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"They didn't ask you because you'll be staying on Sabaody with them."

Gawain replied calmly, then beckoned to Vice Admiral Doberman, who stood nearby with a distracted look.

"Vice Admiral Doberman."

Gawain called softly.

"Unlike Mjosgard, I need a favor from you."

"That's right, Vice Admiral Doberman. I'm staying on Sabaody to wait for the coating, but Gawain is going to Marine Headquarters!"

Mjosgard cut in with a smile, then patted Gawain on the back.

"Clan Chief Gawain, I'll take my men to arrange the coating now. I hope you'll go and return quickly.

"If you come back late, don't expect me to share even a single cup of wine with you."

"Don't worry."

Gawain nodded and waved goodbye to Mjosgard. After Mjosgard left with seven of his fifteen guards, Gawain slowly walked over to Doberman's side.

Seeing Gawain approach, Doberman hurriedly stepped back to let him go first, his back bending slightly as well.

Seeing Doberman's posture, Gawain teased him.

"This time, I'll be traveling the seas for quite a while after leaving Mary Geoise. We'll have plenty of chances to interact in the future.

"So there's no need to be so restrained, Vice Admiral Doberman."

"Yes!"

Doberman nodded solemnly, then asked Gawain softly.

"Then, Saint Gawain, do you truly intend to visit Marine Headquarters?"

Gawain raised a brow. "What, do I need to submit a report to the Five Elders before going to Marine Headquarters?"

"No, of course not. Marineford has always been loyal to the World Government. As a World Noble, you may visit Marineford whenever you wish."

"Good. Since it's whenever I wish, then let's go now."

Gawain said decisively, then silently waited for Doberman's answer.

Seeing that Gawain intended to set off immediately, Doberman's body suddenly tensed.

"Very well, my lord. I'll make the arrangements at once. The ships prepared for World Nobles are all docked at the nearby shipyard. You may choose whichever model you prefer."

"No need."

Gawain waved a hand lazily.

"You have your own warship, don't you, Vice Admiral? I'll just take your flagship."

"But I... I..."

After hesitating for a moment, Doberman confirmed that Gawain meant it and could only nod helplessly.

"As you command, Saint Gawain. Please come with me to my warship.

"Please forgive my rudeness, but my ship may be a little dirty..."

As he said that, Doberman's scar-covered old face suddenly turned red.

Sabaody Island was already one of the safest islands on the Grand Line. It was less than two hours from Marine Headquarters, and Admirals were on standby nearby at all times.

After all, this was the gateway to Holy Land Mary Geoise. The Admirals stationed at Marine Headquarters had to be ready at all times to deal with matters concerning the Celestial Dragons.

Thus, such a safe island had always been used as a reward assignment for Marine vice admirals.

Whenever a vice admiral had just completed particularly grueling and dangerous work, they would be assigned to garrison Sabaody Island for several months.

This both eased the vice admirals' frayed nerves and gave them a chance to meet passing World Nobles. If they were lucky enough to encounter a generous Celestial Dragon, they could receive tips worth more than several years of allowances.

However, not every vice admiral enjoyed such work. People like Garp, Gion, and Chaton never came to garrison Sabaody.

As for Doberman, he was also the sort who could never sit still. After two months stationed on Sabaody, he found it too stifling and secretly took his ship out to sea early one morning.

Once at sea, he not only wiped out a group of slave traders, but also clashed briefly with Joker's subordinates.

Before coming to receive Gawain, Doberman had only just returned from the sea. His ship was covered in bloodstains and collision damage. It was truly filthy!

Hearing Doberman's words, Gawain could not help but smile.

"Doberman, you're a Marine vice admiral, not some spotless cook in Mary Geoise. I understand.

"As for it being dirty, don't worry. I'm not so particular that I'd mind.

"On the contrary, I'm curious what your ship looks like. Your warships must be much faster than ordinary vessels, right?"

Listening to Gawain's voice and seeing his gentle yet unquestionable gaze, Doberman could only swallow all his worries.

"Yes, warships are naturally not as pretty as pleasure boats, and they are far less comfortable, but they are indeed faster.

"Since you are interested, then... please follow me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Doberman gritted his teeth. Whatever happened, happened. As he walked ahead to lead Gawain, he silently prayed.

He hoped his soldiers had already cleaned the ship up somewhat, and even more so, he hoped his men had not gone too far!

After walking for more than ten minutes, Gawain arrived at the shipyard on Grove 61 under Doberman's guidance.

Then Doberman froze completely at Gawain's side.

The dock was now in complete chaos. More than forty people covered in wounds had been tied up aboard the only warship docked there.

The warship's hull was damaged in many places, while the more intact parts of its deck had been used to bind and suspend those battered people.

Near the entrances to the warship's cabins, even more prisoners were being carried out of the lower decks by Marines.

