My Lord, Don't Stop

Hearing Gawain's words, Gion nodded thoughtfully.

As for Shalria...

She automatically filtered out anything she could not understand, while continuing to swing Gawain's arm and cry out excitedly.

"You're so wicked, Brother Gawain! A slave worth over a billion, and you just kill him like that. You're so stylish—I like you so much!"

"Heh."

Gawain rolled his eyes, then pulled his arm out of Shalria's embrace. Shalria unwillingly tried to pounce on him again, but Gawain held her by the shoulders and said,

"Shalria, calm down for now. I have something important I need your help with."

"Huh?!"

Shalria was both startled and delighted. She hurriedly asked Gawain expectantly,

"I can actually help you? That's wonderful! Just tell me, what do you need me to do?"

"Don't you love buying slaves? What I need help with is related to that."

"Oh, Brother Gawain, are you short on money for slaves?

Don't worry, I still have plenty of Beli. If you want it, I'll have them bring it over for you!"

"That won't be necessary."

Gawain shook his head.

"I only hope that when you buy slaves, you will try to buy high-quality ones, slaves like Jebul.

Shalria, what do you think of those criminals in Impel Down with extremely high bounties?

If possible, talk to your people and do your best to open up a channel with Impel Down, so you can gain the right to purchase goods from there."

With that, Gawain smiled and patted Shalria on the shoulder.

"If you can bring out Impel Down's criminals as slaves, you'll become the most fashionable woman in all of Mary Geoise.

You should know that Impel Down has never sold slaves to outsiders!"

"Wow!!!"

Shalria's eyes filled with stars. She seemed to have already seen herself riding an Impel Down limited-edition mount, drawing the envy, jealousy, and hatred of countless members of her own kind.

As for what kind of slave market Impel Down was, why its slaves had never been sold, or how much they would cost if they were...

None of those questions fell within Shalria's range of consideration!

Seeing Shalria lost in thought, Gawain smiled and took her hand.

As he stroked the little hand of this girl who was vicious as a snake at heart yet innocent as a blank sheet of paper in certain ways, Gawain spoke to the already flustered Shalria.

"I'm not only interested in Impel Down's prisoners. I'm also very interested in their current deputy warden. If you can secure a stable supply channel from Impel Down and prove to me that their prisoners can become commodities rather than being imprisoned forever...

Then I will be very happy."

"Don't worry, I'll find someone to investigate as soon as I get back. Even if I have to throw a tantrum, make a scene, cry, and pretend to die, I'll buy slaves from Impel Down!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shalria immediately wanted to leave. She could not wait to ride an Impel Down slave.

Seeing Shalria turn around, Gawain hurriedly caught her wrist.

"Don't rush off. My Vivre Card isn't finished yet. Once it's done, keep a corner of it."

"Huh?!!"

Shalria's already rosy face flushed crimson with excitement. Tilting her head, she murmured,

"Th... this is exchanging Vivre Cards?"

Shalria's little hand trembled twice. She lowered her head, twisting her fingers together as she said expectantly,

"All right. After I return, I'll bring you a piece of my Vivre Card too, and give it to you~."

"Mm, it's settled then."

In that instant, Gawain's smile was deeply imprinted in Shalria's mind.

Even after Shalria returned to Mary Geoise, she kept a shy expression on her face and continuously muttered under her breath,

"How can there be someone from our kind as handsome as Gawain?"

Once she had muttered enough, she began to act—gathering information, contacting channels, crying, making scenes, and threatening suicide.

And so, something that gave the Marines a tremendous headache arose.

That very afternoon, Saint Rosward's family appeared at Marine Headquarters.

Rosward himself was haughty and arrogant, looking as though he doted on his daughter to the point of death, and demanded that the Marines hand over Impel Down's prisoners.

Meanwhile, Shalria held the already battered Charlos and repeatedly shouted at Sengoku, declaring that if she was not granted the right to purchase Impel Down limited-edition prisoners, she would beat her own elder brother, Saint Charlos, to death on the spot...

That entire afternoon, Charlos was filled with grievance, Marine Headquarters was in a panic, the three Admirals had all gone out on assignments, and the Vice Admirals swept across the seas in groups, leaving countless pirates crying out that they had never seen such an outrageous lineup just to catch people.

And Sengoku...

After helplessly promising Saint Rosward's family three prisoner purchase slots every month.

Sengoku hid in his office and dyed his hair again while Garp was away in the East Blue.

As for Impel Down...

After Magellan put down the phone, Shiryu beside him immediately sneered and cursed.

"Damned Celestial Dragons. Tch, tch."

