Upon hearing Gawain's voice, Shanks became serious and crossed his legs.
With his remaining right hand resting on his right leg, Shanks sat cross-legged and spoke earnestly to Gawain.
"You've already let my dreams soar, so of course I won't ignore your requests."
So please speak, Captain Gawain!
"Good!"
Gawain nodded emphatically, then spoke seriously.
"I told Whitebeard about these requests when I first met him more than a month ago."
You so-called Emperors of the Sea have always had your sights set on the New World, so I hope that your future footsteps will also be in the New World!
As for me, I will, at some point in the future, completely blockade the Grand Line."
"Etc!"
Upon hearing this, Shanks immediately raised his right hand to Gawain.
"If I heard you correctly, you mean that at some point in the future, you will no longer allow anyone to enter the New World via the Grand Line?"
"That's right!"
Gawain nodded readily.
"If someone can enter New World by climbing the Red Line, then of course I can't monitor every corner of the Red Line that surrounds the entire globe."
But I won't open Sabaody Island and Fish-Man Island for too long.
Once my plan begins, the Fish-Man and Sea King will assist me in completely sealing off the world's only underwater passage, located 20,000 meters directly beneath Mary Geoise, that leads to the New World!
"So, that means that after you decided to do all that, no more pirates will ever enter the New World?"
The Red-Haired Shanks asked thoughtfully.
Upon hearing this, Gawain nodded emphatically.
"Yes, after that, no pirates will become your new blood, Shanks!"
"That's quite a bold decision!"
Shanks grinned and asked.
"What do you need me to do to lend you a hand in the inevitable final battle?"
After all, no true great pirate of the New World can accept your so-called blockade, so when you made that decision, a decisive battle between pirates and the World Government seemed inevitable!
"No, it's not what you think, Shanks."
You need to broaden your perspective as much as possible!
What I want is exactly the opposite of what you think. I don't need you to change your self-perception. What I need is for you to use your status as one of the Four Emperors of the Sea to delay the arrival of the final battle as much as possible!
Or rather, what I want you to do is to restrain the great pirates, while I restrain the Navy, and together we restrain the World Government!
Do not hand over the right to initiate the final battle to anyone other than you and me!
At this point, Gawain, holding the gourd, took a large gulp of wine.
At the same time, Shanks let out a soft sigh.
"So what you want is the same as mine: stability in the New World?"
However, the reason I want the New World to be stable is that I want to provide Joy Boy, whom I have chosen, with a land where he can grow and find his ultimate goal.
I also need enough strong people on this land to become his strength and provide him with the possibility of initiating change!
The New World I need has always been in my plans: a sharp blade that overthrows the old order and rigid class structure of the sea from top to bottom!
I will hand this blade to the future Joy Boy, so that he may wield the sword called the New World and slay the Arlong that has entrenched itself in the world for eight hundred years!
As Shanks finished speaking, Gawain put down his gourd and coldly took over Shanks' words.
Gawain continued, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"The reason I want the New World to be stable enough is to ensure New World, as in the past, it can, to the greatest extent possible, tie down the World Government and the Navy's energy."
I will seize this period of sustained stability and use the pressure that the full-scale confrontation between pirates and the navy brings to the various Affiliated Nation of the Grand Line to first lay out the order I want to bring to the world on this experimental field called the Grand Line!
"Ha ha!"
Upon hearing Gawain's words, Shanks immediately burst into laughter. He looked at Gawain with admiration and said...
"To guide and exploit the opportunity of the world's two largest monsters confronting each other, just to create a testing ground!"
Gawain, you are far more confident than I imagined!
Making such a decision means that you truly believe your decision will be recognized by the entire world.
In other words, you firmly believe that as long as you lay out your policies on the Grand Line, the Grand Line will become a paradise in the hearts of people Four Blues.
You believe that what you give them is something each and every one of them should aspire to!
Hahaha, what confidence!
"Aren't you the same, Shanks!"
Gawain interrupted Shanks, turning to him and Shanks.
"Although I don't understand why, compared to themselves, there are always people who are willing to place their hopes on a future that has not yet grown up."
After all, I prefer to seize the moment, and I'm more inclined to believe in myself.
But regardless, when you make such a huge effort just to help a child who hasn't grown up yet to grow up more smoothly, it's truly remarkable.
