Target: Marine Headquarters

Beside the gates of Mary Geoise, the guards saluted Gawain and Mjosgard's retreating figures before closing the gates again.

At the same time, Gawain stepped onto the descending staircase.

As they walked, Mjosgard gazed back at the Merfolk behind them, his face brimming with happiness.

"Now that we've made it here, no one can stop us. The dream I've longed for actually has a chance of coming true!"

He murmured with mixed emotions, then patted Gawain on the arm.

"Gawain, let's pick up the pace. I can't wait to get to Sabaody and have a bowl of warm rice wine!"

"Same here. I'm also curious about Sabaody's local sights."

Gawain smiled and nodded. His words left Mjosgard somewhat puzzled, but a moment later, he suddenly understood and asked.

"Even the Sabaody Archipelago is new to you? Gawain, is this your first time leaving Mary Geoise?"

"It is."

"Haha, that's wonderful! I can be your guide!

"Believe me, even though I haven't left Mary Geoise in the past five years, I know Sabaody like the back of my hand!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Mjosgard quickened his pace, and Gawain silently sped up to follow behind him.

After passing through the Heavenly Stairway, the group arrived at Airport No. 1, one of Mary Geoise's three airports.

Airport No. 1 was exclusively for the Celestial Dragons, while Airport No. 2 was prepared for the kings of nations affiliated with the World Government.

As for Airport No. 3, it was for everyone else.

Upon arriving before the airport, Gawain and Mjosgard did not even need to give orders before the person in charge proactively opened the passage to the Bubble Gondola.

They even took the initiative to replace the bubbles around the Merfolk.

While the Merfolk were having their bubbles replaced, Mjosgard stood beside Gawain and explained.

"You know, female Merfolk tails aren't suited for land the way legs are, so once they come ashore, they need to wear mobility bubbles that let their bodies float slightly.

"However, Mary Geoise sits at a high elevation, and its air pressure differs from that of Sabaody directly below. Ordinary-pressure bubbles cannot be used in Mary Geoise.

"And the reinforced bubbles they are wearing now would expand or even burst because of the changing pressure as they descended from Mary Geoise to Sabaody.

"That's why the guards need to replace them here with low-pressure bubbles suited for Sabaody's environment!"

As he said this, an extra hint of pride appeared on Mjosgard's face.

"Look, Gawain. Five years ago, I was no different from everyone else. Every day, I was obsessed with foolish things like comparing the quality of slaves with those people.

"But after I met Queen Otohime, although I haven't left Mary Geoise in five years, changing my outlook on life truly taught me many things!"

Nearby, the Merfolk finished changing their bubbles. Mjosgard entered the enormous Bubble Gondola while continuing the conversation.

"I just don't know who murdered poor Queen Otohime. She was such an admirable woman. That damned killer actually had the heart to do it!"

"I don't know."

Facing Mjosgard's indignant gaze, Gawain gently shook his head.

Having read the manga, how could he possibly not know who the killer was? But he had no reason to tell Mjosgard the truth and explain how he knew all that.

So after shaking his head, he softly sighed.

"How could I know the cause of Queen Otohime's death? But hearing you mention that queen so often has made me quite interested in her.

"How about this? Once we reach Sabaody, I'll go to the Navy and get a few subordinates. Then, while we visit the Ryugu Kingdom, I'll investigate what happened back then in detail."

"Oh?!"

Mjosgard froze.

"You mean you don't plan to wait with me on Sabaody Island for the coating?"

"Haha, senior, coating is such a trivial matter. I'm sure you can arrange it perfectly.

"And since the coating will take at least three days, I don't want to waste that time."

"Th-this... Ah, I was planning to properly entertain you on Sabaody!"

"There's no need to rush, senior. I'm only going to the Navy to find a few helpers, not leaving forever.

"Once I find the people I need, I'll come to Sabaody to find you."

"But it seems like you don't lack helpers.

"They..."

Mjosgard pointed at the guards around them.

"Aren't they all excellent? They can stay conscious under that fainting technique of yours, and they can even carry us through the sky at incredible speed!"

