The moonlight was faint, seemingly obscured by the smoke and dust raised by the war in Wano Country.
As a result, Gion, who was drinking alone under the moon, was not feeling very good.
As she drank, she closed her eyes, no longer looking at the moon, but instead pondering something she couldn't quite place.
For some reason, Gion's cheeks grew increasingly red, to an almost sickening red.
Just then, Shirahoshi staggered out of the restaurant, slightly drunk. She looked around and walked blissfully to Gion's side.
"Gion."
The little girl greeted everyone first, then couldn't help but yawn.
With her fair chest heaving, she exhaled and asked groggily.
"It's getting a bit late today. It's all Isuka and Uta's fault; they were both too enthusiastic."
"But why didn't you go back to sleep?"
At this point, Shirahoshi raised her wrist to look at the watch Franky had given her, then her face fell.
"Oh dear, it's already 2:30 in the morning. No wonder I'm so sleepy and tired."
Gion- neechan, you weren't waiting for me all this time, were you? I got home late, are you angry?
I know I was wrong, don't Monster, let's go back to sleep~."
As they were talking, Shirahoshi leaned down and pulled Gion back to her room, wanting to go back with Gion.
However, the moment she grabbed Gion suddenly shuddered, her exceptionally sensitive skin breaking out in goosebumps.
"Ah!"
With a startled cry, Gion realized that Shirahoshi had actually come to her side.
It's all that stinky woman Hancock's fault! She's been playing around for so long, and she's so promiscuous, making everyone else act so improperly too...
While blushing and suppressing the lingering feelings in her heart, Gion grabbed Shirahoshi with her other hand.
Although somewhat unwilling, she still spoke up.
"Shirahoshi, let's sleep somewhere else tonight. I'll hold you."
"Why?"
Shirahoshi was utterly perplexed, feeling not only awkward but also somewhat reluctant to part with it.
"Why is it just you hugging me tonight, sister? Usually, it's all together!"
Wait, I know, it's probably Gawain Gawain's body...
He's grown so big today, it scared everyone! It seems adults are still growing.
Okay, let's sleep together then, so the adults can rest and process the changes in his body.
But...?"
At this point, Shirahoshi glanced around, her eyes, which were becoming increasingly intoxicated.
"But is it just the two of us? Where's Big Sister Hancock?"
Alas!
Gion- nee, are you secretly trying to isolate Hancock- nee?
I heard Isuka mention that she was going to lead her friends to isolate Ace, apparently because Ace was too stupid or something.
So, it seems Hancock doesn't seem very bright around Gawain. Should we really isolate her?
Hehe~."
"Ha, what isolation? How could that be?"
Hancock simply had other work to do.
Or rather, that guy is still busy right now; he's really greedy.
Anyway, let's go, it's time to sleep.
Gion chuckled, then pulled Shirahoshi into a room that no one had used.
After the expansion, the Dark Bird Ship had so many unused rooms that settling the two of them in was a simple matter.
But after lying in bed, Gion couldn't fall asleep.
I toss and turn, unable to sleep, and sometimes I even squeeze my legs together.
Hmph, it's all Hancock's fault~.
The next day, at 7:00 AM.
Gawain emerged from the room, dressed neatly, followed closely by Hancock, who was dressed in red.
However, Gawain looked energetic, while Hancock appeared somewhat tired.
"Yawn~."
Feeling a little sleepy, Hancock let out a sweet sigh and gently tugged at Gawain's sleeve.
"Originally, I really wanted to walk around in front of the rabbit and give that guy a good scolding."
But it was so tiring. I never knew... I never knew that was such a tiring thing...
I hadn't slept until 6:30, and after just taking a shower and leaving the house, my head felt like it was still buzzing.
But anyway, sir.
I'm so happy~.
As she spoke, Hancock blushed and moved closer to Gawain from behind, gently putting her arm around Gawain waist.
Feeling that this wasn't quite enough, Hancock stood on tiptoe, pouted, and tried to kiss Gawain.
Looking at the happy girl who had become a bride, Gawain smiled gently and lowered his head to kiss her lips.
A moment later, their lips parted.
Gawain patted Hancock's shoulder and smiled.
"I told you long ago that you should rest, but you still wanted to take a stroll in front of Gion. You said you wanted to stroll, but you just wanted to show off."
Little did you know that by acting like this, you were making a fool of Gion.
Go back to sleep. You can wake up whenever you want, or I can wake you up again in our way.
Go.
After saying that, Gawain escorted Hancock back to her room to rest, while he himself returned to the deck forty minutes later.
