Not far away from Ace, Yixiao heard his words astutely.
So he smiled and muttered to himself.
"This is really interesting!"
As he finished speaking, Yixiao began to calculate silently in his heart.
One is over 130, and three are over 70.
Just these four people added together, it will be almost 350 years...
There are only a few cadres in total. If you average it out a little, the average age of the Black Bird cadres is almost fifty or sixty years old...
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but laugh.
"What Ace said really makes sense, haha.
Our Black Bird seems to be a team illuminated by the setting sun!"
"So what?"
Lei Li next to him chuckled.
"Even the rays of the setting sun will stay on the sea for a long time, and isn't the setting sun particularly rich and eye-catching?"
After the words fell, Reilly raised his glass of wine.
“Come on, haha, let’s have a drink for the sunset team!
Even if there are going to be storms in the future, we old guys will get you closer to the finish line!"
"cheers!"
A group of people laughed and drank all the wine, and then everyone started to deal with the food in categories.
The ingredients brought from the ship were okay. They were all prepared by the chefs on the ship for the banquet. Everyone only needed to clean up briefly to start the fire.
But the giant squid that Mr. Kurokas just got is a little troublesome.
Jinbei and Yixiao worked on it together, and it took more than ten minutes to divide it into similar shapes.
After they divided the ingredients, Iska patted Ace on the shoulder.
"Try harder~."
After hearing this, the flames released by Ace's hands increased rapidly, directly processing the barbecue and grilled squid to perfection.
Hancock helped Gawain carry a squid leg that was more than two meters long. Gawain held the squid leg with one hand and killed nearly one meter in length with a huge thunder and lightning mouth.
And as Gawain took his first bite, the banquet really started to take place.
…
About five hours later, it was just dark on the Twin Capes.
Gawain lay on the edge of the beach, quietly staring at the moon in the sky.
Beside him, Hancock fell leisurely into Gawain's arms.
It seems that because he has experienced more, Hancock's drinking ability is getting worse now.
In the past, she had eight barrels of wine.
Now he can't walk without two buckets, so he can only maintain his life by sticking and hugging him.
And just as Gawain gently stroked Hancock's hair, Crocodile slowly came to Gawain's side.
"grown ups."
He greeted him naturally, and then sat down about one meter away from Gawain.
After sitting down, Crocodile reached out to the ground casually. There is no need to mention which hand he extended.
He has only one hand….
I saw him putting his hand into the beach, picking up a ball of sand and playing with it.
While playing with it, he said to Gawain.
"There is something I don't quite understand about our upcoming voyage, and I would like to have a little chat with you."
"oh?"
Gawain tilted his head.
"Are you confused about the road ahead?"
"maybe."
Crocodile chuckled and continued.
"I just feel that there is no need for us to go to the East China Sea.
That is simply the weakest sea.
Whether it’s recruiting people or seeking territory and power, the West China Sea is more suitable than the East China Sea, right?”
After the words fell, Crocodile looked into Gawain's eyes.
On the side, Gawain frowned slightly when he heard Crocodile's words.
Seeing this, Crocodile felt a chill in his heart, so he whispered.
"After all, for a series of large countries such as the Country of Flowers in the West Sea, for the operation of sea trains, the more prosperous the countries and regions where the first batch of sea trains pass, the more favorable it will be for the promotion of sea trains, right?"
When the words fell, Gawain became more serious. Looking at Crocodile at this moment, Gawain suddenly remembered something.
He himself has always felt that he lacks the help of counselors.
But in fact, he really forgot about Crocodile beside him.
This sand crocodile is a great pirate known for his overall perspective and strategy.
Then Gawain thought of discussing it with Crocodile.
He gently twirled Hancock's hair with his fingers, and then said softly.
"The Kingdom of Flowers is indeed a big country, and it is also a big country with a very powerful armed force.
The eight navy armies it has in the country are all named after treasures, and the leader of each navy army is like Qingjiao, who can be called a big pirate."
Speaking of this, Gawain couldn't help but feel that it was outrageous, because looking at it this way, Xihai's strength was really too strong...
When Qingjiao was at his peak, he was at least a Shichibukai-level powerhouse. His bounty at his peak had already reached the level of 700 million during Roger's era.
