Shiki! (A Ten-Thousand-Word Mega Chapter-Bring on the Votes!)
On the Dark Bird Ship, just as Gawain was wearily drinking, Sabo, who looked even more exhausted Gawain, dragged his weak limbs and staggered back to Gawain's side.
Gawain glanced at Sabo and chuckled leisurely.
"Did you finally decide to meet your parents on the very last day?"
But judging from your expression, the meeting didn't go very well.
"Um."
Upon hearing Gawain's words, Sabo nodded, sighed, and sat down beside Gawain.
He wearily picked up a glass of wine, downed it in one gulp, and then let out a slow, labored breath.
"Oh, uncle, I'm afraid my father's health is nearing its end."
Even so, my father still kept emphasizing to me the generational gap between nobles and commoners.
This feeling worries me greatly; I'm afraid it's not just the nobility who can't let go of this generational gap.
Once even ordinary people cling to this concept of disparity, then..."
"What?"
Gawain interrupted Sabo with a smile, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.
"I'm already exhausted. These past ten days of diving instinct training have worn me down to the point of feeling like I'm about to die. I have almost no time or energy to think about anything else."
Ordinary people, especially those of this era, are not much different from me. They too are exhausted from making a living, to the point that they have almost no time to think.
Therefore, we don't need ordinary people to pursue anything under our influence. Do you understand that?
We simply need to provide the nobles with more practical and suitable goals that will allow them to live better lives!
For at least one era, they would not have the energy to ponder the enduring class divide between commoners and nobles.
That's what we need to do; all we need to do is give them more freedom and respect than they used to have!
We don't need to guide or develop their ideas; we just need to guide their practices until the next era, when more young people gradually grow up in this era.
By then, many things will have already changed subtly.
After speaking, Gawain took a deep drag on his cigarette, then couldn't help coughing twice.
The drowning over the past few days has severely damaged his lungs; even with medical treatment, his cough persists for quite some time.
Hearing Gawain's words, Sabo for a long time.
Finally, he looked up and smiled at Gawain.
"I understand, Uncle. What you mean is that subtle, gradual increases in benefits are far more important than aggressive propaganda."
This is the first time I've encountered this idea. It's more practical than my original thoughts and will be easier to implement.
Anyway, sir, thank you so much.
Even when we were in the Revolutionary Army, Uncle Long wouldn't talk to me this much.
"Ha ha."
Gawain immediately laughed, patting Sabo on the shoulder as he did so.
"You should be able to sense that I'm different from most people on this ocean; I talk a lot."
As for Dragon, haha, he's more suited to be a general; he's far too inadequate as a leader!
I'm not making fun of him, but he certainly has enough authority; his thinking isn't meticulous or artistic enough.
Innovation is a turbulent current capable of surging through an entire era; to do it covertly is to fall into a low-level trap from the very beginning!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain released Sabo and turned to look at the crowd in the distance.
Even as the departure date approached, two football teams were still playing non-stop in the sports area.
Village Chief Woop Slap seemed truly relieved, as he even dribbled the ball there despite his advanced age.
As for the area opposite Foosha Village, Franky was playing as a winger. He elbowed Woop Slap away.
Seeing the village chief fly out, Ace and Luffy exchanged a glance, then quickly surrounded Franky and forced the ball away from Franky feet.
Luffy then kicked his slipper away, then gripped the soccer ball tightly with his foot and roared.
"Namina Mino - World-class goal!!!"
After a bang, Luffy's legs and feet suddenly stretched out, and he used his feet to clamp the ball and send it to the goal.
Seeing Luffy's feet rushing towards them, even the goalkeeper Uta was devastated.
She dodged away with a long face, Luffy.
"Hey, I'm the one who catches the ball, the one who catches the soccer ball!"
Who wants to catch your stinky feet?!
"I'll do it!!!"
As soon as Uta finished speaking, Bon Clay Feng suddenly spread his arms and made a bizarre one-legged hop pose, like a swan flying to the moon.
Immediately afterwards, Bon Clay Feng stretched out his hairy legs and directly presented his face to Luffy's feet and the soccer ball!
Boom!!!
After a loud bang, Bon Clay, having paid the price of two pounds of makeup on his face, successfully intercepted Luffy's shot.
