The battle never actually took place, because nobody really wanted to fight Gawain...
If it's just training, that's fine. If Gawain is forced to not use remote mode, then there's still a chance to win.
But in actual combat, if Gawain doesn't fly the kite, he feels uncomfortable all over; but if he does fly the kite, everyone else feels uncomfortable too...
Therefore, for actual combat, it's better to find pirates of similar strength with bounties around 500 million.
Gawain ultimately focused his attention on one plan after another.
Three days later, they crossed the desert and passed through several cities in Alabasta.
Finally, they arrived in the capital, Alubarna.
Compared to other places, Alubarna shows no signs of water shortage; it has been raining almost every day for the past six months, and it's been heavy rain...
However, although they did not lack water, they were also short of food, partly because the capital's grain had long been transferred to surrounding cities.
On the other hand, Alubarna rainfall comparable to floods, and the excessive waterlogging has rendered most plants unable to grow.
So, without hesitation, the work-for-relief program began immediately.
Even before arriving in Alubarna, Franky had made all sorts of plans. He estimated that he could lay a simple, one-way railway, more than two thousand kilometers long, connecting the Rainbase and Katorea in a maximum of thirty-eight days!
In this process, they first laid the section from Alubarna to Katorea, and then from Alubarna to the Rainbase.
In this way, Gawain and his group could conveniently go to the port of Rainbase to board the Dark Bird Ship and continue their journey towards Reverse Mountain.
In short, upon arriving in Alubarna, the group immediately began the railway construction plan.
Therefore, Gawain did not give Cobra the opportunity to hold a banquet.
Their group was directly involved in the railway laying work, just as Gawain had said.
His Thunder Metallurgy and Ace's flames can melt and cast steel of sufficient quality on a large scale and in batches, and can also shape the steel into the shape of railroad tracks.
With a smile, he simply transforms into a flying expert in rail transport.
As for the hundreds of thousands of workers recruited by Gawain, Cobra gathered the number required by Franky in just three days. The workers' job was to lay a huge number of sleepers on the railway tracks and install various devices to prevent sand and dust from sinking.
Meanwhile, Franky himself was moving around on a giant crab, developing the train carriages.
As he developed the area, he also planned the terrain along the way, a task that received help from a group of travelers in Alabasta.
Alabasta has few scholars, so these travelers are the ones who are familiar with the terrain and geography.
In short, they were all incredibly busy from the day they arrived in Alubarna!
Gawain even treated the continuous Thunder Metallurgy as a way to improve his physical fitness. After a month, his strength actually improved considerably!
In the past month, this group of Superman actually led hundreds of thousands of ordinary humans in the Pirate World, whose physical condition was much better than that of ordinary people, to quickly build a railway line that, although rudimentary, could indeed be used smoothly!
Today, with about seven days left until the completion date calculated by Franky, Gawain and his group left Alubarna and laid the railway tracks into the Gobi Desert on the outskirts of the Rainbase.
The Gobi Desert terrain is much better than pure desert terrain, and the problem of being difficult to excavate is no problem at all in front of a group of Superman.
Gawain continued his work as always, sitting upright in a metal rocking chair, using electricity to power the metal ingots piled up beside him waiting to be smelted, transforming them into the required mass and shape.
Although Ace can heat and melt metal, he has no ability to control the shape of the metal.
Therefore, Gawain's process was scheduled after Ace's.
Logically, Gawain should have been continuously engaged in metallurgy while listening to Kalifa recount a series of recent intelligence reports.
For example, in the last two months, the Beast Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates had a small-scale battle.
The reason is that Big Mom plans to have Kaido's daughter marry her son.
However, Kaido ruthlessly rejected this suggestion, which led to a fierce fight between the two.
Besides intelligence on pirates, what recent achievements has the Navy made? And which of the World Government's Affiliated Nation has been at war with which other nations?
More than three months after Shakky integrated the Dark Bird intelligence department, such intelligence became increasingly abundant, to the point that Gawain could hardly read through all of it.
In addition to this intelligence, the Navy also responded to Gawain.
That is... the response regarding Zephyr!
When Gawain invited Zephyr to join the ship as an instructor, Zephyr refused without hesitation. He even said that he would rather die than go on some random ship than jump into the sea from the Marine Headquarters and drown!