As he spoke, Shiryu tightened his grip around Raiu and continued sneering.

"No criminal here should gain freedom because of those damned Celestial Dragons, Magellan.

Rather than hand them over to the Celestial Dragons, hand them to me. I'll make sure they're put to good use, hahahaha!"

"Enough, Shiryu!"

Magellan frowned.

"Since it is an order from the Celestial Dragons, Fleet Admiral Sengoku has no ability to refuse it. Fortunately, it isn't many—only three each month.

Besides, they will not truly be free. They will become Celestial Dragon slaves. For them, that may be an even more terrifying punishment than Impel Down!

As for you, Shiryu, no matter your reasons, I will not permit you to continue slaughtering those prisoners!

This is a prison, not an execution ground. If I discover you engaging in such behavior again, I will personally arrest and imprison you, then carry out your execution!"

Meanwhile, on Sabaody Archipelago, at the largest and most luxurious residence on Tree Island Number Seventy-Nine.

Gawain was repeatedly sprinting through the enormous courtyard.

Honestly, Gawain was not only drenched in sweat—he was nearly crying too.

It was not because he was exhausted enough to cry, but because too much sweat had rolled into his eyes, leaving them painfully stinging.

At the edge of the courtyard, Gion wore Kompira at her waist and held a wooden sword in her hand as she watched Gawain expectantly.

Whenever Saint Gawain, the Celestial Dragon others feared like a tiger, paused even slightly, Gion really did strike him!

Smack!

With a crisp sound, pain shot through Gawain's back as he tried to slow down into a jog, and he staggered straight toward the ground.

"Fuck!"

Gawain was so exhausted that he had nearly lost consciousness. He had even let slip one of his old catchphrases from before he transmigrated.

Even though he had clearly fallen down, he was not upset in the slightest. After only a brief start, he happily flung himself onto the ground.

In that brief moment lying face-down, Gawain was already blissfully happy. The old saying had not lied: nothing felt better than lying down!

Unfortunately, before he could enjoy even two seconds of comfort, Gion immediately darted forward. Extending her long, fair hand, she pulled Gawain back up.

"My lord, you are still far from done. Continue."

"I..."

"If you can still speak, then you are nowhere near your limit. My lord, I want you to continue!"

Gion directly shoved Gawain forward!

All around them, the guards assigned to protect the residence were drenched in sweat. They looked at Gion as though she were a monster.

That was a Celestial Dragon! How did she dare put him through this? Hadn't she seen that His Lordship had asked to rest many times already? He had even given an order!

Gion did not care about guards who had long since been trained into loyal dogs by the Celestial Dragons. Holding the wooden sword with both hands, she began jogging alongside Gawain.

As she ran with Gawain, Gion continued speaking.

"In this world, there is only one kind of strength: your body!

Whether you rely on Devil Fruit abilities or give up Devil Fruits to specialize in Haki, you need a powerful body and unparalleled stamina to support you.

Thirty-three years ago, during the God Valley Incident, the war between Garp, Roger, and Rocks lasted an entire four days and four nights. Without sleep or rest, the clashes of Haki and Devil Fruit abilities never ceased for a single moment!

Twenty-two years ago, Shiki and Roger fought for three days and three nights in the Edd War, until a sea disaster destroyed Shiki's fleet and brought it to an end!

Nineteen years ago, Shiki stormed Marine Headquarters alone, declared war on both old men, Garp and Sengoku, and only fell in defeat and was captured after holding out day and night.

Look—the battles of the strong are all measured in days and nights!

The key is stamina. Your body is the weapon you can trust most, my lord!"

At that point, seeing Gawain's steps grow increasingly unsteady, Gion directly swung her wooden sword and lightly struck Gawain's thigh.

She truly had struck lightly, but when it landed on Gawain, the force nearly made him leap from the pain.

After crying out miserably, Gawain quickened his pace and indeed charged forward another stretch.

Only when Gawain truly had no strength left did Gion press him to the ground.

She was not polite about it. She directly removed Gawain's linen short-sleeved shirt and applied ointment to the places she had struck with her sword.

As she applied the ointment, Gion said coldly,

"My lord, you have the heart of a raging tiger, hidden strategy in your mind, and ambitions that span the world. But mere words cannot make me believe in your resolve!

With such astonishing talent for Conqueror's Haki, as long as you make up your mind, your strength will surely improve at a rapid pace!

Rather than be your guard, Gion would rather be your blade and watch you personally shine across the world!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Gion sat on Gawain's back and patted him on the shoulder.

"Rest ends here. Your muscles are no longer twitching, which means you can continue training!

My lord, don't stop!"