East Blue, near the estuary of Dilk Village.
A ship flying Joker flag and sporting a comical figurehead is stirring.
On deck, Buggy the Clown gritted his teeth nervously, staring intently at the nautical chart in his hand.
He gripped the nautical chart so tightly that the patterns were almost unrecognizable.
However, the crucial X mark on the nautical chart remains remarkably clear.
And at that very point where X was so special, a hastily drawn pattern gradually spread out.
Buggy gritted his teeth, raised the nautical chart, and quickly compared it with the village in the distance where construction was underway.
"Damn it, the location shown on the treasure map is actually that village over there!"
But how come that village also has access to Sea Train?
What the heck is this? Sea Train? Shouldn't they be building them in big cities and islands?
"This village has fewer than two thousand households. Does it really need to go to such lengths for a village of this size? Is Gawain, that Celestial Dragon, out of his mind?"
As he spoke, Buggy put the nautical chart away.
While adjusting his pockets, he nervously swayed from side to side on the deck.
After hesitating for a long time, Buggy seemed to have made up his mind.
But before he could even voice his determination, Mohji, the beast tamer with the deadpan expression beside him, sighed with complete understanding.
"Hey, Captain Buggy, how about we just leave those Dark Bird alone?"
The East Blue Sea Navy is trash; those guys are too lazy to do anything.
But the people from the Dark Bird Ship, as long as they planted their flag and connected to the village of the Sea Train...
They really dare to take action!
In the last six months, how many pirates have died at the hands of those guys?
In search of a way to survive, many pirates from the East Blue have formed groups and ventured into the Grand Line they originally dared not or were not even qualified to go to.
Those guys are still stubbornly holding onto the Grand Line, sigh.
I always felt that we wouldn't be able to stay in this industry for much longer.
Otherwise, Captain Buggy.
Let's go back to our old ways and return to running our own circus.
Now that there's the Sea Train, the people of East Blue are much more active and earning significantly more money.
With our skills, we might just be able to make a Great Treasure from the circus...
At this point, Mohji sighed dejectedly.
For the past six months, they have been pursued by the forces of the Dark Bird Ship for nearly 150 days.
I almost died at the hands of those guys in black suits.
The elite status of that group was far beyond what the navy could match.
Beside him, Buggy himself couldn't help but shudder at the thought of the soldiers on the Dark Bird Ship.
But after shivering, he slammed his fist on the side of the boat and roared that he had caught it.
"Working is absolutely out of the question; only treasure is the eternal destination for pirates!"
I made a promise to someone like Shanks that I would surpass his life's achievements by doing something only true pirates should do: treasure hunting!
Giving up halfway is unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable!!!
I just checked, and the treasure map shows the location is right below the Sea Train station that's under construction in the village.
All we need to do is pull out my old Buggy Cannon and fire a shot at them from a distance.
Then we took the treasure and ran away immediately!
Anyway, this isn't the first time they've chased us. As long as we run fast enough, we definitely won't... out... out...??!
"Aaaaaaah, Buggy, that's... aaaaaah, that's!!!"
"Awoo?!!"
"Something terrible has happened!!!"
Just a moment later, the few oddly shaped crew members on the Buggy ship all showed expressions of utter astonishment.
At the same time, a large hand, faintly crackling with lightning, placed on Buggy's shoulder.
Buggy turned around and immediately saw the figure with medium-length hair neatly combed back.
Even someone like him, whose eyes are only on treasures, knows this person's name!
"High high high high high!!!"
Gawain!!!
What are you doing here!
Why would someone like you come looking for me? Aren't guys like Shanks enough for you to mess with?
You even took down that old bastard Whitebeard!
Am I really more important to you than Whitebeard?
As he shouted, Buggy knelt down completely.
Thump...
Buggy's knees slammed hard into the ground.
Seeing Buggy's unusually composed expression, Gawain couldn't help but frown.
After a moment, he spoke.
"Buggy, your luck... is truly beyond my wildest imagination!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain grabbed Buggy.
