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

Chapter 292 The So-Called Mandate of Heaven

The next day.

In the lord's office at the rapeseed flower port.

Gawain, Kuro, Robin, and the others gathered here, their brows furrowed as they looked at the intelligence that Lucci had just sent back.

"The World Government has its eye on Gin's abilities?!"

"The Bone-Bone Fruit?!"

Gawain murmured to himself, suddenly remembering that back at the auction in Loguetown, Crocodile's top general, Daz Bones, had also come for this fruit.

Even after succeeding, he immediately chose to retreat. If it weren't for a stroke of luck, the Bone-Bone Fruit would never have ended up in his hands and would have been eaten by Gin.

This thing might not be as simple as I thought...

really.

Robin's next words confirmed Gawain's guess:
"When I was browsing through the ancient books hidden in Alabasta, I came across an interesting rumor by chance."

"It is said that a thousand years ago, the king of a kingdom in the New World used the power of a Devil Fruit to gain eternal life. Theoretically speaking, he should still be alive today."

"And Akin's Bone-Bone Fruit corresponds to one of the five legendary abilities: 'flesh, blood, bones, heart, and soul'."

Robin shook his head halfway through his sentence and said:
"but."

"This is most likely some kind of unfounded rumor."

"After all, the World Government has only been established for a little over 800 years. If someone were to live from such a distant era to the present, they would have witnessed all of history."

"The world government, which is determined to bury history and even goes so far as to launch the Buster Call, will never allow such people to exist."

Gao Wen nodded in agreement.

If one truly desires immortality, Law's Op-Op Fruit is undoubtedly a more efficient and feasible option than some vague and unrealistic legend.

Even the Celestial Dragons of Mary Geoise could pin their hopes on Im for immortality.

After all, the Five Elders have been confirmed to have ruled the world since the establishment of the World Government, for over eight hundred years now, and possess near-immortal vitality.

In other words, they possess not only the power to stand at the pinnacle of the world, but also the matching military strength. Their immortal bodies, combined with their awakened mythical beast species, are at least at the Gold Limit.

No one knows better than Gawain just how disgusting an unkillable opponent can be.

"Perhaps it was just a whim of some bored Celestial Dragon."

"The third strongest fighter on Akin's ship has now reached the Gold level, which is basically equivalent to the Seven Warlords of the Sea. As far as I know, no one in the CP organization is his match."

"Besides, if you want to attack my people, you have to ask the knife in my hand first."

Gao Wen turned to look at A Jin and instructed him:

Be careful over there lately.

"Although the fact that the other party chose to mobilize through the CP organization means that this matter is also something that cannot be seen in the light of day within the World Government, and the Navy probably won't get involved."

"Your strength is sufficient to deal with the CP organization's attacks, but what we fear is their underhanded tactics."

Akin nodded:
"Understood, Captain."

"With Lucci around, even if there are any moves within the CP organization, we can know in advance, so it's not a big problem."

"Ah."

Gao Wen responded, then set aside his trust and looked at Luo Bing with a hint of curiosity:
"Speaking of which, I'm a little curious, who was that legendary king who gained immortality?"

Robin began to speak:

"It is said to be the first king of Britannias, known as the evil dragon... Fafnir!"

Gao Wen paused for a moment.

call--!
The wind in the harbor suddenly became noisy, crashing through the office windows and rushing into the room.

The wind violently lifted the curtain, also lifting the stray hairs from Gawain's forehead, revealing a pair of astonished eyes.

"The so-called...destiny?!"

He gripped the hilt of Kanze Masamune's sword with one hand, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, and his eyes reflected a light as brilliant as stars:

"interesting."

"I'm increasingly eager to go there and see what this so-called legend, this so-called battle of destiny, really is, and how many of my blows it can withstand."

"Ah."

After a soft laugh.

Robin went over and closed the window again.

The meeting continued, and the group then finalized the plans for the martial arts tournament and the rapeseed flower port.

This place is basically Gao Wen's gang's private territory, so it naturally needs to be carefully planned.

Fortunately, Robin was a true all-rounder, doing far better in this regard than Gawain and Crowe, two complete novices.

It is even comparable to Gaza, the lord of Ravenport.

but.

The martial arts tournament is gradually expanding, and Gaza has even established branch venues around the world with the help of Stusi and Du-Field.