Bon Clay turned around with a nosebleed all over his face, suddenly gave Uta a thumbs up, and then revealed a resolute smile.
"I blocked that shot, now it's your turn, sister!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Bon Kurei kicked the football fiercely towards Uta!
However, this was clearly a defensive pass back to the goalkeeper, but Uta didn't react at all when faced with this ball!
Right next to Uta, the football was like a cannonball, kicked directly into his own goal by Bon Clay's back pass!
Seeing this, Jinpei Jinbe from the Dark Bird Football Team were all stunned, staring at Uta in utter astonishment.
After a brief moment of shock, Uta suddenly covered her face.
"What a terrifying smile! Those sisters are so disgusting! They scared me to death!!!"
Amidst groans and kicking his calves, Uta ran straight off the football field.
After rushing all the way to Gawain, Uta leaped up and slammed into Gawain's stomach.
"Pops, football is scary, but people who play football are even scarier!"
Our team's total bounty money could buy dozens of the opposing team's prize money.
But I still can't beat them, I just can't beat them!!!
"Well..."
Seeing Uta's behavior, Gawain chuckled and pulled her into his arms.
"If you can't beat them, let someone else play. Football and all that stuff are just an illusion."
"Kuma, cough cough, you should guard the gate!"
"Receive!"
Kuma gave an OK sign from afar, then with a sullen face, he substituted Uta and stood coldly in front of the goal.
At that moment, Luffy, Ace, and the others felt like crying.
Given Kuma's physique, it would be practically a foul for him to be the goalkeeper.
His arm span alone is almost eight meters!!!
Just then, Sabo, who was next to Gawain, finally Luffy up and charged towards Luffy while shouting.
"Count me in! How can the Foosha Village team be without me!"
Let me kick the ball into Uncle Bear's goal!!!
On the other hand, some time ago, on a floating Sky Island, a man with messy blond hair like a lion finally saw the belated newspaper!
Because he always floats in the sky, the seagulls that deliver newspapers often can't find him due to lack of oxygen or changes in location.
In short, Golden Lion Shiki took the newspaper from his subordinate and began to read it with relish, munching on a cigar.
Normally, reading the newspaper was a rare break for Shiki, but today's newspaper was different from usual!
Because what he saw was the newspaper article about Garp being defeated by Gawain!!!
With just one glance, Shiki saw the blood streaming down Gawain's body and Garp lying on the ground behind him.
Shiki suddenly let out what could be described as the loudest laugh of his entire life!
"Hahaha, that... that damn Garp actually lost!"
Moreover, the brat who defeated him looks remarkably similar to Garp from thirty-three years ago!!!
As soon as he finished speaking, Shiki immediately waved his hand at his subordinates.
"Go, go quickly, find out everything about this Gawain!"
Before, when I saw him confronting that soft-hearted trash Newgate, I didn't take him seriously, but now, hahaha!
He's qualified enough to be my choice!!!
As soon as he finished speaking, Shiki excitedly chewed and swallowed the cigar.
Soon after, information about Gawain finally came to Shiki's attention.
And when Shiki realized that Gawain was actually a Celestial Dragon.
When Shiki further investigated and discovered that one of Gawain's subordinates was actually Ace, the posthumous son of the Pirate King Roger, according to rumors within the Navy.
Especially when Shiki discovered that Gawain was in the East Blue at that very moment!
At that moment, Shiki's eyes lit up completely!
Time flies. On the Dark Bird Ship, eight days have passed since Gawain left the Goa Kingdom.
During these eight days, Luffy completely adapted to the Dark Bird Ship, living a carefree and joyful life.
On one hand, Ace and Sabo were with him.
On the other hand, because everyone in the village is living a better life, there is more laughter and joy in the entire Foosha Village than in the past.
Aside from the absence of pirates who occasionally stop by Foosha Village, Luffy feels like his current life is paradise!
Every morning when he wakes up, the first thing he sees is his beloved Ace and Sabo. Perhaps because Sabo feels guilty, he has been keeping Ace and Luffy three of them squeezed into one room these past few days.
