On the rapidly sailing Imperial Fleet.
"Your Majesty, according to the latest news, Buggy the Clown has escaped our Goa Empire's territorial waters and was spotted yesterday in the Glass Bead Kingdom's sea."
"That guy sure runs fast!"
King Wang Shi felt helpless about Buggy the Clown's escape.
That guy was truly slippery.
He was indeed worthy of being a Roger Pirates apprentice, and a Haoshoku Haki luck-user, who roamed the seas with the Roger Pirates, evaded Golden Lion Shiki's encirclement, and escaped Iron Fist Garp's pursuit...
Now he had once again evaded the Goa Empire Fleet's hunt.
If Buggy the Clown had eaten a Paramecia type Luck-Luck Fruit instead of the Chop-Chop Fruit.
Then, with his luck, probably not many people in the world could kill him.
"Forget it! Full speed ahead to encircle the Edradgo Pirates."
King Wang Shi waved his hand indifferently; one Buggy the Clown wouldn't make much difference.
Anyway, this tour of the four new provinces was precisely to consolidate the Goa Empire's rule.
To spread the Goa Empire's prestige and the concept of great unification throughout the four major provinces, and to deter the old officials and remnants of those four kingdoms.
"Yes!"
...
Zoro, who had been injured a few days ago in an intense battle with the Meowban Brothers.
After recovering, he trained even harder.
He looked like a madman, with an attitude of 'if it doesn't kill me, I'll train until it does'.
He was actually beaten to such a state by the Meowban Brothers, who had a bounty of 7 million Berries, so what right did he have to challenge the World's Strongest Swordsman?
According to King Wang Shi.
If the World's Strongest Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, were to have his bounty reinstated now, his bounty would be at least 3 billion Berries.
This exaggerated bounty made Zoro feel the insurmountable gap.
If the 7 million Berries Meowban Brothers were so difficult to deal with, how could he fight Hawkeye Mihawk, who had a bounty of over 3 billion Berries?
However, Zoro did not lose his belief in becoming stronger.
Instead, he thought that Hawkeye Mihawk was indeed worthy of being the World's Strongest Swordsman.
The World's Strongest Swordsman should be worth a bounty of that level.
If the World's Strongest Swordsman was only worth a few hundred million Berries, wouldn't that be a disgrace?
He would even feel ashamed to seize the title of World's Strongest Swordsman.
The stronger the World's Strongest Swordsman, and the higher his bounty, the more it proved his worth, and this was precisely the ambition and dream Zoro pursued.
He wanted his name to resound throughout the world, to echo in heaven, so that Kuina could hear of his great name.
...
The others were greatly startled upon hearing that Hawkeye Mihawk's bounty was over 3 billion Berries.
After all, Arlong, with a bounty of 20 million Berries, was already the strongest in the East Blue, turning Nami and Nojiko's villages into hell.
Saka, seeing Zoro training so desperately, also trained desperately, not wanting to fall too far behind Zoro.
He also had his own dignity and dreams.
Eric watched King Wang Shi, Zoro, and Saka training madly on the deck, his mouth twitching.
Did these monsters really have to train so desperately?!
He simply couldn't sustain such terrifying training intensity.
Even Van Auger felt uneasy watching.
He was truly afraid that King Wang Shi would drag him along for such intense training.
Zango, Sam, Butch, and other pirate slaves also trained to earn King Wang Shi's forgiveness.
But they only lasted for a while before they simply couldn't keep up with the training intensity of these three monsters.
"This is too exaggerated, isn't it?"
Nami, Nojiko, and Kaya whispered together, but King Wang Shi's sweat-soaked muscles during training truly made their eyes light up.
...
With Zoro, the self-disciplined training maniac, even King Wang Shi became more proactive.
"What an exhilarating training session."
King Wang Shi took the towel and water handed to him by Kaya and Nojiko. Kaya and the ship's doctor immediately examined King Wang Shi, while Nojiko prepared nutritious meals for him.
"Your Majesty, as the ruler of a nation, is so diligent; it's truly admirable."
Saka finally understood why King Wang Shi was able to conquer four kingdoms and become the King of Exile who shook the East Blue.
Aside from his mysterious Exile ability, this diligence and perseverance were indispensable qualities.
"Because in this world, there are too many monsters."
"If you don't become stronger, you'll become someone else's meal."
King Wang Shi's expression became serious. A Toki Toki no Mi (Time-Time Fruit) ability alone was not enough for him to live freely.
He needed to become stronger; he needed to train powerful physical techniques and the three types of Haki.
Moreover, activating the Toki Toki no Mi (Time-Time Fruit) ability also required a strong physique and power.
"Your Majesty will surely become a Shichibukai, or even a Four Emperors-level strongman someday."
Van Auger's expression was incredibly serious, as if he saw the choice of fate.
"Haha, as you wish, Van Auger!"
"I hope you also become a big shot like the Three Disasters or the General Stars."
King Wang Shi laughed heartily. His goal was not just the Shichibukai and the Four Emperors; his ultimate goal was to replace Imu, sit on the Empty Throne, and become the new King of the World!
"I will try my best."
Van Auger smiled. Green-haired Zoro's dream was to be the World's Strongest Swordsman, and his dream was no less than to be the World's Strongest Sniper.
Yasopp, the Chaser, also from the East Blue, a high-ranking officer of a Four Emperors Pirates crew, known as the World's Strongest Sniper, was Van Auger's target.
Fortunately, Van Auger didn't yet know that Yasopp's son was the slingshot kid he met that day in Syrup Village.
Otherwise, who knows if this guy would be disappointed in Usopp, this 'tiger father, dog son,' and shoot this incontinent good-for-nothing dead.
Eric felt that King Wang Shi highly regarded Zoro, the green-haired kid, and Van Auger, that scoundrel.
One wanted to be the World's Strongest Swordsman, and the other wanted to be the World's Strongest Sniper...
Did one have to have the ambition to be number one to gain King Wang Shi's attention?
So, should he also come up with a 'World's Strongest' dream?
Never mind if he could achieve it or not.
He just needed to show off in front of King Wang Shi.
Anyway, Eric didn't believe that Zoro, that kid, could become the World's Strongest Swordsman, nor did he believe that Van Auger could become the World's Strongest Sniper.
It seemed King Wang Shi liked people who shouted their dreams out loud.
"Your Majesty, I also aspire to become the World's Strongest Slash!"
Eric's eyes darted around. Regardless of whether it was feasible, he would shout out his dream first.
"World's Strongest Slash?"
King Wang Shi looked at Eric strangely. What was that? World's Strongest Slash?
This was usually the standard for the World's Strongest Swordsman, wasn't it?
"Yes! I must train my Wind Blade ability to become the world's strongest flying slash technique."
Eric's face showed a very determined expression, perhaps a bit like Zoro and Van Auger, but the acting was still a little obvious.
"Good, I look forward to your performance."
King Wang Shi smiled and didn't expose Eric. A flatterer who wanted to perform well might actually achieve unexpected results.
Historically, those treacherous officials were no less capable or resourceful than famous ministers.
Perhaps Eric, who was eager to perform, under the stimulation and encouragement of guys like Zoro and Van Auger, could reach heights he never thought possible.
Anyway, for King Wang Shi, there was no downside.
...