ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

Gnali gritted his teeth.

He clenched the steel pipe firmly with both hands.

Think back to your dreams.

The flag he had drawn, his own pirate mark, was a testament to his ambition.

As those thoughts flooded his mind, Gnali's fighting spirit surged once more.

Caesar smirked slightly. "Not bad."

"Being my deputy captain is enough."

As soon as the words fell, Caesar vanished from his spot—his movement like a rocket's acceleration.

From Brad's vantage point, he saw only a flickering afterimage.

"Ah!"

Gnali roared, betting everything on this final strike.

He pinned all his hopes on this one decisive blow.

Boom!

Crack!

Boom!

With his bare hands, Caesar shattered Gnali's steel pipe and struck him squarely in the face.

Brad's jaw dropped slightly. "Damn… even Armament Haki is useless against him."

Gnali crashed onto the ground, unable to move.

At this moment, his body felt completely paralyzed.

"I… couldn't even last an hour?"

Caesar looked down at him. "You lost, Gnali."

Silence lingered.

Then, after a long pause, Gnali exhaled heavily.

"I admit defeat… I'll join you."

---

[39] Awakening Armament Haki – News of Shimotsuki Kozaburo!

Caesar let out a slow laugh. "Welcome aboard."

Half an hour later, Gnali's wounds were wrapped in bandages.

"They're not serious injuries, but it's better to treat them properly," Brad remarked as he finished bandaging.

Gnali still felt unwilling to accept his defeat.

But… sailing under someone stronger wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

He would be the deputy captain from now on.

"So, where are we heading next? Where's the rest of your crew?"

Brad's lips twitched slightly.

Caesar grinned. "They're all here."

A moment of silence.

"...Eh??"

Gnali nearly punched himself. He had accepted the role of deputy captain—only to realize this was the entire crew.

"Hahaha, don't worry," Caesar assured him. "Brad and I are still with the Rocks Pirates."

"So technically, my own crew hasn't been established yet."

Gnali's eyes widened.

"Wait, what did you just say?!"

His voice was so loud that birds in the forest scattered in fright.

"You mean… you're still part of another pirate crew?!"

His pupils shook violently. This man spoke so boldly, and yet—he was still under someone else?!

Caesar chuckled at Gnali's stunned expression.

"Relax."

"There are many people stronger than me in the New World."

"And Rocks D. Xebec is one of them."

Brad nodded in agreement.

"Yeah… that guy isn't human."

"If it weren't for him threatening to destroy our village, we wouldn't have boarded his ship in the first place."

"One day, Caesar and I will leave and sail freely."

Caesar nodded firmly.

"That day isn't far off."

After learning more about the Rocks Pirates, Gnali was left completely speechless.

Five of its members had already awakened Conqueror's Haki.

The remaining officers were all proficient in both Armament and Observation Haki.

Even ordinary crew members were well-versed in Haki combat.

Gnali, who had just learned about Haki, swallowed hard.

Leaving such a powerful crew… was it even possible?

He glanced at Caesar.

Better not dwell on it.

He had already agreed to follow this man as his deputy captain.

As the saying goes: Marry a chicken, follow a chicken. Marry a dog, follow a dog.

He sighed in resignation.

"Fine… where are we heading next? Why are you guys even on this island?"

Caesar explained their goal—Shimotsuki Kozaburo.

Gnali scratched his head.

"Kozaburo Shimotsuki… never heard of him."

"But are you a swordsman? Why are you so good at hand-to-hand combat?"

Caesar chuckled.

"I'm proficient in both swordsmanship and physical combat."

Gnali blinked.

Yeah, this guy was ridiculously overpowered.

---

The trio used their ship's docking point as a base while exploring the Goa Kingdom.

They quietly gathered information on Shimotsuki Kozaburo.

"Armament Haki can be trained. Judging by your state, you should be close…"

Along the way, Caesar continued explaining Haki in depth and guiding Gnali's training.

To help him awaken Armament Haki, Caesar even suppressed his strength while fighting him.

Brad watched from the side, lips curling slightly in nostalgia.

Caesar had trained him in the exact same way.

Boom!

Boom!

With Caesar's clear instructions and relentless attacks, Gnali finally awakened Armament Haki.

"YES! He did it!" Brad cheered.

Caesar lowered his fist, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Not bad."

Gnali stared at his right fist in excitement.

He could feel it—his attack power and defense had increased.

"...It really worked."

Caesar patted his shoulder.

"Keep training and refine it."

"Don't forget Observation and Conqueror's Haki—you need to work on controlling them too."

Gnali looked at him and Brad, then nodded decisively.

"Yeah! I got it!"

---

Three Days Later

They had searched every corner of the Goa Kingdom, even sneaking into royal and noble territories.

But there was no progress.

"Are you sure Kozaburo Shimotsuki even exists?"

Brad and Gnali were starting to feel frustrated.

There wasn't a single trace of him.

Then, suddenly—

Caesar's expression darkened.

Brad and Gnali instantly became alert.

"It's them."

A group approached.

Caesar relaxed his fist.

"Do you have any news?"

One of the newcomers nodded.

"There is indeed information on Shimotsuki Kozaburo."

Brad and Gnali exchanged excited glances.

Caesar's eyes lit up slightly.

"Let's hear it."

---

[40] Frost Moon Village – Kozaburo's Whereabouts

The informant spoke slowly.

"About eight or nine years ago, a ship from the Grand Line docked in Goa Kingdom."

"Among those who disembarked was a man wearing a samurai kimono."

"He carried two swords—and his name was Kozaburo."

A flicker of excitement crossed Caesar's eyes.

We're on the right track.

"Where did he go? Where is he now?"

The informant smirked and rubbed his fingers together—the universal sign for payment.

Caesar narrowed his eyes, staring silently.

The man began sweating profusely, his heartbeat drumming like a war drum.

Shit… Why did I even think of scamming him?

The pressure was unbearable.

Moments later, as the man was about to collapse from sheer intimidation—

Caesar sneered and tossed him a bag of gold coins.

"Don't let anyone know we're looking for him. That's all."

The man let out a relieved breath.

"Y-Yes, understood!"

Caesar chuckled and tilted his chin up slightly.

"Now, continue."