In a corner of the Dark Bird Ship, a transvestite named Bon Clay, after hearing Sanji's words, excitedly rushed to Sanji, wanting to be the first to get the delicious dessert as a lady.
But clearly, just half a minute later, the child ran crying to the edge of the deck, looking at the sun in the sky and weeping uncontrollably.
He kept muttering things like, "Why should gender be defined? Why should men be discriminated against? Even though he has a beard and chest hair, he's still a lovely lady," and so on.
Especially when Bon Kurei was crying, when Isuka curiously asked him why he was crying while looking at the sun.
Bon Kurei stubbornly insisted that she (he) was not crying, but that the sunlight was too dazzling.
This fact made Gawain take a second look at him.
He may not possess the allure of a woman, but he certainly has plenty of the responsibility of a man. No wonder he's Bon Kurei, the most loyal and righteous man in the Pirate World.
East Blue, Shimotsuki Village.
When the people on the Dark Bird Ship saw the island of Shimotsuki Village.
Before long, the people on the island also saw the approaching Dark Bird Ship.
Suddenly, Shimotsuki Village, which had long been surrounded by an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, became noisy.
Countless villagers instantly split into two groups. One group rushed to the edge of the dock, where they kept talking endlessly while staring at the large ship that was visible to the naked eye in the distance.
Not everyone has seen the latest newspaper. Although newspapers in the Pirate World have a wide reach, in reality, even in the information age, it's impossible for every person with a mobile phone to see Big News Morgans.
Consider that even a channel like a mobile phone cannot deliver important messages to everyone's ears.
The World Economic Journal, which uses seagulls as its distribution channel...
Is it possible for him to actually deliver the newspaper to everyone?
In short, at the edge of the beach, a few people who had read the newspaper began to explain Gawain's identity and his actions to the countless others who were panicking because they hadn't read the newspaper.
It's better not to explain the science; once you do, it's quite shocking.
Although Gawain didn't leave a bad reputation among ordinary people, the difference in class was undeniable.
People only need to know the identity that the Celestial Dragon represent to be instill in them a fear of Gawain.
Because people know that Gawain is a person who is countless times more noble than the village chief, the nobleman, or even the king!
In this world, apart from people like the village chief who grew up in the village...
Almost every nobleman, every member of the royal family, and every king!
They are almost never kind people who would show any kindness to ordinary citizens!!!
In no time, thanks to the popular science education provided by enthusiastic passersby, the villagers on the edge of the beach turned into a group of people terrified.
They hid the children's children, hid the daughters' daughters, hid the money, and hid themselves—it was quite a scene...
Besides the chaotic beachside, Shimotsuki Village has another place that has become the main gathering place for people.
That is the heart of Shimotsuki Village, the Shimotsuki Dojo!
The Shimotsuki Dojo holds a position in Shimotsuki Village similar to that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or the Sydney Opera House in Sydney.
It is an absolute landmark.
It's important to know that in this area of East Blue, especially near Shimotsuki Village, the Shimotsuki Dojo has sent over a thousand outstanding swordsmen to the sea in the past thirty years!
Although it's difficult for even one swordsman to emerge from among so many swordsmen, the absence of a swordsman doesn't diminish the influence of Shimotsuki Village.
Furthermore, the influence of a dojo extends not only to its students but also to its challengers.
There are quite a few swordsmen who come to challenge the Shimotsuki Dojo.
Those who were defeated by Koushirou would turn around and become promoters of the Shimotsuki Dojo, spreading its influence far and wide.
In short, at this very moment, when the village chief of Shimotsuki Village learned that the large ship was approaching, he rushed to the Shimotsuki Dojo to seek so-called psychological comfort.
Inside the dojo, Koushirou greeted the village chief, who was walking hurriedly and looking anxious, with a gentle smile.
As soon as Koushirou welcomed him to the dojo, the village chief quickly asked Koushirou a question.
"Master Shiro, that ship must be a Celestial Dragon's ship, right? According to the newspaper, weren't they going to the Goa Kingdom?"
Our village isn't even on their route to the Goa Kingdom!
Seeing them made this old man quite uneasy, after all, they were Celestial Dragon!
"If he shows the slightest dissatisfaction here, our entire village will be razed to the ground by the Marine Admiral with Buster Call!!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the village chief's panic was evident. However, compared to the panicked village chief, Koushirou seemed very relaxed.
Meeting the village chief's flustered yet hopeful gaze, Koushirou gave a gentle smile.
"Don't worry, Mr. Village Chief, just make preparations for a normal reception."
As for those things you're worried about, they certainly won't happen.
