An important force?
Gawain listened to Shanks' words thoughtfully.
Shanks is right, at least after learning about the true power of the Five Elders, as well as the hidden secrets of the God's Knights and the Celestial Dragon.
Gawain had to admit that if he didn't exist in this world, Luffy, the Pirate King who was supposed to become the protagonist later in the story, probably wouldn't have been able to continue his solo life.
There's no way Luffy's crew could take down Mary Geoise like this.
So in the end, there was no doubt.
Pirate King needs to return to its core theme.
It's likely that in the original storyline's future, the pirate forces would, for various inexplicable reasons, converge around Luffy, and merge with Wano Country, the Revolutionary Army, and other forces, embarking on the path to truly overthrow Mary Geoise.
Just like towards the end of the Pirate King storyline, Luffy is involved in more and more team battles. Even in the crucial battles that led to his becoming one of the new Four Emperors, Luffy fought alongside Kid and Law.
Without me, the world of Pirate King would truly be a world where pirates shine brightly.
After all, this is the world of Pirate King!
However, all those speculations and the premise of the future are based on the following:
No Gawain!
Without himself, even a guy like Kid, who disregards human life and massacres cities at will, can be redeemed and gain the admiration and sympathy of countless fans in the blink of an eye by associating with Luffy!
Without me, even Blackbeard might have to be redeemed and become Luffy's future Luffy in the attack on Mary Geoise because of my D identity!
As for the so-called hatred between Luffy and Teach?
Although it was Teach who sent Ace to prison, Ace had already escaped. It was Sakazuki who killed Ace!
If this world didn't have him, fans would rather accept Blackbeard, a truly evil man devoid of humanity, than accept Sakazuki, an absolutely outstanding soldier who would be considered an extreme and renowned general regardless of the era he appeared in!
Without myself, this world might, after a series of events, see Imu defeated, the World Government overthrown, and then usher in a new era of prosperity!
But did such an era truly exist?
Or perhaps it's just a group of pirates and a group of timid and hesitant Revolutionary Army, or a country like Wano Country... ruled by a prematurely matured seven-year-old child.
Unless it's a fairy tale, otherwise...
Do they really have the right and ability to decide the future of the ocean and the billions of lives on this world?!
Thinking of this, Gawain gritted his teeth and then said to Shanks, word by word.
Roger's influence on you... is truly profound!
So much so that a rational person like you would actually believe that pirates can bring a bright future!
In every ten sentences you speak, there are always a few that emphasize the use of pirates as a source of power.
But why don't you think about it carefully?
If only one person has the power, and that person is willing to become our power in crucial moments.
If this person's past crimes can be forgiven by us...
Would such a world be more rational than the world we have now?
At this point, Gawain casually hung the gourd that Shanks had returned to him on his waist.
After fastening the straps, Gawain looked up again and gently shook his head at Shanks.
"The reason I am unwilling to regard pirates as a usable force is that..."
Because... I don't want unworthy people to have any opportunity to make contributions in this new era!
If I ever succeed, then even Doflamingo can forget about continuing to "live" in "this" world!
I remember the crimes my men have committed, and I am always ready to settle accounts with them!
I intend to treat even my own subordinates this way, let alone... those pirates who have always been accompanied by sin!
Those I need to eliminate have contributed significantly to my process of clarifying the world.
Tsk tsk, even for me, purging meritorious officials involves a lot of risks.
Dealing with the criminals on my own ship is troublesome enough, and now you want to cast a whole bunch of vicious bastards as future heroes!
Shanks, I really don't know if you truly don't care about those things.
Or are you really just that stupidly arrogant!
You're not stupid, you're quite smart.
Therefore, although you have always maintained a righteous persona of not disturbing the people and not robbing the people.
But in reality, the Celestial Dragon bloodline in your bones has always influenced you!
You seem kind!
But you... have never loved the millions of ordinary people in this world...
Or perhaps, your love for ordinary people all over the world is simply your own inability to harm them.
