How can I become the Pirate King if you don’t work hard?.

Chapter 262: Just give it to him.

With this man's help, Germa's army will be invincible in the North Sea!
That good-for-nothing... no, Sanji still has Germa blood flowing through his veins. Even if he doesn't acknowledge me as his father, he can't possibly disown Sora!
Thinking of this.

Judge was extremely excited, but he calmed down as soon as he turned around.

The more excited and irrational one becomes, the more likely one is to make decisions that are not in one's own best interest due to momentary impulse.

Judge looked back at the port of Water Seven.

The pirate ships that had been lingering around had long since departed, leaving the area deserted except for the countless wreckages of pirate ships bobbing on the water, a sight that sent chills down one's spine.

Originally, Judge thought the outcome of this battle was a foregone conclusion.

But now, with Gawain's appearance, he has almost single-handedly turned the tide of the battle.

Even a powerful figure like Wang Zhi, who ruled Beehive Island for decades, suffered heavy losses at Gawain's hands. Such power is comparable to that of the Sea Emperor.

But can this level of strength really hold Water City?

Gaji was unaware of this.

What he knew was that, based on the information he had obtained on the surface, the pirates who came to Water Seven included big names like Big Mom and Wang Zhi, not to mention countless other powerful figures of a similar rank.

Such combat power is more than enough to attack the Marine Headquarters. With Gawain alone, he can only delay the attack for a little longer.

Moreover, even if the Navy arrives later, it remains to be seen whether they will stand on the same side as Knight Gawain.

After weighing the pros and cons, Judge shook his head helplessly. He longed for Germa to be restored, but he also knew how to weigh the advantages and disadvantages.

It's questionable whether Gawain can survive the chaos ahead on his own.

"Pity."

After a sigh.

Judge raised his head.

The Seven Waters grew smaller and smaller in his sight until it finally disappeared into the vast ocean.

"Lord Gaji!"

First mate Morse cried out in alarm and stumbled out of the cabin, his face filled with panic.

"The navy has begun operations!"

"Our spies in the shipping lanes have detected the navy's movements."

"A fleet consisting of more than thirty naval warships set off for Water Seven as early as half a month ago."

"Even if the naval fleet is blocked by a large area of ​​glaciers along the way, causing the sailing speed to gradually slow down, it will only take four or five days at most for the naval fleet to reach Water Seven."

Gaji's pupils contracted.

He had a far better strategic vision than Morse, and naturally saw far more information at this moment.

"It seems that this battle over the design of Hades is coming to an end."

"You mean the Navy will completely wipe out the pirates in the surrounding area?!"

"No!"

Judge's eyes were sharp:

"With the news of the Navy's imminent arrival spreading, the powerful forces hidden around Water Seven, whether it be Shiki, Wang Zhi, or anyone else, could not sit still."

"The most rational and safest approach is to capture Water Seven before the Navy arrives, obtain the Pluton blueprints, and then retreat quickly."

"After all, whether we like it or not, the navy is the most powerful force on this sea. This time, the operation is so large that it must be led by a naval admiral."

"And the current three admirals of the Navy..."

Judge swallowed hard, his expression extremely grave.

"The overwhelming combat power is secondary; the most important thing is that all three are Logia-type Devil Fruit users, possessing the power to single-handedly influence the course of a battle."

"Nature type..."

Morse murmured, his eyes filled with even greater terror.

He naturally understood what a Marine Admiral with Logia-type abilities truly represented.

"Let's retreat."

Judge commanded:
"The battles that follow are beyond our control."

"Lord Naiji and the others..."

"Then it all depends on their luck!"

Judge paused, his fist clenching tightly beneath his sleeve.

After leaving a hasty message, he quickly walked into the cabin.

Moss wanted to follow him inside, but the next second, Judge's hoarse roar and the sound of things being smashed came from the cabin.

……

……

……

The capital of seven waters.

port.

The pirates all around had completely retreated, leaving the sea completely empty.

Only the nauseating stench of blood was carried away by the sea breeze and flowed into the entire city.

Zheng!
Gawain sheathed his sword, looked around to make sure all the pirates had left, and then disappeared into thin air in a flash.