The format of the competition, which Gawain originally designed, including the Four Seas Preliminary Rounds, the Amusement Park Qualifying Rounds, and the New World Finals, is beginning to take shape.

But the problems he had initially worried about gradually surfaced.

The title of Shichibukai alone gives them a formidable deterrent force in the East Blue, which they fought their way through. The same applies to Paradise.

However, in the other three sea areas, the people there did not feel Gawain's intimidation in a concrete way, and naturally had less respect for him. In fact, some pirates or kingdoms that wanted to collect taxes have even come to cause trouble.

Although these matters have been temporarily suppressed by Stussy and Du-Field, the deterrent effect of the martial arts tournament will only decrease over time.

"In the end, we still have to use knives."

"but."

"The most urgent task at present is to gain a foothold in Britannias."

"I don't have the energy to deal with these miscellaneous fish right now."

"We can only leave it alone. It's a good time to go fishing."

soon.

The meeting then came to an end.

Gao Wen and his group also resumed their journey that afternoon, departing from Youcaihua Port and heading straight for the Sabaody Archipelago.

According to the route Nami planned, they would be coated there and then enter the New World via Fishman Island.

Before Gawain set off, he also took Reiju under his wing, but she did not accompany him to the New World. Instead, she remained at the port of Rapeseed Flower as Robin's bodyguard.

Reiju stayed here with the Franky family's boatmen.

They themselves possess considerable combat strength, and with Reiju, who is comparable to a Marine Rear Admiral, stationed at a port in Paradise, there will be no problem unless a great pirate of the Seven Warlords level personally arrives.

……

……

……

Sabaody Archipelago, a rip-off bar.

A group of drinkers gathered here, chatting and boasting, making the environment extremely noisy.

Squeak~!

The bar door was pushed open.

The piercing sound, like sharp thorns, rubbed against everyone's ears.

"Want to die? You bastard!"

A pirate, his face flushed and reeking of alcohol, was looking for an excuse to cause trouble and, incidentally, skip out on his bill.

He was about to speak when he saw someone come in, but when he saw the figure walking into the bar, he wilted on the spot, like a chick with its throat pinched.

Even his legs were trembling.

"Hey, what's wrong with Baturu? You're scared to death?!"

"I knew this guy was a coward..."

One of the pirates instinctively wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but only when he spoke did he realize that he was the only one left speaking in the bar.

He realized something and stiffly turned his head.

The first thing you see is a man wearing a felt hat and carrying a long, black sword shaped like a cross on his back.

What made his very soul tremble was the man's eyes!

Eyes like those of a hawk!

"Eagle, eagle, eagle... Hawkeye Mihawk?!" He was shocked and terrified. He stumbled and fled out of the bar's back door with his companion.

Hawkeye glanced at the two men indifferently and then lost interest in them.

He calmly walked to the bar and said:

"A bottle of red wine and a steak."

"Understood, guest."

Xia Qi leaned against the bar, looking at the man in front of her with a hint of interest in her eyes:
"I never expected to meet such an important person here!"

Hawkeye didn't reply, but merely glanced at Rayleigh, who was already passed out drunk in the corner, and said calmly:
"I should be the one saying that. I never expected to see the legendary man here, the right arm of the Pirate King Roger, known as the Dark King..."

"Hmm~"

Rayleigh seemed to be awakened by the commotion around him. He sat up at just the right moment, stretched, and pointed to the wine glass on the table:
"Xia Qi, bring the wine!"

"That won't do!"

Xia Qi waved her hand:

"You haven't paid a single penny for the drinks you've had since last month..."

"Next time definitely!"

"Don't do it again next time. I'm only letting you out because I didn't kick you out since you couldn't pay this time—it's out of consideration for our past relationship."

Rayleigh's expression froze, and he took out the wine bottle from his pocket and shook it.

It's empty now.

He couldn't help but chuckle bitterly a few times before getting up to leave.

boom!
Hawkeye placed a bottle of strong liquor on the table.

"This bottle is on me."

"Oh~"

Rayleigh was taken aback, then turned to look at the man who had already made a name for himself in Roger's time, and was momentarily puzzled:

"Do we know each other?!"

"I heard some red-haired bastard mention you."

"Shanks, huh?"

Rayleigh understood.

He reached for the liquor on the table, his fingertips tracing the logo on the bottle.

What comes to mind is the image of Shanks and Bucky chasing and playing on the ship back then.