"And apart from not causing harm, you can't do anything else, and you don't want to do anything else either."
At this point, Gawain raised his hand and pushed Shanks' wings aside.
Then, he picked up the first gourd that had returned to his hand and gently waved it at Shanks.
"Our promise has now been fulfilled."
So, as agreed, put down the Dyna Stone you took.
That thing can indeed threaten 99% of people at sea, but it poses no threat to you or me.
After all, we both know that if you really want to use Dyna Stone to bombard the Red Line, then you'll probably have to face the God's Knights.
So let everyone have a good fight. The Navy will be honed to a sharper edge in this battle, and the pirates will find a little bit of unity through it.
If you want to use pirates as a force to attack Mary Geoise, then this unity is perfect for them.
With today's foundation, it will be easier for you to rally pirates in the future.
At the same time, your requirement is that if the pirates fail, I cannot launch a large-scale hunt down of the existing pirates.
Shanks, don't forget my goal. My goal is to perfectly control the Grand Line, not to wipe out the pirates today!
No one will hunt you down; I only need your defeat to suppress those restless young people Four Blues.
After your defeat, the young people of the Four Blues who no longer have the chance to become pirates may suffer for a while.
But I know they won't suffer for long, because my world and I will continue to expand as the Sea Train continues to be built.
Now all I want is the Grand Line, because everything I have only allows me to control the Grand Line.
I will want more in the future, because I will have more then.
That makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"
As he spoke, Gawain put the flask back into his pocket and then patted Shanks on the shoulder.
Feeling Gawain's movements, Shanks awkwardly raised his head.
"When I went to see my daughter before, you weren't as tall as you are now."
In such a short time, I've come to look up to you, Gawain.
After chuckling, Shanks placed his hand on his scabbard and nodded nonchalantly.
"In short, our agreement has been reached."
Then let's see who wins this battle.
But actually, I've already lost, because I couldn't convince you, but you ultimately convinced me.
Gawain, you rascal...
Ah, if only you had appeared ten years earlier!
In that case, perhaps after I steal the Nika Fruit, I will deliver Devil Fruit to you.
Who told you to look a million times luckier than the child fate and I chose?
A not-so-happy leader, and a happy child.
Haha, fate's choices are always so interesting, and always so difficult to make.
Because I know that even if you succeed, the world you bring will certainly not be as happy as that child's.
Whether he's happy or not doesn't matter; all that child ever sees are bad people and good people.
But you see mostly ordinary people, mortals, the weak, and the lowly.
I just hope you have a way to deal with the future outstanding individuals.
Why is it that every outstanding person instinctively demands more?
In fact, their demands were all justified.
Such a request is not easy to make light of, and you... I just can't understand it.
What exactly are you planning to do with them?
In today's world, where countless enemies exist, the strong are indispensable pawns and tools for us all.
In a future without enemies, the strong may become our enemies and troubles.
What a peaceful world lacks are managers who are of average ability, lack ambition, and are preferably willing to strictly abide by rules and laws.
We only need military strength during times of war.
But genius doesn't disappear with the changing times.
The reason why much of history has fallen into a vicious cycle is precisely because... if ordinary people live too well, then the interests of geniuses cannot be guaranteed.
But what if a genius doesn't live a good life...?
That chaos will then arise.
Forget it, I'm not like you; I don't have the ability to see that far into the future.
As for your claim that you saw more than I did...
Good luck, Gawain. I hope we'll have another chance to work together.
As for our remaining two wine jugs and the agreement...
Ha ha!
Let those things remain in the future, when either you or I must personally confront the God's Knights and Imu!
If that day ever comes, I think...
Regardless of who fate leads us to, the remaining loser will not hesitate to offer some help to the other!
So, let's go back. That's all for today. We'll meet again another day.
"Yes, see you another day."
Gawain nodded slightly, then his eyes flickered.
As his vision shifted, the black hole that appeared before him swallowed him whole in an instant, and he was returned to the chaotic battlefield.
At the same time, wherever there is wind, the Griffin follow closely.
