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

Chapter 361 Fujitora's Visit: A Storm is Brewing!
a few days later.

Within Camelot.

The ranking battle to determine the seats of the Knights of the Round Table has long ended, but the heated discussion it sparked has only just begun.

"The seats in the Knights of the Round Table have been decided!"

"Even Bevel, the eagle knight who followed King Arthur, was only ranked fourth, and he had to go through several difficult battles to barely gain a foothold."

"And ahead of him are the three strongest monsters of the Knights of the Round Table!"

"King Bone Arkin, Hundred-Purpose Kro, and... Lionheart King - Knight Gawain!"

Inside a tavern.

Countless half-drunk drinkers were loudly discussing the internal ranking battle of the Knights of the Round Table.

When he got excited, he even jumped onto the table, his face flushed, looking quite dignified!
"With them in charge, neither the Four Emperors who roam the seas nor the World Government dare to attack Britannias!"

"This country has truly ushered in the light and been reborn from the ashes!"

……

While marveling at the terrifying combat power of the Knights of the Round Table, everyone gradually developed a sense of belonging to this newly built city.

Apart from Gawain and his gang, there were no real nobles here.

Some evils arising from power cannot be completely eradicated, after all, they are rooted in the darkest part of the human heart.

However, a sound legal system can, to some extent, curb it, at least achieving Gawain's initial and original goal:
To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to survive.

This phrase has been inscribed on Britannias' original throne.

It was empty, as if someone were there, yet it seemed deserted.

Fujitora, holding his cane in one hand, sat quietly in a corner of the tavern, listening intently.

He would occasionally sip the strong liquor in his glass; the spicy, stimulating liquid flowed down his throat, and a surge of heat rose from his stomach, causing a layer of sweat to break out on his forehead.

I just felt completely relaxed.

"Hoo~!"

Fujitora let out a long breath, his hand holding the cup paused slightly, then he gently put it down. He looked up at Gawain, who was sitting in front of him, and smiled:
"Sashi buri da na~"

"Gawain."

"Ah~"

Gao Wen responded and looked at his friend whom he hadn't seen for two years.

Two years passed.

Fujitora has aged considerably, truly resembling a man in his fifties, even his waistline has broadened considerably.

However, the aura that unintentionally emanated from him was far stronger than when they first met.

He truly crossed the threshold of legendary status and became one of the strongest beings on the high seas.

It was at this moment that Gao Wencai realized this.

In the past two years, Fujitora has experienced far more battles and far more brutal battles than I have, truly forging this man into one of the sharpest blades in the world!

Fujitora's expression was somewhat wistful:
"The first time we met was also in a bar, and we were listening to what people around us were saying about you."

"Back then, you told me that your dream was to find a pure land and create your own ideal paradise."

"And now?!"

"Has your dream not changed?!"

Fujitora turned his head to face the window.

His eyes had long since lost their sight, so naturally he couldn't see the scenery outside the window.

But the cool breeze that blew by confirmed to him that the direction he was looking in was indeed the direction of Lake Avalon.

This enormous lake, located in the central region of Britannias, is a deep wound left behind by the World Government and the Celestial Dragons in Britannias.

It's also a knife hanging over Gawain's head.

Gawain remained silent, merely gazing at Fujitora before finally speaking after several breaths:

"Who can really say for sure about something like that?!"

The world government is now focusing almost all its energy on suppressing the Neo Navy.

For the World Government, traitors like Neo's Marines are a far greater threat than the so-called Four Emperors or even the Pirate King, and they will be suppressed with all their might once they appear!

Even though the Neo Navy has two legendary powerhouses, Zephyr and Fujitora, they are still far too insignificant compared to a behemoth like the World Government.

It's a miracle that the Neo Navy has been able to hold out until now.

Fujitora appears in Britannias at this time...

boom!
Gao Wen slowly put down his wine glass:

"how about you?!"

"The second-in-command of the Neo Navy couldn't have come here just to catch up with me, could he?!"

Upon hearing this, Fujitora composed himself and said seriously:
"We received news half a month ago that Portgas D. Ace, the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, was defeated by Blackbeard Teach and should now be imprisoned in Impel Down."

