Listening to Gawain's words, Dragon remained silent for more than three seconds.
Then, he took a deep breath and said to Gawain with a smile.
"But I am, after all, someone you talk about and compare yourself to, and that's enough."
After saying that, Dragon nodded slightly, revealing a somewhat unnatural smile.
Seeing Dragon's somewhat discordant smile, Gawain's smile widened with satisfaction.
Although at first glance, Dragon's counterattack seemed decisive and astute, it was conditional.
That means he has already shown weakness.
Gawain immediately responded.
"Yes, although it still has some flaws, even the Whitebeard isn't worth mentioning or comparing to myself."
After all, Whitebeard and I are not the same kind of people; you and I are!
After saying that, Gawain exhaled a puff of smoke and waved to the distance.
"Kalifa, before the banquet tonight, please prepare some snacks for me and Dragon."
Although there's an old saying that "kings don't meet," since Dragon is willing to come see me, what we're going to talk about won't be very interesting without some snacks to go with it.
"Dragon, what flavor do you like?"
"Anything is fine with me; I'll go along with whatever you say."
Dragon responded, then picked up his glass and took a small sip.
After setting down the cup, Dragon asked Gawain in return.
"Speaking of which, Saint Gawain, I'm actually quite looking forward to this dinner."
After all, opportunities to dine with Celestial Dragon are extremely rare. Besides you, who else claiming to be Celestial Dragon is worthy of my attention?
I really wonder if the Celestial Dragon's tastes are as refined as depicted in the stories.
There's a saying among the common people that you Celestial Dragon eat meat legs, but you throw one away after eating the other, haha."
"That's a really funny story, haha!"
Dragon's words genuinely amused Gawain. What was the point of Dragon emphasizing his identity at this moment?
Reminding the Revolutionary Army cadres of their stance and sowing discord among the crew of the Dark Bird Ship?
No, it's meaningless!
Dragon was eager to change the subject, probably because the previous topic had made him uncomfortable.
Therefore, he must move beyond the previous topic in order to gain the initiative in communicating with Gawain.
Gawain then smiled and tapped the table with his finger.
"I have no idea what the Celestial Dragon eat; there are just too many of Celestial Dragon!"
But I do know quite well what I eat.
"Dragon, you know what? As a Celestial Dragon, my tastes aren't just eclectic, I also have a huge appetite!"
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Dragon tilted his head slightly, assuming a listening posture.
"I wonder what Saint Gawain likes to eat, and how much he likes to eat?"
Faced with Dragon's nonchalant question, Gawain raised his right hand and pointed towards Laboon, who was playing on the distant sea.
"I want the entire Grand Line!"
"Haha, that's a really big appetite, and a really diverse one at that!"
Dragon's pupils contracted, then he responded with a cold laugh.
"Saint Gawain, you need to understand that the Revolutionary Army is not the only force on the Grand Line."
There are seven main shipping routes to the New World, and each route has at least 500 million civilians and three nations!
Are you sure you can eat such a big piece of cake in one bite?
At this point, Dragon leaned forward again, as if he wanted to get up!
Across from him, listening to Dragon's question, Gawain nodded thoughtfully.
"I can."
After giving a brief answer, Gawain smiled slightly.
"Seven air routes, more than 110 large, habitable islands, more than 20 World Government Member States, and more than 4 billion civilians."
Tsk tsk, some data is best left unlisted; once listed, it seems exaggeratedly grandiose.
But actually, our focus shouldn't be on what kind of cake I want to eat, but rather on the fact that I want to eat cake.
The number of routes and the number of Chinese passengers are not the key points. The key point is that I want to have Sabaody and Whiskey Peak firmly in my grasp!
As long as these two points are firmly in hand, even if the Grand Line has hundreds of routes left, it will no longer be a huge problem!
After all, the Grand Line is like a sausage. No matter how thick or big the sausage is, or how much meat and starch it contains, it only needs two ropes to bind it into a single, secure whole!
"But Saint Gawain, do you think you have the ability to do that right now?"
Or rather, your strength is only enough to deter them. Are you sure your subordinates are enough to be dispersed throughout the Grand Line and defend the many countries and islands along the Grand Line for you?"
Dragon's expression was not good; Gawain's appetite made him wary.
However, right after Dragon finished speaking, Gawain gave him a slightly strange look.
Gawain chuckled and patted the table.
"Dragon, what are you thinking about?"