"So many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and the child we saved back then has become a big shot who can command the wind and rain on the sea."

"That troublesome brat Bucky is still the same as before."

Roger, Whitebeard, and Shiki—these legends once shone brightly, their names resounding throughout the seas, but they have all passed away.

boom--!
Rayleigh reached out, removed the cork, and took a small sip.

The pungent and spicy alcoholic beverage travels down the esophagus into the stomach.

My whole body felt warm instantly.

“A person of your stature would not appear in the Sabaody Archipelago without a reason.”

Hawkeye nodded:
"I met an interesting man in the East China Sea before."

“In this era, he may be able to surpass me in swordsmanship, and I look forward to the day when he stands before me.”

"How arrogant..."

Rayleigh shook his head, a slight smile creeping onto his lips.

But when he looked at Hawkeye in front of him, he was more amazed than anything else.

I'm amazed by this talent, this confidence, and the power that matches it.

"If I were ten years younger, maybe we could still fight, but let's forget about it now. My old bones can't take any more of this."

"But the East China Sea..."

East Sea, swordsmanship.

When these two terms were placed together, Rayleigh pictured an excessively young face:
"Knight Gawain? You know him too?"

"That's true, after all, even that guy Golden Lion was defeated by him."

Mentioning his former rival, Rayleigh's eyes darkened slightly. He took another sip of his drink and sighed:

"Decades have passed in a flash. The pirates of my time have either disappeared like me or been devoured by the monster-like new generation."

Even that guy, Golden Lion, couldn't avoid this ending.

"However, being defeated by a new lion is a satisfactory outcome for him. After all, he was never willing to accept defeat after the Battle of Attwal, but..."

"Even if that battle were to happen again, the outcome would still be the same."

Speaking of it.

Rayleigh looked up at Hawkeye, a look of keen interest on his face.

"From this perspective, a man who can defeat the Golden Lion certainly deserves your attention."

"No!"

A rare smile appeared on Hawkeye's face, and even his fierce aura trembled slightly at this moment.

Rayleigh even saw a kind of pride in those hawk-like eyes.

“I found this gem long before he rose to prominence in the East China Sea.”

"His extraordinary talent and willingness to risk his life are already extremely rare, but what is even more astonishing is that he was able to reach such a level in less than two years."

"In all the history I know, there is only one such person."

Om-!
As Hawkeye's fighting spirit grew stronger, the black blade also emitted a buzzing sound.

The piercing noise even carried out onto the street outside the bar, instilling a sense of primal panic and fear in the crowd.

Rayleigh sipped his drink, his expression remaining calm and composed.
"So you're planning to take his head right here?!"

Hawkeye didn't reply, but simply adjusted his hat and said to himself:
"This is the only passage into the new world. Knowing that guy's personality, he will definitely not be content to stay in Paradise."

"He will definitely pass through here, and I will wait for him here."

"I want to see with my own eyes how far this brand-new sword has been refined, and how far it is from being perfect for me."

Rayleigh smiled slightly:
"The answer was exactly as expected."

"You're getting me all fired up. If this battle needs witnesses, I'd be happy to."

Rayleigh raised his bottle, clinked it against Hawkeye's glass, downed the liquor in one gulp, and then slumped onto the table.

A few breaths later, soft snoring echoed through the bar.

Hawkeye raised his glass and took a sip of red wine in response.

At that moment, he saw a resemblance to his close friend in the old man before him.

After finishing his meal, Hawkeye didn't linger and quickly left.

Rayleigh, who had been keeping his eyes closed, slowly opened them. He watched Hawkeye leave and couldn't help but sigh.
"Our era has passed."

“These seeds from the past are gradually sprouting in this era, but they are not enough to accomplish what Roger wanted to do…”

"Far from enough."

Sudden.

Xia Qi spoke, breaking the atmosphere:

"Rayleigh!"

"That guy hasn't paid for his drinks yet, so I'll charge you for it too."

"He didn't pay?!"

Rayleigh's eyelids twitched.

I couldn't help but think that young people these days don't understand how to respect the elderly and care for the young at all.

But seeing Xia Qi's outstretched hand, he could only smile helplessly:
"Keep it in the books, it'll be ready in a few days."

Xia Qi seemed to recall something amusing and teased:

"Trying to use the same old trick again?!"

(End of this chapter)