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

Chapter 316 Alliances and Grand Fleets
Kro did not answer immediately, but turned his head to look at Shirahoshi in the cage, and then slowly said:

"Poseidon, one of the three ancient weapons!"

"Although it has not yet fully awakened, the power it has shown so far is enough to easily destroy a kingdom."

"In a few years, the power structure of the Four Emperors and the Seven Warlords of the Sea will collapse, and even the World Government will not be able to remain unaffected."

"When the era of collapse of order arrives, all the world's forces will inevitably fall into endless war."

"In such an era, the power of the Sea King is of paramount importance. Knowing this, any pirate would be tempted, and we are no exception."

"Neptune……"

Neptune murmured.

He turned to look at his youngest daughter, his eyes filled with an uncontrollable sense of awe.

Even though she had already guessed what Shirahoshi's unintentional display of ability meant, she never imagined that it would be one of the legendary Ancient Weapons of the Third Generation, capable of dominating the world.

Such power is enough to change Fishman Island's status in the world!
At this moment, Neptune couldn't help but have the idea of ​​relying on Shirahoshi's power to lead the fish-men back to the land.

But he immediately killed that idea.

Shirahoshi was, after all, his daughter, and the late Otohime left behind an unfulfilled wish: for humans and fish-men to live in peace.

Moreover, if the future is truly as Kuro said, Whitebeard's era will eventually come to an end, the power structure of the Four Emperors and the Seven Warlords of the Sea will collapse, and the world will enter its most dangerous and ferocious era.

How Fishman Island should position itself is the question before us!

In fact, Gawain is the biggest ship of this era!
The more you think.

Neptune's eyes became even brighter.

Kro naturally noticed this and promptly played his last card:

"If you'd like, we can also bring the merfolk into the spotlight."

Neptune jolted and sat bolt upright.

"What do you mean?"

"Haven't you always longed for an opportunity to communicate with humans?"

"We can give you that opportunity!"

Chloe's lips curled up slightly:

"Have you heard of a martial arts tournament?!"

Neptune nodded, instantly understanding:
"You're the financial backers behind the martial arts tournament?!"

Kro shrugged:

“I never said anything like that, but if you think that way, then so be it.”

"The martial arts tournament is open to all races and backgrounds, and anyone can participate. In the past two years, it has produced many popular star athletes such as the Catman Brothers and the transvestite Fon Clayley."

"A single word or action from them can send their fan base into a frenzy."

"What made these star athletes gain such immense popularity was merely the first East China Martial Arts Tournament!"

"The second edition will cover the entire world, and the third edition will truly become a global event, attracting unprecedented attention and driving countless people crazy!"

"Then why can't there be a murloc among the rising stars who dominate the arena?!"

"Why can't there be mermen?!"

Neptune repeated Crowe's last question, his breathing becoming heavy at that moment.

He was also a spectator at the first martial arts tournament, and his blood was pumped by those battles.

At that time, some people on Fishman Island had the idea of ​​proving themselves at the martial arts tournament, but Neptune suppressed this idea.

While thinking.

Neptune looked at Crow's face, but the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.

"You are the champions of the first Martial Arts Tournament!"

Neptune gasped, recognizing Chloe and Arkin.

As the ruler of the Dragon Palace Kingdom, he might lack combat prowess, but his judgment was certainly not bad, and he immediately understood what Kro meant.

To resolve the conflict between fish-men and humans, the first and most important step is communication, because only by understanding each other can we fulfill Otohime's last wish.

However, in order to communicate, it is necessary to first establish communication channels.

Otohime has already proven with her life that there's no way to get through to the World Government, so the martial arts tournament becomes Neptune's only chance to seize.

To fulfill his wife's last wish and also to secure a future for the Dragon Palace Kingdom!
As long as enough murlocs make a name for themselves in the martial arts tournament, or even become star players, they can become a ticket for murlocs to the outside world!
When I thought of this...

Neptune was almost jumping for joy. He barely managed to suppress his excitement, and his eyes, as he looked at Crow, were filled with indescribable elation.
"make a deal!"

It was at this very moment.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the screams around them gradually subsided. Gawain's figure suddenly appeared beside Kro.