After getting up, Luffy ate a meal specially cooked by Zeff and Sanji with Gawain and the other officers. You should know that even back in Foosha Village, Luffy couldn't eat Makino's cooking every day.
Not to mention Zeff's culinary skills, which are countless times more refined than Makino's!
After dinner, Luffy can be with his brothers again, just like when they were kids, encouraging each other to keep training.
When Luffy got tired of training, he also met peers like Zoro and Sanji, and could fight them anytime to witness his growth!
In addition, Luffy was captivated by the beautiful scenery of the East Blue.
Luffy, who had never been to sea before, had no idea that he could see the magnificent ocean without even having to leave the sea!
That's right, at least in Luffy's eyes right now, he's still not at sea.
In short, Luffy is extremely satisfied with the Dark Bird Ship. Apart from the fact that he always gets punched by Zephyr whenever he shouts that he wants to be the Pirate King, the Dark Bird has no other flaws!
With this in mind, that night, while Luffy and Gawain were playing chess and training their Observation Haki on the figurehead, Luffy chuckled and approached Gawain.
"Uncle Gawain!!!"
In just a few days, Luffy, the optimist and social phobia sufferer, had already become quite familiar with Gawain.
Now he's just like Ace and Sabo, calling Gawain" Uncle" all the time, tsk tsk.
As for Gawain, he actually really likes guys like Luffy.
What people dislike is simply the fate represented by Old Thief Oda. Putting that fate aside, who wouldn't like Luffy, a kind-hearted and optimistic young man with a pure and innocent soul?
So, seeing Luffy grinning, Gawain put down the black ball and turned to ask Luffy.
"What's going on this time, Luffy?"
"Haha, it's nothing, I just want to hear more of your stories!"
You told me before that you saved the Fish-Man on Fish-Man Island before you met Ace.
After hearing that, I couldn't sleep all night. What kind of fish is Merfolk? It must taste incredibly delicious!
So, uncle, do you have any other stories, the kind Ace didn't tell me?
Ace told me, "Uncle, you fought the World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard! Who won?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy darted between Gawain and Issho without any hesitation, sat down on the chessboard, and stared longingly at Gawain.
And the chessboard...
Looking at the chessboard that had been messed up, he shook his head with a wry smile and laughed.
"Anyway, I won't be able to see the outcome of the game, so let's end the training here for today."
"Sir, you keep this brat company. I was planning to go sharpen my knife under the moonlight too."
After saying that, Yi Xiao stood up, bowed to Gawain, and then leaped across the rest area, landing on the training field.
He casually picked up a cloth from next to Gion, who was sharpening her sword, and with a smile and expectant look, began to wipe his own blade.
Beside her, seeing the smile on Issho's face, Gion asked in a low voice with interest.
"Mr. Issho, you seem very happy. What's wrong? Has your Observation Haki improved?"
Of course not.
Yi Xiao shook his head with a smile, then continued speaking with a smile.
"Under the influence of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, your Observation Haki has long surpassed the ordinary level. However, even so, it will still take a long time to successfully master advanced Observation Haki."
As for my own happiness, well, I'm just happy for the young people on this ship!
At this point, Issho raised his head, his gaze lingering on Luffy, Ace, Zoro, Sabo, Sanji, Isuka, Nami, and Usopp practicing his shooting skills on the edge of the distant deck.
Then, she smiled, turned around, and said in a light tone.
"There are more and more young people on the ship. The appearance of these little guys has really given me a lot of confidence."
Although those children can't help us defeat guys like the Four Emperors, with them around, we don't have to worry about the future of the Dark Bird Ship.
Because they are all reliable kids; they possess both talent and determination.
With these children around, even if I die in battle, I won't have to worry about our dreams being left uncarried!
"Ha ha ha ha!!!"
No sooner had the joke ended than Zephyr suddenly came over, and next to Zephyr, Rayleigh also came over carrying a deck of dominoes.
After the two sat down, Rayleigh casually pressed the dominoes to the ground, Zephyr took the opportunity to smile and say something to Yi Xiao.
"It's pointless for you to talk about dying in battle. You're far from being ready to die!"
Even we old folks are doing just fine, so what right do you, a young person in our eyes, have to wallow in self-pity?
"Ha ha!"
