Yixiao's words, Rayleigh, who was standing nearby, perked up.
"What's going on, Brother Yixiao? You mean there are guys like you hiding all over the world?"
"Aramaki, is that it? Haha, I'll have Gawain investigate him. What's his strength like?"
"Uh, Mr. Rayleigh, I don't know much about Mr. Aramaki either. When I first met him five years ago, he was a powerful figure who mingled with various gangs and had never tasted the Devil Fruit."
He liked to go shirtless, with a sharp straight sword at his waist; as for the rest, I couldn't tell from his ears.
Although that guy likes to fight violence with violence and always likes to use all sorts of cruel methods to crack down on gangs on various islands, he is extremely violent and unruly, but he also has his own understanding of justice.
If I were to meet him again, I would like to have a good talk with him!
With a smile, he nodded heavily. Now that he was on the ship, he naturally began to gradually develop his plans, with the Dark Bird Group at the core.
How many people aboard the Dark Bird Ship don't have high hopes for the future?
Even though they may seem idle, they aren't truly idle guys.
After finishing talking about Aramaki, Yixiao gently sat down on the empty beach chair, and then looked at Gawain.
"By the way, Mr. Rayleigh, does Lord Gawain get up this early every day?"
"Brother Yixiao, you can just call me Rayleigh."
On our ship, aside from maintaining a certain level of respect for Little Gawain, there's no distinction between superiors and inferiors among us who wear badges.
As for Little Gawain, well, I'm also worried about what you're talking about.
How come he gets up so early? And he gets up this early every day! It makes me feel embarrassed to lie in bed counting Sea King!
At this point, Rayleigh took off his glasses, wiped them, and sighed.
"I'm already seventy-three, but I still have to get up early with him every day, so, Brother Yixiao."
If you ever see me taking naps whenever I have a spare moment, please don't laugh at me.
"I always need to catch up on my sleep!"
"Hahaha, Uncle Rayleigh, what you're saying doesn't make any sense!"
Jinbe, standing to the side, chuckled.
"How could people like us possibly feel tired just because we've slept a few hours less?"
On the contrary, don't you always praise the adults for their regular routines and dedication to training?
At this point, Jinbe waved to Issho.
"Uncle Rayleigh is just being pretentious; he considers Lord Gawain his disciple."
So, we'll just ignore what he's saying about Gawain.
That's just him showing off in different ways, haha.
"Well..."
He smiled and nodded silently, then continued to focus on Gawain's serious cultivation.
The next second, he was completely dumbfounded!
He quickly raised his right hand and pointed into the distance.
"Wait, if I'm not mistaken, Gawain was just slashed!!!"
He must have been hacked to pieces!!!
I could hear the sound of blood spurting out; his chest must have been cut open!!!
While screaming in shock, he smiled and listened to Gion with a completely bewildered expression. This woman actually attacked?!
Just as Yi Xiao uttered those shocked words, Kuma, who was not far away, slammed the notebook in his hand shut.
Kuma solemnly placed the notebook aside and strode over to Gawain's side.
Gently lifting Gawain's involuntary convulsions, Kuma struck out with his paw, and Gawain's wounds began to slowly heal.
After treating his injuries, Kuma frowned and looked at Gion.
"Gion Vice Admiral, even in actual combat training, such a serious injury is a bit too much!"
Although my abilities can depict pain, the shadow of severe injury will still accumulate in an adult's mind, creating immense pressure for them.
"Hmph, if he doesn't suffer a little at my hands, do you expect Gawain to be ambushed by some unknown trash?!"
"That Steel Claw from Teach on Whitebeard's ship couldn't even be completely blocked by Shiryu's Armament Haki!"
Gion muttered angrily as she snatched Gawain from the Kuma's arms.
"This is sparring time, don't disturb us. Gawain knows what he needs!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Gion placed Gawain, whose wounds were healing rapidly, aside, and then looked at Gawain.
"Sir, shall we continue?"
"Continue!"
Gawain sadly touched his chest and abdomen. Just now, he had truly experienced the feeling of his intestines coming out.