Shanks, having returned to the battlefield, drew his Gryphon Griffin and instantly forced back Sakazuki, who was taking advantage of the situation to pressure Big Mom, thus freeing up a top-tier fighter for the pirate crew.
As for Sakazuki and the Big Mom...
While Sakazuki is indeed slightly stronger than Big Mom, Sakazuki shouldn't have been able to dominate Big Mom so quickly.
It's really... the gift Gawain prepared for the pirates before Gawain has distracted Big Mom!
Don't forget, before Gawain left, he wanted to maintain control of the battlefield.
He left behind a Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star on the battlefield!
What is Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star? Its principle is basically similar to Yixiao's summoning of meteorites.
But the meteorites summoned by Yixiao are always just two meteorites randomly pulled down from the asteroid belt.
And the Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star...
This thing could pull the moon down, it wouldn't be surprising!
Compared to the meteor summoned by Yixiao, the Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star was far too enormous. The pirates had to use every trick in the book to prevent it from crashing into the back sea, specifically the sea where their rear fleet was located.
The Whitebeard, bleeding from his mouth and nose, continued to press on, desperately smashing Land Quake twice to shatter the meteorite.
Even Big Mom and Ochoku, along with a host of other pirate monsters, had to endure their opponents and unleash several energy-consuming attacks to finally break the Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star, which Whitebeard had shattered into several large pieces, into fragments that wouldn't cause much damage.
Between monsters, one wrong step can lead to a lifetime of problems!
If they were distracted for even a moment, the Big Mom and Ochoku would have been chased and beaten by their opponents!
Shanks had also thought of this, so the first thing he did upon returning was to forcefully participate in countless battles to restore a balance of power for his monsters!
And Gawain...
After returning to the battlefield, he glanced at the layout of the battlefield.
Ha, I've only been walking for a short while, and it seems the situation on the battlefield has already been fixed.
With nearly 50% more strong members than their opponents, many powerful pirates received the top-tier treatment of having a monster as the main attacker and a Shichibukai- level fighter providing support from the sidelines.
Furthermore, after Shanks returned, he did not continue fighting himself, but instead went around the battlefield acting as a troubleshooter.
This led to... this led to the fact that after I came back, I didn't have any suitable opponents!
Seeing this, Gawain sighed softly.
Anyway, I've already made a promise with Shanks about this battle, so... let's just treat it as a big training exercise before facing Mary Geoise!
You don't necessarily need an opponent.
Even...
Perhaps having no rivals allows him to better demonstrate his dominance over pirates to a global audience!
Thinking this, Gawain turned his head and glanced at the location of the Camera Den Den Mushi.
Stussy is quite a capable girl; she's currently flapping her bat wings, gliding along the edge of the battlefield, and capturing some rather exciting footage!
Those who received Stussy's care were, of course, all top-notch experts.
What the audience saw most at this moment was undoubtedly the battle between Garp, who was still young at heart, and Whitebeard, who shouldered the fate of pirates!
Watching the live stream, I saw Whitebeard bleeding from all seven orifices while still relentlessly defending against Garp.
Navy fans all over the world are absolutely ecstatic!
"Aaaaaah!"
"Vice Admiral Garp is so strong!"
"Why is it that even Admiral Sakazuki couldn't defeat Whitebeard, yet he's no match for Vice Admiral Garp?!"
"Truly a naval hero!"
Of course, the Navy and Garp have fans, so Whitebeard naturally has even more fans.
When others praise Garp, someone immediately stands up to support Whitebeard.
"You're talking nonsense! While Whitebeard was fighting Garp, he also stood up against Gawain!"
"Yes, if it weren't for the need to fight against the previous clock and the subsequent super meteorite."
That Whitebeard will definitely beat that old Garp to death!
"That's right, Mr. Garp is strong, but Whitebeard is obviously stronger!"
If there were someone like Gawain in One Piece, Garp, who is constantly fighting off external attacks, would definitely be overwhelmed by him, just like Whitebeard is now!!!