Across from him, upon hearing Beckman's words, Gawain disdainfully reached out his hand.
He casually plucked a stray bullet from behind his ear. To Gawain, this bullet, devoid of any powerful Haki, was nothing more than a toy.
While fiddling with the bullet in his hand, Gawain said thoughtfully.
"Young people represent hope."
Yes, that's true. Young people represent hope.
But... Beckman.
How could you forget that I'm only twenty-five years old this year? So, do you think I'm old?
The energy and drive of young people represent the hope for a future force.
On this vast ocean, who holds more hope than I?
Even so, you and Shanks are still blocking my way.
"Just because I affected your flight path?"
At this point, a burst of chaotic lightning suddenly appeared in Gawain's palm. Right at the center of that lightning, the bullet that had been spinning rapidly was being polished and kneaded into the shape of a water droplet by the infinitely pure lightning plasma.
Gawain gently raised his palm, smiled elegantly at Beckman, and said...
"Shanks and I, well, we're kind of... mutually appreciative."
I respect his ideals, because his ultimate goal was to end the old order that had lasted for eight hundred years on the high seas and bring a new vision to the world.
To be honest, this coincides with my own thoughts.
Although we have different methods to achieve that ideal, I believe that we should at least wait until the world is cleansed before having a final, decisive battle on the highest mountain in the world to determine who will ultimately prevail.
Look, Beckman, what a romantic I am.
And how forgiving have I been towards you, towards all of you, towards Shanks?
But..."
At this point, Gawain gently shook his head, then sighed.
"However, you have disappointed me. Of course you can see how important it is to this world to completely suppress the pirates!"
Simply because pirates exist as tools you need!
Simply because the pirate pawn still exists on Shanks' chessboard!
It's simply because you believe you still need to exploit the evil of pirates to achieve certain goals.
That's why you'd rather see more poor, innocent people being harmed by the freedom and dreams that should be cherished by everyone!
How utterly shameful!
As Celestial Dragon, Mary Geoise has always been my strength, but have you ever seen me uphold that so-called supreme authority? When have I never thought of tearing my biggest backer to shreds with my own hands!
That identity gave me countless advantages; it gave me the greatest chance of victory.
Besides, even if I win in the end, I can still continue the Celestial Dragon's rule.
If I can become the supreme being, and given that I am destined to rule the world in a better way, by firmly grasping the tradition of the Celestial Dragon' supremacy, I will find it easier to gain the obedience of the entire world!
Because they were already used to obeying the Celestial Dragon!
If I had done that, perhaps my future path would have been much smoother.
Even so, even if it means sacrificing some conveniences, even if it means forcing yourself to face everything in a more dangerous way.
Even if what I give up is something that countless people, even countless kings, or even elites like Doflamingo would covet!
On the path I have chosen, I am willing to abandon all injustice, because what I want to bring to the world, besides my own supreme status, is absolute justice!
I know what I'm doing. For the sake of justice, I'd rather lose you and Whitebeard as allies than fail to completely suppress the pirates!
Can't pirates help me?
That's amazing!
I have a thousand ways to use you, and you might even be happy to be used by me.
But the fact and the only answer is...
I have renounced the aid of injustice in an attempt to bring absolute justice and peace to the world!
But you and Shanks.
Oh...
While you are determined to win the current victory for the pirates and continue to use the evil of the pirates as a tool!
Do you really think that your methods of using evil to achieve your goals can make me believe you can achieve a so-called good future?
Evil is indeed a tool, but not everyone is qualified to use that tool!
Even under my command, that kind of thing could be used by opportunists, or by someone like Shiryu.
But I, Shanks, and people like us cannot place our hopes on the maintenance or even expansion of evil forces!
I have done everything I was supposed to do, and I am doing everything I am supposed to do!
At the same time, I must tell you!
I did the right thing!
You... are wrong!!!
At this point, Gawain lightly flicked his right finger, and the bullet, wrapped in endless lightning, spun endlessly on the tip of Gawain's bent middle finger, separated by a seemingly thin layer of air that actually contained countless Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki.
Gawain gripped the bullet and gently aimed at Beckman in the distance.
In the next instant, lightning Gawain, countless tiny bolts of lightning, so small they wouldn't even harm an ordinary person, permeating the surrounding space with a fine crackling sound.
In that instant, Gawain closed his eyes, and at the same time, the other side of the world opened its doors to him through lightning.
Every wisp of dust, every glimmer of future possibility.
While this isn't Future Sight, it's definitely the Observation Haki that's best at grasping every minute change!
At the same time, Gawain muttered something under his breath.
"This is the first time I've fought against guys with such extremely strong Observation Haki."
Observation Haki seems to be the most common and simplest, but when it becomes extremely powerful, it is also the most unsolvable.
No matter how powerful an attack is, it can only truly deal damage if it can hit the target.
So, I want to attack guys like you.
Then you have to be fast enough, even faster, so fast that even if you can see the future clearly, you'll only have one option: to face it head-on.
"Well then, Beckman, take this!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain smiled slightly and nodded to Beckman.
At the same time, Beckman, who was biting a cigar, suddenly bit it off!
"This chilling feeling, damn it, even the hair on the back of my head stood on end!"
Wait, is this really someone who has only been cultivating for a little over a year?!
Why is the pressure he's putting on me even stronger than the pressure Shanks is putting on me?!
At this point, Beckman unusually put away his pistol and instead gripped the blade with both hands.
His Observation Haki, which he had used countless times, told him that no matter how he tried to avoid it, the chilling feeling had not disappeared!
So, was this attack truly unavoidable?
