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

Chapter 279 Lionheart Knight! The man closest to the Four Emperors!
a few days later.

With the World Government's encouragement, the events in Water Seven spread throughout the world through the World Economic Herald.

This war, which nearly drove the entire Grand Line to madness, also came to an end at this time.

"The design blueprints for Hades have been leaked, and the battle in Water 7 has ended with the legendary pirate Shiki's death!"

"The two admirals fought the Golden Lion for several days and nights, and finally killed him!"

"Lionheart Knight Gawain answered the Navy's call and, in the name of a Vice Admiral, fought countless pirates in Water 7, demonstrating the power of a supreme warrior!"

"Gawain the Lionheart! The man closest to being one of the Four Emperors!"

……

Chambord Islands.

Inside the extortion bar, the crowd was discussing the great battle that had taken place in Water Seven.

Spit flew everywhere in the crowd.

Those who had not personally experienced the great battle spoke with great conviction, as if they had been at the heart of the battle and witnessed the entire process.

Only Rayleigh remained seated in the corner, as always.

The wine jug in his hand remained at his lips, untouched for a long time. All he could see was the blond figure who had already died but still stood proudly in the center of the battlefield.

"Even you, the most arrogant of men, are gone?"

Rayleigh murmured.

Decades have passed, and the grudges of the past are no longer worth mentioning to him, but witnessing the end of this extremely arrogant man still makes him feel a little sad.

But when Rayleigh noticed the smile on Golden Lion's face, he understood that Golden Lion should have no regrets about losing this time.

"This doesn't look like the expression one would have when defeated by the Navy."

Rayleigh's gaze shifted downwards, and he noticed the gruesome sword wound on the Golden Lion's chest. A man who had also been mentioned in the news immediately came to Rayleigh's mind.

"If I remember correctly, that guy is also from the East China Sea, right?!"

"Lionheart Knight, the one who stole the lion's heart... So that's how it is? At such a young age, he has already surpassed us old folks?!"

"It's a pity you're not the person Roger was waiting for."

"However, in such an era, for such outstanding young people to rise up is indeed..."

"Am I already old?!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha……"

Loud laughter echoed throughout the bar.

The group of half-drunk drinkers glanced at Rayleigh, assuming he was just an ordinary drunk old man, and ignored him, turning back to discuss the events of Water Seven.

Only Xia Qi, sitting in the corner, looked at Lei Li with an indescribable complex expression in her eyes.

……

Rayleigh wasn't the only one who saw through the World Government's little tricks and realized the truth.

now.

New world.

Ignoring the advice of the leopard-print nurse beside him, Whitebeard tilted his head back and downed the glass of strong liquor.

His whole body seemed to relax at that moment. He slowly closed his eyes, leaned back on the sofa, and let the sea breeze blow on him.

"Gulala la la la~"

"Successful!"

Amidst Whitebeard's light laughter, a figure enveloped in flames darted out from the corner and delivered a powerful punch to Whitebeard.

"fire punch!"

Intense flames exploded on the ship.

Before the smug smile could fully form on the boy's face, an arm pierced through the raging flames and reached in.

Whitebeard neutralized Ace's attack with just one finger.

Ace was sent flying, crashing through the pirate ship's railing and falling into the sea.

Pfft!
After a distinct splash, a burst of laughter erupted on the deck.

"Hahahaha~"

"This idiot, how many times has this happened?!"

"My father is invincible, how could you possibly have been easily ambushed by him?!"

"This excessive obsession is adorably silly!"

in the corner.

Tall and muscular, but clearly missing a few teeth, the black-bearded man with a kind, good-natured expression waved his hand to stop the jokes.
"Don't say that~ Ace is still very strong~"

"Teach, stop playing the nice guy."

Sachi sat to the side, a relaxed smile on his lips:
"Given that guy's personality, it will probably take him a long time to realize the gap between himself and his father."

"Hahahahaha~"

Blackbeard chuckled twice, showing none of the ruthless arrogance he would later display when he stepped over Whitebeard's corpse to ascend to the throne of one of the Four Emperors.

His expression suddenly changed:
"Oh no, ability users can't swim!"

Without hesitation, Blackbeard jumped into the sea and, moments later, grabbed the unconscious Ace and returned to the deck.

