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

Chapter 267 To hell with justice! 2
between words.

Aokiji looked at Gao Wen with a mocking expression.

The sea breeze swept across the glacier, carrying a biting chill that stung everyone's faces, making them shiver.

The completely frozen sea was also revealed to everyone at this moment.

"Hey hey hey~"

"real or fake?!"

"The entire sea surface..."

One of the guards couldn't help but swallow hard, for the sea as far as the eye could see had turned into glaciers.

The pirates who were screaming in agony in the sea of ​​fire were instantly frozen into ice sculptures, some even still in the position of struggling before their death.

It gives people goosebumps.

The strength of the lazy-looking man in front of me is beyond doubt.

Swish-!
The terrified guards instantly raised their shrapnel pistols.

But this weapon, which was originally capable of taking countless lives, could not bring them any sense of security at this moment.

All eyes turned to Gao Wen.

In their eyes, only Gawain, who was equally powerful and monstrous, capable of annihilating dozens of pirate ships with a single strike, had the ability to rival the man before them.

"Put the gun down."

Gao Wen's indifferent voice conveyed a powerful force to everyone.

With me here, nothing is a problem.

The same thought simultaneously arose in their minds.

The group slowly lowered their flintlock pistols and took a few imperceptible steps back from Gawain.

Even though they knew their duty was to protect the refugees behind them, their biological instinct of fear still caused their bodies to perform the corresponding actions.

Some people realized this, and their eyes were filled with shame.

Some people were still confused and stumbled along. Only when their companions helped them up did they realize that their vests were already soaked with cold sweat and their faces were frighteningly pale.

call--!
The sea breeze blew, lifting a few stray hairs from Gao Wen's forehead.

At this moment, Gawain breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Aokiji did not answer directly, his attitude made it clear that his purpose was definitely not to cause trouble for him.

Considering Aokiji's casual attire, it was clear he wasn't there as a Marine. Gawain had a vague guess, but he kept it to himself.

"boring."

Gawain scoffed, skipping over Aokiji's half-joking topic, and asked:

"Are you here to help or to cause trouble?!"

"Well~"

Aokiji raised his hand and scratched his head:
"I have good news and bad news to tell you."

Gao Wen frowned, a strange sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

After temporarily entrusting the post-battle cleanup work to Zoro and Van Augur, he called Kuro and walked aside with Aokiji.

It wasn't that Gawain intentionally hid it from others.

Rather, it was the bad news from Aokiji that reminded him of something that had happened in Ohara.

The civilians of Water City were already battered and bruised from the continuous warfare, their bodies and minds on the verge of collapse.

The navy's support had become their last pillar of strength. If even this pillar of strength collapsed, these guards would probably lose their will to resist on the spot.

"follow me."

……

A few minutes later.

Inside a building in the port that is still relatively intact.

Gawain, Kuro, and Aokiji sat together.

The candlelight flickered on the table, casting dappled shadows that reflected on Chloe's cold face.

"In other words, after learning about what happened in Water 7, the World Government's first reaction was not to send troops to help, but to try to resolve the chaos at the lowest possible cost and restore stability to the sea."

"And their final decision was to issue a Buster Call, sending all the refugees and the city to sink into the sea?!"

Kro's voice was filled with suppressed anger.

This once selfish and brutal pirate has undergone many changes he never imagined after becoming Gawain's right-hand man and having someone he could truly call a comrade.

He even started to resemble Gawain in some ways.

Sympathy for the weak.

This is the quality that Kuro saw in Gawain that distinguished him from other pirates.

Although he never said it, and perhaps he himself was not even aware of it, it was something that...

Among Gawain's group, the one who understood first, followed first, and most wanted to become Gawain's kindred spirit was none other than Crowe himself.

So it is.

That's why he felt sorry for the suffering of the common people in Water City and even took great risks to help them.

In the past, he would have scoffed at his current self.

He knew just how much the civilians of Water Seven longed for the Navy's justice.

That was the only thing that sustained their beliefs!

But now you're telling me the naval fleet has arrived here to carry out a Buster Call?!
"To hell with justice!"

