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

Chapter 461 The four directions are in motion, the decisive battle is imminent!
Crocodile didn't reply, but simply lowered his eyes and stared at the newspaper in his hands.

What Dazbonis could see, naturally could not escape his eyes; he could even see the World Government's deeper schemes.

Crocodile, however, also knew that these things could not be hidden from Gawain.

Looking back now at that man's journey to the top of the sea and to stand on equal footing with the Celestial Dragons, it's not hard to see that everything was traceable.

From the very beginning, Gao Wen had foreseen this outcome!
So……

What's next?!
Now that the world governments, or rather the few at the pinnacle of power, are making moves, how will Gawain respond?

Do you have a solution for the mysterious force that destroyed the Crusaders?

Crocodile fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.

Various possibilities and possible solutions flashed through his mind, but he still couldn't see any way for Britannias to break the deadlock.

With the World Government holding the only chance to escape, coupled with that mysterious force, they are virtually invincible!
But the more this was the case, the more a strange premonition arose in Crocodile's heart.

"Britannias..."

"It's so quiet!"

"So quiet, it's as if they had already anticipated this situation!"

"Boss..."

Dazbonis understood immediately upon hearing this.

Crocodile made a decision.

really.

The next instant, Crocodile spoke:

"Our goal remains unchanged: to head to Britannias!"

"Rather than become a slave of the Celestial Dragons and never be able to rise again in order to board the World Government's escape ship."

"I'd bet everything on Britannias!"

"No!"

"It's all about that man!"

"That guy has eyes that are ahead of his time and beyond everything. He must have already seen the current situation, which means..."

"He may have already found a way to break the deadlock!"

"Our arrival at this time is the perfect opportunity to offer timely assistance!"

After saying this, Crocodile looked around, taking in the expressions of everyone around him, and the cigar in his mouth glowed red.

His mouth was split open, and the scar that almost divided his face in two added to his ferocious appearance.

But only those eyes shone with an eerie light at that moment!
brush--!
Crocodile casually tossed the newspaper into the sea and said:

"The journey ahead will be even more difficult."

"If we can get through this, your dreams, your ideal world, will all come true."

"But it could also be utterly hopeless."

"so……"

Crocodile was interrupted by the excited voices of the crowd before he could finish speaking!
"BOSS!"

Whatever decision you make, we will follow you!

MR-5 spoke with a firm tone.

The same applies to the people gathered on the deck at this moment.

During this time, they had already sensed Crocodile's difference.

This man, who had once been betrayed and treated his companions as mere tools, developed something inexplicable after the destruction of the Crusades.

The meaning of the word "companion" has changed for Crocodile.

The fact that he was willing to carry more burdens than help on his escape is the best proof of that.

In that case, as a subordinate, isn't it only natural to repay the captain's expectations?!
If the ideal world was once just a fantasy in the desert for those present, then at this moment, that dream has the possibility of becoming a reality!

"Humph~"

Crocodile leaned back against the mast, closed his eyes, and the curve of his lips grew wider and more pronounced until finally a dry, hoarse laugh was forced out of his throat once more.

"Ha~ha~ha~ha~"

The laughter seemed no different from before.

Those present could clearly feel the intense heat emanating from it!

"I bet wrong on Alabasta, I bet wrong on the Crusades, and this time..."

"Absolutely no mistake!"

"That monster Britannias will definitely not be without a plan!"

……

New world.

An island.

The rising sea level submerged most of the port, swallowing countless buildings and leaving only their rooftops.

The people of the world, who had already taken refuge on higher ground, stared blankly at everything, even forgetting their fear.

The ocean is silent, yet at this moment it reveals its most awe-inspiring side!
That silent power was enough to devour most of the port in just half a month, and its momentum continued to rise without waning!
The oppressive feeling emanating from this silence was even unsettling to Katakuri.

"At this rate of rise, this island will be completely swallowed up in three months at most, and countless islands in the surrounding waters have already lost contact with us, I'm afraid..."