As he spoke, Fujitora took out the newspaper that had just been published that morning from his pocket and placed it on the table.

Gao Wen reached out and opened the app. The moment he saw the headline on the front page, his eyes narrowed slightly.

What came into view was a tall, burly man with an arrogant demeanor, wearing a captain's hat, whose name was prominently displayed in the newspaper's headline.

Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach.

He replaced Jinbe, becoming one of the current Seven Warlords of the Sea!

Fujitora continued:
"Blackbeard Teach was originally a member of Whitebeard's crew, but now he has become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea by standing on the shoulders of Jinbe."

"Considering the situation with Fire Fist Ace, it's not hard to deduce that he must have reached some kind of deal with the Navy, but we don't know the specifics yet."

"But there are rumors that Porthos D. Ace has Roger's blood flowing through his veins!"

“Mr. Zephyr once said that, based on his understanding of the Sengoku period, he would definitely take advantage of the current situation where the navy’s deterrent power is becoming increasingly weak.”

"Even though Portokas-D-Ace was also Garp's grandson whom he raised himself."

"A storm that will affect the whole world is coming. The seas will boil and countless people will lose their lives."

It was at this moment that Fujitora heard the murmurs of a group of drinkers.

"Lord Gawain has brought light to this country. As long as he is here, we will have no problems!"

"I heard that he has planned to popularize education nationwide so that all school-age children can go to school."

"I hope my children can also go to school or learn a trade so they can have a job in the future."

"Everything is moving in a positive direction. We have lost a lot, but we have also gained a lot."

"Hahahahahaha~"

……

The fragmented words reached Fujitora's ears.

Faced with the navy's encirclement and suppression, Neo's navy was at a critical juncture of life and death. He came here intending to persuade Gawain to lend him a hand.

During this time, he traveled and observed Britannias, and this country, which had been reborn from ruin, had begun to resemble an ideal world. At least, this was the kind of world he had always hoped for.

Gao Wen is still pursuing the dream he once spoke of.

After a few seconds of silence, Fujitora tilted his head back and drank the sake in his glass, swallowing back the words he was about to say:

"You need to make plans early. The kind of life you're looking forward to is impossible, at least not in this world dominated by the Celestial Dragons."

"Ah."

Gao Wen nodded, picked up the wine jug on the table and filled Fujitora's cup, then leaned back in his chair and fell into deep thought.

As a friend, he naturally understood what Fujitora hadn't said aloud, but the World Government now possessed an Ancient Weapon. In this era, that thing was a game-changer for any power; Gawain's group couldn't withstand it, and the Neo Marines were even less likely to.

At least until Pluto is submerged or another way to counter the Ancient Weapons is found, Gawain has no intention of directly confronting the World Government.

The bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow. With his strength, if he dares to step forward, he will instantly become the World Government's number one target, followed by countless troubles.

And the Sword of Damocles, hanging overhead, ready to fall at any moment.

Glug—!
Gao Wen took a small sip of the sake in his glass and then turned his gaze to the newspaper in his hand.

What he can do now is to seize the greatest benefit from this and help himself develop rapidly until he is strong enough to contend with any power in the world, only then can he do what he wants.

Fire Fist Ace was captured, Blackbeard became a Shichibukai, and history, like a torrent, was unstoppable.

This is a crisis affecting the entire world, but it is also the greatest opportunity.

Franky has said more than once that the two biggest challenges in building Hades are energy and materials.

The former's hopes rest on Vegapunk, since the Mother Flame he created has been confirmed to be the energy source for Uranus, and using it on Hades shouldn't be too much of a problem.

The latter relies mainly on Devil Fruits.

The whereabouts of the Gluttony Fruit are currently unknown, but the Fusion Fruit, which can also freely combine inorganic matter, is still in Impel Down, in the hands of that madman who aims to surpass Roger.

According to the original timeline, after Blackbeard became a Shichibukai, he would have taken advantage of everyone's attention being drawn to the Marineford War to invade Impel Down.

Release the criminals imprisoned on Level 6 of Impel Down and assemble a force that can rival the Four Emperors' pirate crews.

