Chapter 302: We Were Just About to Fight to the Death, Your Majesty, Why Did You Surrender First?

"What do you mean?!"

Cavendish asked, bewildered.

Xiang Gaowen opened his mouth to explain:

"Have you heard of the Martial Arts Tournament?!"

Before Cavendish could speak, the captives nearby抢先 answered.

"Of course we have!"

"Over a year ago, the East Blue's grandest fighting competition attracted the gaze of nearly the entire world!"

"Countless powerhouses competed on the same stage, vying to become the strongest, reaping flowers, applause, fame, and fortune!"

"Wait, you are..."

A pirate looked at Kuro beside Xiang Gaowen, feeling an overwhelming sense of familiarity.

He rubbed his eyes, and after confirming he wasn't mistaken, his voice suddenly rose several octaves:

"Hundred Plans Kuro!"

"The champion of the previous Martial Arts Tournament!"

This pirate's eyes sparkled with golden light, his face filled with nothing but adoration.

He had even forgotten that he was captured by Kuro himself, adopting the posture of a die-hard fan.

"I'm not hallucinating, am I?!"

"You... you are my favorite contestant!"

"Forgive my bluntness, but in the first Martial Arts Tournament, you were the true first place; Demon Jin Akin only shared your renown due to the rules."

"However, both of you vanished without a trace after the first tournament; who would have thought you'd become the right and left hands of Knight Xiang Gaowen?!"

"The champion of the Martial Arts Tournament, the right and left hands of Kuro, the strongest new-generation pirate knight—this is truly..."

"So cool!"

Everyone around likewise looked at Kuro with faces full of admiration.

Clearly, they had followed the first Martial Arts Tournament and were even die-hard fans of both Kuro and Akin.

Seeing this, Cavendish was obviously displeased; he pursed his lips and said disdainfully:

"If I had participated in the first tournament, the one enjoying this glory, surrounded and cheered by countless fans, should have been..."

Halfway through his sentence,

Cavendish's pupils contracted, and he whipped his head around to stare at Xiang Gaowen:

"You are the mastermind behind the Martial Arts Tournament?!"

The fish... has taken the bait!

The corners of Xiang Gaowen's mouth lifted slightly as he said:

"That's right; the East Blue's Martial Arts Tournament was my handiwork."

"And not just the East Blue; the second Martial Arts Tournament is about to begin, with branch venues set up across the Four Seas and a finals battlefield on the Grand Line!"

"The attention the second tournament receives will far surpass the first!"

"If you can win the championship..."

As Xiang Gaowen spoke, Cavendish's breathing grew progressively heavier:

"Flowers, applause, attention, front-page headlines... you'll have it all!"

Xiang Gaowen nodded and continued to paint the picture:

"And this is merely the beginning; once I establish a foothold in the New World in the future, I will open arenas there as well."

"Qualifiers across the Four Seas, semifinals on the Grand Line, and the grand finals in the New World."

"By then, the Martial Arts Tournament will become the grandest and most heated fighting competition in the entire world!"

"And you will become the hottest star contestant of the Martial Arts Tournament, even leaving your name eternally in the Hall of Fame."

"Just like Kuro and Akin before, and like the currently super-popular Cat Brothers and Feng Kelei in the East Blue!"

Cavendish swallowed hard, subconsciously gripping the hem of his clothes.

At this moment, what he saw before his eyes was already the scene of himself on the Martial Arts Tournament finals stage, commanding wind and rain, crushing all opponents, holding a bouquet of flowers, enjoying the crowd's cheers, and stepping onto the podium!

By then, every newspaper in the world would surely feature my news, and everyone would be able to see my magnificent posture!

Hiss—!

Who needs the One Piece anymore? This is my One Piece!

"I agree!"

Cavendish nodded vigorously, fearing Xiang Gaowen might regret it.

The corner of Kuro's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but retort:

"You didn't even ask what our conditions are..."

"As long as it doesn't harm my companions, I'll do anything; after all, winning the laurel crown on such a world-stage is the pursuit of my lifetime!"

Cavendish couldn't help but start fantasizing about his future.

He became immensely expectant of the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament!

Xiang Gaowen nodded slightly:

"Very good; from today on, you are all one of us, and I will prop you up as the new pillar of the Martial Arts Tournament!"

Cavendish nodded heavily, looking at Xiang Gaowen with stars in his eyes:

"No problem, Captain; you are my greatest benefactor. From now on, anyone who wants to make a move against you must get past me first!"

The deputy standing nearby, seeing this sycophantic display, didn't know where to begin with his complaints.

