On the small boat, Gawain amused and exasperated, punched Whitebeard and Shanks a few times before sitting down again to drink with the three of them.
After drinking two glasses of wine, the Big Mom glanced at Gawain's smiling face and couldn't help but purse her lips.
"Haha, actually, in recent years, Mom has sometimes regretted her life."
My mother just wanted to have children; a mother like that wouldn't have made me a pirate in the first place.
By becoming pirates, many children were destined never to have their lives.
If only Mom had applied for a job in Mary Geoise back then, joined the damned CP0, and then used her beauty to seduce a few Celestial Dragon.
Then, hahaha, then Mom, with the title of Celestial Dragon's wife, will try to take my free Celestial Dragon husband on a sea voyage like you.
"With the Celestial Dragon's power, even if Mom wanted to have a child with a giant, it should be easy..."
At this point, a smile appeared in Mom's eyes.
Laughing, she poured herself a drink, then casually tossed the bowl into the sea.
The moment the wine bowl hit the sea...
That's right, it's "upper," not "middle."
The moment the wine bowl hit the water, it shattered completely, almost turning into dust.
After a brief period of turbulence, the seawater roared and surged forth with tremendous force.
Watching the Big Mom smash the bowl, Newgate remained silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Linlin, look at how unwilling you are. Are you afraid? Afraid that everything in your life will end at some point in the future?"
"Afraid!
How could I be afraid!
Faced with life and death, Mom, I have been through countless trials!
All that's left is a heart full of pride and a little bit of regret!
If it weren't for... sigh.
If I hadn't never met my parents, with their education and protection, I probably could have become a doctor or a lawyer, or even a pastry chef...
Really... hahaha!
Sometimes, even I crave a moment of ordinariness!
At this point, the Big Mom chuckled and patted her leg.
"Let's not talk about those discouraging things anymore. Honestly, it's incredibly boring to say those things at a time like this!"
Anyway, let's get down to business: when exactly are we going to start fighting?
Gawain, have you set a date for your own demise? If so, let us know!
We will grant your last wish!
"Hehe."
Responding to the Big Mom's blunt words, Gawain smiled and narrowed his eyes.
"Who would choose their own death date? But I'm really looking forward to sending you to another world at sunrise in two days."
"What's wrong, Big Mom? Are you in a hurry?"
"Mom, I'm so impatient! Because anything I can't have, I should destroy with my own hands!"
Being stubborn won't work, because when I stand with Shanks and Newgate...
Even if Rocks himself came, or even if your Five Elders personally came, you can forget about defeating us head-on!
Tsk tsk, Mom, I'm already looking forward to the day I can divide up your big ship.
Adam Wood is extremely scarce lately. Mom, I want to buy a better boat but I can't find the materials. I'll have to rely on your help!
The middle- Big Mom gave a sinister laugh, as she kept pouring alcohol into her large mouth.
After the barrel of wine beside her was completely empty, she suddenly stood up and looked into the distance.
"Alright, that's all I wanted to say to you!"
You know, if you bring it for even longer, or drink even more...
Then I probably wouldn't be myself anymore!
Who doesn't have a devil living inside them?
But only the demon in my heart will be a constant threat to me!
That's why, whenever I'm sober, no matter how much I enjoy what I've earned through my struggle and hard work with the devil.
I'm not immune to having these thoughts now.
If only that devil hadn't existed in the first place.
If I weren't who I am today.
Would I be better off then?
Thinking about it, hahaha!
It might be better or worse, but at least for me right now.
No matter how ruthless the future may be, I won't be worse off than I am now!!!
At this point, the Big Mom suddenly looked at Gawain, and said with utmost seriousness.
"From now until the moment of the second sunrise."
Right here in the sea where we are drinking right now.
Either you send your mother to end this miserable life.
Either Mom will send you away from this ridiculous and disgusting world!
If you die, your mother will take care of your wives. They will not become her tools. Even if Shanks and Newgate want to harm them, your mother will never give them that opportunity!