It's almost eight o'clock, and there are many people on the deck, especially near the training ground.
Zoro, wrapped in bandages, was working out there, while Ace, Luffy, and the others were sparring in the distance.
In the distance, Zephyr led his soldiers to continue training. Having experienced the horrors of war, the soldiers' enthusiasm for training soared.
Firstly, because they realized that more training in peacetime would truly result in less bloodshed in wartime.
As for the second point, training is always easier than combat, and those who have just emerged from the flames of war need something relatively tough and difficult to rely on for their mental well-being.
When Gawain arrived nearby, Sabo, whose mind was not on the battle, spotted Gawain immediately.
Without having time to explain anything to Ace, he immediately walked towards Gawain, leaving Ace alone, feeling abandoned, and pouring out his heart to Prometheus.
As Sabo approached, Gawain couldn't help but yawn, then asked with a smile.
"You seem troubled. Come, sit down and talk."
After speaking, Gawain sat down on his sofa and accepted the tea that the maid handed him.
He savored the aroma of the tea while awaiting Sabo's response.
Sabo didn't sit down, but stood there anxiously and asked.
"Uncle, yesterday Shiryu... he captured and killed a lot of people in Wano Country!"
He even killed many women and children, he..."
"Is that so?"
Gawain gently interrupted Sabo, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he spoke.
"So, in the short time yesterday, Shiryu wiped out the remaining nobles of Wano Country... that is, the so-called daimyo?"
"This..."
Sabo was taken aback. He lowered his head and continued, looking embarrassed.
"Uncle Shiryu cleaned up too thoroughly. Although the common people of Wano Country don't know this, they just assume that all those daimyo died in the war."
But I...
I know he was sent by you, and I also know... your orders are always meaningful.
But those children...
"Is it really necessary to go to the point of eradicating the problem completely?"
After speaking, Sabo looked at Gawain with concern. The longer he spent with him, the more afraid he became of Gawain's anger.
After all, what he's doing now is questioning Gawain's orders.
Across from him, looking at the anxious Sabo, Gawain wasn't angry; instead, he felt a little relieved.
He was pleased that he had established a qualified monarch image and authority in the minds of his subordinates, and he was also pleased that the next generation of the Dark Bird Ship not only possessed independent consciousness, but were also willing to share their consciousness with him, even if it might anger him.
I don't know when it started, but some strange phenomena have appeared in certain circles. They are nothing more than mysterious internal language.
It seems that if you don't speak these official jargon used within the circle, you're not qualified to work together in that circle.
Little did they know that this almost useless secrecy made many things worse than they originally intended. After all, who can guarantee that a task requiring complete comprehension won't go wrong?
In short, communication is essential, and a monarch who cannot communicate effectively with his subordinates will face serious trouble.
But now, it seems that young people like Sabo are very willing to communicate with Gawain.
This is a good thing.
As he thought about it, Gawain nodded slightly.
"Indeed, Sabo, you have a point."
Perhaps we don't really need to eradicate them completely. From both a moral and legal perspective, it seems that when those nobles die, their children don't necessarily need to disappear.
Just like what we did in the Goa Kingdom, we simply forcibly stripped those nobles of their status, demoting them to the production class.
Not only were they not all dead, but their families and children were also perfectly safe.
But..."
Just like every long conversation has a "but, "Gawain's "but" made Sabo's heart skip a beat.
"But, Sabo, this is not the Goa Kingdom, nor is it the relatively peaceful Four Blues."
This is the New World, the Wano Country!!!
In other countries, how could I possibly hold a knife to a child?
Even if they are children of nobles, even if they are all as cunning and cruel as your brother, I am not incapable of letting them go.
Because I believe that most children created by a culture may not be able to remember their hatred, because most people know how to be content, and rather than hate the past, they want to be happy in the future.
But look at Wano Country. Eight hundred years ago, the only ones who haven't forgotten are the people of Wano Country.
Even when the whole world was at peace with my ancestors, they resolutely defied the world, preserving and distributing copies of the Poneglyph.
Eight hundred years couldn't erase their memories, so how could I possibly believe that the people here could forget their hatred?
Remember, even children can be a problem, and our great cause lacks money, manpower, resources, space, and time.
We have no shortage of trouble!
The pirate craze in the New World is destined to unite forces to guard against our three pirate Three Emperors, the chaotic ideologies of the World Government Member States, and even my family—all of which can be considered major troubles for us.
Therefore, at this time we must do everything we can to minimize our troubles.
Including potential and very likely troubles in the future!
At this point, Gawain sighed softly, then patted Sabo on the shoulder.