Before Gawain could answer, the fifteen guards around them all pricked up their ears.

While the guards would not stop Gawain from seeking helpers in the Navy, they felt somewhat displeased.

Could they really be inferior to the Navy's experts?

Facing Mjosgard's question, Gawain shook his head and smiled.

"Senior, these guards are indeed quite capable, and I admire the fact that they held out against my Conqueror's Haki.

"But at the end of the day, don't forget that they aren't my guards alone!

"There are fifteen of them here. Eight were just assigned to me by the Five Elders, one belongs to you, and the remaining six are the ones who blocked our path.

"You see, one moment ago, they were Truigada's subordinates. But the next, once Truigada lost consciousness, they could only obey my orders.

"Why?

"Because I am also a Celestial Dragon, while they are servants of all Celestial Dragons!

"Outside Mary Geoise, they will indeed do everything in their power to protect us. But within Mary Geoise, when I come into conflict with our other kin..."

At this point, Gawain turned to the guards, who were slowly lowering their heads, and asked.

"This morning, I clashed with Charlos, yet his subordinates did not stop me at all.

"Only when I might truly have died at Charlos's hands did Charlos's subordinates stand before me, switch sides, and begin protecting me instead!

"So let me ask you this: if I were to clash with other Celestial Dragons again, would you become my strength?

"If I wanted to kill other Celestial Dragons too, would you protect them, choose to stand aside, or simply do it for me?"

The question was thrown out, and the entire gondola fell silent.

After five seconds of silence, Gawain looked back at Mjosgard.

"Now do you understand, senior?

"Of course, I can entrust my affairs in Mary Geoise to these guards who loyally protect my safety. But beyond those simple matters, they cannot become the strength I need, for they hold the Celestial Dragons' supremacy too deeply in their hearts.

"I cannot even blame them, because the Five Elders trained them, and their loyalty is not to any one Celestial Dragon, but to the World Government formed by all Celestial Dragons.

"Having heard this, do you still find my decision to recruit additional subordinates puzzling?"

"I..."

Mjosgard hesitated for a while after being asked.

A moment later, Mjosgard suddenly thought of something and quietly asked.

"Gawain, we are Celestial Dragons. Those fellow clansmen may be awful, but they are Celestial Dragons all the same!

"Even if you find new subordinates, even if you personally train them.

"Would your new subordinates really dare involve themselves in a conflict between you and other Celestial Dragons?"

"How would we know if we don't try?"

Gawain smiled, then looked toward the sun gradually sinking from the zenith in the distance.

Facing the sunlight, Gawain said.

"Just as Charlos and the Five Elders said, even if my Conqueror's Haki is exceptionally powerful, it cannot make up for the pitiful weakness of my body.

"I'm no longer young. Starting to train at this age is bound to be far more difficult than cultivating from childhood."

At this point, Gawain looked again at the fifteen guards with lowered heads.

"Men, whether it's Rokushiki or Haki, you should know just how grueling that kind of training is.

"If you were to train me, then if I slacked off on the training grounds, ignored the training plan and gave myself random days off, or even chose to quit altogether—

"Would you have the courage to raise your fists and use those things to knock some sense into me, telling me exactly how strong I need to become before I qualify?"

The surroundings fell silent. They did not need to answer; Gawain could already see the word impossible in their eyes.

The guards and soldiers living in Mary Geoise only understood how to obey every command issued by a Celestial Dragon, regardless of which Celestial Dragon gave it.

Especially if Gawain's future orders conflicted with those of the Five Elders, the outcome was obvious.

Gawain shook his head with a bitter smile.

"See? The servants and soldiers of Mary Geoise have rules weighing too heavily on their hearts, pressing down until they can barely breathe.

"So whether they are companions who share my ideals, subordinates who can perfectly carry out my every command, or even mentors bold enough to discipline me—

"Those people are ultimately outside Mary Geoise, upon this free sea filled with limitless possibilities.

"As for where to start looking...

"Who told Marine Headquarters to be so close to us?"