Even though he was soaking wet, Blackbeard checked on Ace's condition first.

He hesitated for a moment, as if making a decision, then licked his lips and bent down to prepare to give Ace artificial respiration.

"and many more--!"

Ace suddenly awoke, spitting out a mouthful of seawater, but instead of looking at Whitebeard immediately, he turned to Blackbeard with lingering fear and quickly said:

"No need! It's not a big problem! There's no need for it!"

His panicked demeanor drew a burst of laughter from the crowd.

Ace sat on the deck, his expression somewhat annoyed, but inwardly he felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

Even though he was unwilling to admit it, being on Whitebeard's ship gave him a feeling he had never experienced before.

It feels like being with Luffy and Sabo.

"Na~"

"Ace~"

Whitebeard tilted his head, resting his chin on his hand, and looked at Ace:
"What kind of being is Gawain, the Lionheart Knight?!"

"Knight Gawain?!"

Ace was taken aback, and was about to answer when he remembered his current status as a prisoner. He turned his head away, looking displeased, and said:

Why should I answer your question?!

Whitebeard showed no sign of offense, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at Ace and said:
"Consider it payment for the expenses incurred on my ship during this period."

"Humph~"

Ace pouted:
"That guy was put on the bounty at the same time as me, and later he was invited by the World Government in the East Blue to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"Rumor has it that he was once a knight of a certain kingdom, but because of certain events..."

"correct!"

Ace's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at his comrade Deuce, who was now also a prisoner of Whitebeard, and said:

"Deus!"

"Do you remember? The movie you mentioned last time that you used as material for your novel, what was it again..."

Diuss blushed:
"I...I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Stop pretending!"

Ace showed no mercy, directly exposing the latter's pathetic pretense:

"That 'The Alluring Princess Falls in Love with the Loyal Knight,' don't think I don't know you were secretly watching it every day during that period!"

"Who in their right mind would read that kind of stuff?! I read the Spring and Autumn Annals!"

"Stop with the nonsense! Just show it to me!"

……

Two hours later.

On the deck of the Moby Dick, a group of Whitebeard Pirates crew members sat around, intently watching Deus play "The Charming Princess Falls in Love with the Loyal Knight".

Many people were so moved that they cried their eyes out.

"Ooh~~~~~"

"My knight, you must live on, for only by living is there hope~~~~"

"So touching, so incredibly touching!"

"No, I'm going to kill that bastard who executed the queen!" Blackman, the user of the Pouch-Pouch Fruit, was so moved that he hugged the fishman Namur tightly, completely unaware that the latter was blushing and almost couldn't breathe.

The Ice Witch Whiteybe sat to the side, wiping away her tears, and secretly vowed that if she ever had the chance to go to the East Sea, she would definitely avenge the princess in the movie.

"Gulala la la la~"

The white-bearded man chuckled lightly:

"Was that guy's past really the same as depicted in this movie?"

Ace nodded:
"There are some adaptations, but as far as I know, it's pretty much the same."

"how?"

"What's that guy been up to lately?!"

"what."

Whitebeard nodded, recalling his past battle with Shiki, and felt a pang of emotion.

"Even that guy Shiki was defeated by him."

"but."

"Shiki should have no regrets this time, after all, he had a smile on his face until the moment he died in battle."

"Gulala la la la~"

The sound fell to the ground.

Marco and the others sitting to the side were shocked, their eyes filled with indescribable astonishment.

They were among the earliest followers of Whitebeard, and naturally witnessed several encounters between Whitebeard and Shiki.

Two decades ago, the two were almost evenly matched.

One is powerful and heavy, the other is agile and graceful.

Once a war breaks out, it can last for several days and nights without a clear winner, and most of the time they fight until they are exhausted and neither side can gain the upper hand.

Everyone assumed that Shiki's strength would plummet after he broke his own legs to escape Impel Down.

But only those who had seen the Golden Lion knew that the impact of severing his own legs was far less significant than others imagined.

That man still possesses combat power comparable to that of a Yonko (Emperor of the Sea).

The fact that he was able to kill Shiki head-on proves that Gawain has the power to rival the Four Emperors!

"Is yet another monster of the new era stirring up trouble?!"

"Qi!"