As soon as he finished speaking, Koushirou smiled and squinted his eyes, his gaze following the direction where the sea and sky met, looking at the approaching dark shadow.
Beside him, the village chief was still anxiously asking him all sorts of questions.
"How could it be so ordinary? Normally, even if an ordinary nobleman comes to visit, we have to make a lot of preparations, and we might even have some people killed by the nobleman for his amusement!"
Now arriving Celestial Dragon are a hundred or a thousand times more noble than nobles!
I just can't get over this!
Or... Master Shiro, why don't you take the strong young men from the dojo and send all the children and women in the village into the mountains?
As for us old guys, let us take care of the Celestial Dragon!
Even if we old folks die, we can still leave some hope for you young people!
As soon as he finished speaking, the village chief revealed a resolute expression. His clenched fist showed that he truly thought so and had indeed made a decision.
And Koushirou...
Faced with the village chief's resolute determination to sacrifice himself for righteousness, he slowly shook his head.
With a gentle smile, Koushirou spoke.
"Don't worry, Mr. Village Chief."
Before this, although I had never seen them in person, I had indeed heard about the nature of the Celestial Dragon.
After all, although I live in the East Blue, I have traveled across oceans and seas as a traveler and wanderer, and have my own experiences and feelings.
I know very well that, whether in swordsmanship or in life, we should not use impressions to determine our stance as enemies or friends.
Just like that Celestial Dragon who is about to arrive... he might not necessarily cause us any harm...
As he finished speaking, Koushirou looked at the distant sea with a gentle and refined air. In his eyes, the figure of the Kuma seemed to transcend space and time, appearing and disappearing in his vision.
Koushirou continued to laugh as he recalled his interactions with the Kuma.
"How could a leader who has such followers do anything evil to ordinary villagers like us who live in a remote corner?"
Although you may not yet believe the rumors about the Celestial Dragon, I urge you to believe me.
"Don't worry."
As soon as he finished speaking, the gentle and refined Mr. Shiro invited the village chief to sit opposite him, and poured him a cup of tea.
While drinking tea, Shiro chatted with the village chief about many things that would put the chief at ease.
The Dark Bird Ship is still quite far away; it will take more than an hour to arrive.
Taking a few minutes to concentrate will be very helpful for the village chief's reception work.
Not long after, at the Shimotsuki Village dock.
Under the joint leadership of the village chief and Koushirou, the villagers of Shimotsuki Village and the swordsman apprentices in the dojo all gathered together to await the approach of the Celestial Dragon.
Looking at the Gentori crew, who were anchored dozens of nautical miles from the beach and had to change to a small Dark Bird Ship to get closer to Shimotsuki Village, the Moss Head swordsman standing behind Koushirou in the crowd scoffed unhappily.
"They really have quite the grand entrance; they even have to transfer to a small boat before they'll actually land."
So these are Celestial Dragon? I heard we'll have to kneel down next, what a hassle!
As soon as he finished speaking, the Moss Head swordsman shook his head unhappily.
"If only I were a year older, I wouldn't have to wait here to do these damn rituals!"
"Zoro!"
Just as Zoro finished speaking, Koushirou turned his head slightly and stopped Zoro with a smile.
Upon hearing his master's voice, Zoro rolled his eyes and quieted down, while Koushirou continued speaking.
"The reason we switched to a small boat is because we all saw that the waterline of that big ship must be at least a thousand meters long."
Approaching rashly could cause large ships to run aground and could also damage the foundation of our island.
You might think that's being arrogant, but if you put yourself in their shoes, you should understand that it's also a form of compassion, just like a wise person who doesn't harm ants while walking.
At least, the people on that ship are thinking of us.
At this point, Koushirou sighed melancholically, then he couldn't help but look at the sword with a plain white scabbard at Zoro's waist.
Whenever he sees this sword, he can't help but reminisce.
After a brief moment of melancholy, Koushirou continued speaking to Zoro.
"As for your second point, which is the etiquette of kneeling before the Celestial Dragon."
This ritual could indeed break a swordsman's blade, but it wasn't a personal requirement of the Celestial Dragon, Saint Gawain; rather, it was a rule followed by the entire world for the past 1,500 years.
This is not about someone insulting you, me, or the sword in our hands in any way.
On the contrary, this is a tradition that our parents and their parents have always followed.
Therefore, if you feel that kneeling would dishonor your swordsmanship, then you should consider that following tradition is also a form of spiritual tempering!
After speaking, Koushirou looked at Zoro gently, and Zoro nodded helplessly.
At Zoro's current age, even when facing his respected master, he can't help but have some rebellious thoughts.