Upon hearing this, he burst into laughter, then nodded emphatically.
"Indeed, I was being presumptuous. Given my current situation, it would be somewhat irresponsible of me to bring up matters of death."
However, regardless of anything else, the older generation, with you two plus Kureha and Crocus, our senior team is already quite impressive!
As for the middle-aged generation, our ship still has Crocodile, Jinbe, Kuma, Shiryu, and Doflamingo, who just joined not long ago, and whose name alone will make you, Mr. Zephyr Doflamingo, look ugly!
As for the younger generation, haha, Gion, I'd consider you part of the younger generation.
In short, with you, and the younger generation led by adults and Hancock, the future will only be stronger than us, and will never be worse than us!
Looking at it this way, our lineup is becoming more and more perfect. Except for the middle-aged generation, which is still lacking a monster-level leader, we can almost assemble three teams from three different eras to simultaneously face at least three Four Emperors -level forces!
At this point, Yixiao wiped the blade expectantly, then suddenly stood the blade upright.
After glancing at the moonlight through the sharp blade, he smiled, sheathed his sword, and then spoke expectantly.
"I can't wait to cut off Kaido's head!"
"Haha, that's right!"
Upon hearing Yixiao's words, Rayleigh suddenly slapped the deck with his right hand and said.
"I can't wait to avenge that unlucky bastard Oden, hahaha!"
Although we only spent two years together, we Roger Pirates are not people who can be killed by just anyone!
But that's all too far in the future. We still need to accompany Little Gawain to the Reverie, which is only a few months away.
Now is not the time for such talk. Come on, let's make a couple of bets!
After saying that, Rayleigh patted the dominoes on the ground, and after a brief moment of laughter, the crowd joined in the game with Rayleigh.
Before even starting the game, Zephyr couldn't help but grit his teeth and glance at Doflamingo in the distance!
In the distance, Doflamingo was chatting with Crocodile and Shiryu.
As they were talking, Doflamingo suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck!
Wow!
Doflamingo turned around abruptly and immediately saw the source of the danger: Zephyr's hateful gaze.
So, Doflamingo disdainfully raised his right hand and gave Zephyr an incredibly provocative middle finger!
Seeing Doflamingo's actions, Crocodile took a sinister drag on his cigarette and then offered some advice.
"Isn't this your irrationality, Heavenly Yaksha? This is an adult's ship. Do you really enjoy provoking Zephyr here, letting the hatred between you fester forever?"
"Hehe!"
Upon hearing Crocodile's words, Doflamingo curled his lip in disdain, then simply moved the middle finger he had given to Zephyr to Crocodile's face.
Looking at Crocodile's unsmiling face, Doflamingo said disdainfully.
"Therefore I am the Heavenly Yaksha, the Heavenly Yaksha who even Kaido must cooperate with!"
And you, Fufu, are nothing but a defeated dog under Whitebeard's command, Sand Crocodile!!!
Upon hearing this, Shiryu immediately looked up with interest, puffing on his cigar while giving the two a sinister smile and watching them expectantly.
Immediately afterwards, Crocodile stood up and hurled the hook attached to his wrist at Doflamingo!
"Do you want to die, Flamingo!"
"Fufu, I should be asking you if you want to die, you Sand Crocodile!"
Doflamingo leaped into the air, his foot bracing against Sand Crocodile's hook. As he braced himself against the hook, he continued to speak contemptuously to Crocodile.
"Back then, tsk tsk, I really don't know how you survived Whitebeard's clutches."
Did you call him "Dad" or maybe you didn't, but you still gave him your bottom, haha!
As for now, I don't care whether you got on the ship before me or how well you and Gawain are doing!
"I don't care what you, you loser, can do, because a loser's fate is just more failures, trash!!!"
"Snort!"
Crocodile immediately turned to sand, and the nearly boiling sand rushed towards Doflamingo in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, Crocodile said coldly.
"And what about you, the one who was defeated by Zephyr!"
You don't really think that you can defeat that former Admiral, Flamingo, by simply dodging one of Zephyr's attacks with a clone, do you?
Since that's the case, haha, what right do you, a fellow loser, have to bark at me like that?
