"Shiki, you mentioned Roger!"
At the mention of Roger, Kaido instantly became excited. All his pride and annoyance with Shiki were thrown to the wind; now, he only cared about that man!
Golden Lion wasn't surprised by Kaido's reaction; after all, that was Roger!
Roa couldn't help but sigh with emotion. As expected of the Pirate King's number one succubus, look how entranced Big Brother Kaido is.
"That's right! Roger!"
Mentioning Roger, Golden Lion's tone couldn't help but become impassioned. "That guy has been running wild all over the world these past few years, seemingly searching for something. I've been looking for him but haven't had any luck."
Roa, of course, knew what Roger was looking for.
After the Roger Pirates reached Lodestar Island back then, they, like everyone else who had reached that island, found that there was no path forward. The magnetic field became chaotic, and the Log Pose could no longer guide them. But unlike others who thought Lodestar Island was the end of the Grand Line and that the legendary great treasure didn't exist, Roger somehow learned about the existence of the Road Poneglyphs, and thus embarked on a journey to re-circumnavigate the world, searching for those stones.
No wonder he was so elusive!
"But not long ago,"
Golden Lion deeply gazed at Roa, who was standing on Kaido's head. "While I was looking for you, I unexpectedly discovered traces of the Roger Pirates. Although it's not fully confirmed yet, it should be soon."
"Oh! So that means,"
Roa immediately returned to his human form, sheathing his twin swords and stroking his chin. "Uncle Shiki, are you planning to eliminate the Roger Pirates?"
"Eliminate?"
Golden Lion sneered. "As long as that guy Roger becomes my right-hand man, this world will instantly be ours!"
Wow, what a scumbag. He just told me that same line earlier. Is Roger really your true love?
"With just you, Shiki?"
Kaido scoffed upon hearing this. "Even that bastard Rocks couldn't do anything to Roger back then."
"That's why I need Roa's help!"
Golden Lion looked at Roa. "Ultimately, the Roger Pirates are troublesome because, besides Roger, there are also those two bastards, Rayleigh and Gaban. As long as they can be dealt with, what are the Roger Pirates?"
That's a bit too arrogant a statement.
Does he mean that as long as someone can take on Rayleigh and Gaban, Roger poses no threat to him?
Roa's eyes narrowed. "So, Uncle Shiki, you're expecting me to fight monsters like Rayleigh and Gaban? Setting aside whether I can handle it, I alone wouldn't be enough, right?"
Golden Lion glanced at Roa's feet. "Isn't Kaido here too?"
You really know how to think.
"Huh?"
As expected, Kaido instantly retorted angrily, "Shiki, you idiot! Are you actually expecting me to help you? Who do you think I am?!"
"You should think carefully, Kaido,"
Golden Lion said. "That's Roger! How long will it take you to get a chance to fight Roger on your own? How much effort will you have to spend just to find him!"
"Uh—"
Kaido instantly fell into hesitation.
Roa's mouth twitched. "Oh-oh, you guys are really obsessed with Roger."
Are you serious, Big Brother Kaido? You're wavering already?
"How about it, Roa, will you take this business?"
Golden Lion asked somewhat expectantly.
Without the help of Roa and Kaido, he wouldn't have a chance to fight Roger.
After all, though the Flying Pirates were currently the largest pirate crew in the New World, when it came to fighting the Roger Pirates, sheer numbers weren't enough.
"If the opponent is the Roger Pirates, Uncle Shiki,"
Roa thought for a moment. "The price will have to be at the very top."
This was a good opportunity. He could also take the chance to remind Roger that the people of Ohara were researching the Poneglyphs. Otherwise, without Kozuki Oden, Roger wouldn't become the Pirate King.
Of course, he couldn't let him gather all the Road Poneglyphs too quickly. At this point in time, Roa didn't know if Roger had contracted his incurable illness yet. If not, what if he didn't want to start the Great Pirate Era?
But no matter what, it's always right to meet Roger first.
And, Uncle Shiki's payment must be sufficient!
"But I'm not interested in money,"
Roa said. "How about a Devil Fruit? King needs a powerful Devil Fruit. A Mythical Zoan would be best."
Mythical Zoan?
Even Kaido snickered at Roa's bold demand. He really dared to ask!
Could a Devil Fruit more precious than a Logia be found just by looking for it? The one that caused the Battle of God Valley back then was the Azure Dragon Fruit he himself had eaten.
However, he then thought, if the opponent was the Roger Pirates, that price truly was appropriate.
"Mythical Zoan?"
Golden Lion's eyes narrowed, a slight surprise in them.
His reaction astonished Roa a bit; he didn't seem particularly troubled.
No way?
"You brat,"
Golden Lion looked at Roa and said, "How did you know I have a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit in my possession?"
"Huh?"
Roa was utterly surprised. Could it be such a coincidence? Is fate at work again, old friend?
Even Kaido couldn't help but exclaim, "You really have one?"
"I just got it recently,"
Golden Lion nodded. "The Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type: Tengu Model. Speaking of which, it should be a Devil Fruit derived from the myths and legends of Wano Country, right?"
Tengu?
Was it a Great Tengu or a Crow Tengu?
In the myths of his previous life's Japan, the Great Tengu was one of the three great yokai, alongside Tamamo-no-Mae and Shuten Doji, holding a very significant status.
As for Crow Tengu, they were more like mob characters.