"I am very pleased with your comments, which resonated with me and also made me feel deeply guilty."
I'm carrying too much on my shoulders; you have to understand that I have to let go of some things.
That's precisely why I need someone like you to help me remember who I've lost and to remind me from time to time.
I'm sorry, Sabo, although I'm in great pain, the daimyo families throughout Wano Country must not be allowed to have even a single blade of grass left behind.
I hope you can feel my pain, and that we can work together to find a way to get rid of this pain in the future!
After saying that, Gawain raised his hand and rubbed Sabo's head.
He then lowered his eyes and spoke.
"The future is yours, so you need to put yourself in our shoes, and even in my shoes, to consider everything."
We cannot remain stationed in Wano Country, yet we must leave some of our brothers and sisters Wano Country to ensure that Wano Country continues along the path we need.
Just as I don't want Shiryu kill too many people.
I don't want those of us who stay behind to have our lives threatened time and again by the rebellious forces in Wano Country.
I don't want to lose anyone, but if I have to...
Then I choose to keep you all!
At this point, Gawain gave Sabo, who had tears in his eyes, a hug, and then escorted Sabo back to the training ground.
Even at noon, Sabo, who was eating and drinking with Ace and the Ace, would occasionally pat his cheeks.
"The uncle is already in so much pain, yet I still doubt him and even want to blame him!"
I'm such a scoundrel!
Leaving aside Sabo's inner thoughts, Doflamingo approached him not long after Sabo left.
After casually sitting down next to Gawain, he crossed his arms, Erlang, and said to Gawain with a cold smile.
"You're much better at lying to kids than I am; you really should be my boss."
My ambition for your position is dwindling!
If I were in your shoes, you would definitely do better than me.
If it were the other way around, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to attract Gion, let alone take the first step for you..."
After saying that, Doflamingo sneered, picked up the sake jug, and poured himself a glass of sake.
At the same time, Gawain made a sarcastic remark from the side.
"You, isn't it enough if you can attract Violet?"
Speaking of which, haven't you had a child or anything like that all these years?
If Violet doesn't want to have children for you, I can talk to her and help you.
If it's because of her family and the bad things you did in the past.
Well... I can only say good luck to you. King Riku's hatred for you in this generation is simply too hard to diminish."
"Snort!!!"
Upon hearing this, Doflamingo bared his teeth in displeasure.
"That old man, if you hadn't turned all those Toy Soldier back to normal, I wouldn't be in this mess now."
Violet... although she hasn't left my family, she hasn't been by my side for a long time.
You should know that I'm the one who's been wronged!
Dressrosa is my ancestral land, isn't it!
I merely took back what belonged to my ancestors, and they actually..."
"You'd better shut up, Doflamingo!"
Gawain snorted irritably at Dover's words.
"If only you had taken back your family's things, that would have been fine. Instead, you took back your country while turning the people who had guarded those things for you all these years into toys and slaves."
Even worse, you perverse bastard have made people experience tragedies like fathers and daughters meeting but not being able to recognize each other, and there's even a plot where the daughter almost kills her father, who is Toy Soldier.
If you pour lime into the fields, then don't blame the fields for not growing crops, right?
After saying that, Gawain curled his lip in disdain, while Doflamingo chuckled and inhaled with amusement.
"You have such a damn mouth, you always think you're right!"
Forget it, I'm not going to talk to you anymore. I was originally planning to suggest that you go even further and just wipe out Wano Country.
It seems unlikely that you'll agree with my suggestion now; after all, you're the boss.
However, I must make it clear to you that Wano Country, a country rich in Seastone resources, would attract countless countries to cooperate if it made even a slight concession.
Even World Government are vying to provide manpower, funding, and resources to help you with resource development.
We are not worried about the number or source of workers at all; on the contrary, keeping local workers from Wano Country is more likely to cause trouble.
Killing them all won't affect our income; in fact, it will please the Five Elders and speed up your progress towards Sabaody Castle!
In short, think it over carefully!
A ruler should have the ability to make choices, but he should also be able to act arbitrarily.
And you are the king!
After saying that, Doflamingo looked intently at Gawain's face.
Gawain, facing Doflamingo's gaze, smiled slightly.
"King, tsk tsk, you always like to say that."
Do you know how a top player would respond to your suggestion?
How should we respond?
Doflamingo looked over curiously, while Gawain shrugged and spread his hands.
"Oh."
He laughed jokingly.
"The king will tell you, we cannot allow the number of women in the world to decrease."
Without the women of Wano Country, our children might curse us, haha!