Whoosh!
Mihawk, knife in hand, suddenly appeared beside Gawain.
Pale blue chakra was slowly swirling around his sword.
Since chakra has great potential, Mihawk will not give up any training for even a second.
The pinnacle of swordsmanship can only be reached through unparalleled focus!
At the same time, Gion also appeared from the branch center and stopped to Gawain's right.
Beside Gawain, Bullet narrowed his eyes and gave Mihawk and Gion a meaningful smile.
Seeing Bullet's smile, Gawain gently patted him on the shoulder.
"Hey buddy, don't laugh like Shiryu."
I don't care what you did in the past, now you're a crew member of my Dark Bird Ship, so you have to act like Dark Bird!
After saying that, Gawain glanced at Bullet's attire.
Thankfully, with Bullet's physique, wearing a military uniform makes him look like a larger version of Shiryu.
Bullet, standing nearby, grinned and nodded as he listened to Gawain's words.
"Haha, I understand, Captain."
I was just pleasantly surprised because we have far more powerful people on our ship than I did on Roger's ship!
At this point, Bullet turned his head with a hint of curiosity and looked in Sakazuki's direction.
As he watched, he couldn't help but mutter something under his breath.
"Especially since we even have a damn navy here!"
Haha, this is truly unexpected! I've actually ended up fighting alongside those sea lions chasing after me!
"Hey, what the hell are you saying, you idiot?"
Who the hell is the sea lion you're talking about? Dare to be clear about it!
Come on, say it again, and I'll see how I rip your mouth off and put it in your ass...
"Aramaki!!!"
While Aramaki was impatiently cursing Bullet, he turned around and was patted on the shoulder by Sakazuki.
Sakazuki gripped Aramaki's shoulder tightly, glanced coldly at Bullet, and then bowed deeply to Gawain.
"Gawain!"
After bowing, Sakazuki straightened up and continued speaking to Gawain.
"This young man is named Aramaki, and he is an outstanding talent that I encountered during my law enforcement career."
Even before he ate Devil Fruit, he already possessed considerable strength and a correspondingly Absolute Justice.
Now, having consumed the Logia Woods-Woods Fruit, his fighting power far surpasses what it once was.
"I hope he can become your subordinate, and also provide assistance to us in our all-out war against the New World pirates in the next two days!"
After saying that, Sakazuki patted Aramaki heavily on the shoulder.
"Aramaki, come and greet Lord Gawain!"
Gawain, this is Aramaki. I hope you will give him some face in return for my sake!
"Okay, I understand..."
Listening to Sakazuki's words, Gawain looked at Aramaki with great interest.
Originally, Yixiao had mentioned Aramaki to him before.
Although they weren't very close, they were both top-tier seafarers and both champions of justice.
It's normal that the two of them knew each other to some extent.
However, he had never taken Aramaki seriously in the past, and his subordinates had never investigated Aramaki's movements.
There's no way around it; Aramaki isn't a strong person like Yi Xiao with particularly obvious hobbies.
For the strong, it's incredibly easy to remain undetected.
With his Observation Haki, Aramaki could easily disappear as soon as he sensed he was being followed.
Therefore, even though Aramaki had caused quite a few major incidents in the past year, he had no intention of communicating with the Dark Bird Ship and never appeared in front of the Dark Bird Ship's intelligence personnel.
However, the flowers you plant with care may not bloom, while the willows you plant unintentionally may bear fruit.
It turns out that this guy had already been in contact with Sakazuki long before Aramaki became Admiral.
The guy he'd been searching for had suddenly appeared right in front of him, brought by Sakazuki!
As he thought about it, Gawain smiled with satisfaction and then reached out his hand to Aramaki.
"Hello, Aramaki, I am Gawain."
I understand what Sakazuki means, so are you willing to join my Dark Bird Alliance and become one of its forces?
As he spoke, Gawain grasped Aramaki's hand and gently shook it.
Across from him, looking at Gawain's smiling face, Aramaki couldn't help but grin.
"Hehe, yes, of course I'm willing."
I don't know why you are so highly regarded by Brother Sakazuki.
But I will always listen to my older brother!
In short, from this day forward, you are my captain, Captain Gawain!
