On the rapidly sailing Imperial Fleet.
"Your Majesty, according to the latest news, Clown Buggy has escaped our Goa Empire's territorial waters and was spotted yesterday in the Glass Bead Kingdom's sea."
"That guy sure runs fast!"
His Majesty Jack felt helpless about Clown Buggy's escape.
That guy was truly slippery.
He was indeed worthy of being a Roger Pirates apprentice, and a Conqueror's Haki Haki luck-user, who roamed the seas with the Roger Pirates, evaded Golden Lion Shiki's encirclement, and escaped Monkey D. Garp's pursuit...
Now he had once again evaded the Goa Empire Fleet's hunt.
If Clown Buggy 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 Eldoraggo Pirates."
His Majesty Jack waved his hand indifferently; one Clown Buggy 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 Goa 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 Cat 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 Cat Brothers, who had a bounty of 7 million Berries, so what right did he have to challenge the World's Strongest Swordsman?
According to His Majesty Jack.
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 Cat 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.
Saga, 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 His Majesty Jack, Zoro, and Saga 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 Augur felt uneasy watching.
He was truly afraid that His Majesty Jack would drag him along for such intense training.
Jango, Sam, Butch, and other pirate slaves also trained to earn His Majesty Jack'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 His Majesty Jack's sweat-soaked muscles during training truly made their eyes light up.
...
With Zoro, the self-disciplined training maniac, even His Majesty Jack became more proactive.
"What an exhilarating training session."
His Majesty Jack took the towel and water handed to him by Kaya and Nojiko. Kaya and the ship's doctor immediately examined His Majesty Jack, while Nojiko prepared nutritious meals for him.
"Your Majesty, as the ruler of a nation, is so diligent; it's truly admirable."
Saga finally understood why His Majesty Jack was able to conquer four kingdoms and become the EX:ile 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."
His Majesty Jack's expression became serious. A Toki Toki no Mi 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 ability also required a strong physique and power.
"Your Majesty will surely become a Shichibukai, or even a Yonko-level strongman someday."
Van Augur's expression was incredibly serious, as if he saw the choice of fate.
"Haha, as you wish, Van Augur!"
"I hope you also become a big shot like the Three Disasters or the Sweet Commander."
His Majesty Jack laughed heartily. His goal was not just the Shichibukai and the Yonko; 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 Augur 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 Augur's target.
Fortunately, Van Augur 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 His Majesty Jack highly regarded Zoro, the green-haired kid, and Van Augur, 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 His Majesty Jack'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 His Majesty Jack.
Anyway, Eric didn't believe that Zoro, that kid, could become the World's Strongest Swordsman, nor did he believe that Van Augur could become the World's Strongest Sniper.
It seemed His Majesty Jack 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?"
His Majesty Jack 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 Augur, but the acting was still a little obvious.
"Good, I look forward to your performance."
His Majesty Jack 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 Augur, could reach heights he never thought possible.
Anyway, for His Majesty Jack, there was no downside.