Then, a flash of lightning, and everyone on the ship except Buggy lost their lives.
Gawain didn't want to say anything to Buggy, but he also didn't want to kill Buggy.
Because it has to be admitted that in today's world, Buggy is incredibly lucky!
Because, while Gawain was diverting his attention to monitoring everything within a 200-kilometer radius of the Sea Train, Gawain also assigned Shaka and Franky to continue developing an intelligent processing system that could relatively take over Vegapunk's brain.
Gawain couldn't sit there forever; even if he did, he would mostly treat his body like a battery.
His soul must travel to other worlds to find ways to strengthen it, while the Pirate World where his soul is no longer present will be taken over by the intelligent system subsequently developed by Franky and others, which will continue to perform the work of monitoring the world and dealing with evil, just as Gawain is doing now.
And Buggy...
If an intelligent system encounters Buggy is undoubtedly doomed.
The intelligent system will not show any special mercy to Buggy.
Ironically, it was precisely during this period when Gawain personally took over that Buggy was discovered by Gawain...
But just before Gawain gained the power to monitor the entire world...
Whether it was when Gawain was in the East Blue or when Gawain's subordinates were there.
They either don't encounter Buggy, or if they do, Buggy runs away for various reasons.
Therefore, being personally captured by Gawain is actually one of the few situations in which Buggy can live longer and be safer...
This kind of luck... Gawain didn't think he needed to rely on it.
But regardless, in the face of the mysterious Imu.
Gawain won't let Buggy, this lucky guy who's been given special attention by Oda, get away with it.
Gawain couldn't guess how Oda would depict the original future of this world.
Therefore, he also couldn't guess which key figure would play a crucial role in the future war.
So, having encountered this situation, Gawain will choose to keep Buggy there.
There's no shortage of idle people on the Dark Bird Ship.
As for Buggy's past crimes...
Even Doflamingo is infinitely more wicked, could be manipulated by Gawain. How much more so would Buggy, who, despite having taken many lives, ultimately be just a small fry in the realm of evil?
Meanwhile, aboard the Dark Bird Ship.
After confirming that his clone had delivered Buggy to Rayleigh.
Gawain sighed with relief.
In the two hours prior, his clones had caused millions of deaths worldwide.
In that instant, the people Gawain had killed... made even himself feel disgusted!
Fortunately, after less than two hours of chase and slaughter, the environment in certain areas of the Grand Line, the East Blue, and the New World was completely restored to a state of perfect peace!
Relying on his ability to Voice of All Things, Gawain instantly locked onto countless voices pleading for salvation, and then quickly determined whether the owners of the voices were outside the range of his Observation Haki.
For Gawain, the sheer volume of information is no longer a source of stress.
The only pressure he faced became his own disgust and aversion to the endless killing and death.
In just two hours, Gawain accomplished what the navy had been trying to do for eight hundred years but had failed to do.
Next, he felt he should take a break.
Although there are still unknown pressures from Mary Geoise and Imu.
Furthermore, Franky and his team's AI development was not yet complete.
Therefore, Gawain had no time to travel to the New World.
Even if he couldn't go to the New World, he should at least go to the Xianyang Palace in his dream and see all his subordinates who had died not long ago.
Thinking of this, Gawain wearily propped his chin up, then adjusted his back to make it more comfortable.
After adjusting his posture, his breathing slowed, and his eyes gradually closed.
Meanwhile, inside the Xianyang Palace.
The moment Gawain opened his eyes, he heard countless shouts.
That sound wasn't the kind of fighting Gawain had imagined.
On the contrary, Gawain was utterly shocked to see Whitebeard, now young again, shamelessly bowing and smiling Kaido!!!
This...?
Was Whitebeard really that humble?
Could Kaido be Whitebeard's most closely hidden son?
Otherwise, why would Whitebeard plead with Kaido and fawn over him?
Just as Gawain was thinking this, Whitebeard and the others finally saw Gawain appear.
Then...
