Looking at Gawain's men who had parted a path in front of him, Whitebeard took a deep breath.
"You're already showing signs of developing your own style, Saint Gawain!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Whitebeard, carrying his Murakumogiri, strode past Gawain.
As he passed Gawain, he suddenly muttered something under his breath.
You'd better consider my suggestion!
Otherwise, by the time you grow up and stand before me, I'll probably be old and dead, just a skeleton left!
"If that happens, after laying down the flowers, I will gently pat your tombstone and announce to the world that only time has defeated the strongest person of the previous era."
The only person defeated by time was Edward Elric Newgate!
Gawain said solemnly to Whitebeard.
Upon hearing Gawain's answer, the Whitebeard laughed heartily.
At that moment, he felt Gawain's respect for him, gurgle gurgle!!!
Amidst laughter, the Whitebeard walked away with his head held high, followed by his sons.
Some were carrying knives, some were carrying swords, some were holding hammers, and some were wearing shoes.
Although the sons were usually lazy, they were incredibly solemn at this moment, as they returned Gawain's respect for their Pops.
And so, Whitebeard, facing the gazes of countless people, passed through the coating and boarded his ship.
He didn't say anything more about lingering affection. Even though he hadn't been to this island called Sabaody for a long time, he wouldn't forget his home, Hiyori and present.
New World!
In the ensuing silence, the Moby Dick submerged and then disappeared completely.
As soon as the Moby Dick left, Garp waved and laughed heartily.
"The old man will eventually have to go back to his hometown. I should go home too, haha!"
They're gone, they're gone!
Marines, let's go back to Marineford, that's our home!
After saying this, Garp ignored Gawain and turned to leave.
Beside Garp, Aokiji and Kizaru gave Gawain their own distinctive smiles, then bowed to him before following in Gawain 'Garp footsteps.
Watching Garp and his group walk away, Gawain sighed softly.
"I don't know how many more times we'll experience something like this, but undoubtedly, the next time won't be so leisurely."
As he spoke, Gawain gently raised his right hand.
"Kalifa, centrally procure all the supplies needed for the Dark Bird Ship."
Whitebeard is gone, Garp is gone, so it's time for us to embark on the road ahead!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain gently raised his Cane Sword, and tapped the ground with it.
"They're gone!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain picked up his Cane Sword, turned around leisurely, and walked towards the Little Dark Bird.
After they boarded the ship and disappeared from the sight of countless spectators...
Shirahoshi let out a long breath.
"The atmosphere is so tense! I don't know why, but every time I swim, I feel incredibly nervous, afraid of making a mistake!"
"Shirahoshi, this kind of mentality won't work. If you want to become a songstress, you must learn to adapt to the audience's gaze!"
Uta patted Shirahoshi's tail, then twirled her hat with interest.
She was used to wearing her hair in two different colored buns, so the hat made her hair feel a bit uncomfortable.
As Uta adjusted his hat, Rayleigh had already lost his footing.
He leaned lazily against the gunwale and sat down, crossing his legs and supporting his head with his hands behind his head.
"Every day that passes is one day less, this feeling of aging, haha!"
We know that Whitebeard said he was waiting for you, but his suggestion...
Rayleigh smiled and looked up at Gawain.
"The suggestion that will make you stronger faster—is it that he's suggesting you eat Devil Fruit?"
"That's right."
Gawain leaned on his Cane Sword with his right hand, his left hand in his pocket, and gazed thoughtfully at the sky.
"He suggested that I eat a Devil Fruit that would help me reach the top faster."
"That's a good idea, although I don't really like it."
Rayleigh sighed.
"Gawain, when you look into the distance, what do you see most of?"
"Ocean."
"Yes, it's the sea!"
At this point, Rayleigh closed his eyes.
"Although I have always considered myself a pirate, whether it was when I set sail or when I met Roger, I was a pirate."
Before and after that, we never considered ourselves pirates!
In our eyes, haha, we are just a group of simple sailors and explorers who pursue freedom and race on the waves!
How can a true sailor be someone rejected by the sea?
Rayleigh gently propped up his right leg, lay there with his Erlang crossed, and swung Rayleigh left leg while laughing.
"In my eyes, anyone who has eaten Devil Fruit is either a marine or a pirate, but they are absolutely unworthy of being a pure sailor."
But you, you were never a sailor in the first place."
"So, Mr. Rayleigh, you also support my eating Devil Fruit?"
Gawain asked Rayleigh in a low voice.
Rayleigh smiled slightly at Gawain's question.