You're incredibly confident in your plan.
How much do you believe he can, with your own hands, gradually capture the opponent's general on your chessboard?
Most importantly, no matter what he can do, he can't change his fate of becoming your pawn!
Even if he really overthrew the original world order, even if he really destroyed Mary Geoise and the rule of the Celestial Dragon.
But here's the interesting thing: as his mentor in life, no matter how successful he becomes, his success is also your success!
I seem to foresee that future, a future where he wins the war, but you win everything!
After all, there's no way he could possibly take over from the Five Elders and the World Government to rule and manage this ocean by himself!
So, when that time comes, who else, besides you, will be the one truly managing this world behind him?
That's why you've always given your all, isn't it? You're not the one who sticks out, but you're always the winner, Shanks!
Anyone with half a brain can see that the situation in this ocean has almost reached a point where destruction is necessary for reconstruction, and the hatred that the Celestial Dragon have accumulated in the hearts of the people has almost reached its peak!
Even knowing this, the Celestial Dragon and the World Government cannot retreat even a step, because some ladders can only be climbed upwards, and once you climb up, there is no way back!
The moment a person rises to a position of power, all they can do is pray that they don't fall, because regardless of whether they bring good or bad to those below them while they are in power.
When he falls, he will only be torn to shreds by the people below!
So, in this situation where there's no turning back, as you said, taking matters into your own hands to bring a Joy Boy to a world yearning for change—that's not a bad strategy!
And that should be the fundamental reason why the Five Elders agreed to your plan!
At this point, Gawain looked at Shanks with admiration, because sometimes victory is that simple—all you need to do is stand behind the victor!
If standing behind the victor doesn't guarantee victory, then let's go even further!
Teuchi, do everything in your power to create the conditions that lead to his victory, and then stand behind the victor.
Wouldn't that guarantee a win?
Shanks was standing nearby, did not respond directly to Gawain's words.
He smiled, took a sip of his drink, and then gently pointed to Gawain's eyes.
"You've made me sound far more terrifying, Gawain. I'm not nearly as mysterious as you think."
On the contrary, I think you are the most confident winner.
Having only been away from Mary Geoise for a little over four months, you've already taken your plan to the point of blocking the Grand Line.
So, what kind of changes will you bring to the Grand Line, which is worth all this effort to blockade?
You even specifically emphasized to me that after your plan begins, you will need my assistance from the New World to stabilize the world order at that time!
Judging from this, your plans for policies in the Grand Line have probably reached an astonishing level, haven't they?
Even so, you must do your best to carry it out, but you just don't seem like an impulsive person.
After all, an impulsive person like me, having acquired the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, would surely provoke me a few times. I am, after all, one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, and my strength is almost among the top ten in the world, haha.
So, if you didn't act impulsively, but instead did, it can only mean that you already had a sure chance of winning!
Given this, what rights and status will you seek after your victory?
What position could be more astonishing than your current role in allowing the Celestial Dragon to exist?
So, Gawain, you're destined to stand above everyone else!
"Haha, there's no such thing as being above ten thousand people, I just want to taste the cold wind at the highest point!"
Gawain interrupted Shanks with a laugh, raising his flask at Shanks as he made a sarcastic remark.
"Salute to the cold wind!"
"Highest respect!"
The two of them took turns saying a few words, and finished off their last jugs of wine!
After finishing his drinks, Gawain slowly stood up, and Shanks stood up as well.
Shanks hung the ivory flask on his waist as he spoke to Gawain.
"So, it seems we've reached an agreement?"
"Pretty much, for now we'll each do our own thing. After all, we're all on the same path. As for who will reach the finish line first?"
Heh, we've never looked towards the finish line, after all, you and I are both people who have the right to decide where the finish line is!
Gawain smiled and agreed, then slowly walked towards the forest.
Shanks walked beside him, and as he did Gawain Shanks.
"You're right, but there's one more thing: my entire plan is based on my future."
I don't know when you plan to blockade the Grand Line, but that kid will definitely set sail as a pirate.
So this needs to be agreed upon beforehand: no matter when you blockade the Grand Line, you at least have to let that kid into the New World!
Gawain nodded slightly upon hearing Shanks' words.