No!
That's not all!
This chilling feeling isn't just from an attack that can't be dodged.
This feeling is telling myself!
Don't be fooled by the fact that you're still at 80% health.
If I were to be hit hard by such an attack, then I might very well...
I'll die!!!
Beckman held the sword with both hands, rapidly assessing how he should defend himself.
Meanwhile, Yasopp, noticing something amiss with his relatives' lavish lifestyle, unleashed an enhanced barrage of attacks on Gawain.
Seeing that there was still an attack from Yasopp to deal with, Gawain casually flicked his middle finger.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Shanks was charging towards Beckman!
Quick!
Faster!
Faster!
Shanks sped at an unprecedented speed, finally reaching Beckman before Gawain could fire the single bullet.
Shanks raised his Griffin, Gryphon, while speaking with his back to Beckman.
"Old buddy, you owe me a huge favor this time."
I saved your arm and a good knife, you know.
As he spoke, lightning flashed, and Shanks, holding his sword in his right hand, unleashed a devastating Conqueror's Haki Cavity attack using his Gryphon and the incoming projectiles!
The rapidly spinning bullet spun in front of Shanks's sword for a full ten seconds before finally knocking Shanks back more than two hundred meters!
Looking at Shanks in the distance, his hands dripping blood, and then at the torn opening between his thumb and Shanks.
Gawain gently shook his head.
"As expected, it's still not strong enough. Moreover, no matter how much I simulate it, my attacks will only hit the spot that you happen to block."
As expected of Shanks, as expected of someone who Future Sight. This ability is much more troublesome than my Mantra.
But that's fine too; Future Sight isn't something worth pursuing.
Compared to that, I still prefer... listening and feeling more!
"Yes!"
Upon hearing Gawain's words, Shanks nodded cheerfully, then tossed his hair and casually tore a piece of clothing to shreds.
Holding the strip of cloth in one hand, Shanks bit the end of the cloth with his teeth and simply wrapped it up.
He gripped his sword again, nodded to Gawain, and said.
"Only after truly witnessing Captain Roger's ability to Voice of All Things did I realize what kind of person the world would reveal all its secrets to."
If you could truly master that power.
Or, to put it another way, if you have truly mastered the power to Voice of All Things.
Then I... ha.
Then I might not even be here to fight this seemingly important but actually meaningless war with you!
Because no matter how talented you are, I don't entirely believe you can Awakening that kind of power!
Voice of All Things is not just a simple ability!
That's even more of a proof.
A power that makes you feel accepted by the world, chosen by all things, and seen as hope by the universe!
That requires enough ideals, enough sincerity, enough perseverance, and enough tolerance!
That is both the world's recognition of you and your love and expectations for the world!
And you..."
At this point, Shanks mentioned the Griffin Gryphon and grinned at Gawain.
"And you, Gawain, don't be reluctant to hear what I'm saying."
I heard everything you just said to Beckman.
But the more times you say those things, the less likely I am to believe you, Gawain!
No one is a naive child; we are all just idealists!
You say you are practicing justice, you say you want to give the world fairness, but from the moment you decided to stand at the highest point, the fairness you pursued no longer exists!
You've described your justice and order to me and Beckman countless times, but you've never explained a single point.
That is, as long as order exists, absolute fairness no longer exists!
Because order is a ladder, and ladders have different heights!
On my ship, even I am no superior to my companions. We may never have been truly free, but at least we were fair enough.
On your ship, even the officers are divided into different ranks. The Dark Bird Alliance has appeared countless times in the past, and will continue to appear in the future!
I know that you are at the height of your power now, because although the order is different, you are all warriors with ideals, just like me and my comrades.
But the regime you people create together may last a long time, but what happens when you are no longer around?
Or perhaps you've been emphasizing that you can guarantee fairness and maintain your position King of the World.
How long can you, the King of the World, remain on the throne?
Will everything you have vanish like smoke when you leave?
Even if, in order to maintain all of that, you choose to search for every method of immortality, and then actually achieve the pursuit of immortality.
It's one thing if others don't know, but surely you and I do?
Isn't this just following the same old path?
Your fairness is your fairness, but there's only one of you, and your existence cannot last indefinitely.
But if you truly conquer time.
Then there will be even more unfairness accumulating against you!
You say I use evil to achieve my goals, therefore you don't believe in the future I pursue.
And I must say, how can your so-called order, which places itself at the top of unfairness from the very beginning, possibly create a truly fair world?
There is no nobility, no lineage, no status, only hard work, talent, ability, and opportunity.
I wouldn't believe such a world exists. It might not bring hope; it could be a world devoid of hope altogether!
Because in your theory, I have never seen how someone without talent, ability, opportunity, or even the chance to work hard can live!
Does everyone have the right to work hard? When you need to work more than ten hours a day just to support your family, working harder is nothing more than a fast Sea Train!
The so-called fairness you talk about isn't fairness at all; it's a pseudo-fairness where the best get more!
Such hypocritical fairness is nothing more than elitism, a theory that certainly works today because in this world, elites are defined solely by bloodline.
If you win, it may indeed bring glory to an era, but the era you bring will be nothing more than the dregs of countless past eras that have been endlessly repeated!
As for me, I never think about how things will develop before the meeting, and I never think about how people in the future will pursue their own fairness and hope.
All I can do is let them grasp what they can grasp and bring a new possibility to the future.
The key point is... it's new!
Even if it's not necessarily good, even if it's worse than it is now, it should at least be something that has never existed before!
Only things like this can bring more opportunities for the future!
Even if it harms this era!!!