But there are at least eight people like him in the Kingdom of Flowers, because the Babao Navy and other navy forces have always been able to maintain a competitive situation!
This can be seen through the comic plot.
When Garp smashed the head of the green pepper with a punch, the momentum of the Babao Navy dropped again and again. Two years after the war on the top, the Babao Navy even reached the point where it had to fight the daughter of the leader of the Erbao Navy.
Only through marriage can we barely maintain the situation!
Although Lao Cai and baby5 are together, in fact, Lao Cai has a legal fiancée!
Lao Cai's fiancée is the daughter of Erbao Shuijun, the "beautiful" girl Huo Lisha who looks very similar to the fish man.
In other words, Qingjiao, whose head is flat and unable to open the treasure house of the Eight Treasure Navy, is already weaker than other naval forces.
Otherwise, how could Lao Cai agree to marry such a woman...
Beyond that, here’s the point.
With at least eight warriors of ordinary Shichibukai level, the Flower Country was at a disadvantage more than once in battles with enemy countries...
This kind of being at a disadvantage has even reached the point of being chased and beaten...
You know, Qingjiao is the twelfth generation pillar of the Babao Navy. Like other pillars of the Navy, they all have elders!
The eight pillars plus the next generation of pillars, plus their elders.
When this group of people gather together, they can be converted into the combat power of eleven or twelve Shichibukai, and Qingjiao still has overlord-like high-level combat power!
Even such a group of people are being chased and beaten by their enemy country. How strong must their enemy country be?
In addition, there are gang organizations in the West Sea that far exceed those in other sea areas. Mafia groups like Caponebeki are everywhere in the West Sea.
It is conceivable that if the entire Western Sea is pulled out, then at least twenty or thirty Shichibukai can be pulled out of the Western Sea!
This is just the West Sea, let's talk about the North Sea.
Beihai is also a particularly outrageous existence.
Speaking of the Kingdom of Germa alone, it was also very prosperous at that time, and one country fought against the entire Beihai.
As a result, their kingdom lost the battle and was scattered, and now only the Vinsmoke family is left.
But even if it has declined to what it is now, even Vinsmoke Gaji has lost his country.
The Vinsmoke family can also have a chance encounter with the Big Mom Group.
Although there is a high probability that they will lose, the strength that can compete with the Big Mom Team is already the top team in the sea.
So one can imagine how strong the Germa Kingdom would have been in its heyday.
Just think about it, the Germa Kingdom, which was so powerful back then, was actually beaten to pieces by the Beihai people...
Think about it again, the World Government recruited two generals, Fujitora and Green Ox, just for a few months.
So how many powerful people are there hidden in various countries all over the world?
Looking at it this way, do you suddenly realize that the water in the four seas is too deep!
The East China Sea is really special. Besides the East China Sea, which of the other three seas cannot be touched by the Four Emperors?
This is the reason why Marie Joa and the Five Old Stars have never wanted to launch a war against the whole world. This is also the reason why the Tianlong people have always maintained their line of corrupting various countries.
This is also the reason why Crocodile made the suggestion.
At the same time, Crocodile also said at the right time.
"Yes, sir, the Kingdom of Flowers in the West Sea and the hostile Kingdom of Grass are both large forces worth wooing and controlling.
What's more, there are several countries in the Western Sea that are in tit-for-tat conflict with the Kingdom of Flowers and the Kingdom of Grass.
What if we were traveling not to the East China Sea, but to the West Sea?
Then with your status and the strength of our cadres, we are very likely to turn those countries into today's Alabasta one by one, and let them become our strength!"
When he said this, Crocodile was vaguely looking forward to it. For him now, his thoughts about making trouble have become much lighter.
He looked away!
Compared with being the Pirate King, if he can help Gawain become the Five Old Stars and even create a higher situation.
When most of the cadres on the ship have already faded away, it is entirely possible for him, the main subordinate who has not yet reached his peak, to become the marshal of the navy or even the commander-in-chief of the armed forces!
For Crocodile, this status is at least much safer than that of the Pirate King.
So now he is really planning the future from Gawain's perspective!
On the side, listening to Crocodile's suggestion, Gawain thought in silence for a moment.
He did not consider the feasibility of Crocodile's plan again, because he knew that Crocodile was right.
But Crocodile doesn't know that the reason why Gawain goes to the East China Sea is not just to occupy some territory and power!