As for me, well...
If I, your mother, die, then please take care of my children for me. They don't need to be very good to them. Even if you turn them into mindless tools, at least let them live, and especially let them leave behind a few children for them, just like I did!
As soon as she finished speaking, the Big Mom shot into the sky with a whoosh, her thick legs shattering the air like bombs.
With sonic booms echoing through the air, the Big Mom's figure gradually receded into the distance until she disappeared.
After the Big Mom disappeared, Newgate raised his wine bowl and said with a smile.
"Linlin has had a really tough time these past few years."
When she doesn't have a sweet tooth, she's alright; at least she still has some rationality.
When she develops Hunger Pangs, sigh...
In short, although she's in her sixties or seventies now, she's actually lived less than twenty-five years of life.
That's why, when she realized that real danger was imminent...
At this moment, she was more heartbroken than us heartless fools.
As he spoke, Newgate raised his hand and patted Gawain on the shoulder.
Meeting Gawain's unchanging gaze, Newgate continued with a Gawain and unrestrained manner.
"Gawain, we did have an agreement between us, albeit a loose one."
During this period when you've blocked the Grand Line, I should have done something for you, such as trying to delay the upcoming decisive battle.
But...
Ha, I'm not as great as you think. Even if I tried my best to delay, I only delayed for seven and a half months.
Gurarara, the young pirates of the New World are in an uproar as soon as they hear that you've cut off the Grand Line!
Unlike us old fogies who were already planning to die in the New World, the young pirates are still hoping to return home in glory.
Carrying tons of treasure, singing melodious sea songs, showing their scars to their parents, wives, and children, and then going with friends to taverns Four Blues to tell their adventures to cowards who have never been to sea!
This is the kind of life that 90% of pirates in the New World pursue. As for the remaining 10%, well...
Only old guys like me don't care if more new pirates rush into the New World to replenish the strength of us old pirates.
After all, for me, haha, my pirate crew is already the World's Strongest!
It wouldn't matter even if Teach didn't eat the Yami Yami no Mi.
As long as I'm here, even if Shanks and the other two attack my pirate crew together...
I dare to guarantee that in the final moments of my life, I can beat those three into a state so weak that my sons can barely handle them!
They might even suffer some losses!
In short, well, I don't care if the pirate crew gets stronger, so... I don't care if you block off the New World.
Linlin is the same; she empowers herself by having children and through marriage alliances, and she doesn't care about outsiders.
As for Shanks, well, Shanks isn't the kind of guy who accepts just any partner.
He's so much like Roger, so incredibly alike!
As for the Emperors of the Sea is most likely, or rather, absolutely will, oppose your blockade plan.
Didn't you already anticipate the enemy's moves and starve Kaido, that magnanimous man who was willing to accept any strong person as his subordinate?
At least for now, ha.
Whether it's me, Linlin, or Shanks, the three of us really don't want to start a final battle with you.
Or rather, your enemy from the very beginning was not us, but the class to which we belong!
The reason we have come here is because we cannot betray our class and identity.
Pirates throughout the New World are in turmoil, a wave comparable to, or even surpassing, the Great Pirate Era sparked by Roger!
Because Roger brought to pirates all over the world was a dream.
And you, you are taking away the lives and freedom of all the pirates in the world!
At this point, the Whitebeard raised his wine bowl and clinked it against Gawain's.
Beside him, Shanks, with his only remaining arm, raised his wine bowl and downed a sip with the other two.
Setting down his wine bowl, the Whitebeard rubbed his hair and continued speaking in a grand, imposing manner.
"What I just said is the reason I came here."
But that's not all, because what I really want to tell you is a request I have for you.
Linlin is gone, alas... When faced with life and death, she was always the one most unwilling to accept it.
As for me, compared to being dragged to death on my bed by this weary heart...
I would much rather die on a glorious battlefield!
So..."
Newgate paused for a moment, then met Gawain's gaze and nodded heavily.
"So, Gawain, let the battle two days from now end with my death!"