You said it yourself, I am Celestial Dragon. My desire for the Grand Line is simply to collect taxes from various countries by blocking it.
The World Government can eat Heavenly Tribute, the Five Elders can eat it, kings and nobles can eat it, so why can't I?
Why would I even think about managing them? That would be too much trouble.
While teasing him, Gawain pretended to be deep in thought. After a moment of contemplation, he continued.
"However, your words have given me an idea. Compared to simply collecting taxes, if I could control them all, my profits would definitely reach their peak."
Haha, thanks a lot, Dragon! You truly deserve to be the leader of the Revolutionary Army; your thinking is indeed unique!
I suddenly realized that doing what you said is the way to maximize my benefits; you could almost be called my life mentor.
Quick, Hancock, take a picture of me and Dragon. I want to take this photo and, when I have time, publicize our friendship in the newspaper.
"If it weren't for Dragon's selfless advice, how could I have come up with such a great idea!"
After saying that, Gawain posed for Hancock, and then Hancock swiftly and decisively captured the photo of him and Dragon.
Watching Gawain's series of actions, Dragon narrowed his eyes in annoyance. This Celestial Dragon's skin was truly thick!
Anyone with eyes to see can see what you, Gawain, are thinking. You've always been aiming to control all the nations of the Grand Line!
In the end, you still have to make me, an outsider, take the blame!
Seeing that Dragon Gawain about to overturn the table, Gawain quickly tapped the table gently.
Hancock laughed. "Looks like our photos turned out pretty well."
Since you're also pleased, I'll do as you suggested.
However, the other point you raised is crucial: with my current forces, I am indeed not yet capable of managing most of the Grand Line.
Since that's the case, how about we divide this cake up in a small way?
Gawain pointed to the sea again, and then, seeing Dragon's thoughtful expression, he spoke.
"You should know which route I took to get to Reverse Mountain, so the Revolutionary Army should all withdraw from the route I took!"
As for the blockades I propose to set up on Reverse Mountain and the Sabaody Archipelago, those blockades will only target passing pirates, not your Revolutionary Army, how about that?
I've done everything I can. I even allow you to continue developing in the Grand Line, as long as you avoid the routes under my control. You can absorb as many people as you want.
In some respects, I would even lobby the Navy and the Five Elders to reduce their pursuit of your Revolutionary Army members!
"Oh?"
On the other side, Dragon was somewhat skeptical, because according to Gawain, the Revolutionary Army only needed to abandon one air route.
But the Revolutionary Army only gained the remaining six...
Etc?
Is something wrong?
Suddenly, Dragon realized that Gawain's words were nothing more than empty promises while simultaneously digging a hole for himself!
Before Gawain appeared, Dragon could freely develop along the seven routes of the Grand Line!
Ivankov's Grand Line Forces is quite formidable!
But now, Gawain has gathered a large force, and he's poised to take over the entire Grand Line in no time!
After realizing they couldn't consume that much food in a short time, they actually offered to give them other shipping routes?!
This is like fleecing someone and giving the wool to the sheep, with the wool ultimately coming from the sheep's own pocket!
Saint Gawain, have you no shame?!
For a moment, even Dragon struggled to control his expression.
This is what Gawain meant when he said that he could slightly reduce the World Government's pursuit of the Revolutionary Army, which gave Dragon a glimmer of hope.
Also, Gawain only requested one route, which is really not a large number.
Furthermore, Dragon is currently in a less favorable position.
Otherwise, Dragon would definitely give him a hard time...
Dragon, watching Gawain's ever-changing expressions, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
After laughing for a moment, he gently patted Dragon's arm.
"I'm not joking anymore, Dragon. I'm sure you've thought this through yourself."
You don't have many advantages over me, especially since you're already trapped in my tiger's den.
In other words, if another battle were to break out today, while you could leave at will thanks to the Storm-Storm Fruit, all your men would perish here.
When things aren't going your way, all I ask for is one flight route—isn't that incredibly small?
At that moment, Gawain's eyes narrowed like a fox's as he continued speaking to Dragon.
"So, to put your mind at ease, my appetite is always bigger than just a flight route."
So, besides the route I've taken on the Grand Line, I'll also take the route I'm about to take to Foosha Village!
"With more than one route, doesn't that make me a bit more trustworthy? This territory should be worthy of our cooperation, right?"
"What?"
On the other side, as soon as Gawain finished speaking, Dragon clenched his fist in dissatisfaction.