"My era..."

in the corner.

Blackbeard listened to Whitebeard's words, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes, but it vanished in the next instant, and he returned to his kind-hearted demeanor.

He knew perfectly well that he was currently lying in wait on the ship of the world's strongest man, waiting for the world's strongest fruit to ripen!

I'm sure I'll find that fruit here.

Blackbeard had this premonition, and as time went on, this premonition grew stronger and stronger.

That ability, known as the most ferocious and evil in the history of Devil Fruits, will surely appear on this ship.

By then, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Four Emperors, and Lionheart Knight will all be nothing more than stepping stones for me to conquer the world!
Thinking of this.

Blackbeard's heart grew increasingly restless. To avoid being exposed, he got up and returned to his cabin under the pretext of changing clothes, where he sat quietly in his room.

In his hand was a well-worn Devil Fruit encyclopedia, and on the open page was a Devil Fruit that was entirely dark purple.

Its name is...

Dark-Dark Fruit!

……

……

……

The Grand Line.

Wow——!
The waves crashed against a small boat, only to be shattered by a slash in the next instant.

Hawkeye sat on his bed, looking down at the newspaper in his hand. He stared at the familiar-looking knife wound on Lion's chest, his eyes filled with indescribable admiration.

"This kind of wound... there's no mistake!"

"It's that sword named Kanze Masamune!"

"Has Gao Wen already reached this point in less than two years?!"

It was only at this moment that Hawkeye realized that he had thought Gawain's choice of a Devil Fruit was short-sighted and would affect his future growth potential.

As the one who planted the seed, I should go and remove the weeds to help the seed sprout and grow strong.

But the seed of reform that I planted on a whim has grown into a towering tree, even felling the legends of the old era.

Gawain is no longer just a seed with decent potential, but a strongman who can rival him!
To have reached this point in just two short years—such talent is beyond words!

“I’m really looking forward to it!”

"I can fight that guy!"

Om-!
A piercing buzzing sound emanated from the black sword, Night Blade.

Eagle Eye knows.

The knife was excited, unusually excited, almost frantically excited.

The last time it evoked such emotions was because of the man who lost an arm in the East China Sea!

"I know."

Hawkeye murmured something and slowly raised his head.

The sea monster that had just leaped out of the water, ready to swallow the man in front of it along with the small boat beneath his feet, suddenly stopped, its beastly eyes filled with undisguised fear.

It instinctively tried to dive into the water and escape, but it was too late.

A flash of light swept across the sea, annihilating it along with the surging waves behind it!
boom!
The seawater churned, and the enormous slash mark stretched to the horizon.

Hawkeye could no longer suppress his fighting spirit.

He didn't know where Gawain was now, but he knew that to enter the New World from the Grand Line, one had to pass through the Sabaody Archipelago!
"I'll be waiting for you there!"

"Gawain!"

……

……

……

New world.

Golden City.

Neon lights flashed.

Gold, desire, beauty, gambling tables...

Countless people flock to this world's largest den of iniquity, squandering everything they have until they are left with nothing and are swallowed up by this enormous city.

Yet, this still couldn't stop more people from coming here to become the next batch of lambs to the slaughter.

Here, as long as you have money, you can enjoy everything you can imagine, and even everything you can't imagine.

Even some of the Celestial Dragons residing in Mary Geoise are high-ranking members here.

The countless treasures sent to Mary Geoise each year were also the pillars that kept the city of gold standing.

The man who created all of this was once a slave—

Gilder Tezzolo.

now.

Tesoro stood at the highest point of the Golden City, overlooking everything in the city.

A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth, just like the Celestial Dragon who had taken away his beloved years ago.

Arrogant, conceited, and overconfident.

Now he believes he has the right to do so, at least the right not to lose everything again.

Whether relying on their own wealth, extensive network of relationships, or the power derived from the massive gold reserves within the city.

"Boss~"

Baccarat, wearing a form-fitting short skirt, stood gracefully beside Tezzolo and began to speak:

"Our previous plans to win the martial arts tournament have encountered some obstacles."

"Um?!"

"According to the intelligence we have obtained, it was not two Marine Admirals who defeated Shiki in Water 7, but a knight, no, it was Gawain, the Lionheart Knight!"

(End of this chapter)