He glanced at Hody, who was nailed to the wall in the distance, and then at White Star, who was unconscious in the cage. He immediately felt relieved.

Zheng——!
Kanze Masamune sheathed his sword.

Neptune looked at the young man in front of him but did not sense the slightest bit of pressure from him.

He has neither the stoicism of Kuro, whose emotions are hidden beneath a refined exterior, nor the ferocity of Gin, who swept through the New Fishman Pirates!

Aside from her outstanding appearance and a strangely harmonious aura, she had no other special features.

Gawain nodded to Neptune, then looked at Crow beside him:

"solved?!"

"what."

With his hands in his pockets, Chloe began to speak:

"Hody's group was defeated by Arkin, and the alliance with the Ryugu Kingdom has been finalized. Shirahoshi will be our ally when necessary."

"The price is that we provide protection for Fishman Island, and the martial arts tournament will carry out a certain degree of resource invasion on Fishman Island."

Gawain nodded:
"As expected of you."

"It was just a negotiation in which we had the upper hand in every aspect."

Kro responded casually, but the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his true feelings.

Gawain didn't expose him. He raised his hand and cut the chains binding Neptune with a single stroke, then released the two princes and Shirahoshi from the cage.

The three of them quickly regained consciousness.

Still reeling from the shock, Shirahoshi was escorted back to her palace by the guards.

The other two princes, together with Shark Star who returned to the palace, began searching for the remnants of the New Fishman Pirates within the Dragon Palace Kingdom.

This time, even Neptune, who is known for his mild temperament, gave the Fishman Pirates a no-holds-barred order to kill all members of the crew.

After all, if it weren't for Gawain and his group's intrusion, the entire Dragon Palace would have already fallen into the hands of Hody and his men.

Given their extreme behavior, they might escalate the conflict between fishmen and humans, even launching a counterattack on the land and dragging the entire Fishman Island into a desperate situation.

Throughout the entire process, Gao Wen and the other two did not even glance at Xiao Ba, completely ignoring him.

While feeling fortunate, Xiaoba also felt inexplicably disappointed.

……

The next day.

into the night.

A sea breeze blew, and the sky was devoid of stars, save for the scattered, luminous seaweed. Upon waking, Jinbe learned the details of what had happened from Neptune's guards, and couldn't help but sigh.
"Not only did he not turn his sword against the fishmen because of the harm his comrades had suffered, but he also stepped forward in times of crisis to defeat Hody's rebellious crew, and even, like Whitebeard, was willing to lend a helping hand to Fishman Island..."

A hint of admiration involuntarily appeared in Jinbe's eyes:

“This time, Knight Gawain owes a huge favor; I even owe that man my life.”

He glanced down at the bandage on his chest, and couldn't help but recall Gawain's stab wound.

Domineering, unparalleled, and with the aura of a king, he had only ever seen such power in Whitebeard!
It can be said that if Gawain had intended to kill, Jinbe would not have survived.

Recalling Gawain's recruitment efforts, Jinbe was momentarily tempted.

This battle has proven that the man not only possesses the power of a king, but also the spirit that rivals Whitebeard's.

It would be a lie for Jinbe not to be tempted, but he knew all too well that his life already belonged to Whitebeard.

Given his personality, he would never do something like defecting to Gao Wen's group.

Jinbe sighed deeply, shaking off his distracting thoughts as he looked at the two silent figures beside the hospital bed.

One of them was Hachi, who had miraculously survived Hody's clutches, while the other was Emmett, the whale shark who was kicked off the ship by Nami.

Now that the New Fishman Pirates have been completely wiped out and Fishman Town has been swept clean by Neptune's army, Emmett has nowhere to go and can only temporarily stay at Jinbe's house with Hachi.

Recalling what she had said earlier, Emmett lowered her eyes, her face filled with shame and confusion.

The ward fell silent for a moment, with only the sea breeze blowing and the wind chimes ringing out with a clear sound.

Jingle Bell--!
Jingle Bell--!
a long time.

A firm voice came from the ward.

"Brother Jinbe, I've made up my mind. I'm going back to Cocoyasi to atone for my sins!"

"I also need to go."

"Emmette, you...you might die, you know?"

The only response to Xiao Ba was Emmett's voice, far more resolute than her age suggested:

"I want to see with my own eyes Nami's hometown and the suffering that the fish-men bring to humanity."

