After a quick glance, Gawain's sights finally fell on swordsmanship and Conqueror Haki.
"Swordsmanship has reached Level 14 before entering Alabasta, and further progress will awaken new Features."
"If my original guess is correct, the branch features of swordsmanship should also follow the two paths of Swiftness and Extreme Force."
"Speed and armor-piercing capabilities?"
"However..."
"To push my swordsmanship further, I still need Zoro to work harder, and that'll take a few more months."
"But my Conqueror's Haki..."
Gawain fell into deep thought as he looked at his level 4 Conqueror's Haki.
His battles against Golden Lion, Kizaru, and Zephyr had already proven one thing, fighting powerful opponents was the fastest way to grow his Haki.
And right now, he had the perfect opportunity, the conflict in Water 7.
The news about Pluton's blueprint had already spread, and along his journey from Alabasta, Gawain had already seen more than ten pirate crews heading toward Water 7.
Pirates from the four seas, Paradise, and even the New World would be flocking there!
"It's obvious that Water 7 is about to become the eye of the storm, attracting countless strong fighters. There's even a chance that an emperor will show up..."
"If I engage in battle there, pushing my Conqueror's Haki to the next level won't be a problem. However, interfering in the Water 7 conflict will definitely draw attention from the World Government and Marines."
"If I get exposed... My status as a warlord of the sea will be finished."
Gawain frowned.
His Martial Arts Tournament system had just started expanding into the Grand Line through Cobra's connections.
It has taken its first step toward becoming a legitimate power, but it has not yet reached the point where it can survive by relying on its own background, as Gawain expected.
Now that it can be stabilized, most of it is due to his title of the warlord.
Suppose he were to intervene in the events of Water 7 at this moment and attract the suspicion of the World Government. In that case, there's no way he'd be able to hold onto his Warlord status.
"You've really given me a difficult problem."
"I can't afford to abandon the title of Warlord right now, and I definitely can't abandon Lucci either."
"That leaves me with only two options."
"One, catch Lucci before he enters Water 7. But we have no idea about his route, and he's already left ahead of us. There's no way we can track him down in the vast ocean."
"Which means we have to go with option two."
Gawain glanced down at the Raven, his ship, and the corners of his lips gradually curled into a smirk.
… … …
The next morning, under Gawain's orders, the crew took down their pirate flag. Even the pirate insignia on the sails was replaced with the Marines emblem.
In an instant, the Raven transformed into a uniquely designed warship, now carrying a strong sense of personal style.
Ships like this weren't uncommon in the Marines; many high-ranking officers had their own customized warships.
In a way, these ships were a symbol of status.
"Is this... Really going to work?!"
The pirates looked at each other, and some of them were confused about what Gawain was up to.
Only Kuro's mouth began to twitch, and he suddenly recalled some not-so-good memories.
"This time, the reason can't be that the branch Marines failed to attack me and went to a nearby marine base to seek help, right?!"
Half a month later, somewhere in the Grand Line.
Several floating islands passed through the clouds in the blink of an eye.
With the blessing of the Float-Float Fruit and a favorable wind, Golden Lion Pirates traveled at speeds dozens of times faster than traditional ships.
With his worries resolved, Golden Lion and his party rushed to the Water 7, intending to get the Pluton blueprint first.
He had experienced the legendary era and had witnessed the power of a certain Ancient Weapon hidden by the World Government.
Naturally, he was clear that human power alone could not compete with that kind of thing.
Even pirates as powerful as Whitebeard or even Rocks, who once defeated Roger multiple times and ruled an entire era, could only destroy a single island at most with their strength.
But Ancient Weapons?
They could wipe entire nations off the map.
For someone like Golden Lion, who sought to conquer the world, there was no reason to hesitate.
However, at this very moment, on the outskirts of one of the floating islands, flames raged, explosions thundered, and the entire island was set ablaze.
Wild beasts, agitated by the destruction, roared in a frenzy.
Although Golden Lion silenced them all with a burst of Conqueror's Haki, by the time Law arrived on the scene, Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin were nowhere to be found.
The small hut they had built with their own hands was burned to the ground, leaving nothing but blackened ruins.
"... My condolences."
Golden Lion patted Law on the shoulder. Seeing that Law remained silent, his gaze lowered, and he snapped his fingers.
Snap!
With the crisp sound, three captured pirates, tightly bound, were dragged forward.
Their faces were filled with confusion, but even the dullest person could sense the grim fate that awaited them.
The three struggled desperately, but they were completely immobilized.
"I've already had people search several floating islands, but so far, there's been no sign of them."
"That leaves only two possibilities."
"Either they're buried in that pile of ashes—"
"—or they fell from here. And from a height of 10,000 meters, the outcome wouldn't be much better than the first."
Golden Lion sighed and put on a sorrowful expression.
"I never expected this to happen either. But this... This is all I can do for you."
"These three were the masterminds behind this rebellion, the ones responsible for your comrades' deaths."
"And now, I'm handing them over to you."
Law nodded silently. His only response was the burning fury in his eyes.
Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin…
They were the first companions he had found after drifting to the South Blue after Corazon's death.
They had made a promise to take revenge on Doflamingo, to sail around the world together, to find the One Piece.
But now…
Law cast a brief glance at the charred ruins in the distance.
The rage in his heart could no longer be contained.
He turned his head, setting his gaze upon the three bound men, and then he slowly unsheathed his sword, Kikoku.
Clang!
The sharp sound of metal echoed through the air.
The surroundings fell into an eerie silence, an invisible pressure blanketing the entire area.
Standing nearby, Spandine broke into a cold sweat.
At last, he understood why, in this world where power decided everything, Golden Lion regarded this man so highly.
Not just because of his medical skills and the power of the Op-Op Fruit but also because Law inherently had the potential to become a top-tier powerhouse. At this moment, the aura emanating from him, suffocating and oppressive, was the best proof of that.
Spandine had seen countless strong individuals, many of whom possessed an aura far surpassing Law's current strength. Yet, never before had he felt such an overwhelming, almost suffocating pressure!
Extreme, pure, and carrying an indescribable coldness that pierced straight into the bone, Spandine's body trembled uncontrollably.
If he ever finds out that all of this was his doing, then he…
Spandine didn't dare to think any further. Instead, he quietly took a step back, positioning himself behind Golden Lion.
When his gaze landed on Shiki's face, he only saw satisfaction and admiration.
The next moment…
Whoosh!
Blood splattered as a head flew high into the air, followed by a second, then a third…
In less than a second, Law swung his sword three times, beheading three people in one swift motion.
Then, he lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and forced back his tears.
Shiki naturally knew what he should do at this moment.
He placed a hand on Law's shoulder, wearing an expression of deep empathy, and sighed: "I've been through many things like this myself. I understand how you feel, and I know exactly what you need right now."
"When you come out of this, you'll be the deputy captain of Golden Lion Pirates. This ship will never experience anything like this again."
Law, with his eyes dull and lifeless, responded in a hoarse voice: "Yes, captain."
"Good."
Golden Lion nodded. Leaving Spandine to clean up the aftermath, he floated away.
After a few brief words of comfort, the others also left.