Perospero looked at the report in his hand with an extremely solemn expression.

If you can't defeat Big Mom, Kaido, or even the monster Britannias, you can choose to run away.

But faced with the silent power of the sea, one can only await the day of destruction.

"We...don't have time!"

"Katakuri!"

Katakuri stared silently at the newspaper in his hand, offering no response for a moment.

He couldn't, like Crocodile, unravel the current situation and see through the surface to the core.

But what he could see was...

At this moment, you have only one choice left.

Katakuri couldn't help but turn around and look.

Many of the younger siblings were still playing and frolicking, barely dispelling the oppressive atmosphere in this simple camp.

But on most people's faces, all that was written was confusion about the future.

Before witnessing the sea level rise and swallow up several nearby islands, no one realized that the silent sea possessed such a powerful and irresistible force.

Even a powerful figure like Roger, or even a legendary hero like Rocks of God Valley, would be powerless against such strength.

The lunar ark launched by the World Government is a hook with poisoned bait.

Katakuri could see that, but it was his only chance in the face of his desperate situation.

Should we grab it?!
There is no choice.

Katakuri understood this; back when he wielded his rebellious trident against Big Mom, he was already prepared to risk everything for his younger siblings.

But at this moment...

The resentment in my heart was like a million worms gnawing at my internal organs, constantly writhing.

Katakuri's hand, gripping the trident, turned white from the force of his grip.

His gaze was fixed on the endless sea in the distance.

Deep and secluded.

invisible.

It can bear everything, yet it can also engulf everything with unstoppable force!
After a long time.

Katakuri's inner resentment ultimately turned into a sigh:
“Brother Perospero, we have no choice but to swallow this poisoned bait even if we know that the Ark is very likely just a poisoned bait thrown out by the World Government.”

"I will answer their call as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea..."

Blu-bloom—!
A sudden, urgent phone call interrupted Katakuri's words.

He reached into his pocket and took out a Den Den Mushi. After connecting the call, Crocodile's hoarse voice immediately came through.

"Have you made your decision, Katakuri?!"

"what."

Katakuri responded calmly, but his tone was resolute: "I have no choice. Even if the Moon Ark is a lie of the World Government, if there is even a one percent chance that it can save my younger brother and sister, that is better than one hundred percent annihilation!"

Dot that over there.

Crocodile fell silent for a moment.

He and Katakuri have many similarities; both want to fight their way out for their comrades.

But their essences are completely different.

Katakuri would do anything to keep his younger siblings alive, and he would accept their lowly existence, like ants under the feet of the Celestial Dragons.

But in Crocodile's eyes, that kind of life was not as good as burning out in glory.

But the more one analyzes the plans that Knight Gawain has laid out along the way, and the more one sees Britannias, who remains as steady as Mount Tai even in the face of threats from all over the world.

Crocodile's premonition grew stronger.

Katakuri is one of the few people he acknowledges and truly considers a friend.

In times like these, he's willing to lend a hand.

Don't make decisions too quickly.

"At least until the situation becomes irreversible, do not stand against Britannias or Knight Gawain!"

"Even if it means being a fence-sitter or a turncoat, it's better than putting all your eggs in one basket with the World Government's moon landing program right now!"

beep--!
A standby tone came through the Den Den Mushi.

Katakuri hung up the phone.

Crocodile looked down at the receiver and fell silent for a long time before letting out a long sigh.

He has done all he could. What choice Katakuri will make is up to fate.

After all, none of them were alone; they all carried the expectations of their companions.

……

On a deserted island.

Katakuri gripped the Den Den Mushi tightly, closed his eyes, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Only after the sun had set in the distance and a bright moon had risen over the sea did he slowly open his eyes.

He then realized it.

The Charlotte family's younger siblings were already gathered around him, looking at him with concern.

"Katakuri-nii-san, are you alright?!"

