One Piece: Gawain The Knight Of The Sun

Kuro closed his eyes.

His opponent's overwhelming strength had left him battered, unable to fight on, and his crew had betrayed him. He knew Gawain spoke the truth.

But he was exhausted by the pirate life.

Rather than sink deeper into endless killing, he'd rather end it now.

Kuro braced for death, neck bared.

Gawain, however, wasn't ready to give up. Silent Step and Kuro's talents were too valuable to lose.

After a moment's pause, Gawain spoke. "Jango says you want to shed this life, start anew with a different identity?"

Kuro opened his eyes. On the verge of death, he didn't mind a few more words. "You're young, still chasing fame, glory, maybe even that elusive One Piece."

"When you're my age, you'll see endless killing erodes the will, meaning nothing."

"Only a quiet, ordinary life is real."

A flicker of longing crossed Kuro's face. Once, he'd had such a life—until he destroyed it himself.

"Hmph," Gawain scoffed. "You think shedding this life makes you free? Even in the 'peaceful' East Blue, how many towns are attacked daily?"

"How much wealth can you offer to sate the nobles' greed or the skyrocketing Celestial Tribute? Do you remember why your crew set sail in the first place?"

Kuro froze, his face paling.

As a brilliant mind, how could he not grasp such a simple truth?

He'd viewed a peaceful life through rose-tinted glasses, ignoring its flaws. Gawain's words shattered the illusion.

A quiet life?

That was handing your fate to others—nobles, pirates, corrupt Marines.

"Hah…" Kuro laughed bitterly. "This filthy world doesn't care if you survive!"

Gawain continued, "If you're strong enough to make everyone fear you, peace will follow."

"I know a living example—a former pirate, now retired, living the life you crave."

"The Navy knows him. The World Government knows him. Yet both stay silent. Why?"

"Why?" Kuro asked.

"Because he's Silvers Rayleigh, Roger's right hand. Even the Navy weighs the cost before moving against him."

Kuro fell silent, closing his eyes, his claw blades trembling.

The air grew still, the pirates watching quietly as Gawain awaited Kuro's answer.

Moments later, Kuro opened his eyes, staring intently at Gawain. "What's your goal?"

Gawain thought briefly. "Head to the Grand Line, claim a Warlord of the Sea title."

Kuro blinked.

The Grand Line was expected, but the Warlord title held special meaning: freedom from Navy pursuit!

It wasn't as perfect as his original plan, but Gawain's words proved that was a delusion.

Becoming a Warlord was distant but feasible!

Kuro pushed up his glasses with his palm, a new spark in his eyes. "I'm not thrilled, but… I look forward to working with you, Captain."

"Welcome, Kuro, my first mate."

Gawain smiled, pulling Kuro to his feet.

Despite his injuries, Kuro stood tall, instantly exuding the aura of a second-in-command.

With the captain and three officers surrendered, the Black Cat Pirates had no reason to fight on.

At their leaders' orders, they dropped their weapons and surrendered.

The battle, lasting mere minutes, claimed over a third of both sides' numbers.

Fortunately, the Black Cat Pirates had three ships and nearly two hundred men. Even with losses, Gawain's crew now neared two hundred.

Gawain organized the ship's doctors to treat the wounded.

Injured pirates lay in neat rows on the warship's deck, medics moving among them, tending wounds.

"Ah!" A doctor poured high-proof alcohol on a pirate's leg wound, the man tensing, his face red as a boiled shrimp.

Gawain's eye twitched. If possible, he'd prefer proper medical care. "We need a real ship's doctor."

At sea, conditions were crude. Wounds were disinfected with alcohol and stitched after stopping the bleeding—survival depended on luck.

For those too gravely injured, a quick end was all that remained.

The pirates were used to this, and even Gawain felt no pity.

Saving them at great cost only prolonged their suffering.

Thus, the Black Cat Pirates were officially absorbed into the Gawain Pirates.

Days later, Gawain publicly declared Kuro as vice-captain, with the Nyaban Brothers and Jango remaining as combatants.

No one objected.

Gawain's original crew revered him like a god, while the former Black Cat Pirates, having seen him crush Kuro, feared him even more.

The next day, Gawain ordered training to begin.

Ordinary pirates trained in swordsmanship under him, while Kuro, the Nyaban Brothers, and Jango followed their own methods.

Kuro, with a new goal, became a training fanatic, spending all day in the warship's training room, even padding the walls to avoid injury.

Gawain was delighted.

With two hundred training, including fresh recruits, that night he gained over forty swordsmanship points and thirty physique points.

The surge surprised him.

"My original crew's potential is nearly tapped out. This experience must come from the new blood. But by ratio, regular pirates should only yield about twenty points."

"The rest must be from Bronze-level Kuro!"

"Bronze potential is this potent?"

Gawain calculated.

Kuro alone provided nearly ten points daily, outstripping ordinary pirates due to his higher potential.

"How strong would Gold-level Sanji or Zoro be?"

Gawain's anticipation grew.

Suddenly, a system prompt sounded:

"Skill unlocked - Silent Step!"

"Pussyfoot Maneuver - LV 0: 6/100!"

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