Even when Akainu personally invited him, he beat Akainu out of the house.
Akainu and Kizaru were Zephyr's first disciples, Zephyr holds special significance for them.
If Zephyr simply doesn't agree, then there's nothing Akainu can do, so Zephyr's matter is temporarily put on hold.
Upon hearing this news, Gawain, in between his metallurgical work, couldn't help but look up at Kalifa and speak.
"I had already guessed Mr. Zephyr's reply. People of the older generation like them are unlikely to give me face unless I personally invite them."
Zephyr has been at Marine Headquarters the whole time, right? Well then...
Gawain pondered for a moment, then gestured for Kalifa to write it down, before making his decision.
"After we return from the East Blue, I will take some time to personally visit the Marine Headquarters and invite that old man who would rather die at headquarters than board my ship."
If he were to serve as an instructor for a young man like Ace, with Ace's Devil Fruit ability, he could at least become Marine Admiral -level fighter!
After all, this old man already has three Marine Admiral, two Admiral candidates, and a series of outstanding Vice Admiral as his disciples.
"In the vast ocean today, there is no other master who has taught as many outstanding talents as he has!"
After saying this, Gawain saw that Kalifa taken notes, and then turned his attention back to metallurgy.
But less than half an hour after he started working diligently on metallurgy, something unexpected happened that interrupted his concentration!
At that very moment, Princess Vivi, dressed like a delinquent, was being personally escorted to Gawain by Rob Lucci, her face full of grievance.
Looking at Vivi's aggrieved and nervous face, Gawain couldn't help but narrow his eyes. The girl in front of him was dressed in leather, but the style of her clothes was no different from that of his group!
In addition, she cut her long hair, which she used to wear loose when she was a princess, shorter and tied it into a neat blue ponytail.
Also, this girl had a huge, metal yo-yo with sharp edges hanging from her waist...
Just by looking at her, Gawain could guess what she was thinking!
So Gawain temporarily stopped his metallurgical work and went to stand in front of Vivi.
After gently crouching down to roughly eye level with Vivi, Gawain asked Vivi.
Does your father know that you've come out?
"Why?"
Vivi hadn't expected Gawain to ask this first question, which completely disrupted her carefully prepared response.
Faced with Gawain's question, Vivi asked Gawain a question in return, albeit haltingly.
"Gawain, you... you're not even going to ask me why I came here?"
"Do I even need to ask? You were captured by Lucci all by yourself, and you were even wearing a military uniform that's nothing like a princess!"
Even a fool knows what you're up to, girl!
To that, I have only one question: have you told your father about this?
"Of course I told him!"
Vivi immediately responded to Gawain.
"I'm just a child. How could I possibly escape the palace without permission?"
Don't worry, my lord, my father won't worry about me. I've always been very independent since I was a child!
Moreover, when my father heard that I wanted to join your team, he was overjoyed. The Dark Bird Group is the best clan in this vast ocean..."
"Stop...!"
Gawain immediately interrupted Vivi's flattery, and then his right hand turned into Inazuma and disappeared instantly.
When his right hand reappeared, he was holding a Den Den Mushi (a type of Den Den Mushi) that looked completely bewildered.
Gawain then gestured the Den Den Mushi towards Vivi.
"I'll call your parents right now!"
As he spoke, Gawain made a gesture as if he were dialing a number.
Seeing this, Vivi was completely stunned.
She watched Gawain's movements with immense difficulty, dialing one number, then two... until she was almost finished dialing all the numbers, when Vivi finally couldn't hold on any longer!
She quickly called out to Gawain.
"Wait, Saint Gawain, I... I actually... you don't need to call anymore, I haven't actually told my father about this yet!!!"
After saying that, he saw Gawain stop dialing and turn to look at him with a serious expression.
Vivi lowered her head in shame.
"I confess, sir, I actually ran away secretly..."
I... did not tell my father about this...
I meant no harm, I just really wanted to go out to sea with you!
Your ship carries princesses from both the Merfolk Kingdom and the City of Music capital.
"So, having another princess from Alabasta like me shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"The issue isn't whether you can come aboard my ship, but... you should at least tell your father about this."
Why..."