After a brief silence, Whitebeard sat back down in his seat, looking utterly dejected. Then, he slammed his hand on the table and said to Gawain in frustration.
"You've arrived, Gawain! Come and judge this matter for me!"
That bastard Kaido, taking advantage of the authority you gave him, actually dared to control my drink supply at my father's banquet!
It's unbelievable! We old folks who came after you can't leave this palace without your authorization.
The only people who could go out and order ordinary soldiers around were Kaido and Yoriichi Tsugikuni. As a Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Kaido was killed twice by that heartless Kaido while trying to get sake for me!
You must avenge me!
As soon as he finished speaking, the Whitebeard- bearded man threw the table far away with a thud.
The table had just smashed against the wall when it returned to its original position, restored to its undamaged state.
Seeing the Whitebeard's disgruntled and lazy expression, Chaton sighed admiringly, then patted Hina on the shoulder.
"Hehehe, little Hina, we're way more reliable Koby Whitebeard, aren't we?"
Since I actually managed to get you some fine wine from Kaido, why don't you marry me?
A man like me is both beautiful and intelligent.
Marry me, you definitely won't regret it!
As soon as he finished speaking, Chaton continued to let out a strange, chuckling laugh.
Faced with this Chaton, Hina unceremoniously raised her long leg and stomped hard on the Chaton's face.
After forcefully standing up by stepping on the Chaton, Hina walked in front of Gawain and gave him a cold bow.
Then, she said in a cold voice.
"It's unbelievable, Hina. You thought death would be the end of it all, but even after you're gone, you'll still have to work for someone as important as you."
However, regardless of the circumstances, in order to continue drinking, eating meat Hina, and fighting evil as before, Hina is willing to obey your orders with the same respect as before, and even more so than before!
And, haha!
My current treatment is something even Sister Momousagi would envy and be jealous of.
If only I knew that I could actually die in Gawain Gawain's world, and that even my death would be so inextricably linked to him...
That Momousagi- sama will definitely break my face.
"How scary, Hina!"
After saying this, Hina bowed to Gawain again, and then returned to her seat.
In the distance, watching Hina's formal appearance, Whitebeard first nodded, then shook his head.
After shaking his head, he put down the table and then spoke to Gawain from a distance.
"Heh, you guys in the navy, you must have some good points."
Whether you're alive or dead, you're still willing to serve Gawain. Wow, what great soldiers!
You are soldiers, but I am a thief.
You are young, and you die with hope for the future!
As I grow old, when I die, I intend to rest peacefully and die quietly!
As a result, humph!
At this point, the Whitebeard slammed his fist on the table.
"As a result, you dragged me, who was planning to take a complete rest through death, into your own world without even asking for my consent!"
You little brat, do you think you can manipulate my death and then use my power at will?
Even if I have Whitebeard, I'm still quite good at shirking my duties!
After saying that, the Whitebeard stood up fiercely, staring intently into Gawain's eyes.
Sensing the increasingly solemn atmosphere in the palace, Chaton sighed melancholically in the distance, then slowly stood up.
Hina had absolutely no right to speak in front of Whitebeard.
In terms of the Xianyang Palace, only he himself is qualified to contend with a man like Whitebeard.
Although he might not be a match for Whitebeard, he was still a monster.
Even if he's a little weaker, he's still a monster, so he can only rely on himself to confront Whitebeard!
I just hope I don't get beaten too badly afterwards...
Thinking this, Chaton immediately wanted to say something.
But before he could speak, he saw Gawain was at the head of the table, gently press his palm.
After signaling to everyone that there was no need to say more, Gawain gave Whitebeard a meaningful smile.
"I'm laughing, "Gawain said.
"Mr. Newgate, there's something I don't know if you're aware of."
Everyone who has entered this world is someone who has completely accepted me...
So, haha, you just want to drink more, right?
If you want it, just say so. Don't scare everyone with these unnecessary gimmicks.
After all, this is the world of the dead, and you will all be working together for countless years to come.
If the atmosphere remains this tense, can we really endure that incredibly long period of time to come?