Just a few days ago, you looked like you wanted to swallow Knight Xiang Gaowen alive and peel him raw; now you've instantly changed your face—where is your dignity as a powerhouse?!

Bastard!

His eye twitched uncontrollably, and he couldn't help but cover his eyes with his hand.

Yet he knew even more clearly that being absorbed by Xiang Gaowen's group was already the best possible outcome after being captured.

After all, he was a pirate too; naturally, he understood the methods pirates used on captives, especially since his own side had recklessly provoked the conflict and attacked Xiang Gaowen first.

That was the monster who had consecutively defeated the Golden Lion and Hawk-Eye!

It was almost foreseeable that Xiang Gaowen would inevitably become a major power, even a maritime Emperor, on this vast sea in the future!

The people around gradually relaxed, even harboring a faint sense of expectation for the future.

After all, losing to a pirate crew approaching the level of a Yonko was nothing shameful; being valued and absorbed by the knight Xiang Gaowen was nothing short of an honor!

"Mm, work hard from now on."

Xiang Gaowen, his face full of gratification, patted Cavendish's shoulder again and pressed his advantage, saying:

"With your current strength, seizing the championship of the Martial Arts Tournament in Paradise is no problem."

"But when opponents become monsters of the New World, it won't be enough; to realize your goal, you still need to train hard."

"Understood, Captain!"

Cavendish nodded heavily, already somewhat impatient.

What he hadn't expected was that in just a few minutes, he had already switched identities and begun thinking as a subordinate of Xiang Gaowen.

The switch in stance was so smooth that even Xiang Keluo felt speechless.

"Guard against arrogance and impatience."

Xiang Gaowen felt a stir in his heart and spoke to remind him:

"Just so happens, the people on my ship have been training here for the past few days; you can go familiarize yourself with the team atmosphere."

"No problem."

Cavendish was full of confidence:

"It's just simple training; no problem."

Regarding his own strength, Cavendish had absolute confidence; he believed that aside from the two monsters, Xiang Keluo and Akin, he would not lose to anyone on this ship.

As for training...

It's not actual combat; what could be difficult? Surely they wouldn't train people to death, right?!

Which proper pirate crew trains like this?!

The next day.

The scorching sun hung in the sky, baking the earth; even the sea breeze blowing in was like tongues of fire.

The members of the former Gorgeous Pirates, their old wounds unhealed, sat on the deck resting.

"Captain, no, my lord Cavendish... can he really make it?!"

Cavendish's first mate looked at the group training hard on the beach, couldn't help swallowing hard, and had his worldview completely overturned.

"I... I also want to know!"

"These guys are wrong, completely wrong!"

"I can understand working hard at cultivation, but working hard to this extent is throwing one's life away!"

"Heavens, the veins on that guy's body have burst!"

A pirate pointed a finger at a burly man in the crowd.

The latter struggled to lift a huge stone in his hands, his entire body's veins bulging, many blood vessels on his body bursting and oozing blood, his eyes entirely bloodshot, clearly having exceeded his body's tolerance limit.

Yet this burly man showed not the slightest intention of giving up.

He struggled to lift the huge stone over his head, holding it for fully ten-plus seconds before exhaustion overcame him and he put it down.

His body collapsed from exhaustion at that very moment, yet a satisfied smile remained on his face.

"Ah~"

"This is the feeling~"

"Squeezing the body to its limit, forcing out hidden potential, surpassing the limit!"

"Kimoji~"

Hoo—!

The hot sea breeze blew in, yet the group training on the deck felt only a chill down their spines.

Many even began to doubt whether following Cavendish to join Xiang Gaowen's group was right or wrong.

After all, if they truly ended up becoming like that man in the end... such a thing was absolutely unacceptable!

While the group felt a chill down their spines, Cavendish, who had joined the training army in the distance, nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

He looked down at the dense black weight plates covering his body, then at the exaggeratedly sized barbell in his hands, his face blank with confusion.

Wait a moment...

This isn't what I imagined at all; which pirate crew trains like this?

Are they throwing their lives away?

At a glance.

Cavendish was very certain that everyone training present was squeezing their body's potential in a way far beyond their own tolerance limits.

Looking at Law beside him, who struggled even to walk, he couldn't help but speak:

"Such recklessness will make the body unable to bear it, leaving hidden injuries; later, don't say becoming stronger, even future lifespan will be affected."

"Doesn't the Captain care?!"

Law glanced at him, his gaze carrying scrutiny and a hint of doubt:

"Reckless?!"

"Isn't this something any normal person can do?"

Luo glanced around indifferently and said:

"We have always cultivated this way; where is the recklessness?!"