That said, what exactly is my position? Am I Admiral?
Or perhaps even stronger than Admiral?
After all, you're Celestial Dragon, so I guess I'm now considered Celestial Dragon's lackey, right?
Hahaha, it feels so good to be a lackey!
I can bully male tyrants..."
Bang!!!
Before Aramaki could finish speaking, Sakazuki delivered a powerful punch to the back of Aramaki's head.
With black energy emanating from his fists, Sakazuki spoke to Gawain.
"You flatter me, Gawain. Aramaki has always walked a fine line between right and wrong; he's really too reckless!"
However, please rest assured that Aramaki is always happy to obey orders.
He will never be a problem for you!
After explaining, Sakazuki coldly pulled Aramaki up, whose head had been hammered into the ground.
However, looking at Aramaki's lazy expression and the tattoos on his body...
Sakazuki couldn't resist and kicked Aramaki again.
After observing the comical Aramaki from the sidelines.
Bullet chuckled.
"Interesting, really interesting. After what just happened, I've come to admire this bastard a little."
In my opinion, this bastard is the only one who's somewhat interesting among everyone here!
Hey, is your name Aramaki?
If you're willing, you can hang out with me from now on, or we can hang out together.
I think we get along well, haha!!!
Amidst laughter, Bullet warmly approached Aramaki and patted Aramaki on the shoulder.
He was a smart man; he knew that even with his own abilities, he should try to find a few partners to expand his influence.
Back when they were on Roger's ship, Bullet and Gaban had a great relationship, while his relationship with Rayleigh was rather ordinary.
As for now...
Compared to a persistent man like Mihawk, or a female naval officer like Gion.
Aramaki, with his face practically screaming "I'm not a good person," is more to his liking.
Just as Bullet was speaking, Sakazuki glanced at Bullet and couldn't help but frown.
A moment later, he stepped forward and looked coldly at Bullet.
"My lord, you actually brought Bullet, this troublesome guy, out of Impel Down's sixth level."
After Roger's death, Bullet was the only one who disobeyed the Navy!
Unlike Rayleigh and others who went into seclusion, Bullet caused a lot of trouble back then, and it was only through the Buster Call that he was brought under control.
Even if we need combat power now, we may not need him, we..."
"Sakazuki."
Gawain interrupted Sakazuki, and meeting Sakazuki's thoughtful expression, Gawain.
For many people, right and wrong are concepts that don't exist.
In the eyes of such people, everything the strong do can be considered absolutely correct under the influence of their willfulness!
Bullet is certainly not a good person, but he is not entirely bad either.
"As long as you become stronger than Bullet will never mind risking his life for someone stronger!"
At this point, Gawain turned around and gave Bullet a cold glance.
Meeting Gawain's indifferent gaze, Bullet, who was holding Aramaki, shrugged helplessly.
"You're right, Captain."
To me, you are stronger than me, so I will always submit to the strong.
Tsk tsk, your strength is probably even greater than Roger's, why wouldn't I listen to you?
Only the strongest are worthy of success on this vast ocean!
Since I am not the strongest, then I can only stand beside the strongest and gradually seek a path to surpass him!
After saying that, Bullet stuck out his tongue at Sakazuki with disdain.
Seeing his actions, Aramaki raised his elbow in annoyance.
"Who the hell do you fucking befriend?"
How dare you insult my boss?!
"You want to fight, you trash!"
"Huh???"
Bullet was completely stunned by the barrage of insults he received.
He took another careful look at Aramaki.
Ripped jeans that exude a rebellious vibe, and a long sword hanging from his waist.
Especially that damn thing, the naked upper body and the large tattoos all over it.
How can this person be called a good person?
How the hell did he end up hanging out with Marine Admiral???
Do you realize your art styles don't match?
A moment later, Bullet, stunned for a second, punched Aramaki in the face.
The next instant, Aramaki also suddenly raised his fist and delivered a vicious punch to Bullet.
At this point, the two of them rolled up their sleeves and rushed from the dock into the distant sky.
Without saying a word, let's fight!
The two were locked in combat in the blink of an eye!
Aramaki's ability to become a future Admiral is undeniable.