……

Time flies, and three days later.

In the port of Fishman Island.

The Lionheart Knight, now fully recoated, rests quietly in the harbor, awaiting its departure.

The artisans on Fishman Island may not have the same coating skills as Rayleigh, but they have the advantage of numbers. In addition, their gratitude towards Gawain and his crew makes them work even harder.

The coating work on the Lionheart Knight was completed in just three days.

Gawain and his group did not intend to stay on Fishman Island for long. After simply replenishing their supplies, they prepared to set off for the New World, the stage they had been waiting for.

now.

In the harbor.

Gawain stood on the deck of the Lionheart Knight and looked up, seeing dozens of pirate ships neatly lined up in the harbor.

A dazzling array of flags, and a sea of ​​people thronging the deck.

A barrage of intense gazes fell upon the Lionheart Knight, or more precisely, upon Gawain, who stood calmly on the deck observing everything.

The pirates present had all personally experienced that battle.

They were all impressed by Gawain's overwhelming fighting power and his reputation as the most benevolent pirate in the East Blue.

As Gao Wen and his group set sail again today, he expressed his desire to form a large fleet.

A "grand fleet" is a loose pirate alliance consisting of dozens or even hundreds of pirate crews, with one main pirate crew at its core.

Whitebeard, Shanks, Big Mom, and later the Straw Hat Pirates all directly or indirectly controlled a pirate alliance.

These pirates usually embark on adventures alone, while being protected by the core pirate crews, they must also answer the latter's call at crucial moments.

A prime example is Whitebeard and his Grand Fleet during the Marineford War.

Gawain would naturally not refuse the idea of ​​expanding his influence.

After all, he has now reached this point and needs a sufficiently stable base of operations while expanding his pirate crew.

Although the large fleet was loosely organized, it made it easier to recruit more subordinates.

"Have you thought it through? You want to join my pirate crew?!"

Gao Wen's voice carried a hint of solemnity.

He was naturally aware of the pirates' identities, which made him even more cautious in establishing a large fleet.

Gao Wen doesn't consider himself a good person; in fact, one could say he's somewhat hypocritical.

But allowing certain evil parties to use their own power to exploit and exploit ordinary people who are already struggling to survive is truly beyond his tolerance.

"Let me make this clear first, I have many rules: I don't rob civilians, I don't attack my own kind, and I don't kill innocent people..."

One restriction after another came out of Gao Wen's mouth.

The eyes of the crowd gradually brightened, and one could even say they were filled with a sense of satisfaction, no, a sense of mission!
These rules correspond precisely to Gao Wenren's reputation for benevolence and righteousness.

Before setting sail, most of the pirates on these pirate ships were ordinary people who couldn't make a living.

Hearing Gao Wen's words, many people even had tears in their eyes.

It was because for the first time they felt genuine respect from someone for their existence, a being whose life was as insignificant as grass.

Yes.

respect.

They were not treated as livestock to be exploited and oppressed at will, but as respected as human beings.

"Isn't that obvious?!"

"Brother Gao Wen!"

Not far ahead of the Lionheart Knight, a pirate stood on the deck, weeping bitterly. He wore a hook on one hand and covered his eyes with the other.
"My dream before I set sail was simply to eat a bite of soft bread!"

Upon hearing this, a chorus of boos erupted from the surrounding crowd.

"You're Golden Hook Mackuri, aren't you?!"

"A notorious pirate with a bounty of 89 million, a ruthless character who has sunk several warships—who would believe such a thing?!"

"It's just..."

Makuli blushed, his face filled with shame and indignation.
"Long-winded!"

"Say one more word and I'll kill you!"

"Come on then, whoever chickens out is a coward!"

The two were about to fight when their subordinates intervened and stopped them, much to their displeasure.

Laughter erupted from all around, and many people, while laughing, found tears welling up in their eyes.

If others saw it, they would just say that the sandstorm was too strong and got into their eyes.

Gao Wen watched this scene with a smile on his face.

Seeing that no one chose to back down, he simply raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"The Gawain Grand Fleet is established today. If anyone dares to break my rules, I will take action and eliminate them!"

(End of this chapter)