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

Chapter 390 The Veteran's Funeral

half a month later.

A pirate ship slowly docked in Raven Harbor.

call--!
The sea breeze blows.

Zefa subconsciously tightened his coat.

He had become much thinner, his hair and beard were all white, his once strong muscles had completely disappeared, and his breath was extremely weak.

The ship's medic had repeatedly asserted that Zefa's health was far worse than he had anticipated.

He might breathe his last in this second or the next; what has kept him going until now is his only obsession.

Zefa sat in his wheelchair, gazing at the distant port.

"This place... has changed a lot."

Two years have passed, and Raven Harbor is completely different from when he last visited.

Skyscrapers rise from the ground, countless merchant ships are moored along the way, and tourists from all over the world throng together, forming streams of people that travel through the entire port.

Even from some distance, the cheers emanating from the Raven Arena in the center of the harbor were deafening!
"Two years have passed, and the martial arts tournament of Knight Gawain has become better and better. It is said that it now covers the entire ocean."

"The third Martial Arts Tournament is about to begin."

"According to their propaganda, the third martial arts tournament will gather the world's strongest fighters, and the final will be held in Britannias."

Smoker stood beside Zephyr, a cigar dangling from his lips, frowning as he looked into the distance.

He instinctively disliked things that were excessively extravagant or bloody.

For him, battle is cruel, and cruel things should not be entertaining.

"Well~"

"Perhaps it's not that simple."

Zephyr, with his keen eye, naturally saw more:

"The biggest advantage of the Navy compared to other forces is that it is backed by the World Government. Even if it loses a lot of combat power, it can replenish its strength by recruiting soldiers from all over the world."

“In the past few decades, during several large-scale conscription processes, there have been instances of generals-level combat capabilities.”

"The martial arts tournament can achieve the same effect in some ways."

“Gawain couldn’t possibly have been unaware of this; in other words, he started planning this three years ago.”

Smoker frowned:
"What exactly is this guy plotting?"

“Three years ago, when I fought him at Raven Harbor, I was still able to put up a fight, but now…”

Smoker didn't continue, but everyone could see the resentment and dejection in his eyes.

Zephyr, of course, was no exception and couldn't help but offer some advice:
"The monster's power is certainly awe-inspiring, but what is even more awe-inspiring is his understanding of the nature of the world."

"That is the biggest difference between you and him; your strength is only at the second level."

"I never had the chance to ask him what kind of world he wanted to create before, but now we can see for ourselves."

Smoker nodded and ordered the ship's sailors to lower the gangway, and he pushed Zephyr's wheelchair off the ship.

A small pirate ship docked, but it did not attract much attention in Raven Harbor.

Even the guards standing by only asked a few routine questions before letting him go.

Today, Ravenport's position in the East China Sea has even surpassed that of the branch navy.

Gawain and his crew had already achieved the feat of killing the former king of the Goa Kingdom, and then captured a former Marine Admiral. In addition, they were now the strongest in the world after Whitebeard.

Let alone pirates, even the East Blue Navy would have to keep their tails between their legs if they came here.

This neutral port has become the uncrowned king of the East China Sea, and naturally has no worries about anyone causing trouble here.

just.

Watching Zefa and his group leave, the guard in charge of the check rubbed his eyes, feeling that the man looked incredibly familiar.

He glanced instinctively at the wanted poster plastered on the harbor wall and instantly broke out in a cold sweat:
"Zeff the Black Arm, the 'Godslayer,' has a bounty of... 5 billion Berries?!"

"We're in big trouble!"

"Report! Report!"

……

"Go to Chilong Street."

Zephyr spoke to Smoker behind him, who nodded, and the group followed the port signs toward Red Dragon Street, located behind the port.

As the bustling commercial district receded into the distance, the noise and clamor gradually subsided.

Everyone felt a strange sense of calm settle in their hearts.

All around were countless residents passing by, some talking about something, others pausing to gaze at the distant port.

Even when he saw an outsider like Zefa, he showed no sign of wariness.

Some bold girls even handed candy to Zefa, saying in their childish voices:
"Here you go, grandpa!"

"The lord said to take care of the elderly and children."