Even when Gawain and Doberman arrived at the shipyard and climbed the stairs onto the warship's deck, one Marine, his face full of fury, was still madly whipping a prisoner.

"Tiago, stop!"

Seeing that the Marine was about to whip the man to death, Doberman hurriedly shouted. But the Marine named Tiago did not even look back, instead raising his whip again.

The whip in the Marine's hand visibly turned jet-black. When that pitch-black whip landed on the beaten man—

It tore the bound man in two as easily as a blade!

Splash!

Blood burst outward like a popped water balloon, splattering Tiago's boots and trousers.

Only then did Tiago put away his whip and glare viciously at Doberman.

"Vice Admiral, this bastard killed seven of our brothers. You don't intend to let him walk into Impel Down alive, do you?"

After speaking, Tiago gritted his teeth and sneered.

"Besides, he's a slave trader, not a pirate. He doesn't even have a bounty or a Devil Fruit!

"If we don't kill him here, those bastards from the auction house will bail him out. I don't think they deserve to keep living!"

"This isn't about whether they deserve it, it's... sigh!"

Faced with Tiago's answer, Doberman gritted his teeth hard, then roared.

"Saint Gawain will be taking our warship to Marineford! Put down your whip and get over here to pay your respects to Saint Gawain!"

After speaking, Doberman turned and gave Gawain a slight bow, explaining nervously.

"Saint Gawain, this is the boatswain of my ship, Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel Tiago!

"He... he is... is..."

"Ahem!"

Hearing Doberman's words, Gawain coughed lightly to hide his slight discomfort.

Then he waved a hand, putting on an unconcerned expression.

"You don't need to explain. I can see that he's killing someone."

After making that casual remark, Gawain strode forward and stepped directly onto Doberman's warship deck.

Seeing Gawain board the ship, the Marines moving about on deck hurriedly dropped to one knee before him.

As for Tiago—

Seeing Gawain, the ferocity in his eyes quickly faded and returned to calm.

As he tucked the blood-dripping whip behind his waist, Tiago saluted expressionlessly.

"Greetings, Saint Gawain."

"No need for that. Rise, everyone."

Gawain waved for the Marines to stand, then stepped without concern across the deck soaked in blood and gunpowder, arriving before the corpse split in half.

Looking at the corpse, still dripping dark red fluid, then smelling the stench exposed from its torn-open abdomen—

Gawain let out a heavy breath.

This was the true face of the sea, not some fairy tale comic where hardly anyone ever died or was injured.

Back in Mary Geoise, Mjosgard and those innocent Merfolk had nearly made him forget that this was a real sea—and that reality was bound to contain darkness.

As for what lay before him?

This scene might not even be darkness!

Gawain pointed at the corpse and asked Tiago, whose expression showed slight surprise as if he had not expected Gawain to be so composed.

"Tell me who they are."

"Yes, Saint Gawain!"

Tiago nodded and said loudly.

"They are slave traders we discovered in the nearby waters and beneath the sea this morning. On their ship, we found three pirates with bounties of around fifteen million.

"Besides that, there were seventeen human women, two male Fish-Men, and an elderly member of the Longarm Tribe aboard their ship.

"After confirming their identities, we engaged them in a boarding battle. Vice Admiral Doberman also drove back one of Joker's subordinate officers.

"However, afterward, because a sudden abnormality appeared in the skies over Mary Geoise, we abandoned the pursuit of that officer in order to return quickly. We only captured the ordinary slave traders who had already lost their ability to fight."

At this point, Tiago's expression hardened.

"But I do not believe they deserve to be prisoners. I carried out all the private executions myself. Vice Admiral Doberman had nothing to do with it!"

After speaking, Tiago dropped to one knee before Gawain and lowered his head heavily.

As Gawain looked at Tiago and was about to speak, a piercing voice suddenly rang out from a nearby cage.

"It's a... a Celestial Dragon! We're saved, that's a Celestial Dragon!

"Celestial Dragon, we're good workers who capture slaves for Auction House No. 1!

"The slaves we captured were supposed to be offered to you, but these lunatics attacked us without a word! They don't want you to have newer and better slaves!"

"Shut up!"

Gawain barked, cutting off the slave trader.

Then he rubbed his ears irritably.

Once the surroundings had fallen silent and the slave traders no longer dared to speak, Gawain patted Tiago on the shoulder.

"Lieutenant Colonel Tiago of Marine Headquarters, right? Good work. Continue."

"What?" Tiago froze.

Seeing Tiago hesitate, Gawain's lips curled downward as he said coldly.

"I said, continue!"

He waved a broad hand, pointing at every bound slave trader.

"Anyone confirmed to have participated in capturing slaves, anyone who chose to capture and sell their own fellow people—leave none alive!"

As his words fell, Gawain ignored Tiago's mingled shock and delight, turning and walking toward the captain's cabin Doberman used to rest.

Behind him, Marine Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel Tiago's eyes lit up.

"As you command, Saint Gawain!"