The Sea Is My Grave

A few days later.

At the edge of Raven Port, beneath a mountain, the ground was covered in the tombstones of the dead, more than half of them newly erected.

Too many civilians and port guards had died in that battle.

Soft sobs occasionally drifted through the surroundings as civilians came to mourn their deceased family and friends.

In a corner.

Gawain personally erected a tombstone, engraved with the names of every subordinate who had fallen in battle. The tombstone faced the direction of the Grand Line.

Gawain's gaze swept across the names carved into the stone as he murmured:

"You'll watch from here."

"I—no, we—will plant the Gawain Pirates' flag in every corner of the world."

"When everyone begins to sing the praises of the Gawain Pirates, you too will endure alongside that name."

Having said that.

Gawain turned around, only to find Kuro and the others standing at the entrance to the cemetery, their eyes fixed on him.

"Those were some pretty words."

A faint smile rested on Kuro's lips. He adjusted his glasses with one hand and said calmly:

"It's time to go."

"Captain."

"Yeah."

Gawain smiled faintly.

The group followed behind Gawain, striding hurriedly toward the harbor.

A cargo ship over a hundred meters long sat quietly moored in the harbor, loaded with food, weapons and ammunition, and medical supplies.

The food here was enough to feed Gawain's men for several months, while the weapons and ammunition could support ten fierce battles.

As long as they transported it back to their base on Para Island, Gawain would not have to worry about supplies for a long time.

What was more, Gaza had already promised to establish a hidden route afterward and provide Gawain with a stable supply line.

When Gaza saw Gawain arrive, her eyes lit up.

"Mr. Gawain, please remember our agreement."

"Yeah."

Gawain nodded.

"Once I get back, I'll send my men to start clearing out the pirates entrenched along the main routes around Raven Port."

Having said that.

Gawain leaped onto the deck, while Kuro led his men slowly into the ship's hold.

After carefully inspecting the ship's interior and confirming that everything was in order, the cargo ship sounded its horn and slowly sailed out of the harbor.

Gaza looked at the figure standing on the deck, her eyes reddening slightly. In the end, she could not suppress the feelings in her heart.

"Mr. Gawain, when will we meet again?"

Gawain paused slightly, then waved to Gaza with his back turned.

"If things go smoothly, you'll see news of me in the papers soon enough."

"And if they don't?"

"Then the sea will be my grave!"

Gaza pressed her lips together and used all her strength to keep the tears in her eyes from falling.

She knew East Blue would not be Gawain's limit. This man was like a bird; he would never remain here.

He was destined to step onto a greater stage and make the world sing his name.

"What an unromantic man."

"But are pirates really that cool?"

Molly froze, a trace of unease inexplicably rising in her heart.

"Your Highness, you still have this port and its people."

Gaza raised a hand to wipe away the tears in her eyes, her tone resolute.

"I know."

"But I also need the strength to protect my people."

"I heard there's something called a Devil Fruit on the Grand Line. Eat one, and you can gain immense power. Maybe..."

"Your Highness, do you want to become a landlubber?"

"Compared to great power, that's only a trivial price to pay."

The sea was ever-changing.

Even in the relatively peaceful East Blue, storms that could arrive at any moment were enough to capsize most ships.

Gales swept across the sea as lightning flashed.

Amid the rolling waves, a cargo ship rose and fell with the spray, seemingly at risk of being swallowed by the sea.

"Quick, quick, quick! Turn the Ship's Wheel!"

"There's a whirlpool ahead! If we get dragged in, we're all dead!"

Kuro stood on the deck, directing the ship's course.

Gawain directly unleashed Flying Slashes one after another, cutting apart the Giant Waves charging in from afar and ensuring that the ship would not capsize from their impact.

For the first time, the howling storm made Gawain realize the cruelty of this world.

At least for low-ranking pirates, unpredictable weather was the leading cause of death. Battle only came second.

"Damn it!"

"Kuro, you've been sailing for so many years. How are your Navigation Skills about as good as mine?"

"There used to be a dedicated navigator on the ship!"

"Where is he?"

"He was the one burned to death in Raven Port."

"You useless bastard."

The corner of Kuro's mouth visibly twitched. Just as he was about to retort, another Giant Wave swept in from the distance.

It carried a force powerful enough to overturn mountains and seas, threatening to devour everything before it. The pressure it stirred up alone made the cargo ship creak.

"Gawain!"

"I know!"

Gawain's expression turned cold as he raised his hand and unleashed several Flying Slashes in succession, barely managing to shatter the incoming Giant Wave.

Yet the sea in the distance only grew more turbulent...

Several hours later.

The cargo ship gradually sailed out of that frenzied stretch of sea.

The wind and waves gradually subsided. Sunlight even broke through the clouds and shone upon them, dispelling the chill of the seawater.

The survivors collapsed onto the deck one after another, gasping for breath.

Gawain looked at the LV-1 Navigation Skills on his panel, then at Kuro in the distance, pale-faced as his reopened wounds were being bandaged again.

When he thought about how Kuro's Navigation Skills were about the same as his own, his balls ached.

"Before entering the Grand Line, I have to find a reliable navigator!"

Just thinking about that storm made Gawain shudder with lingering fear.

It would be a joke if he had just said something so cool the day before yesterday, only to end up buried at sea today.

But at that moment.

A figure wrapped head to toe in bandages slowly pushed open the cabin door and limped out.

"Where am I?"

Akin, who had just awakened, stared blankly at his surroundings. Only when he saw Kuro's face did he recall what had happened before.

"Hundred Plans Kuro? You saved me?"

Kuro expressionlessly pointed at Gawain and said coldly:

"He did."

"Knight Gawain?"

Akin froze slightly, then recalled everything that had happened.

Thinking of how Krieg had thrown him at Gawain and fired without the slightest hesitation, even he—even with a heart full of loyalty and righteousness—could not help but feel suffocated.

"Why?"

"I want subordinates who'll take a blade for their captain at a critical moment too."

Gawain extended a hand.

"Want to join my crew?"

"I might not be a good captain, but at least I won't fire cannons at my own men or swing a blade at my subordinates for no reason."

Akin gave a miserable smile.

"What loyalty or righteousness is there among pirates? They're nothing but lies!"

"I..."

Before he could finish, Akin's vision went black, and he collapsed.