"In the past, I did not support it because I felt that although your plan was very meticulous, it would not be able to be implemented in a short time."
How could a dream of changing the times be so easily realized in just three to five years?
In that case, it won't take too long—five or ten years—before you become a strong person.
When you are weak, I will do my best to protect your dreams. When I am truly old, it will be you who will protect my hopes for the rest of my life.
Because after ten years of training from scratch, you should at least have five to seven tenths of my skills!
However, as it turns out, your steps, though slow, were steady.
But your vision is too far-reaching!
Whitebeard did this because he didn't want to kill you.
But if he wants to, he's willing to make up his mind.
You're dead...!
Rayleigh suddenly opened his eyes, then shook his head with a wry smile.
"If you don't go to the New World, or if they don't leave the New World, then given your status, in the Grand Line and the Four Blues, those who can kill you won't make a move, and those who can make a move against you can't kill you."
But if Whitebeard truly intends to kill you...
While I could certainly join forces with Momousagi to kill him and avenge you, revenge is the most helpless and useless thing to do in the world.
Therefore, three days ago, I changed your training habits in an attempt to help you improve your strength faster and sooner.
While gradual, high-intensity exercise is effective, the effects take at least three to five years to take effect.
That would be a bit slow...
"Indeed!"
Beside her, Yixiao nodded slightly.
"Before I put on this uniform, I was just someone who had just boarded the ship and didn't have many feelings about it."
But now, looking at the neat colors before me, and reflecting on the cause we are about to accomplish.
For some reason, I, like Mr. Rayleigh, also feel a sense of urgency!
As soon as he finished speaking, he grinned, revealing an expectant smile.
"Perhaps this is what it feels like to find your true dream—to not want to stay still for even a moment longer!"
"Of course I don't want to stay. I'm also incredibly looking forward to seeing just how delicious the blood of other islands and other races will be!"
Shiryu his left hand on the Raiu, gently chewed his cigar, and accepted Yixiao's words.
Gawain, listening to the voices of the crowd, smiled slightly.
"So, it turns out that my strength is what's causing everyone's concern."
"No, it's not your strength that worries us, but rather that makes us feel guilty, sir!"
As Gion spoke, she Gawain straightened Kobun's collar.
"Oh?"
Gawain turned to look, Gion smiled and said.
"If we and everyone else could become stronger, you would be safer, wouldn't you?"
That's not how it works!
Gion finished speaking, Rayleigh suddenly got up from the ground, and after regaining his balance, he took off his glasses and gently wiped them.
As he wiped, Rayleigh smiled wryly.
"If ten old men stood together, those ten old men could easily kill every Admiral or Four Emperors in the world."
But with the stamina of the Admiral and those monsters like the Four Emperors, they only need to withstand the pressure and danger for a moment before they can forcefully break through the encirclement of ten old men and kill you, Little Gawain, with their palms!
Of course, that doesn't mean I can't protect you or stop you. I can still carry you and run away.
If you don't like being held, I can carry you and run away, right?
But the key point is...
Rayleigh paused for a moment, put his cleaned glasses back on, and then looked at Gawain, saying jokingly.
"The key point is, are you willing to face those guys Conqueror's Haki and aura are far inferior to yours in such a wretched state?"
Just because they're stronger than you are now?
Okay, you might be willing to do that. You're really very rational. You'd want both life and dignity if you could, and if you couldn't have both, then you'd definitely choose death, right?
But whether it's me or everyone else...
Rayleigh glanced around, his eyes scanning each person.
Then, he looked at Gawain and said solemnly.
"You are the most respected person among us. We wish we were several times stronger so that while protecting your ideals and life, we could also protect your dignity and our own spirit!"
Rayleigh slowly put his arm around Gawain's shoulder.
"Kid, you're not alone anymore!"
You say we are your strength, but do you know what?
Your thoughts are also a source of strength for us!
So, become powerful as quickly as possible, at the fastest speed!
Your plan can proceed steadily and surely because you need to consider stability and all aspects.
Only you can understand those things that we can't possibly consider in their entirety!
But your strength must precede your plans, reaching the summit of the sea much sooner.
Even if you don't reach the pinnacle, you should at least reach the level of Hancock Jr. or Jinbe as quickly as possible!
Because you need at least their strength to withstand one to three moves from a monster.
Only then will our forces be able to truly fight with peace of mind when facing the other Four Emperors or other monster groups!
Rayleigh gently patted Gawain on the shoulder.