Gawain sighed softly as he ruffled Vivi's blue hair.
"That's the nature of the relationship between your father and me. If it were between two countries or families with only a casual relationship, and one princess or daughter ran off with someone else..."
That could even affect the entire country's national policies!
At this point, Gawain couldn't help but think of his former senior, the little wolf girl...
The wolf girl quietly abandoned her fiancé and secretly pledged her life to the handsome white-haired man from the Long family.
Thus, the heavens and earth shattered, dynasties rose and fell, and a bloody... Game of Thrones unfolded among the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros...
Who would have thought that it was all because the wolf girl didn't leave a letter for her family when she eloped?
In short, after ruffling Vivi's hair, Gawain smiled and said to her.
"From my perspective, I wouldn't mind if you boarded my ship. You're about the same age as Uta and Shirahoshi, and the rest of you would probably get along very well."
But are you really sure you've made up your mind? Can you really bear the thought of leaving home?
"Certainly!"
Hearing Gawain's words, Vivi, who had been feeling uneasy, relaxed a little and quickly assured Gawain.
"I've practiced martial arts since I was a child. Although I'm definitely not as good as you adults, I'm really not bad at all!"
As for the long journey, I've already made preparations. Didn't I go to sea with my father before and visit you on Jaya?
So, sir, I beg you...
Can I... can I join your ship?
I won't throw a tantrum. I will diligently fulfill my duties as a crew member. Whether it's cleaning the deck or raising the sails, I will obey orders!
At this point, Vivi looked at Gawain with a pitiful expression.
Faced with that look, Gawain sighed helplessly.
He simply raised the Den Den Mushi) slightly.
"I'll tell your father. No matter what, we need to at least let him know where you are."
Please wait a moment!
"Wait, Gawain, don't call my father!"
Vivi was immediately startled, and she quickly called out to Gawain.
"I... I really can make my own decisions!"
I know my father best. He definitely doesn't want me to go too far away. If he finds out, I'm practically doomed!
"My lord, please, my lord, I..."
"Cough cough!"
Hearing Vivi's words, Gawain raised his fist and gave Vivi a light tap on the head.
Then, he pushed Vivi aside.
"Didn't you say you'd obey my orders? Now you're not?"
As for your claim that you understand your father... do you really think you understand your father, little girl?"
After saying that, Gawain left Vivi where she was and, with his Den Den Mushi, teleported to the farthest hill in the vicinity.
After dialing Cobra's number, Gawain waited a moment, and then Cobra's cheerful and energetic greeting came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Respected Chief Gawain, my good friend, haha!"
Why are you calling me?
We've only been gone for six days, haven't we?
Are you missing the local customs and culture of Alubarna again?
"Cough cough!"
In response to Cobra's polite words, Gawain said to him in an annoyed tone.
"Cobra, Vivi is with me, about this..."
"Oops?!!"
The moment Gawain his voice clearly, the Den Den Mushi in his hand suddenly displayed an expression of unbridled joy, while at the same time desperately trying to hide his surprise!
Then, the Den Den Mushi continued to speak to Gawain in surprise.
"This child, Vivi, actually escaped from my palace without a word?"
Oh dear, this is really making me anxious, hahaha~~.
I'm such a irresponsible father. My daughter ran away from home five days ago, and I only found out then from someone else!
And my guards, damn it, they should all go home and grow sweet potatoes!
If they can't even keep an eye on a fourteen-year-old girl, they probably wouldn't even have time to react if I were shot!
Saint Gawain, please rest assured, I will replace those irresponsible guards right away!
I..."
"Etc..."
Gawain finally couldn't hold back any longer. He interrupted Cobra and asked Cobra seriously.
"Cobra, I think you should worry about Vivi's situation first. She wants to join my ship. What do you think...?"
"Oh dear, my Den Den Mushi suddenly threw up!"
Um, sir, my Den Den Mushi isn't feeling well, so I'm afraid we won't be able to have a proper conversation!
What did you say? I can't hear you.
You said Vivi joined your team?
What a willful child she is!
My child is too old to handle anymore, so I'm asking you to take good care of her for me!
Hello, hello, hello, can you hear me?
Sir, I have to go now, I'm hanging up, my Den Den Mushi is about to explode!
Haha~~~!!!