I have longed for such a battle for far too long. As a pirate, even though I have come to realize that pirates are a scourge on the world, I still hope to die as a pirate for the survival of pirates!
Did you know that I made this decision a long time ago?
If one day I get too old to fight, then no matter what, I will do something in my last moments before I die that is as great as Roger did before he died!
If nothing serious happened during that time.
Well... I will single-handedly Impel Down an assault on Marine Headquarters, or Mary Geoise, or at the very least, Impel Down!
But at that point, my actions could very well escalate the war!
At least I know that no matter what reason I use to start a war with the navy...
Kaido would rush to the battlefield to help me.
Of course, I am his enemy, but the Navy is the enemy of pirates, and given Kaido's magnanimous character, he will surely help me to attack the Navy!
But Linlin, that Linlin, is different from Kaido; they have their own bond.
Therefore, once I receive Kaido's aid, the situation will change from a final act starring myself to a full-scale war between pirates and the navy!
So at that time, there's a very high chance I'll meet you, Shanks.
At that time, I'll probably have to ask you two favors, Shanks.
First, I'll ask you to help me stop Kaido. This is very easy for you, not to mention that your strength has reached Roger's level back then, and your subordinates like Beckman, Yasopp, and Lucky Roux.
Those people's strength has already reached the level of Gaban, Rayleigh, and Oden.
You young people in your thirties and forties, at the peak of your lives, are actually the most powerful pirate crew in the New World.
If you're willing to agree to my request, you'll definitely be able to stop Kaido.
As for the second one, haha.
I'll probably ask you to act as a peacemaker between me and the Marines after you've stopped Kaido!
I will die someday, and to die on the battlefield will be a worthy death.
But my sons, by following me in one last moment of recklessness, have already created their own pirate legends, haha!
Once I'm dead, the navy will surely wipe them out completely.
At that time, Shanks, you will need to stand up and protect my sons in front of the Navy, and at the same time end the war I started.
Even if I don't fight my final battle, after I die, my sons will still be in danger due to being hunted down by the entire ocean.
Since that's the case, why not use my life to let them grow stronger in a full-scale war, so they can prepare for the future!
Bang!
Newgate smashed the wine bowl in his hand, then picked up a nearby wine barrel.
Carrying a wine barrel over five meters tall, the Whitebeard toasted Gawain.
Glug glug.
After finishing his drinks, the Whitebeard exhaled a hearty breath and then looked solemnly at Gawain.
"What I said before was my original plan."
As for now, gura la la!
There's absolutely no need for me to do anything special; you've already created enough of a spectacle for me to make my mark.
So, Gawain, for the sake of the war two days from now, let me make a promise with you, just as I originally planned!
Time waits for no one; Shanks today is not as decisive and composed as you.
Promise me, after I die, you must not let the war escalate any further!
I know what you're thinking; in your ideal new era, there's no place for thieves!
You may not be able to completely eliminate thieves from the entire world.
But you can't allow the despicable concept of thief to become an object of admiration for an entire generation of young people!
But Gawain, please listen to what I have to say!
Pirate culture, which has spanned eight hundred years of history, cannot be completely eradicated even if you wipe out the entire New World.
That group needs a gradual process, and it requires our pirate side to repeatedly muster hope and launch decisive battles, only to fail again and again until we are completely discouraged!
From this perspective, you need more people who are qualified, like me, to lead the great pirates in a war of hope!
On the other hand, you can't help but think that once the pirates disappear completely, the pressure that once weighed on them will be transferred to you!
In short, for my sake, everything will begin with the war I lead, and end with my death.
As for Linlin...
Let's just let her live a little longer.
Without me and Kaido, Shanks wouldn't care about Linlin either; she wouldn't be able to get anything done in that state.
You want to break the pirates' spine!
Then I'll tell you!
I am the backbone of the pirates!!!
But after breaking the pirates' spine...
Gawain, you mustn't be in such a hurry to take the pirates' lifeline!
Remember this!!!