Among the buildings in the distance.

The scene that Gawain had just annihilated everything with a single strike was still echoing in Reiju's mind; the deafening roar still made her ears ring.

Her lips parted slightly, the shock in her heart beyond words, and she stammered:

"Who exactly is he?

"An Admiral? One of the Four Emperors?!"

Reiju had never seen an Admiral or one of the Four Emperors make a move, but apart from these universally acknowledged strongest beings on the high seas, she could find no other reference points.

The power that Gawain demonstrated completely turned Judge's obsession with human genetic engineering into a joke.

Reiju couldn't fathom how humans could be so powerful.

This time, Zoro didn't reply, or even turn his head. He was also shocked by what had just happened, and the veins on the back of his hand gripping the hilt of his sword bulged.

hiss--!
A distinct breathing sound came from Zoro's mouth, and his eyes hardened in the next instant as he murmured:
"Only mountains like this are worth climbing; this is the goal I want to pursue, the man I want to defeat."

Reiju was taken aback, and when she turned to look at Zoro, a hint of sympathy appeared in her eyes.

How are you going to fight this thing?!

I don't know.

"That's right! Sanji!"

Reiju then realized what was happening. She turned around and saw Sanji sitting up next to her, even lighting a cigarette.

"Sanji...you..."

Reiju was momentarily taken aback.

She knew exactly how potent the anesthetic she had created was; even a sea king would need at least several hours to recover after taking the antidote.

But what about Sanji?!
It's been less than half an hour since I injected her with the antidote, which is definitely not something a normal human being could do.

Considering Sanji's previous display of fighting prowess, which rivals that of Ichiji and Niji, the answer is obvious.

Did the father's reformation work?
So, Sanji, what emotions have you lost...?

"Green algae head, thank you."

"Ha~"

Zoro grinned mischievously, placed his hand near his ear as if listening intently, and said in a sarcastic tone:
"Ha~ha~"

"I can't hear you, speak louder!"

The only response he received was a cigarette butt that Sanji threw at him.

The two then erupted into another argument, their voices growing louder and louder, creating a tense atmosphere.

But Reiju, standing to the side, could only look on with unspeakable astonishment.

The complex emotions Sanji is displaying at this moment are something that Ichiji, Niji, and others completely lack. In other words...

Her only brother, Sanji, although he shows an easily angered side in front of Zoro, is undoubtedly still the kind-hearted child he once was.

"That's great~"

A soft laugh stopped the two playfully fighting.

Sanji looked at Reiju in front of him, and the scene of Reiju forcefully breaking open the dungeon flashed through his mind. His feelings were extremely complicated at this moment.

Reiju was the only ray of light in his darkest of days.

What makes Sanji so respectful of women, besides the will he inherited from Zeff and the influence of his mother and the Queen, is also Reiju, who is an important factor.

It's safe to say that without Reiju, he would most likely still be locked up in the dungeon by Judge, and would never have met Zeff or Gawain.

“Sassiburidana”.

"Reiju."

Sanji didn't say "sister" aloud, but Reiju understood what he meant.

For Sanji, his experience in Germa was nothing short of a nightmare; only by abandoning that past can he truly come back to life.

Reiju smiled slightly, looking at him with gentle eyes:
Have you met anyone kind?!

Sanji was taken aback.

These were the words Reiju left him when they parted ways, and of course he remembered them.

He exhaled a puff of smoke and nodded:

"what."

“Old Master Zeff, Princess Guinevere, Captain Gawain, Mr. Crow…”

"very many."

"That's great! Can you tell me about it?"

"of course."

Sanji simply sat down on the spot and slowly recounted his experiences over the years, bit by bit.

From meeting Zeff, to Princess Guinevere, and then to Gawain's promise to himself before he decided to face Hawkeye alone...

Reiju listened quietly, her eyes growing brighter as Sanji spoke.

At this moment, she finally realized that her decision back then was not wrong.

The fault does not lie with Sanji, his mother, or even himself, but with Judge, who single-handedly attempted to mold his child into the weapon he desired.

Germa, a spirit that is in fact extinct but continues to drift at sea and stir up war because of Judge's desires, should be dispelled.

