"Every time before, I was just the shield. I barely got to participate at all. This time, I’m going to beat the Celestial Dragons so hard I’ll knock the crap out of them!"
Jozu’s voice carried both anger and frustration. It was obvious he wasn’t happy with how things had gone in the past.
At the head of the gathering, Whitebeard, seated casually with imposing authority, burst into laughter.
"Gurararara! Do whatever you want," Whitebeard said. "But finish it quickly."
His deep, powerful voice carried unquestionable authority.
"The moment those Celestial Dragons run into trouble, Marine Headquarters will immediately dispatch an Admiral to support them."
Although the Whitebeard Pirates feared no Admiral, Whitebeard still frowned slightly.
"We’re not afraid of Admirals, but our home base can’t withstand that kind of bombardment."
His concern was especially focused on Ron’s Research Facility.
That place had become one of the island’s most valuable assets.
If it suffered any damage during battle, it would be an unacceptable loss to the entire crew.
Whitebeard’s gaze swept across everyone present.
"And if any of you let Ron get hurt even a little, I won’t forgive you."
Jozu’s mouth twitched.
He immediately pounded his chest.
"Don’t worry, Pops! Even if I get blasted apart, I won’t let anything threaten Ron’s base!"
Standing nearby, Ron felt somewhat speechless.
He had complete confidence in Jozu’s abilities, but hearing a man who looked older than him call him " Ron" still felt strange.
"Jozu," Ron said helplessly, "just call me Ron."
But Jozu firmly shook his head.
"No way."
His expression became unusually serious.
"I lost our bet before, and you’ve helped us so much since then. You’ve earned that title."
Seeing Ron about to argue further, Jozu cut him off immediately.
"Don’t bother trying to change my mind, Ron. I’ve already decided."
Ron was silent for a moment before finally nodding.
"Alright. If that’s what you want, then go ahead."
Marco stood up as well, looking completely relaxed.
"If there’s nothing else, let’s get moving."
Despite his casual tone, there was a trace of anticipation in his eyes. He was clearly looking forward to the operation.
"Wait!"
Ron quickly grabbed his backpack from the side and slung it over his shoulder.
"I’m coming too."
Though his voice wasn’t loud, it was exceptionally firm.
"Huh?"
Marco looked at him in surprise.
The others also turned toward him with concerned expressions.
" Ron is coming too? That’s way too dangerous."
"Yeah. You don’t know any combat techniques or anything. What if something happens?"
Their worries weren’t unfounded.
In their eyes, Ron had always been more of a researcher than a fighter.
Facing unknown dangers naturally made them uneasy.
Ron, however, waved dismissively and smiled.
"Relax. With all of you around, what could possibly happen to me? Besides, I’m not completely helpless."
His eyes shone with confidence.
The truth was that his physique had undergone tremendous changes over the past few months.
Thanks to Automatic Training, his physical strength had improved dramatically, surpassing that of ordinary pirates.
More importantly, his sword technique—the Heaven-Splitting Sword Draw Technique—had become even more powerful alongside his enhanced physique.
Against ordinary pirates, he could easily protect himself.
And if an Admiral-level opponent appeared, he would still have all of these powerful comrades by his side.
"Besides," Ron continued, "I mainly want to go out and see the world. I’ve been stuck here for months. I’m practically suffocating."
Everyone finally understood his reasoning.
Although some concerns remained, they were moved by his determination.
In the end, they all nodded in agreement.
"You can leave Ron’s safety to me."
A fragrant breeze swept through the room.
Before anyone noticed, Whitey Bay had quietly appeared beside Ron.
Her sudden arrival surprised everyone.
More importantly, many of them could sense that Whitey Bay’s strength seemed to have risen to another level.
At that point, no one had anything else to say.
All eyes turned toward Whitebeard.
The final decision was his to make.
"Marco. Ace. Jozu."
Whitebeard’s voice echoed through the room.
"You three are responsible for protecting Ron."
His gaze sharpened.
"If anything happens to him, don’t bother coming back."
"Yes, Pops!"
The three answered in unison without hesitation.
"Don’t worry, Pops," Ace added confidently. "We’ll protect him with everything we’ve got."
"Even if something happens to me, I won’t let anything happen to Ron!" Jozu declared immediately.
Ron couldn’t help smiling.
"Come on, it’s not that serious."
He deliberately used a relaxed tone to ease the tension.
"Let’s just finish the job quickly."
"Alright!"
"Let’s go!"
Somewhere on an island...
This small kingdom had once been prosperous.
Blessed with fertile soil and excellent natural conditions, it possessed a thriving agricultural and livestock industry.
Across the vast fields, cattle and sheep roamed in great numbers, while countless other livestock could be found throughout the countryside.
But now, all of that beauty had been destroyed by war.
The smell of gunpowder filled the air.
The once peaceful villages had become ruins.
Everywhere, wounded civilians cried out in pain.
The city walls had been shattered by cannon fire, reduced to broken fragments.
Blackened rubble and collapsed buildings stood as silent witnesses to the endless suffering brought by war.