"This is just an old saying from me on behalf of everyone."
If the flag on our ship can represent the hope of this sea.
Then you are our banner.
We really want to promote you to the top...
For a moment, Rayleigh's words silenced everyone. When Gawain looked at them, the fervor in their eyes made Gawain take a deep breath.
"I see!"
Gawain said solemnly.
Just then, the Little Dark Bird returned to the Dark Bird Ship, so Gawain patted Rayleigh on the shoulder.
"I will improve as soon as possible, by whatever means necessary."
You have high hopes for me, how can I not respond?
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain thoughtfully boarded the elevator, and the others followed behind him back onto the deck of the Dark Bird Ship.
After making his way to the rest area, Gawain sat down and tapped his wine glass on the table.
"After Kalifa finishes resupplying, we'll head to Water 7, and then from Water 7 we'll travel to Long Ring Long Land."
From this moment forward, prepare yourselves for a long voyage!
As soon as Gawain finished speaking, Rayleigh gave him a puzzled look.
"Wait, Little Gawain, you haven't responded to my expectations yet!"
You can't keep us in suspense like that!
Even if you don't intend to eat the Devil Fruit, you can simply say so. I haven't eaten the Devil Fruit, and I will support you.
If you're planning to use Devil Fruit, Mary Geoise must have plenty of good Devil Fruit hidden away, right?
Why don't you ask the Five Elders?
They're your elders, right? Shouldn't they find you a powerful, god-like Devil Fruit?
Give us an answer! We've been waiting for so long!
Gawain chuckled softly as he watched Rayleigh's talkative antics.
Then he shook his head.
"Forget about the Five Elders. I have my own way of getting along with those five seniors."
No matter how powerful the Devil Fruit may be, it will not be a reason for me to contact them.
The conversations that took place between me and them could only be conversations that had a significant impact on this ocean.
"And Devil Fruit and my personal power..."
Gawain tapped the table lightly.
"In short, I already have a plan in mind, and there just happens to be a very good Devil Fruit that is very close to me."
Let's proceed according to the current plan. First, we'll go to Long Ring Long Land to establish the first Hydrological Observation Station and Reserve Train Station for our journey.
That place is already very close to my goal!
After saying that, Gawain smiled and waved to everyone.
"Now that I've said that, everyone should be relieved."
You guys are really different from what I thought. I thought you would be more concerned about my ideas and my way of governing.
But I didn't expect that all you've been concerned about is my abilities from beginning to end.
Anyway, thank you for your concern, everyone!
At this point, Gawain truly felt incredibly happy.
Is it because everyone genuinely cares?
That's only part of it, not the whole picture.
Gawain finds even more fortunate is the political environment of the Pirate World!
If this were the world before the time travel, even the most perfect team would argue endlessly over various issues.
But in the Pirate World, no subordinate cares about your political ideas, and no one argues with you about this or that issue.
They only care about two things.
First, do your ideals align with theirs?
Second, are you strong enough?
Thinking of this, Gawain smiled leisurely.
All I can say is that this truly lives up to its name as the Pirate World, and it is indeed an extraordinary world!
As Gawain pondered, everyone around him breathed a long sigh of relief.
The incident three or four days ago, in which Gawain was almost ambushed, has left each of them feeling ashamed and worried to the point of being unable to eat or sleep!
They kept quiet until Whitebeard left.
But once Whitebeard left, they finally couldn't hold back any longer.
No one dared to imagine what would happen to them if Gawain suddenly disappeared.
For Rayleigh, he had already returned to the game. With Gawain gone, Rayleigh not only lost his expectations but also faced countless troubles and dangers.
As for Gion and Shiryu, having broken away from their respective factions, without Gawain, even if they could return to their original factions, they would forever lose the possibility of moving forward.
With Gawain gone, Jinbe's clan and homeland will face danger, and the Empress may even leave with Gawain.
There were other people, and apart from Uta, almost everyone had some connection with Gawain.
Some people think this might be the art of employing people.
But employing people means employing yourself; how can you not have feelings for them?
After a long silence, a large flock of pigeons flew out of the forest and circled around Lucci.
Only then did the atmosphere among the group return to normal.
Shirahoshi continued to play, Uta continued to practice her voice, and it was only at this time that Gion spoke to Gawain.
"My lord, before we head to Water 7 and circle the Long Ring Long Land, could we please make a trip to Marineford?"
I still have a few of my collectible knives there.
One of them is a Great Grade 21 Swords, which I used when I was a child. I'd like to give it to you!