"Give it to me, Uncle Shiki,"
Roa said impatiently. "Give me that fruit, and I'll accept your commission! Big Brother Kaido will come too!"
But whether it was a Great Tengu or a Crow Tengu, a Mythical Zoan is a Mythical Zoan.
"Hey, Roa, don't make decisions for me without asking!"
Kaido grumbled discontentedly.
"Are you sure, Big Brother Kaido?"
Roa's eyes narrowed. "If I go alone, it's hard to say if I'll come back. Besides, don't you want to fight Roger?"
"You little brat!"
Kaido was furious.
But there was nothing he could do; he couldn't just let Golden Lion kidnap Roa, could he?
Checkmate!
"It's a deal!"
Golden Lion nodded gladly.
Although a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit was precious, if it could bring him Roger, what was there to lose?
As for how to make Roger yield,哼, as long as he captured Roger's crew, that guy who valued his companions the most, wouldn't he submit?
"Excellent! What are we waiting for? Hurry up and take out that fruit, Uncle Shiki!"
Roa was incredibly excited.
He couldn't even imagine how strong King would become with Lunarian bloodline plus a Mythical Zoan!
If so, even without Conqueror's Haki, he would possess the potential to contend with top-tier powerhouses, right?
So, a few minutes ago, the three who had been fighting intensely now stood side-by-side, descending from the sky, all smiling and chatting cheerfully.
Below, Headcrusher Hyde breathed a long sigh of relief. He knew this would be the outcome. Fortunately, he hadn't rushed into fighting Roa's subordinates.
"Go prepare the second round of banquets."
Shiki glanced at his subordinates.
He then looked at the sniper who was still lying on the ground not far away, pretending to be a corpse. Since the third round of battle was about to begin, no one had bothered with him. Only Doflamingo was still holding onto him, otherwise he'd have been blown away by now.
Golden Lion snorted. "Take that idiot back for treatment."
Hyde snapped back to reality, almost forgetting!
Then.
"Follow me."
Golden Lion looked back at Roa.
Roa and his subordinates gladly followed.
However, Golden Lion's brow immediately furrowed.
In the recent clash between the lion and the dragon, his meticulously built courtyard had largely collapsed, with the painful groans of buried pirates echoing everywhere.
"Hmph, look at the mess you two made."
Golden Lion glared at Roa and Kaido again.
"Haha."
Roa awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
He was waiting for the final payment, so he'd just humor him this once.
Golden Lion casually waved his right hand. From the nearby ruins, a small, locked box suddenly floated up and flew straight towards them.
Roa caught it with one hand, flicked the lock open with a finger, and opened the box. The Devil Fruit inside immediately appeared before his eyes. It was black, with protrusions resembling a pair of folded wings encasing the entire fruit, and, as usual, covered in numerous swirling patterns.
Standing behind Roa, Kaido, thanks to his height advantage, also saw the fruit clearly. "Hmph, brat, shouldn't you share half with me?"
"I'll give you cash, Big Brother Kaido, ten billion Berries."
Roa replied without lifting his head, casually taking out the fruit and examining it. A Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, it looked surprisingly ordinary.
"Boss, is this fruit...?"
Dylan had already realized something was amiss.
Would an ordinary Devil Fruit warrant such attention from Golden Lion, Kaido, and Boss, the Three Calamities?
"But Uncle Shiki,"
Roa didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked up at Golden Lion with some surprise. "Why didn't you give this fruit to one of your subordinates?"
Isn't Hyde a warehouse ability user?
If a master of martial arts like him got a Mythical Zoan, his strength would advance by leaps and bounds.
"Do you think I didn't want to? Mobs aren't qualified to eat it, and those who are qualified are already Devil Fruit users."
Golden Lion snorted.
Roa was momentarily stunned. "Mr. Hyde, your right-hand man, is also a Devil Fruit user?"
Not only had he never seen it with his own eyes, but the newspaper hadn't mentioned it either.
Golden Lion's tone grew even more displeased. "That idiot is a Paramecia-type Heal-Heal Fruit user. As long as he expends stamina, he can rapidly heal his injuries."
Roa instinctively turned his head. Sure enough, Hyde, who had been somewhat disheveled from King's flames earlier, had now completely recovered.
That made sense. This ability was indeed hard to notice, especially when top-tier monsters rarely fought each other.
"That's a very impressive ability."
Roa genuinely said.
For martial arts masters, this ability's utility in both training and combat was enormous.
Then, Roa turned back and casually tossed the fruit in his hand to King.
"King, it's yours."
"Yes, Boss."
King didn't hesitate at all. He took a large bite out of the fruit, enduring the awful taste, and swallowed the pulp.
"Lunarian race plus Mythical Zoan,"
Golden Lion couldn't help but say with a hint of envy. "You little brat, you really know how to enjoy yourself!"
"Mythical Zoan?"
Dylan and Barrett both simultaneously looked at King in surprise.
King's transformation had already begun. His black wings grew even larger, a red mask with a long nose appeared on his face, and he put on a pair of wooden clogs.
And then, that was it. Just those changes.
"Is he really using an ability, or just changing clothes?"
Doflamingo, who had followed along, asked with a mix of jealousy and surprise.
His wings just got a bit bigger, he put on a strange mask, and changed his shoes, that's all.
"Don't view Devil Fruits through common sense,"
Roa smiled brightly, it was a Great Tengu after all. "How do you feel, King?"
"I feel—"
King wiggled his right wing. "Fantastic!"
"Good, then let's test it out quickly!"