Zefa reached out and patted the girl's head, then put the candy in his mouth, feeling a sweet sensation rising from the bottom of his heart.

"This is……"

"A town ruled by pirates?!"

Ain looked around, her heart filled with complex emotions.

Everything about Mary Geoise remains vivid in my memory.

Compared to that, he preferred to believe that the Raven Harbor he saw before him was the dwelling place of God.

This place is just like...

"The Ideal Land".

Fujitora murmured, revealing what Ain was thinking.

She had never seen such a peaceful port.

Even in the most prosperous country in the world, due to pirate attacks and the oppression of nobles, commoners are mostly wary of outsiders and may even actively drive them away.

The Great Pirate Era brought too many unstable factors.

The existence of Raven Harbor is almost like a counter-current in the torrent of time. If there is an ideal land or an Eden, then this is what it should be like.

The same thought flashed through everyone's minds at the same time, and a smile appeared on Zefa's lips.

The group continued deeper into the area.

soon.

A bar came into view.

The signboard at the entrance was somewhat worn, and the neon lights had been turned off, but Zefa could recognize it at a glance as the bar he had visited before.

Just got to the door.

A familiar voice then came from inside the bar.

"Back in my hometown... I mean, when Red Dragon Street was first established, a Marine Admiral visited us and farmed the land with us. He even owned a piece of land on the back hill of Raven Port!"

The moment the words left his mouth, they drew a chorus of mockery from those around him.

Although Ravenport holds a special position and Gawain is known as the world's strongest, a pirate is still a pirate.

Even when facing the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Navy is unlikely to give them a friendly look.

What's more, it's a visit from a high-ranking official of the Navy Headquarters.
Such a claim is nothing short of a fantasy to the drinkers present who had not experienced what happened back then.

"Keep bragging!"

"We're pirates, how could we possibly have any high-ranking Navy officials visiting us?!"

"Besides, such beings, even if they came, would be received by the lord, how could they possibly come to our retirement home?!"

Hahahaha~~~~

……

A burst of laughter erupted from all around.

Sitting at the bar, the old pirate wearing a bandana immediately turned red with anxiety and couldn't help but argue:

"Everything I'm saying is true, don't you believe me? His reputation is..."

Halfway through.

The bandana pirate's voice gradually faded away.

Those around him assumed he had run out of stories and immediately booed. They failed to notice his reddened eyes.

He noticed Zefa, who was sitting in a wheelchair and had become skin and bones, at the entrance of the bar.

The bandana pirate opened his mouth and said:

"Yes, those were all stories I made up."

After saying that, he ignored the laughter around him and strode up to Zefa.

He subconsciously reached out and touched Zefa's trouser leg, only to find it empty.

His voice trembled slightly as he stammered:
"Brother, what happened?!"

"Like when I was young, I made a fuss, and this leg is a gift to some bastards."

Zefa didn't care at all. Looking at his old friend, his spirits improved considerably, and his eyes even shone with light.
"More than."

Dobby, the old pirate with the headscarf, bent down:

"Hey bro, what are you saying? I'm listening!"

Zefa asked:

"Is my wheat field still there?!"

"Yes, yes, I'll take you to see it!"

"it is good."

Zefa nodded, subconsciously tightening his clothes.

Seeing this, Ain quickly took off her cloak and draped it over Zefa's shoulders, but when she looked down, she saw Zefa's pale face.

Her heartbeat slowed for a second, but only for a moment, before returning to normal.

Seeing this, Dobby, the old pirate with the hood, understood what was about to happen.

He took Zeffa's wheelchair from Smoker and pushed Zeffa toward the back of the mountain.

soon.

A vast wheat field appeared before everyone's eyes.

As the sun sets, its afterglow shines on the plump ears of wheat, making the earth appear as if it were covered with a dazzling expanse of gold.

Farmers can still be seen carefully clearing weeds or straightening fallen ears of wheat in the wheat fields.

Zefa's wheelchair stopped in front of the best-growing wheat field.

Dobby, the old pirate with the headscarf, said in an exaggerated manner:

“Brother, this is the wheat field you cultivated back then. The wheat here grows the best of all the land.”

