Crack!
After hanging up, Gray stared out the window at the clouds rushing past, lost in thought.
"So many things came to light today. The Road Poneglyph and the location of Pluton are far too tempting to the people of this world!"
"With the strength my crew and I have now, we can't protect them!"
"Celestial Dragons and Admirals are already hard enough to deal with, and if we take on one, a whole group will come after us. Compared to that, simply coming to rob me is the most worthwhile option for those ambitious types."
"So what I need to think about now is how to grow stronger again."
"I just learned Life Return, so I'm in a period of rapid growth. And now that I've awakened Conqueror's Haki, I need to lie low and make a serious push to improve."
"When I show myself again, I'll give the world an epic shock!" Thinking about his goals for the coming year, Gray felt his motivation surge once more.
During this peaceful period before the protagonist appeared, as someone who enjoyed a good show, he naturally had to make one himself whenever there wasn't one to watch.
Of course, that was what he said.
The truth was, what Gray had done today meant the Celestial Dragons and the World Government would never let him go.
Since they weren't going to leave him alone, why wait for them to come after him? Why not strike first?
As the old saying went: "He who strikes first gains the advantage; he who strikes last suffers!"
Since neither side planned to let the other off, Gray would naturally make the first move.
Anything involving the Celestial Dragons—or taking them on—was right up his alley.
Just as Gray was thinking, Monet walked in. "Gray!"