"Are you kidding me, Saint Gawain? East Blue has always been... always..."
"It's always been Garp and the Revolutionary Army's private territory, right!"
Gawain interrupted Dragon loudly.
"You need to understand that although Garp and you have considerable influence in the East Blue, that sea does not belong to your Monkey family!"
Influence is something that will eventually be forgotten by the sea. So, aside from your influence on the East Blue is ultimately the weakest of the four seas!
Is it really that difficult for you to make a slight concession in such a large area of the sea?
Or do you really think the Revolutionary Army is qualified to negotiate with me?
Don't even mention the Revolutionary Army, you yourself are a prisoner, Dragon!
Although reality is heartbreaking, I'm not discussing anything with you; I'm just making an announcement!
As for our conversations, thank me, I just wanted to make you feel better!
"You...!"
On the opposite seat, Dragon's breathing quickened instantly. He tensed up for a moment, then suppressed his displeasure and leaned back gently.
"You're really decisive, Saint Gawain, but it's fine this way, we were never going to be friends anyway!"
Being this direct is actually more suitable for both of us, and it also reminds us not to be foolish enough to consider each other as friends!
As soon as he finished speaking, Dragon gently tapped the table.
"From today onwards, the Revolutionary Army will gradually withdraw from the Alabasta route and the route from Reverse Mountain to Windmill Village that you have traveled on the Grand Line!"
So, Saint Gawain, are you satisfied now?!
"Not satisfied!"
Gawain abruptly stood up, placed his hands on the table, and said to Dragon with a cold smile.
"Don't forget, besides your life and the lives of your men, I also gave you a promise!"
I said I would use my position to work for you and get the World Government and Navy to reduce the bounties and manhunt for your Revolutionary Army members!
This is a gift from me to you, but after you accept it, shouldn't you give me a worthy return gift?
"Stop fooling around, Saint Gawain!!!"
Dragon's face was extremely stiff, and he stood up abruptly from his seat.
While confronting Gawain head-on, Dragon roared.
"I didn't accept any of your so-called benefits. Even if you did your bidding, would my Revolutionary Army still become wanted criminals?"
Since we're going to have a bounty on our heads anyway, no matter how big or small it is, it won't change our fate.
So, haha, you'd better not agree to such a gift!
"I'm sorry, just as you can't refuse my request, you also have no right to refuse my good intentions!"
Gawain interrupted Dragon, and continued to yell at Dragon menacingly.
"I told you, I would deliver the gift to you!"
Correspondingly, while your Revolutionary Army possesses a large number of men, you must also do something for me!
In the future, after I blockade the Grand Line, your people on the other six routes will have to hunt down and offer bounties for those smuggling pirates!
There are Devil Fruit, and it's impossible to guard against all those who possess them; they will inevitably find ways to smuggle themselves in.
I need your cooperation to prevent pirates from crossing my territory as much as possible!
Don't think I don't know you're holding a grudge, Dragon!
Because once the pirates suffer a setback, no matter what plans the Revolutionary Army has, it will be difficult to launch a large-scale incitement and rebellion on the increasingly clean seas!
Your Revolutionary Army has always relied on nothing more than three points.
First, the strength of you personally and the main Revolutionary Army cadres.
Secondly, the kings and nobles of the various kingdoms levied exorbitant taxes and levies.
As for the third one, that is...
Only when the sea is chaotic enough will you and your Revolutionary Army have a chance to fish in troubled waters!
Gawain held a cigarette between his fingers and pointed the burning butt at Dragon.
"I can understand your approach, but I don't support that kind of behavior!"
Allowing chaos to fester is an absolute form of inaction!
You can use the suffering of ordinary people as resources to strengthen your own power.
But I have no interest in playing any games of power with you!
I can tell you very clearly that the problem you've been working on for the past twenty years but haven't been able to hit the bullseye is one I'm here to solve for you!
You can consider me a rival, but please don't get in my way!
The freedom you speak of is no more precious than the equality I want to give to ordinary people!
Your approach all along has been infinitely more lazy and useless than my plan!
If it weren't for the fact that you control hundreds of thousands or even millions of fully-fledged armed forces, and that most of your subordinates don't come from the most impoverished backgrounds in society, I wouldn't have let you live for another hour!
Because even Roger, who added fuel to the fire of the entire ocean, cannot compare to you in some ways!
"Dragon!!!"