"I've been managing it for you all these years, by the way~"

Dobby reached into his pocket, took out half a loaf of bread, and placed it in Zefa's hand.

"This bread is baked with wheat from this land, I..."

He couldn't help but reach up and scratch his head, the movement somewhat awkward.
"This is what I made. My skills aren't great, but you should still try it."

Zefa nodded, reached out and tore off a piece, then put it in his mouth.

The taste wasn't great, much worse than the bread he baked himself last time, but the sense of security it provided was unmatched.

"That's great~"

"As long as there is food to eat, there is still hope for life."

Zefa murmured softly as he tore off pieces of bread and put them into his mouth.

His movements became slower and slower, and his vision became increasingly blurry. He felt as if a fire was burning inside his body, threatening to burn away his internal organs.

"Smorg!"

Zephyr called out, and Smoker immediately bent down.

When he heard Zefa call out again, he realized that Zefa was completely blind.

But the voice in Smoker's ear sounded exceptionally powerful:

"The one who can change this world is not the Navy, not the pirates, and not the Revolutionary Army, but the knight Gawain."

"I am now absolutely certain of this."

Zefa clenched the bread in his hand.

He could no longer see, but his fingers could still feel the rough texture of the bread, yet within this roughness lay an indescribable sense of comfort.

Life still holds hope and a sense of security!
Zephyr recalled the question Gawain had asked him back then, and murmured:

"If they could still survive, how many people would be willing to become pirates?!"

"Smoker."

"Take a look and see what kind of world Gawain is trying to create."

After saying that, Zefa slowly closed his eyes, and his heaving chest calmed down.

The golden light shone on the surrounding wheat ears and on his face, making his silver hair look like gold.

Wow——!
A sea breeze blows, and the wheat ears sway in the wind, like waves rippling in a golden ocean.

Smoker lowered his head, took the bread from Zephyr's hand, tore it into pieces, and put it into his mouth.

As the last piece of bread entered his mouth, Smoker's eyes were already bloodshot.
"I'll go and check it for you."

"Teacher Zefa."

Ain lay on Zephyr's legs, sobbing softly, while the marines who had come with her also wore sorrowful expressions.

Fujitora silently reached out and stroked the ears of wheat in front of him.

When Gawain passed through the permanent portal left by Bevel in Raven Harbor and arrived here, this was the scene before him.

The veteran who fought his whole life for the navy and for justice breathed his last in Raven Harbor.

Gawain held Zephyr in high regard.

Compared to Shiki's arrogance and Whitebeard's domineering presence, Zephyr possessed a power on a different level.

His adherence to his beliefs continued until the very last moment of his life; even after losing everything, he continued to fight for the justice he held dear.

Even if the opponent is a god who is far superior to oneself and whose every move can shake the entire world!

The bounty of up to five billion is a medal worthy of being engraved on his chest!

Zefa's funeral was not a grand affair.

There were only a few students present, and Smoker and his two companions.

After obtaining Gawain's consent, Smoker buried Zephyr in the middle of the wheat field, where he stood like a giant watching over the entire Raven Harbor.

This is where Zefa was reborn, and also the end of his destiny.

He will continue to watch over this port, observing what the future Gawain has shaped will look like.

After the funeral.

Fujitora did not hesitate for a moment and immediately switched to Gawain's command.

He originally believed that the only way to change the world was through the navy, which possessed the world's strongest naval power.

Having followed Zefa for nearly two years, all he saw was a large tree whose roots and stems were completely rotten.

The corruption of the navy is not due to the worms on its branches and leaves, but rather because its very foundation has been distorted.

When the Navy's justice could not save the world, Gawain was his only choice.

Gao Wen naturally had no objection to this.

Fujitora was his friend, and his combat strength had already reached the legendary level. Even Kuro might not be his match.

But what surprised Gawain even more was Smoker.

Before Zefa's unmarked tombstone.

Smoker knelt before Gawain, his voice filled with sincerity:

"captain!"

"I want to see the future you create. Let me board the ship!"

"The Navy's justice cannot save this rotten world!"

"But Professor Zephyr believes you can!"

(End of this chapter)