Great Grade Sword Twenty-One Works

Raven Port.

Lord's Manor.

Gaza sat in her top-floor office as the attendant beside her reported on the movements of the two groups after they entered the port.

"There was nothing unusual about the Marines led by Gawain. They first purchased large amounts of food and fresh water. Even their trip to the black market to buy weapons makes sense, since it's much cheaper than official channels."

Gaza nodded, but repeated the name she had just heard.

"Gawain... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before. Maybe I'm mistaken."

"What about the other group?"

"They're strange."

The attendant frowned deeply and pulled out a stack of organized documents, clearly marking the movements of Akin's group. She then pointed at several locations.

"Th-these are where we store our ammunition."

"After entering the port, they didn't look for supplies. It was more like..."

A gentle voice suddenly drifted in from outside the window.

"They were scouting your defensive layout."

Before either woman could react, Gawain pushed open the window, crouched on the sill, and calmly looked at them.

"You're... Major Gawain?!"

The attendant immediately stepped in front of Gaza, staring at Gawain with full vigilance. Just as she was about to call the guards in, she felt a soft hand rest on her shoulder.

"Molly, don't act rashly. He means no harm."

After stopping her attendant Molly, Gaza turned to Gawain and finally remembered where she had heard that name before.

"Major Gawain—no, I should call you Knight Gawain."

"One of the people involved in that uproar in the East Blue three years ago."

"As the captain of the knights of the Goa Kingdom, you had an affair with the Queen. After being discovered, you abandoned your status as a knight and became a pirate active in the East Blue."

"Eight Million Bounty—Knight Gawain."

"I must have been out of my mind to forget you."

Gaza shook her head, failing to notice Molly's uncontrollably trembling gaze beside her.

A smile tugged at her lips.

"Did you know? Your story was adapted into a film and released throughout the East Blue around the Goa Kingdom."

Gawain stumbled and nearly lost his footing. After once again cursing his predecessor in his heart, he smoothly changed the subject without so much as a blush.

"I came this time to give you a warning. The other Marines are pirates in disguise too. That man calling himself Agin is actually a subordinate of Admiral Creek—Demon Man Gin, with a bounty of 12 Million."

"This time, they're probably planning the same thing as before."

"Disguise themselves as Marines, infiltrate the port, coordinate from within and without, and take control of Raven Port at the lowest possible cost!"

Gaza's brows furrowed slightly. Combined with her attendant's earlier analysis, she had basically confirmed that Gawain was telling the truth, but she still did not understand.

"Why are you helping me?"

"Maybe because you said I'm handsome."

Gaza laughed despite herself.

"What kind of reason is that?"

"But that's a pirate's freedom!"

Under the crimson afterglow of the setting sun, the knight leaned against the window, a faint smile at the corner of his lips. His whole body seemed to be glowing, and Gaza, looking at him from inside the room, was momentarily entranced.

"Bye-bye~"

Gawain waved and was about to turn and leave...

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

A piercing sound tore through the air. Crimson meteors flew in from the horizon and crashed into the port, triggering violent explosions. Flames filled the sky, and the port instantly descended into chaos.

One cannonball hurtled directly toward Gawain's position.

"Well, looks like I can't leave now."

There was a hint of helplessness in Gawain's voice, but the sword at his waist was not slow in the slightest. Yet after he unleashed a Flying Slash, the blade shattered inch by inch along the crack running down its spine.

Fortunately.

The incoming cannonball was also cut apart by Gawain in midair.

Boom!

Crimson flames surged outside the window.

Even from dozens of meters away, even with the shockwave and heat blocked by the wall, Gaza's face turned deathly pale.

Having grown up doted on by her parents, when had she ever witnessed such a brutal scene?

But when her gaze left Gawain and fell upon the burning port behind him, Gaza gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand.

What followed was utter bewilderment.

Their opponent was Admiral Creek, whose name shook the East Blue and who commanded an enormous fleet made up of dozens of Pirate Ships. How could the guards in the port possibly stop them?

Molly, who had calmed down by then, whispered, "My lady, only he—only Gawain—can help us."

"His bounty is only Eight Million. How could he possibly..."

Gaza instinctively shook her head, but then an unbelievable voice reached her ears. After a brief pause, her face filled with shock.

"How much?"

"48 Million!"

Molly repeated the number.

At that moment.

Gaza looked at Gawain as though she had seen a savior.

"Mr. Gawain, please wait!"

Gawain, who had been about to leave through the window and meet up with Kuro to discuss how to break through the encirclement, stopped in his tracks. Turning around, he saw Molly take a long, narrow object wrapped in black cloth from a safe nearby.

"This is..."

"I originally intended to give it to my father as a gift for his fiftieth birthday, but I think it has found a better owner now."

Molly slowly removed the black cloth, revealing a long sword still sheathed.

Even from several meters away, even with the sword still in its scabbard, Gawain could feel the razor-sharp aura emanating from it.

It was no ordinary weapon!

Molly continued on her own.

"Kansei Masamune."

"One of the famed blades forged during Wano Country's golden age a century ago. It ranks fourth among the Great Grade Sword Twenty-One Works, a supreme treasure coveted by countless swordsmen."

"Mr. Gawain, as long as you help me repel the Krieg Pirates, it will be yours!"

Gawain licked his lips.

"Is it possible that if I kill you here, it'll be mine anyway?!"

Gaza froze for a moment, then her gaze turned clear.

"Since you were willing to come warn me at a time like this, anyone who understands the greater picture and knows gratitude would never do something as vile as taking by force."

"Heh."

Gawain smiled faintly, then shook his head.

"By itself, it's not enough."

Gaza gritted her teeth as though making a major decision.

"From now on, Raven Port can provide you with long-term, stable logistical support. Of course, there are conditions. I need you to protect the safety of the waters around Raven Port."

"Drive out or wipe out every pirate!"

Gawain looked surprised.

"Isn't that usually the Marines' job?"

"What kind of people the Marines are, haven't you seen that today?"

After a mocking snort, Gaza continued.

"Raven Port's location is extremely important, but it is also situated in a terribly dangerous sea region."

"The Marines can't be relied on, and pirates are even less trustworthy. The defenses we built with our own strength are far too weak, so we might as well cooperate with you directly!"

"What resolve!"

Gawain made no effort to hide his admiration.

Whether one wished to admit it or not, the age of pirates had always been an age of men.

Over the decades, there had been too many men to count who had reached the level of emperors and admirals, but there had only been one woman—Big Mom. Even Empress Hancock fell short of her.

For a woman to possess Gaza's decisiveness was an exceedingly rare thing.

With sufficient strength, she might not be unable to become a Powerful Figure!

"Deal!"