After saying that, Crocodile and Doflamingo immediately got into a fight. The two fought their way from the rest area to the training ground, and then into the back mountains where Dadan was known to roam.
No one knows how their fight went; all that is known is that about half an hour later...
Dadan, dressed in tattered clothes Doflamingo, rushed up to Gawain and began berating and hurling insults at him about Gawain and Crocodile for a long time.
And after that...
Covered in wounds and with bruises and swelling on their faces Gawain, the two returned to Gawain and asked him to take care of replenishing the primeval forest for the Dark Bird Ship when they passed by the Little Garden in the future.
While the people on the Dark Bird Ship were getting to know each other in an orderly manner, in the Loguetown...
More than ten days ago, Smoker and Jabra went together to purge the major Marine Branch in the East Blue Sea.
As for why they were dispatched, it was simply because Gawain happened to think of Morgan and sent them to handle the situation.
And so, Smoker and his companion arrived at the branch where Morgan was located, and met Morgan, who had by then been imprisoned by Colonel Rousseau.
Because of the plans left behind by Kuro of a Hundred Plans, both Morgan and Rousseau were badly deceived.
The plan of Kuro of a Hundred Plans also exposed some problems of the naval branches of various branches in the East Blue.
On one hand, despite Kuro of a Hundred Plans being placed on him, no one knows what he looks like!
This hides a profound problem: the possibility that credit and reward money could be fraudulently claimed!
Therefore, Smoker would naturally investigate.
On the other hand, even a lowly Kuro could toy with the East Blue Navy like a fool!
In Smoker's eyes, this was a manifestation of the incompetence of the various branch commanders in the East Blue!
Therefore, Smoker snatched Morgan from Rousseau, who had been demoted as revenge by Rousseau.
Incidentally, Smoker also used Gawain's orders to remove Rousseau from his position as superior!
As for the reason, isn't oversight a contributing factor?
In short, after arresting six corrupt branch officers, Smoker led them to Loguetown to wait.
It won't be long before Gawain returns to the Grand Line from Loguetown.
As for these branch officers, although they were incompetent and did nothing, they did not deserve to die. Smoker planned to take them all the way back to Marine Headquarters and hand them over to Fleet Admiral Sengoku for processing.
In short, Smoker and Jabra are temporarily staying in Loguetown.
But before Smoker could finish his two glasses of whiskey, and before Jabra could even find some fun in Loguetown...
Smoker, drinking under the moon, suddenly realized that the bright, clear moonlight above them was completely obscured by a vast, indescribable shadow!
Walking down the street, while Jabra was away from Gawain, he excitedly took off his military shirt and, just like in the past, wore a suit shirtless, indulging in the perverted pleasure of his childhood.
He suddenly saw that dark cloud in the sky!
In just a moment, Jabra, being a member of CP9, had countless dangerous pirates flash through his mind that could cause such an effect!
Jabra frowned, then spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice trembling slightly.
There are many people who can make a mountain fly into the air!
But in this era, there is only one person who can make a dozen mountains, or even a dozen islands large enough to inhabit millions of people, float in the air!!!
So, damn it, why is he, who has been missing for a full seventeen years, appearing in the East Blue at this time?!
Around 1:20 a. m., Kaya's Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
To be able to answer the phone at any time, the child always carried Den Den Mushi with her at all times, so Kaya, who was still asleep, immediately sat up, clutching her chest!
"Ahhh, a pervert is attacking me... Huh?"
Feeling bewildered, Kaya, receiving her first nighttime phone call, shyly picked up the Den Den Mushi.
As soon as she nervously picked up the phone, the Den Den Mushi in front of her instantly transformed into Kalifa!
At this very moment, on the distant sea, Kalifa, who had set off ahead of schedule aboard the Little Dark Bird, intending to take complete control of the Doflamingo slave market, spoke nervously to Kaya.
"Kaya, Jabra and Smoker, who are away on business, are confused about our changes in duties, so they called me urgently!"
In short, Golden Lion Shiki appeared in the skies above Loguetown!
So far, the Shiki has not taken any action against Loguetown; he has simply kept the island hovering above Loguetown!