……

The siblings recounted their lives since they parted ways.

Even though Reiju had just attacked him along with Ichiji and the others, Sanji didn't care. He had experienced similar scenes countless times in his childhood memories.

It was also because he understood Reiju and had an almost obsessive respect for women, even if it meant risking his own life.

Zoro stood to the side, listening quietly.

By the time the two stopped, more than half an hour had passed, and they belatedly rushed back to the refugee camp in Water City.

Not close yet.

The three then heard cheers coming from the camp, accompanied by the smells of smoke and alcohol, and saw countless people weeping with their faces upturned.

"woo woo woo woo……"

"We have finally seen the dawn of victory."

"Everything will come to an end."

"Hope has finally arrived!"

"Mr. Iceberg didn't lie to us. The navy, the navy's rescue has really arrived, and it's even a force of admiral level!"

"We...we weren't abandoned...that's wonderful, that's wonderful..."

……

They had suppressed their emotions for far too long before finally achieving this victory.

From the moment the information about the Pluton design was first revealed, Water Seven was constantly attacked, with countless pirates flocking there from all over the world.

The continuous artillery fire nearly destroyed the entire city.

Even the iceberg, which had always been a source of strength for these refugees, went missing in a previous attack.

All that was left for them was despair.

But then a man led a group of marines to the scene and crushed the invading pirates with lightning speed. Among them were even powerful forces such as Germa 66 and King Nao of Beehive Island.

As long as this navy man named Lancelot exists, Water Seven will not fall, and there is still hope.

At this moment, the civilians in the camp all had this thought in mind, so much so that their steps and voices were much lighter.

The despair that had been building up inside me for so long was finally released at this moment.

Gawain sat in the main seat, surrounded by intensely burning gazes—the power of hope that shone upon him like flames.

He fell silent for a moment, then smiled at the crowd, trying to calm them down.

But only Kro, sitting next to him, knew that the situation was far from being something to be relaxed about.

Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
The sound of crisp footsteps came from outside the crowd.

Zoro, with Reiju by his side, walked up to Gawain, briefly explained the situation, and then stood aside awaiting Gawain's next orders.

Although he already knew about Reiju and Sanji's past, and knew that this woman was different from the others in Germa.

But what he knew even more clearly was that Gawain was the leader of this pirate crew, and only Gawain had the final say on the prisoners of war.

Sanji was aware of this, but he still couldn't help but try to gain some support for his only sister:

"Captain, I..."

"I see."

Gawain nodded to him, then looked at Reiju, hesitated for a moment, and then, noticing Sanji's expectant gaze, said calmly:

"Don't do anything unnecessary. I don't want to make things difficult for Sanji."

Reiju nodded emphatically, showing no dissatisfaction whatsoever.
"I see."

"Ah."

Gawain responded and then got up and left with Kro, who was standing next to him. The two of them found a place to sit down outside the camp.

The siblings embraced and wept, their warmth and comfort amidst the cheers of those around them.

But Gao Wen, watching all this from afar, showed no smile whatsoever, only an indescribable solemnity.

Kro spoke:

"Gawain, you should know him, right?!"

"Tonight's attack is not the end, but merely the beginning."

"With our arrival, those forces lurking in the shadows will inevitably become restless. What we will face next is a series of attacks, and more and more powerful enemies will appear."

"Continuing to fight like this is not a solution."

Gao Wen remained silent.

He simply gazed indifferently at the camp in the distance, where ordinary people gathered, ordinary people who couldn't survive in this world.

The Crimson Dragon was large enough and could fly. Combined with the defensive power of the battle armor, ordinary attacks could not stop Gawain at all. At most, if he couldn't win, he could simply retreat.

But for these ordinary people, defeat meant death.

Gawain was unwilling to give up on them until they posed a real threat to him.

What are your thoughts?!

Gawain turned to look at Chloe. He knew Chloe's personality; if he asked such a question, he must have already thought of a way to deal with it.

really.

A meaningful smile appeared on Kro's face as he said:
"Since they want the blueprints for Hades, we might as well give them to them."

(End of this chapter)