"If you think this is reckless, then you should reflect deeply on whether you ever trained seriously in the past, and whether you ever squeezed out all your potential."

Luo said with earnest sincerity:

"Newcomer, if your resolve is only at this level, let alone standing firm on this ship, whether you can even survive is a problem."

"This ship does not look down on the weak, but those who possess great talent yet let it go to waste will definitely be despised by everyone."

"Since the Captain values you, you must possess great potential."

"Promise me, do not waste your talent."

"What you do not know is that many people on this ship have already touched their limits, yet they still continue their arduous cultivation day after day."

"All for the sake of surpassing themselves."

Cavendish opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

The others around, buried in their cultivation, were also drawn by the commotion here.

Gaze after gaze, some puzzled, some contemptuous, fell upon Cavendish, making him feel as though thorns were pricking his back.

Zoro, drenched in sweat, looked at Cavendish, a flash of disappointment passing through his eyes as he sighed:

"I originally thought I finally had a swordsman companion capable of fighting me, yet you cannot even endure cultivation of this degree?!"

"Weakness in strength can be compensated for through training, but slackness and weakness of the heart are fatal."

"What a pity."

Having said this, Zoro returned his attention to the sword in his hand, yet his words struck straight at Cavendish's sore spot.

"Slackness, weakness, pity..."

Cavendish pronounced each of the keywords filled with mockery from Zoro's words one by one, his eyebrows twitching violently:

"Don't look down on me, you bastard!"

He suddenly exerted force, veins bulging on his arms, swinging the exaggeratedly large barbell in his hands until it became a blur.

Even as his arms gradually reached their limit, he did not stop.

Very soon.

Cavendish's legs gave way, and his body collapsed from exhaustion; lifting his head, he saw Zoro's hand reaching out to him.

"Newcomer, welcome to the hell of the weak!"

"Tch!"

Cavendish curled his lips, then firmly grasped Zoro's hand.

Feeling the gazes around him growing intense, he sensed that something entirely new was gradually awakening within his body.

His blood and soul seemed almost ready to burn!

"This feeling... not bad!"

After catching his breath briefly, Cavendish resumed his cultivation state once more.

He wielded the giant dumbbell in his hands like a sword, stirring up waves of air all around!

Cavendish's cultivation continued late into the night, stopping only after he had completely squeezed out the last shred of strength in his body.

He lay on the deck to rest briefly, then struggled to his feet and returned to the room Xiang Gaowen had assigned him.

For several days in a row, Cavendish gradually gained the recognition of the others, thoroughly integrating himself into the fervent atmosphere of cultivation within the Xiang Gaowen Pirates.

His originally somewhat slender figure became filled out, and his combat power grew noticeably.

Late night.

Having completed a day's cultivation, Cavendish struggled back to his room.

Unexpectedly, his former subordinates, led by his deputy, were standing at his door, looking at him with faces full of emotion.

"Captain, you have gone to such lengths for everyone; we are truly too moved!"

The deputy raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corner of his eye, while the others around could barely conceal the surging respect in their hearts.

Clearly, they had concluded that Cavendish was cultivating so desperately precisely for their sake.

But in their view, if they continued to let Cavendish cultivate like this, his body would sooner or later fail to hold up, and he might even die because of it.

No matter what, they could not accept such a result!

The deputy, knowing this clearly, had come to find Cavendish, and he stated firmly:

"Captain."

"This is no place to stay long; merely this kind of self-abusive method of cultivation could cost you your life; why don't we escape!"

"Right now, Xiang Gaowen and his group are gradually relaxing their vigilance over us, and they have not even sent anyone to guard us; we can easily break free."

"Captain, as long as you give the order, we..."

"Are you sick?!"

The deputy froze for a moment, thinking he had misheard.

But when he lowered his gaze, he saw the look of confusion in Cavendish's eyes, and he said in disbelief:

"Captain, you..."

"I feel the atmosphere here suits me very well."

Cavendish licked his lips, feeling the tearing pain throughout his body, a trace of fanaticism emerging in his gaze.

In just a few short days, he had completed a transformation from the inside out.

"Every time I surpass my limits, every time I reach the peak of my physical capabilities, I can feel the throbbing of my soul!"

"This sensation is even comparable to standing under the spotlight, basking in the gaze of everyone!"

The surroundings instantly fell silent.

Everyone felt their hands and feet turn ice-cold, unable to help but gasp sharply.

We're done for!

The captain has been assimilated too!

There's something fishy about Xiang Gaowen and his group; there absolutely is something fishy!

(End of Chapter)