Therefore, you don't need to disturb the adults' sleep, but you must contact Smoker and Jabra on my behalf, obtain firsthand information about Loguetown, and notify the Dark Bird Ship's shipping crew to expedite their arrival in Loguetown so that we can deal with Dark Bird Ship the Golden Lion Shiki's problem as soon as possible!
As soon as she finished speaking, Kalifa quickly hung up the phone. Because she and Lucci had used the Coup de Vent to propel themselves so many times, they were now only about two days' journey from Loguetown.
Even if the opponent is the Shiki, Kalifa and Lucci decided to head to Loguetown immediately to support or rescue Smoker and Jabra!
After the phone call ended, Kaya, who had already memorized most of the legendary pirates on the high seas under Kalifa's tutelage, immediately understood the seriousness of the matter.
Soon, everyone on the Dark Bird Ship's crew, except for Gawain's room, knew that the Shiki had appeared in Loguetown!
When Gawain woke up, Gion and Hancock were still fast asleep. It wasn't that they were lazier Gawain; it was just that Gawain's lungs had been bothering him for the past few days, and he was coughing.
The coughing wasn't enough to disturb them, but they were all too prone to worrying. Gion was alright, but Hancock was so worried that she couldn't sit still and tossed and turned all night!
And so, Hancock kicked Gion all night, kicking whenever she was worried.
Only after Gion forcefully suppressed Hancock were the two of them able to get a good night's sleep.
So, when Gawain woke up, he didn't wake the two women. Instead, he instantly transformed into lightning and disappeared into thin air in the blink of an eye. Then he ran to Jinbe's bathroom and took a shower.
While taking a shower, Gawain wondered why Jinbe had gotten up so early.
After he finished washing, he came back to the deck.
He was immediately stunned by the scene of soldiers preparing for battle before him!
Before him, Rayleigh sat cross-legged on the ground, with an old sword hanging down on his knees.
On either side of Rayleigh, Issho and Zephyr were watching him intently, their Armament Haki already beginning to coalesce!
Behind them, one cadre after another was either smoking or sharpening their swords, ready for battle at any moment!
Even the villagers of Foosha Village, after figuring out the reason, all took pitchforks and other weapons that were meant to slay the Witcher and lined up behind the Black Ice Terrace soldiers!
Among the crowd, perhaps only Luffy was unaware of what was going on. When Gawain came out, Luffy was excitedly asking questions nonstop.
"What kind of lion is the Shiki? Is it tasty? Is it delicious?!
Ace, Sabo, don't just stand there! Answer me!!!
Upon hearing Luffy's words, Gawain frowned, then quickly looked up at the sky.
Strange, there are no islands in the sky, so the Shiki isn't here?
Gawain quickly took two steps and came to stand in front of Rayleigh.
Just as Rayleigh slowly rose to greet him, Shiryu couldn't contain himself any longer and was the first to step out of the line and speak to Gawain.
"Sir, we received news last night that the Shiki has appeared in the skies above Loguetown!"
"Oh?"
Upon hearing Shiryu's words, Gawain's muscles relaxed slightly. He then immediately turned to Kaya and spoke to Kaya in a completely emotionless and icy voice for the first time.
"Kaya, why weren't I notified of the appearance of the Shiki immediately?!"
"M-Uncle...!"
Kaya was startled by Gawain's voice, and even more than one of the cadres standing nearby was slightly frightened by Gawain at that moment!
Facing Gawain's expression, Kaya swallowed hard and then tried to calmly reply in a soft voice.
"I contacted Smoker and Gabriel, who were temporarily stationed in Loguetown, as soon as I received the news."
According to Smoker and Gabriel, the island controlled by the Shiki remained over Loguetown and showed no signs of crossing Loguetown to continue approaching us!
Based on the assessment of the Float-Float Fruit's power, the island controlled by Shiki cannot be too far away from him. Therefore, it is impossible for Shiki to infiltrate my direction alone and attack my headquarters!
Therefore, I conclude that the Shiki is not a threat to the adults' safety until he takes further action!
The Shiki will not pose a threat to adults' safety in the short term, but insomnia caused by fatigue can harm their health!
So, I... I..."
"I see!"
With Gawain raised his hand and gently pressed the air against Kaya, who was trembling all over.
Then, Gawain's gaze swept across the faces of all the cadres in front of him.