There is no room for doubt regarding Bullet.
The battle between the two quickly swept across the sea, and also put the powerful beings deeper in the New World on their guard.
So, while Gawain and the others watched with amusement as Bullet and Aramaki warmed up each other.
Nearly seventy nautical miles from the New World outpost, in the central area where countless pirate ships are stationed.
The Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks, who was drinking, suddenly looked up.
After carefully sensing the distant battle using their Observation Haki, they realized that...
The Whitebeard man chuckled.
"How interesting, the aura of two new monsters!"
It's a monster I've never seen before!
Where did Gawain find these two guys again?!
And so, Gura la la!
It seems we're getting closer to failure!
After saying that, the Whitebeard suddenly raised the wine bowl in his hand and downed it in one gulp.
Across from him, Shanks shook his head noncommittally as he listened to Whitebeard's words.
"Victory or defeat, that's not something we, a bunch of disunited stinking pirates, can decide!"
Just like how it was Captain Roger, who had already passed away, who ushered in the Great Pirate Era.
Whether we are the losers or the dead, we have no power to determine the direction of the tide.
Ultimately, only the will of the living can determine everything!
As he spoke, Shanks looked out at the distant sea, where dozens, even hundreds, of seas were constantly overlapping and eventually merging into one.
Every colorful wave has hundreds of shadows, but only the wave chosen by Shanks has the right to become the true future!
In the eyes of those who can see the future.
The future is something we can control!
Upon hearing Shanks' words, Newgate paused for a moment, then smiled with relief.
"You mean, even if all of our old ships sink in the next few days?"
As long as the reasons why pirates set sail still exist.
So the era of pirates will never end, right?
Gula la la, this old man really doesn't know whether this is a good thing or not.
Now that things have come to this, I'd rather fail on that day in the future!
Regardless, Gawain is keeping his promise to me!
In the past six months, not a single pirate has come to the New World, nor has any pirate set foot on the Grand Line!
Especially, Gula la la!
The security within the Grand Line improved after the departure of those younger, scoundrels.
It's so good that I'm incredibly envious!
I wish I could be reborn, right here in the Grand Line controlled by Gawain!
Even if life has other hardships.
Even though they still face exploitation and injustice from the nobility.
But as long as they don't easily take the lives of their entire family!
As long as no loved ones die inexplicably!
As long as you're alive, as long as you haven't starved to death!
If I had had such a childhood, there would be no Whitebeard flag in the world!
I cannot do that, not even now.
But at least Gawain laid the Qidian for that kind of future!
So..."
At this point, Whitebeard fell silent, his eyes filled with deep emotion as he looked at Shanks.
Meeting Whitebeard's gaze, Shanks remained silent for a moment, then raised his glass.
"Let's drink, Newgate. This one's a toast to an old friend of mine!"
You may not have seen that aura before, but I know very well that among the guys warming up in the opposite stronghold right now, there is one of my former comrades and seniors.
When Captain Roger last met you, Bullet hadn't even boarded the ship yet.
That senior was arrogant and unruly. Apart from Captain Roger, who completely overwhelmed him, he didn't even take Gaban and Rayleigh, who were only slightly stronger than him, seriously!
Now it's time for Bullet to become even stronger!
It's strange, though. Logically speaking, Gawain shouldn't have anyone under his command capable of continuing to overwhelm Bullet, right?
Compared to Bullet's current dominant performance, this guy is probably even better than Roger and you were back then!
Besides the veteran Garp, who else could have such strength?
Could it be that Mihawk has made a breakthrough?
At this point, Shanks grinned; she was becoming increasingly interested in the future!
And at the same time Shanks smiled.
In the distance, a large ship adorned with various pastry patterns, amidst the shadows of countless smaller boats, approached the Moby Dick.
As the Big Mom Pirates approached, Marco lazily shook his pineapple-shaped hair.
"Oh dear, the Big Mom is here."
Teach, please greet him.
"I understand, brother!"
Teach immediately stepped out of the crowd and approached the Moby Dick's gangway.
In the last ten months or so, Teach has become increasingly active, and his strength has earned him a position in the Whitebeard Pirates second only to Marco and Jozu.