Kuro's almost out-of-control shout made Aokiji lower his head even further, feeling only unspeakable shame welling up inside him.

He wanted to argue, but that was the truth, the undeniable truth.

Aokiji didn't know how long those glaciers could hold off Akainu, but he knew that once that man reached Water 7, everything would be reduced to ashes.

This once glorious city has no other destination but to sink into the sea!
"You... no, our time is running out."

"Tch—!"

Chloe spat out a mouthful of saliva, then took a deep breath, gradually suppressing the surging emotions in her heart.

soon.

Everything gradually became clear in Chloe's mind.

"The Navy carried out the Buster Call for two purposes: first, to prevent the Pluton blueprints from spreading, and second, as you said, to end this war."

"In this case……"

Thinking of this, Kroo didn't continue, but turned to look at Gawain:

"Can we trust this guy?!"

Gawain glanced at Aokiji, saw that the latter was currently standing with his arms crossed and head bowed in silence, and nodded, saying:
"The fact that this guy showed up here and revealed the Navy's movements to a group of pirates already says a lot."

"Then I'll continue."

"The plan must be brought forward. Franky and the others need to speed things up and spread the forged Hades blueprints before the Buster Call is launched."

"A forged design of Hades?!"

Aokiji carefully considered the key information in K's words, and after a moment's thought, he understood. He couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:
"That's a good strategy."

"Those pirates were after the blueprints for Pluton. Once they got them, the predicament in Water 7 will naturally be resolved."

"But at that time, the World Government and Akainu's primary task should have been to prevent the spread of the Pluton blueprints, so the Buster Call was naturally unnecessary."

"Wonderful~"

"Gawain, you truly live up to your reputation!"

Aokiji instinctively assumed that this was a scheme devised by Gawain, after all, for a man with vision far ahead of his time to do something so illogical...

It makes sense!

That makes perfect sense!
Kro was furious, looking like he'd been constipated for a week, but he couldn't bring himself to explain.

After all, arguing about this kind of issue makes me, Kro, seem very petty!
However, both of them unanimously agreed on the plan to forge the Hades blueprints.

Only Gawain's furrowed brows remained unchanged: "Has there ever been a precedent for the Buster Call being interrupted?!"

Aokiji calmed down, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head:

"Even within the Navy's internal records, the number of Buster Calls carried out is very small, with the most recent one being several years ago."

"Are you worried that even if the pirates besieging Water 7 retreat, the World Government will still have to complete the Buster Call?!"

Gawain nodded:

"At least we can't place all our hopes on the possibility that the World Government will stop enforcing the Buster Call."

He recalled everything he knew about the Buster Call, the World Government, and the Five Elders.

Gao Wen felt a vague unease in his heart.

As his Observation Haki improved, he developed a premonition of potential future crises, a premonition he had also experienced in several previous battles.

And without exception, these premonitions have all been proven true.

This time, however, the unease in Gao Wen's heart was the strongest it had ever been.

"In short, let's prepare for both possibilities."

Gawain looked at Clooney:

"Kro, have your men take stock of how many ships are still in Water Seven that can set sail. There should be enough to last until the refugees in the city are evacuated to the next port."

"If that's not enough... then go rob some!"

"There's nothing lacking around Water Seven, but pirate ships are everywhere."

With a flash, Kro disappeared from the room like a gust of wind, and only then did his voice echo in the air.

"I understand."

Gawain then turned his gaze to Aokiji:
"So what's next? Are you planning to leave, or stay and lend a hand?"

"Forehead……"

Aokiji's lips curled into a slight smile:
"If you provide meals, I can consider it."

"Then it's settled."

Gao Wen shook his head, but a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

With such a powerful addition to his team, he has many more things he can do.

He had been hesitant to act freely due to concerns about a surprise attack from someone with special abilities like Wang Zhi.

With Qingzhi stationed at the headquarters, there are indeed no more concerns, and the surrounding area can be thoroughly cleaned up.

Gawain then briefly explained his current disguise and the general situation of the battle in Water Seven. He then leaped into the air and soared out of the harbor.