That's what young people should be like, isn't it?
In short, with all sorts of thoughts swirling in my mind, time finally fast-forwarded to the moment when the Little Dark Bird stopped.
As the gangway of the Little Dark Bird slowly descended, and Gawain's figure appeared before the villagers of Shimotsuki Village...
Just as the other villagers, including Koushirou, knelt down, Zoro suddenly couldn't help himself. Standing in the crowd, he clutched his stomach and burst out laughing!
Just a moment after that, Zoro immediately knelt down before Koushirou's wide-eyed stare.
As he bowed, Zoro looked up at Gawain in disbelief.
How could anyone put a funny-looking raccoon on their head? And why is that raccoon wearing a pink hat with a huge bubble over it to make it look super cute?!
This is... this is totally inappropriate!!!
Just as Zoro burst into laughter, behind Gawain, Lucci clenched his fist.
However, Lucci did not directly call for war, because the adults did not like that.
Lucci decided to wait until the adults were settled, had seen the people he wanted to see, and, as was customary, rested with Gion and Hancock.
I absolutely have to find that rude, Moss Head and teach him a lesson in the hell what real manners are!!!
Unfortunately, just as Lucci was thinking this, Gawain Lucci first.
Facing the vast, kneeling crowd before him, Gawain gently raised his hand.
"Gentlemen, please rise!"
The moment the words left his mouth, lightning spread out like flowing water, instantly climbing up to everyone's knees.
At that moment, Zoro's eyes widened in disbelief, because he couldn't control his legs anymore!!!
After standing up with the crowd, Zoro's disdain and smile vanished. He frowned, staring intently at Gawain, who was unleashing lightning, and said!
"They can control lightning like they control flowing water!"
So this is the kind of bodyguards that only high-ranking nobles like the Celestial Dragon have!
This is an ability that only Thunder God could possess!
As Zoro was speaking, Koushirou suddenly grabbed Zoro's wrist.
"Zoro, don't be rude! That's not some guard, he's the Celestial Dragon Saint Gawain!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Koushirou ignored Zoro's shocked expression and turned to look at the Kuma behind Gawain.
Seemingly noticing Koushirou's gaze, Ookuma nodded to Koushirou, then tried to smile at him.
Just as Kuma's forced smile, comparable to that of Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger, appeared...
Koushirou, who was always calm and Koushirou, and as gentle and refined as a wise man, surprisingly showed a shocked expression just like Zoro's!
Although it was only for a moment, Koushirou returned to his original form, but his shock at that moment was genuine!
He knew Bartholomew Kuma Kuma, but how could this guy be laughing?!
Even though it was an extremely forced smile, it was still a smile! He could actually smile?!
Shocked, Koushirou followed the Kuma and carefully examined the other members of the Dark Bird Ship.
Yes, Dark King Rayleigh, is a true legend.
However, when Kousaburo 'Pops was alive, Koushirou also met Roger, and while Koushirou himself didn't particularly admire Roger, Kousaburo's Pops highly regarded Oden.
Yes, Admiral Momousagi Gion is known as the World's Strongest female swordsman.
Ah, if Kuina were still here, seeing a legendary female swordswoman like Gion, she would surely be thrilled, wouldn't she?
At the same time, Zoro was also looking at the lineup behind Gawain.
Just like his master, when he saw Gion, his eyes also gleamed!
Although Zoro doesn't know anything about Black Blade yet, nor does he know that Konpira is the Supreme Grade Sword.
However, in the eyes of a swordsman with extraordinary potential like Zoro, Gion, who casually rested her left hand on her Konpira and seemed lazy yet full of charming smiles, was like Gion prehistoric beast roaring to the sky, inspiring fear in everyone!
Of course, along with the fear... was an indescribable sense of anticipation and excitement!!!
For a moment, Zoro wanted to draw his sword and challenge them on the spot, but for the safety of the village, Zoro ultimately held back.
And so, Zoro, struggling to suppress his excitement, and Koushirou, gradually shaking off his sadness, continued to look at the crowd behind Gawain.
He closed his eyes, but smiled peacefully.
Shiryu a fierce aura.
Crocodile, with a forced smile and a cigar in his mouth.
The Pirate Empress, beautiful to the extreme, yet always only looking at Gawain.
As their gazes gradually swept across the crowd, in that next instant, as if entangled by fate...
Suddenly, the bodies of the master and apprentice tensed up to an almost steel-like degree!
When they saw the woman standing next to Smoker, who was smoking two cigars at the same time, pitifully inhaling secondhand smoke.
Their hearts were completely in turmoil!!!