Now Gawain just wants to walk the path of destiny that the future Son of Destiny will take, and by the way clear up the territory on Luffy's route!
Gawain wanted to know if he managed the East China Sea and the Grand Line into a flawless and peaceful place without any darkness.
By then, Luffy will have no enemies along the way, what will be his fate?
Fight monsters and level up?
nonexistent!
Gawain has long been determined to create a smooth route for Luffy to the New World through his own reforms!
Gawain even wants Luffy to take the sea train directly from Windmill Village to Shampoo Land, which will take no more than thirty days!
Could it be possible for Destiny's Child to give up on becoming a pirate?
impossible!
Then Gawain would be surprised if the Son of Destiny lost both his destined crew and his destined enemy.
So what kind of new fate will Luffy have, who has not experienced any war, has not experienced any major improvement in strength, and entered the new world two years earlier?
This is not a game, but the most important war for Gawain!
That was his war with the fate of the pirate world!
If even if Gawain arranges Luffy so well, even if Luffy slides directly into the new world, he can directly jump to the fruit awakening and evolve into the Nika form with the strength to defeat the King of the Sea.
Then Gawain's challenge is a bit big...
Because that means that fate is playing tricks on the son of destiny...
And what if Luffy took the train all the way to the new world, and ended up disappearing from everyone in the new world.
Or even if he cheats a little, it will be difficult to reach the level of the original plot.
Then the challenge that Gawain needs to face will be much smaller.
Challenge the world's franchised countries, challenge the five old stars and Im?
That is a political and military challenge.
But challenging fate….
That would seem a lot more tragic...
However, Gawain, who knew the future, thought so, but he could not say this to Crocodile.
For this kind of subordinate who was different from Jinbei and had always occupied the high ground with his clever IQ, he had to come up with a reasonable explanation in order to achieve his goal while maintaining Crocodile's subjective initiative.
So Gawain thought about it and said softly.
"Krokdal, what do you think...the focus of our planned reforms is?
Is it strength?"
"Of course strength is important, but since you say so, my lord, strength should not be the absolute priority in your mind!"
Crocodile responded softly.
Hearing this, Gawain patted Crocodile on the shoulder.
"For our plan, strength is one of the necessary conditions, but it is only one.
Our purpose is to mobilize the whole world to accept our opinions, not to force them to accept our opinions by force!
If we force them, we can certainly take the road to the West Sea or the North Sea. No matter which sea is under our control, our hard power will skyrocket.
But no matter the West Sea or the North Sea, their significance to the sea, especially in terms of propaganda and guidance, is not as good as that of the East Sea!"
Gawain took out a cigarette and started smoking by himself.
He didn't give it to Crocodile because Crocodile was holding a cigar.
By the way, who is the smoker, Sand Crocodile or Smoker?
Smoker didn't smoke a cigar for much of the anime.
But Sand Crocodile, his cigar has almost never disappeared in anime and comics...
Returning to the topic, Gawain exhaled a puff of smoke and continued.
“The East China Sea is an ocean that focuses global attention.
For pirates, this is the hometown of the Pirate King.
For the Navy, this is the hometown of Garp, the naval hero and equivalent to the Navy King.
As for the Revolutionary Army, this is the hometown of Long, the leader of the Revolutionary Army!
Once something big happens in the East China Sea, the news will spread all over the world and generate guidance, which is far more eye-catching than what happens in other oceans.
This is why I set my destination in the East China Sea!"
On the side, after hearing Gawain's words clearly, Crocodile nodded clearly.
He even took the initiative to fill in some details for Gawain after thinking about it!
I saw him speaking clearly.
"I understand, sir, the reason why you chose Donghai is to set a sufficiently eye-catching example for the whole world.
If we control those large countries one after another, such as the Kingdom of Flowers.
Although we have increased our hard power in this way, it will also make most of the participating countries wary.
But if we set our target in the East China Sea, then we don't need to go to war at all, we can secretly control this weakest sea!
And controlling the weakest sea like the East China Sea is far from making other countries wary. After all, everyone knows that the East China Sea is too weak!"
Having said this, Crocodile looked at Gawain with admiration.
"As expected of you, my lord, your gaze is far more profound than mine!
I am ashamed of myself, and I am even more willing to be inferior!"