Chapter 20 - Marineford Bound

As Gawain and Mjosgard walked away from the gates of Mary Geoise, the guards on duty performed a salute before closing the gate behind them. Gawain descended the stairs, while Mjosgard looked back at the mermaids with a beaming expression.

"Now that we're out, no one can stop us! I can't believe my lifelong dream is finally coming true!" He exclaimed, giving Gawain a gentle nudge on the arm. "Let's pick up the pace; I can't wait to get to Sabaody and enjoy a warm bowl of rice wine!"

"Same here; I'm curious about Sabaody's unique scenery," Gawain replied with a smile. His words puzzled Mjosgard momentarily, but soon realization dawned on him.

"You're curious about Sabaody? Gawain, you're not leaving Mary Geoise for the first time, are you?"

"It is indeed my first time."

"Haha, that's fantastic! I can be your guide! Trust me, even though I haven't left Mary Geoise in the last five years, I know Sabaody like the back of my hand!" Mjosgard increased his pace, and Gawain quietly followed behind.

They made their way down the heavenly staircase, arriving at the first of the three ports in Mary Geoise.

The first port was exclusively for the Celestial Dragons, the second for the kings of the World Government's member nations, and the third was for everyone else.

As they reached the front of the port, the person in charge opened the passageway to the bubble pods without needing instruction from Gawain or Mjosgard. They even offered to help the mermaids switch to the appropriate bubbles.

While the mermaids changed, Mjosgard explained to Gawain, "You know, female mermaids' tails aren't suited for land travel like feet are, so when they come to land, they need these floating bubbles to help them move. But since Mary Geoise is at a high altitude, the air pressure here is different from that in Sabaody. Normal pressure bubbles can't be used here. The enhanced bubbles they have now will expand or even burst during the descent to Sabaody due to the change in air pressure. That's why the guards are helping them switch to bubbles suitable for the lower pressure in Sabaody!"

As he spoke, Mjosgard's face lit up with pride. "Look, Gawain, five years ago, I was just like everyone else, obsessed with comparing the quality of slaves with those guys. But after meeting Princess Otohime, even though I haven't left Mary Geoise in five years, my attitude towards life has changed, and I've learned so much!"

Once the mermaids were ready with their bubbles, Mjosgard entered the large bubble pod, continuing his chatter. "But I still can't understand who would want to harm that poor Princess Otohime. She was such a respectable woman; it's outrageous that someone could do that!"

"I don't know," Gawain replied, shaking his head gently in response to Mjosgard's indignant expression. Having read the manga, he knew exactly who the culprit was, but he had no reason to reveal the truth to Mjosgard or explain how he knew all of it. Instead, he sighed softly and said, "I wouldn't know the cause of Princess Otohime's death, but hearing you talk about her has piqued my interest. How about this: once we reach Sabaody, I'll gather a few subordinates from the Navy, and while we visit the Ryugu Kingdom, I'll investigate that matter in detail."

"Oh?!" Mjosgard paused in surprise. "You mean you don't plan on waiting for the coating in Sabaody with me?"

"Haha, senior, waiting for a simple coating is nothing; I trust you to handle that perfectly. The coating will take at least three days, and I don't want to waste that time."

"Wha-what? I was planning on treating you well in Sabaody!" Mjosgard exclaimed.

"There's no rush, senior. I just need to find a few helpers from the Navy; it's not like I'll be gone forever. Once I find the people I need, I'll come to Sabaody to meet you."

"But it seems like you don't really need any help," Mjosgard pointed out, gesturing to the guards around them. "Aren't they all excellent? They managed to stay conscious under your overwhelming technique and can fly us around effortlessly!"

Gawain chuckled lightly, appreciating Mjosgard's enthusiasm. "True, they are competent, but I need specific assistance for what I have in mind. Besides, it's best if I handle this personally."

As Gawain spoke, the fifteen guards around him perked up, their ears attuned to his decision to seek assistance from the Navy. While they wouldn't stop him, they couldn't help but feel a twinge of dissatisfaction. Did Gawain really think they were inferior to any experts in the Navy?

Gawain shook his head, smiling at Mjosgard's question. "Senior, these guards are indeed skilled, and I appreciate their ability to remain composed in the face of my Conqueror's Haki. But let's not forget that they are not just my guards! There are fifteen of them here; eight were just assigned to me by the Five Elders, one is yours, and the remaining six are tasked with obstructing us. Just a moment ago, they were under the command of Pluming, but now that he's unconscious, they have to obey my orders. Why? Because I'm also a Celestial Dragon, and they serve all Celestial Dragons! Outside of Mary Geoise, they'll do their utmost to protect us, but inside, when conflicts arise between me and my kin…"

At this point, Gawain turned to the guards who had bowed their heads. "This morning, I clashed with Charlos, but his subordinates didn't intervene. It wasn't until I was genuinely at risk of dying at Charlos' hands that they stepped in to protect me! So, I ask you: if I were to clash with another Celestial Dragon, would you stand by my side? If I decided to kill another Celestial Dragon, would you protect them, ignore the situation, or simply join me in the attack?"

His questions hung in the air, and silence fell over the group. After five seconds of stillness, Gawain looked back at Mjosgard. "Now you understand, don't you, Senior? I can certainly leave the simpler affairs in Mary Geoise to these guards, who genuinely want to keep me safe, but beyond those mundane matters, I must remember that their loyalty to the Celestial Dragons limits their capacity to be the allies I need. I can't even hold it against them because they were raised by the Five Elders, and their loyalty is not to any one Celestial Dragon but to the World Government as a whole. After hearing all this, are you still puzzled by my decision to recruit additional help?"

"I…" Mjosgard hesitated. After a moment, he suddenly seemed to realize something. "Gawain, we are Celestial Dragons. Even though those compatriots may be weak, they are still Celestial Dragons! Even if you find new subordinates, even if you train them personally, would your new subordinates dare to get involved in your conflicts with other Celestial Dragons?"

"How would I know unless I try?" Gawain replied with a smile, turning his gaze toward the sun slowly sinking in the sky. "Just like Charlos and the Five Elders said, even if my Conqueror's Haki is strong, it doesn't change the fact that my body is pitifully weak. I'm not young anymore, and starting training at this age will undoubtedly be much harder than if I had begun as a child."

He looked back at the fifteen guards who had bowed their heads. "You all know how tough the training is, whether it's the Rokushiki or Haki. If I let you instruct me, would you have the courage to raise your fists and beat me down if I slacked off during training, disregarded the regimen, or even quit altogether? Would you have the guts to tell me what it takes to be considered strong?"

Silence reigned around them. Without needing their answers, Gawain could see in their eyes that the notion of "impossible" loomed large. Guards and soldiers living in Mary Geoise only understood obedience to every command from the Celestial Dragons, regardless of which one gave the order. Especially if Gawain's commands were to conflict with those of the Five Elders; the outcome was all too predictable.

Gawain shook his head, smiling wryly. "See? The servants and soldiers in Mary Geoise are so weighed down by their own rules that they can hardly breathe. So whether it's partners who share my vision, subordinates who can perfectly obey my every command, or mentors who have the guts to teach me a lesson, these people ultimately exist beyond Mary Geoise, in this vast sea full of possibilities and freedom. As for where to start… well, the Navy Headquarters is so close by."