"If this island is silent, then let's move to a higher place, or even that red earth continent that separates the sea!"

"There will always be a place for us on this vast sea!"

The young Charlotte family member wore an innocent smile, her round face both youthful and adorable.

But to the adults who knew the truth, that smile only brought unspeakable bitterness.

Red Earth Continent...

They can also fall silent!
Everyone felt a weight on their hearts, and for a moment no one spoke.

Katakuri reached out and rubbed his face, comforting him:

"Then let's move to a higher place, to the clouds, to the sky, to the moon!"

"This is great, just like in the comics, hahaha~~~"

The boy burst into laughter, gesturing wildly as he shared his joy with his companions. Soon, they playfully wandered off into the distance.

Perospero couldn't contain himself and asked:

"Has a decision been made?!"

"Should we trust the world government, or look for other solutions..."

Katakuri's mind echoed with Crocodile's words. After a moment of contemplation, he said:

"I will participate in this battle as a Shichibukai!"

"But the timing of my intervention is up to me. If Britannias can find another way out, I would be willing to use my head to save your lives!"

Everyone was moved, frozen in place, tears welling up in their eyes but unable to fall.

After betraying Big Mom and installing Katakuri as the new king, they spent almost every day on the run.

From the world of nations, to Beehive Island, and from Beehive Island to now...

But it was also in this process that they saw what family is through Katakuri.

It's not just a blood connection, but also mutual trust, intimacy, and the willingness to give everything for each other.

when--!
Katakuri slowly stood up, his trident touching the ground, his eyes resolute:
"This may be our final journey. Are you ready?!"

"Yes!"

The echoes resounded through the sky.

……

at the same time.

New world.

Dressrosa.

This royal city, founded by the Don Quixote family, is now a ruin.

The palace collapsed, and the earth crumbled!
A colossal statue, thousands of meters tall with its upper body broken off, stands in the center of the city, overlooking the land below.

The unconscious Pica slowly emerged from the colossus, collapsed headfirst, kicking up dust, and fell silent.

"puff--!"

Kidd spat out a mouthful of blood, his tone contemptuous:

"This level isn't even enough for a warm-up."

All around.

It was littered with corpses.

Diamanti, whose lower body was a bloody mess and who had long since died, still clutched the long sword in his hand until his last breath.

Torrepol's body was burned to a crisp by the flames.

Lao G exhausted his last bit of strength and threw his last punch, but he was unable to shake Kid, whose current strength was among the top of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and died with regret.

Deringer, Mahabais...

The Don Quixote family's executives lay dead in pools of blood, their fates unknown.

Kidd twisted his neck and then turned to walk towards the more central battlefield.

That was the battlefield between the Straw Hats and Doflamingo.

The battle over there has long since ended.

No.

That couldn't really be called a battle; it was merely the Straw Hats venting their anger after learning what had happened in Dressrosa and seeing Rebecca's tears.

From beginning to end, the Straw Hat only threw one punch, and the battle was over.

"Fu Fu Fu Fu Fu Fu Fu Fu!"

A strange laugh rang out.

Lying amidst the ruins of the palace, Doflamingo, covered in blood, laughed wildly.

He had countless broken bones all over his body, his organs were severely damaged, and he could even feel his body gradually getting cold.

This is a sign of impending death.

His arrogance had already crumbled when he was pinned to the wall by Katakuri's spear at the World Martial Arts Tournament.

He became even more aware of the abyss-like gap in fighting power between himself and the Straw Hat.

But Kaido is dead, and the beasts have collapsed.

With his powerful backer gone, even without the Straw Hats' intervention, the old woman in the Navy would have stepped in, and Dressrosa's collapse was inevitable.

The Celestial Dragons, who stand at the pinnacle of the world, are constantly trying to kill him.

Rather than waiting to die, it's better to burn brightly one last time.

So, faced with the overwhelming straw hat, he resisted, only to face a destined defeat.

(End of this chapter)