They began patrolling the area around Water City.

Once he found a threatening target, Gawain acted decisively, cleaving the ship in two with a single stroke.

When you're tired or hungry, just find a deserted island, absorb some of the earth's energy, and you'll be fully revived on the spot.

It directly transforms into a perpetual motion machine.

Overnight, the pirates who were originally eager to try their luck withdrew directly from the area within dozens of nautical miles of Water 7.

The clouds high in the sky grew denser and thicker, with flashes of lightning from time to time, but no rain fell.

……

Aokiji, led by a guard, entered the refugee camp and temporarily took over the duties of the head guard.

"Really..."

"I haven't agreed yet~"

He looked at his slightly small uniform and shook his head with a hint of helplessness.

"But it feels pretty good~"

After taking off the heavy uniform of a naval admiral, Aokiji felt completely relaxed, and his steps became much lighter.

Most things in the camp were handled by designated people, and everything proceeded in an orderly manner under Kro's arrangement.

Aokiji had some free time for a while.

He wandered around the camp and witnessed many scenes that were completely different from what he had previously thought.

The members of the Gawain Pirates, dressed in shabby naval uniforms, walked among the refugees, offering them half a loaf of bread or some crude medicine.

Some pirates were surrounded by terrified children in the camp, and they solemnly recounted their fabricated stories of righteous marines defeating evil pirates.

Despite these stories being riddled with holes, illogical, and even disjointed, they are still full of inconsistencies.

But the boys listened very attentively, their eyes shining brightly, while some even tugged at the pirate's clothes and fell into a deep sleep.

In such a turbulent environment, being able to sleep peacefully is an extremely fortunate thing.

Aokiji knew what this meant.

His slight reservations about his status as a general vanished at that moment.

These people shouldn't have died.

Whether it's these ordinary people or the pirates under Gawain's command.

Sudden.

A gasp came from behind Aokiji.

"Commander Kuzan?!"

Aokiji paused, turned his head, and saw T-Bone staring at him in shock:
"Peng? I remember you already... So you were saved by that guy?!"

T-Bone nodded, a relieved expression on his face:

"I was initially worried that these marines' behavior didn't seem like that of someone who had received professional training, but rather that they had a strong pirate-like quality."

"Your presence here means that Lieutenant General Lancelot and his men are your subordinates?!"

Aokiji's breath hitched, but he didn't answer T-Bone's question, because he couldn't bring himself to say either a denial or a confirmation.

After a few breaths, Aokiji said with a meaningful tone:
"So, would you rather they be marines or pirates?!"

"Of course, it's the Marines!"

Without the slightest hesitation, T-Bone said decisively:
"Although their conduct has its problems and they lack discipline, I must say, they are the most upright and kindest people I have ever met..."

"No, they are the marines who are closest to ordinary people."

“If I hadn’t already given up my knighthood, I would even have recommended them to become knights of the kingdom; they are qualified.”

"Even you think so highly of them?!"

A slight smile played on Qingzhi's lips.

As Akainu's former lieutenant, Aokiji had naturally met T-Bone before.

On many occasions, conflicts between Akainu and Aokiji ended with Akainu being held back by T-Bone.

This man holds a special place in Akainu's heart; calling him a close friend or brother would not be an exaggeration.

"I'm quite curious to see what kind of expression Akainu would have if he knew your opinion on these pirates... Marines."

“It’s really exciting.”

T-Bone was a little confused for a moment, but out of his marine instincts, he chose to follow Aokiji and temporarily take over the job of his second-in-command.

……

Mayor's Building.

In a basement, Franky and a group of top shipwrights sat together, staring intently at the still-wet ink on the blueprints on the table.

"Finally finished!"

"Based on the sci-fi warship provided by Franky, and with the addition of designs that break free from constraints and physical rules, we created the final warship, which is what is known as..."

"Hades!"

"If this thing can actually land, it might even outrun the real Hades!"

Barry couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Working for a full day and night had left him utterly exhausted, but his eyes shone like two lamps.

"If—and I mean if—were capable of creating this monster?!"

(End of this chapter)