He then returned to the battlefield and completed the harvesting of Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

In the following two years, he consolidated Whitebeard's territory, seized Beehive Island, and rose to become a Yonko-level figure.

In a word.

Won Ma.

But this is precisely what Gawain can exploit.

Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Gao Wen fell into deep thought for a long time, and then he made up his mind.

Fujitora also relaxed.

Now that Gawain has realized his dream here, and this country is getting better and better.

He had no reason, nor was he willing, to drag his best friend into the trouble of the Neo Navy.

The two talked for a long time, from the East China Sea to the New World, recounting their journeys and marveling at the dangers of each battle.

The tavern only stopped when the sun outside the window had set, the moon had risen, and all the patrons had left.

"Hoo~!"

Fujitora swallowed the last sip of his drink and then got up to leave.

Gao Wen is walking his own path, and he also has his own path to walk.

Wow——!
The tavern curtain was lifted, and Fujitora stepped out.

Gawain's voice rang out at that moment:

"I cannot interfere in the affairs of the Neo Navy and the World Government right now, but if you need support, whether it is supplies or weapons, you can go to the Golden City to find Tezoro."

"Give me your name, and he'll give you a satisfactory price."

Fujitora stopped in his tracks and turned around, only to see Gawain already walking towards the small door on the other side.

"The Golden Emperor?!"

"The man who controls more than 30% of the world's currency is also your subordinate?!"

"Just how far do your hands go?!"

Footsteps echoed through the night sky.

It's getting lighter and lighter.

faster and faster.

Fujitora's shadow stretched long; his vision was shrouded in darkness, yet he saw the sun in his heart.

"It seems my worries were completely unnecessary. Gawain understands the essence of the world so thoroughly, how could he possibly be content to remain confined to one place?!"

"That guy is definitely holding back something big!"

"The moment he truly steps onto the stage, the world government will face a real adversary!"

"Hahaha~"

"I really want to see that man's face!"

……

……

……

Impel the city.

The sixth floor.

Crash-!
The hinges were pulled up, and the heavy sea stone door opened.

A burly figure with a full head of white hair walked in step by step.

Its overwhelming power, like a raging flood or a ferocious beast, even made the monsters imprisoned on the sixth level of Impel Down open their eyes.

The surroundings became eerily quiet for a moment.

In a corner cell, Ace, his hands shackled with sea stone, slowly raised his head, looked at the old man before him, and his breath hitched slightly:
"Old man."

"You damned grandson!"

boom--!
Garp gripped the cell door tightly, his eyes bloodshot as he looked at Ace, who was covered in wounds.

To Sengoku and everyone else in the world, Ace was Roger's bloodline, a demon born with sinful blood, a demon who should not exist.

But for Garp, Ace had only one identity: his grandson.

Garp slumped down in front of Ace's cell, covering his eyes with his hands:

"You too, and Luffy too."

"I told you all long ago, don't be pirates, don't be pirates, but you just wouldn't listen."

"If you had listened to me, you wouldn't be in this predicament now."

Garp cursed angrily, but his voice carried an indescribable sense of powerlessness.

He cares about his grandson, and if he could, he wouldn't hesitate to trade his old life for a young grandson.

But things are different now.

After Sengoku made that decision, what stood before him was the conflict between the justice he had always carried and the kinship he had been burdened with.

But what he knew even more was that at this time, at this juncture, he could not and would not be able to take it off.

The approach taken during the Warring States period was correct.

This world, on the verge of turmoil, needs a shot in the arm, and Roger's bloodline is the best sacrifice.

But that's precisely why he's suffering even more right now.

In just a few days after Ace's capture, Garp aged considerably. His hair and beard turned white, and his eyes showed signs of weariness. For the first time in decades of fighting, he felt the urge to take off his military uniform.

“Grandpa, I have never known why I exist since I was born.”

Ace slumped in his cell, staring at the floor with a forlorn look in his eyes.
"If the mere existence of someone like me is a sin, deserving of obliteration, then what was the point of my existence?!"

"I found the answer on Whitebeard's ship."

(End of this chapter)