After surveying the area like a lion or eagle, Gawain looked at Kaya and gave her a command, word by word.
"This will not be allowed to happen again!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain raised his hand and waved it sharply at everyone!
"Everyone!"
He said loudly.
"Just because the Shiki has shown its tracks, are you all sitting on the deck, ready for battle, just like today?"
With this kind of formation, I thought we were about to start a full-scale war with the Marine Headquarters!
Grandpa Rayleigh, you're so old, is it really worth staying up all night for a Shiki?
At this point, Gawain suddenly turned to Kaya, who was letting out a soft sigh of relief, and said in a cold voice.
"Kaya, how can you let the seniors and young people bear the pressure brought by the Shiki for me? How unwise is that!"
If a similar situation occurs, notify me immediately, so that at least we won't be standing here waiting like this!
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain raised his hand and reached out to Kaya, a slight smile finally appearing on his face.
But Gawain's smile at this moment did not make Kaya feel at ease; instead, it made Kaya even more nervous.
After trembling as she handed the Den Den Mushi to Gawain, Kaya nervously pursed her lips and stood behind Gawain.
At the same time, Gawain called Smoker.
In the center of Loguetown, near the Execution Platform of the Pirate King Roger, Smoker had been standing there all night!
Beside him, even Jabra no longer had his usual perverted and lazy demeanor.
Jabra, while gritting his teeth and trimming his nails, spoke to Smoker.
"Smoker, has the master said when the reinforcements will arrive?"
Upon hearing Jabra's words, Smoker finally lowered his head from looking up at the sky. He pondered for a moment, then smiled and said to Jabra.
"Heh, Jabra, are you guys in the CP really that cowardly?"
"Just a mere Shiki, the master doesn't even consider it a threat. The master is sleeping right now, the Shiki isn't worth disturbing the master's sleep!"
As he finished speaking, Smoker glanced at the Den Den Mushi in his arms again, and continued Smoker as he looked at it.
"However, last night, I discussed the current itinerary of the Dark Bird Ship with Miss Kalifa and Miss Kaya."
At the normal speed, even if the adults abandon resupply and rush here at full speed, it will take at least ten to twelve days to arrive!
So, buddy, we can't wait for the adults to come to our aid.
But I have some good news: Miss Kalifa and Commander Lucci may arrive in Loguetown as early as tonight!
At this point, Smoker looked up again, gazing at the bottom of a dozen or so interconnected islands in the sky, where the sun was nowhere to be seen.
A bead of sweat finally rolled down Smoker's forehead!
And at that very moment, the Den Den Mushi he had been keeping an eye on...
It rang!!!
Bubbles!
The moment the Den Den Mushi smacked its lips, Smoker's eyes widened, and he immediately answered the Den Den Mushi.
And when the Den Den Mushi suddenly put on Gawain's current pajamas and grew Gawain's slicked-back hairstyle...
Looking at the Den Den Mushi, Smoker felt a strange sense of peace within him...
"What's the current situation in Smoker and Loguetown?"
Gawain asked softly, and Smoker, after a slight pause, quickly regained his composure and replied to Gawain.
"My lord, Loguetown is currently fine. Since the floating island piloted by Golden Lion Shiki appeared above Loguetown, there have been no other unusual developments!"
"Alright, now tell me what the Loguetown navy, including you and Jabra, has been doing since last night!"
"Yes, sir. After discovering the Shiki last night, I immediately took over the military affairs of Loguetown together with Jabra."
I led the navy to suppress the exodus of civilians from Loguetown, while Jabra led his men to clear out all the warships and merchant ships, prioritizing the Loguetown of breastfeeding infants and their mothers, and was among the first to be sent out of Loguetown!
The transport ships have been gone for three hours and are expected to return in nine hours to continue transporting the next batch of women and children.
Besides, sir!!!
Suddenly, Smoker's voice rose, and after making eye contact with Jabra, he resolutely spoke to Gawain.
"At this very moment, the Shiki's island is floating above Loguetown. If the Shiki so desires, Loguetown will be reduced to ruins the instant the entire island falls!"
I absolutely cannot ignore this. Jabra and I are prepared to fight to the death, because the Dark Bird flag has already been raised in Loguetown. This is your territory!