But the more this is the case, the more we need to intensify our training. How many people in this vast ocean can afford to be as extravagant as we are, treating Kuma like Senzu Bean?
If you don't cherish yourself, how can you talk about ideals?
Gawain nodded to the Kuma, then struggled to pick up the broken little sword and began fighting Gion again.
As the clash of swords rang out again, Yixiao in the distance let out a long sigh.
"What a terrifying ability!" he remarked.
Rayleigh chuckled to himself.
"You find it terrifying too, right? Before Kuma, who would have imagined that the Paw-Paw Fruit would have such an ability?"
Although he wasn't a doctor and couldn't cure illnesses, he could actually deflect all sword wounds and injuries!
"The Paw-Paw Fruit indeed powerful. Each Devil Fruit is a miracle obtained at the cost of being far from the sea."
But what's even more formidable is the adult! I haven't seen a superior so ruthless to himself in a long time!
Yixiao picked up where Rayleigh left off, offering a serious assessment.
Just as Yixiao finished speaking, Shiryu, with a cigar in his mouth, jogged up to Gawain's side from not far away.
He waited quietly for a moment, until Gawain was knocked down by Gion again, then he quickly spoke to Gawain.
"My lord, I would like to request permission to go to Sabaody Island to assist the Fish-Man."
As a member of the Dark Bird Group, I truly abhor those cunning villains who covet your Fish-Man!
Hearing Shiryu's righteous words, Gawain smiled and caught his breath, then waved to Shiryu.
"Go, and remember to eradicate evil completely; show no mercy."
The Fish-Man have been on the island for three days now, and all the inevitable clashes have occurred. The Fish-Man have also proven their courage.
At this point, they shouldn't be allowed to face the pirates and outlaws from all over the world gathered on Sabaody Island with the strength of their entire clan!
"Cut off the big ones, and leave the rest of the troublesome loose ends to the Fish-Man."
At this point, Gawain lay on the ground and pondered for a moment before Shiryu.
"With you here, killing isn't a problem, but the issues of pursuit and capture..."
"Lucci, send two squadrons to help Shiryu with miscellaneous tasks!"
"Yes, sir!"
Not far away Lucci bowed deeply, then nodded to Shiryu.
At the same time, Gawain continued to confess.
"Listen up, Shiryu!"
"Any particularly tall and large thugs, try to keep them alive. Let them roll around in Impel Down, and then you know what happens."
"Yes, sir, please rest assured, I have everything under control!"
Shiryu revealed a fierce expression, and then he couldn't wait to leave. But just as he and Lucci were about to leave, Issho suddenly stood up.
"Wait, sir, is Mr. Shiryu planning to hunt down the pirates of the Sabaody Archipelago?"
Since that's the case, I'd also like to lend a hand. I truly love the phrase "eradicate evil completely!"
"Haha, forget it, Brother Yixiao."
You have other things to do, why don't you rest on the boat with us first, haha."
Without Gawain's prompting, Rayleigh pulled back the eager-to-try Yixiao, who could only awkwardly sit back down.
In the distance, seeing Yixiao sit down, Shiryu breathed a sigh of relief and then quickly took the elevator to board the Dark Bird Landing Ship.
He quickly activated the Armstrong Cyclone Accelerator Armstrong Jet Cannon.
Shiryu was overjoyed.
Finally, no one's stealing his kills anymore, haha!
And so, filled with excitement, Shiryu rushed all the way to the Fishman Five Islands.
Three or four days later, the dock at Fishman Five Islands had taken basic shape.
As for the Fish-Man's land-based structures, there are now only some simple houses. Upon seeing Shiryu, the Fish-Man guards on duty saluted Shiryu.
Shiryu didn't bother to greet the guards; he wasn't a good person and had no habit of being polite.
He followed the Dark Bird Squad, who already had some information, straight to the lair of the outlaws who had recently attacked the Fish-Man.
In an instant, wails of agony filled the islands near the Fishman Five Islands. Shiryu picked up his longsword, Raiu, and, like a true demon, let out a sinister laugh.
The wails and sneers startled the sleeping Fish-Man, who huddled in various places, trembling as they gazed at the distant Tree Island.