"As long as you do what you're supposed to do and don't cause me any extra trouble, you can rest assured that he will arrive safely in the New World."
After all, he's just a child. Even if he's lucky enough to become a powerful child in the future, or even the number one child in the world...
But even then, isn't he still just a child in your eyes?
Moreover, how do I perceive it?
The world I see is too big to be obscured by a child, nor can it be too small to accommodate one child.
So don't worry, Shanks.
At this point, Gawain smiled and nodded at Shanks.
Upon hearing this, Shanks smiled with satisfaction, and then he suddenly pulled out an ivory flask.
Shanks casually tossed the ivory flask to Gawain, muttering something under his breath.
"By the way, don't ask me for compensation for the Golden Town incident. I don't have any spare money to compensate you."
To your men, just tell them I've already compensated them!
"Ha ha!"
Listening to Shanks' words, Gawain lightly weighed the flask in his hand.
Then, he simply tossed the flask back into Shanks' hand.
As Shanks caught the flask, Gawain spoke softly.
"Forget it, the compensation is just for show."
After I wiped out all the outlaws in Mock Town, the town effectively ceased to exist.
As for the buildings on top, they'll all be rebuilt anyway.
Burning it down would be a clean and efficient solution, and it would also provide more jobs and employment opportunities for travelers who come to settle there later.
Ultimately, it's a state of utter devastation, and the more thoroughly it's devastated, the more thoroughly it will be rebuilt.
At this point, Gawain shook his head at Shanks.
"So let's save this time and use it for more crucial purposes, whether it's you or me."
"By the way, let's exchange Den Den Mushi numbers and Vivre Card. As long as the flask runs out, I'll respond to any request you make that doesn't go against my own interests."
Me too.
Upon hearing this, Shanks nodded and then gave Gawain his number.
Gawain also tore off a small piece from his Vivre Card and exchanged it with Shanks.
At this point, the two fell silent again, and then walked step by step into the forest.
Meanwhile, regarding the forests...
Yasopp excitedly held his sniper rifle, using his Observation Haki to slightly dodge the hail of bullets coming from Shakky.
Even though his body was surrounded by bullets, when he looked at the person who fired the shot, Shakky in his eyes only occasionally raised her hand to fire a shot.
"Truly astonishing! Shakky's marksmanship is indeed excellent. Out of those thousands of bullets, only a few were real, but the feedback from each of their shadows to her Observation Haki was..."
Every single one of them is in danger!
Yasopp couldn't help but comment.
Across from her, listening to Yasopp's assessment, Shakky smiled and exhaled a puff of smoke.
Then, she spoke to Yasopp, who appeared to have moved countless times but remained completely still amidst the phantoms of countless bullets.
"Tsk tsk, the Four Blues is truly surpassing the older generation. Your understanding of ballistics has reached the pinnacle of a marksman."
By the slightest margin, we've already positioned ourselves where bullets can't aim. Our battle can no longer be conducted in this kind of friendly sparring!
At this point, Shakky put away her pistol with a bored expression, then took the tobacco out of her mouth and flicked off the ash.
As she lit another cigarette, she muttered something to herself out of boredom.
"In terms of strength, neither of us can teach the other a lesson. Unless it's a fight to the death, I'm afraid we won't be able to determine a winner."
So let's just stop fighting and watch those swordsmen and men fight it out.
Tsk tsk, whenever this happens, I envy their style. It's definitely more exciting to fight with fists and real blows.
As for you and me, it's nothing more than the final bullet after countless tests.
"Yes, I knew from the day I picked up a gun that it was for killing. Unlike a knife, which at least can be used by a chef."
Therefore, the meaning of a gun is far purer than that of a knife; it is either for hunting beasts or... for hunting hunters, and it will never hunt immovable prey!
Yasopp emphasized, then scurried up a nearby tree, leisurely watching the crowd continue their sparring.
The most intense fighting around was clearly between Akainu and Beckman. They claimed it was just a friendly sparring session to get to know each other, but every punch and kick from Akainu was aimed at Beckman's brains.
Beckman was also extremely annoyed by Akainu, but he was completely helpless.
Who told him he didn't have an optimistic, smiling face like La Cheru?
How about a hands-on tutorial match with Grandpa Rayleigh?