As for me, please forgive me for not being able to receive your personal instructions in person in the future!
Today, at this very moment, I must go to the floating island to investigate.
Even if it only delays the Shiki by a few seconds, I will show him just how hot the blood of the Dark Bird Ship's crew truly is!!!
As soon as he finished speaking, Smoker's voice was hoarse, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
But the look in his eyes as he gazed at the floating islands in the sky remained as resolute as metal forged to a brilliant shine!
Upon hearing Smoker's voice, Gawain immediately spoke to Smoker, who had already resolved to die.
"I already know your resolve, and I have no right to stop you from sacrificing yourself for the civilians of Loguetown."
But before that, Smoker, tell me what's going on with the Navy!
After you informed the Navy of the Shiki's appearance, didn't they send Borsalino to the battlefield first?
"At Borsalino's speed, one night should be enough time for him to travel from Sabaody to Loguetown, right?"
After saying that, Gawain frowned and looked coldly at the distant sea.
He was worried that the Five Elders have viewed his actions as a threat, which was why they had prevented Kizaru from providing support.
After all, he had promised to only operate along the Grand Line, but he had planted the Dark Bird Flag in many places in the East Blue...
Kizaru didn't arrive all night. Could this be the Five Elders trying to sabotage him?
Using the lives of millions in Loguetown as eye drops?!
However, what Gawain didn't expect was...
The instant Gawain finished speaking, Smoker on the other end of the Den Den Mushi suddenly froze!!!
A moment later, Smoker suddenly roared as if he had collapsed!
"Holy shit!!!"
I completely forgot I used to be in the Navy!!!
I'm so sorry, sir, I... I!!
After I took over the naval defenses of Loguetown last night, I only called Secretary Kalifa and Miss Kaya. I didn't notify the navy, ahhhhhh!!!
As soon as he finished speaking, Smoker completely broke down. He collapsed to his knees in the square near the Execution Platform.
On the Dark Bird Ship, after hearing Smoker's words, Gawain's eyes widened suddenly, then he immediately swallowed hard, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Cough cough cough cough!!!"
After a series of coughs, Gawain continued to give instructions to Smoker.
"Alright, I understand. I'll contact Sengoku right away and have him send Kizaru to Loguetown immediately."
As for you, damn it, you've been by my side for so long and all you've learned is loyalty, not a single bit of flexibility!
Stay where you are and don't try to probe Shiki. Just delay and wait for Kizaru before Shiki launches a possible attack!
Once this incident is over and you're back on the ship, I'm going to personally teach you, you idiot, how to handle emergencies!!!
At this point, Gawain noticed that the Den Den Mushi in the shape of Smoker had already wilted into a ball.
Seeing this, Gawain couldn't continue scolding Smoker, so he continued speaking.
"In short, obey my orders, maintain order in Loguetown, and await Kizaru's support. Got it?"
Also, I'm not slow either, I'll make it as fast as I can by myself...?!
Smack!
Suddenly, Rayleigh drew his knife and smashed the Den Den Den Mushi in Gawain's hand, knocking him unconscious.
This action earned Gawain a puzzled look, and he frowned as he looked at Rayleigh.
Facing Gawain's gaze, Rayleigh spoke slowly and deliberately.
"Captain, this is why Kalifa and I didn't allow Kaya to tell you about the Shiki immediately!"
Neither I nor anyone on the ship will allow you to go to Loguetown alone to face the Shiki!
This road is too long, and there's no place to stop. Even you can't possibly take others with you and trek across it in a thunderous manner!
And as for yourself...
Even if Shiki loses his legs, even if he is more than seventeen years older than before, I will never let you fight him alone!
Because someone like him, who was once on par with Roger and Whitebeard, even in his final moments of old age, absolutely deserves to take another monster down with him!
Besides, you're still just a tiny bit short of being monster-level!
Most importantly, although you are incredibly fast, given the current situation in Loguetown, if you go there alone, you will need to protect the civilians in front of the Shiki!
That's the Shiki's home turf, and you'll once again be held hostage by the lives of millions of civilians in Loguetown!
Therefore, I absolutely forbid it, I absolutely forbid it!!!