Three hours later, the nearest Tree Island was littered with corpses, and the smell of blood reached the Fish-Man's noses even from a great distance.
This sight terrified the Fish-Man, who huddled together in fear.
Among those Fish-Man, those who had once wreaked havoc with Hody Jones trembled particularly violently.
"This... this... is this what humans are like?"
"How terrifying! Their attitude towards their fellow countrymen is terrifying!"
"Waaaah, thank goodness Hody Jones failed, otherwise we would have been wiped out if we had encountered a monster like that!"
"Yes, that's just one of Saint Gawain's subordinates. Saint Gawain has more and more subordinates!"
Just as the Fish-Man were terrified and the outlaws were wailing incessantly.
Inside the warship on the dock, Borsalino got up from the wicker chair in a sleazy manner and glanced at his watch.
"Ah, it's 8:58 already. I should get ready for work."
At this point, he stretched comfortably, then smiled and spoke in a Versailles-like manner.
"How terrifying, old man Garp, and Kuzan."
I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you back to Marineford.
Saint Gawain, worried about Whitebeard, actually chose to have me serve as his temporary bodyguard, stationed on his ship until Whitebeard left...
Ah, this old man has really had a hard time!
"Hehe..."
Borsalino's words elicited a helpless smile from Aokiji.
"Truly, this is ambiguous justice; even the job description can be ambiguous."
"How could that be? I strictly adhere to my work hours."
Ah, it's already 59 minutes, I should get going!
Whoosh!
A burst of golden light flashed, Kizaru vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving only a series of sounds behind.
See you in a few days, bye-bye...
Hearing Kizaru's rascal-like voice, Garp yawned and then laughed.
"You stay here and keep an eye on Whitebeard. I'm heading back to Marineford."
"Yes, don't worry, Whitebeard will be fine!"
Kuzan slightly, and Garp left his warship and returned to his own. A moment later, the warship set sail, and Garp gradually disappeared into the distance.
Meanwhile, aboard the Dark Bird Ship, Yi Xiao stood there, his face blank, holding up his Gravity Blade.
While maintaining his Devil Fruit powers, he asked himself in confusion.
"So... my Devil Fruit can be used for training?"
Is this... my greatest contribution?!
Hearing the laughter, Rayleigh, shirtless and lifting dumbbells, responded with a loud laugh.
"Of course, Brother Yixiao, you wouldn't believe it."
Ever since we saw you in the prophecy, our expectations of you have practically soared to the heavens.
At our level, reaching the limit is simply too difficult!
As he spoke, Rayleigh put down the dumbbells and patted his chest instead.
"Hey, Brother Yixiao, give me double the gravity. The current force isn't enough; it's far from sufficient!"
As soon as Rayleigh finished speaking, Jinbe, who was still standing upside down in the distance, also spoke up.
"Mr. Yixiao, please double the amount for me too!"
"Me too, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Yixiao!" Kuma said earnestly.
And Lucci...
"Aww!"
He transformed into his leopard form and then shouted.
"Please double the price for me too!"
"I'll take double the amount too! Humph, do you think I'm any worse than you stinking men!"
Upon hearing this, Hancock, dressed in yoga attire, proudly smiled and shouted.
Hearing Hancock's words, Gion wiped the sweat from her brow and smiled.
"If you add any more weight, you probably won't even be able to stand up straight, will you?"
"Rabbit, wanna fight?!"
"Haven't you had enough of a beating, Snake Princess!"
The training ground was bustling with activity; Yixiao's arrival truly ignited everyone's enthusiasm!
Before this, they rarely trained together when Gawain was exercising. As Gion had said before, they didn't feel tired, so they basically lost the training effect.
But now, with the weight that makes every step they take feel like carrying a mountain, wouldn't they seize the opportunity?
The only one in the entire arena who didn't shout for increased gravity was Gawain.
Because right now, just standing there was already exhausting him...
Looking at everyone like this, I felt a mix of emotions—a smile, but no tears.
He thought of himself as a sharp blade that could annihilate his enemies.
So... he was just a load-bearing device for the entire Dark Bird Group?