"Huh? Are you two leaving so soon?"
On a part of the sea near the Edd War, a few snails and a few ships were floating quietly. Roa stood on the head of a snail, looking at Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, who were standing on their respective ships, with a hint of regret.
"We should at least have a celebration party. Who knows when we'll meet again."
"I'm already full of anger, so what's there to celebrate?!" Charlotte Linlin put her hands on her increasingly thick waist and snorted. "Just looking at your bastard face, I can't eat a thing!"
Roa sighed silently, his brows furrowed with sorrow. Time, what a terrible thing it was. Back then, Auntie Linlin was so close to him. Every time they met, she would want to hug him and give him a few kisses. Now, she was calling him a bastard brat. Was she going through her rebellious phase?
"Aren't you going back yet, kid?" Kaido looked at Roa with a bit of surprise. "Have you already finished arranging the countries you conquered?"
"I still have to send Uncle Shiki back to his territory." Roa said. "He's so badly injured, and most of his subordinates are gone. How can I let him go back alone?"
Kaido's mouth twitched. Although Golden Lion's injuries were serious, after a little recovery, how many people in this sea area could threaten him? What was this kid up to now?
"As for those countries," Roa said with a look of surprise, "Of course, they've already been arranged. Haven't you two finished yet?"
"That fast?" Kaido raised an eyebrow in surprise. Managing one country was already a busy job, let alone dozens of countries in an entire sea area.
"I've always said this, haven't I? I'm not interested in ruling." Roa said with a smile. "So, I'll let them do whatever they want. As long as they pay their taxes and buy my weapons on time, I don't care what they do."
"Hmm?" Kaido was stunned. Would this kid Roa be so kind?
"So, you mean you won't care about anything, be it war, pirates, bandits, or gangs, right?" Charlotte Linlin was indeed a queen who had been ruling a country for a long time. She immediately got to the point.
"Hahahaha!" Roa scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "This, this is freedom, isn't it?"
Charlotte Linlin's mouth twitched. A lunatic! If he focused on governing, he would have so many more benefits, but all this kid wanted was chaos!
He was probably going to levy an extremely heavy tax on those countries! What would the people who had weapons do to pay the taxes and buy the weapons on time? It wasn't hard to guess.
"Woro woro woro woro!" But at this moment, Kaido suddenly burst into laughter. "It sounds great! A truly free environment where former classes and statuses don't matter, and strength is the only rule!"
"Hahaha! I knew it!" Roa laughed heartily. "Big Brother Kaido, you definitely understand me!" A kindred spirit, what a kindred spirit!
"Woro woro woro woro!"
"Hmph." After giving the two laughing men a displeased look, Charlotte Linlin turned and walked into the deck. What was there to say to these two idiots?
The large ship then set sail, returning to the Totto Land sea area.
"Goodbye, Roa!" On the deck of the large ship, Katakuri waved goodbye to Roa.
"Make good use of the gift I gave you." Roa said with a smile.
"Of course!" Katakuri raised the trident in his hand and shook it at Roa. He said happily, "Just you wait, Roa! Don't make me wait too long."
Roa nodded gently. Katakuri, who was eighteen years old, was already quite strong. In terms of Armament Haki, after Roa's previous guidance, he was now gradually figuring out the technique of flowing and projecting it outward. As for Observation Haki, there was no need to say more, as it was what he was best at. His Conqueror's Haki had also awakened long ago and was now incredibly proficient. Overall, his strength was already infinitely close to the level of a Calamity. And once he mastered the gift he gave him, he would properly step into the threshold of a Calamity.
Well, since Enma had already been split into three parts, splitting off another part wouldn't weaken it much.
In any case, the Charlotte Family's large ship slowly sailed into the distance.
"I'm leaving, too." Kaido transformed into a huge Azure Dragon, releasing flame clouds and carrying his ship into the sky. "Roa, I'm very much looking forward to what your territory will become!"
"It should be something you'll be pleased with." Roa said with a smile. "By the way, remember to urge Hanafusa again for me. I have an urgent use for the Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit."
He had previously said he would find an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit for Judge, but this time when Roa asked Hanafusa, the answer he got was that he didn't have any in his possession. It made sense. Hanafusa was a high-ranking officer of the Beast Pirates. The Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits he had would have, of course, been consumed internally. However, Hanafusa patted his chest and said he had a connection and would keep an eye out for Roa.
"You should first prepare what you will trade in exchange." Kaido snorted, carrying his ship into the sky and gradually flying away.
Roa watched his departing figure quietly, the corners of his mouth gradually rising. So, the new era was about to begin.
According to Tiger's report, Crocus was already on Roger's ship, which meant that Roger had indeed contracted an incurable disease. So, he could now go to the Final Island! Let the Great Pirate Era begin!
But before that, Roa went to a sickroom on the back of a snail.
"Are they gone already?" Golden Lion lay quietly on the sickbed. The man who had always been so domineering now had a strange, pale face that made him look frail.
"Yeah," Roa walked to the bed and pulled up a chair to sit. "Next, I'll send you back."
"I don't need you to send me." Golden Lion slowly sat up. The blanket slid off his body, revealing his sturdy chest and abdomen wrapped in thick bandages. "It's just a small injury. Do you think it's enough to stop me from moving?"
"Oh! That's amazing, Uncle Shiki," Roa said with a look of surprise. "If you had said that to Roger at the time, it would have been even more shocking."
Golden Lion's face instantly froze, and he glared at Roa.
"But Uncle Shiki, what are you planning to do next?" Roa asked with interest. "Most of your officers are dead, aren't they?"
"You're so direct with your questions, kid." Golden Lion sneered. However, this sneer quickly turned into a light laugh.
Roa's attitude was without any sympathy or pity. It was as if he was just making small talk. This kind of attitude made Golden Lion feel satisfied. He didn't need any pity or sympathy. He was the Golden Lion!
"What am I going to do?" The lion raised his right hand and suddenly clenched his five fingers into a fist. "I'm still alive, so the Golden Lion Pirate Fleet is intact! As for subordinates, I can find as many as I want! This won't be the end! That bastard Roger!" His eyes radiated a strong light. "One day, I'll make him taste this feeling too!"
"I'm relieved to see that you're still so energetic, Uncle Shiki." Roa nodded in satisfaction.
That's right, he should focus more on Roger. He should develop well from now on and stop thinking about competing with him. Because as soon as he thought about someone wanting to be his enemy, he would unconsciously want to retaliate, even though he hadn't suffered any losses yet.
Golden Lion suddenly gave Roa a deep look. This kid… Regardless of his purpose, he did save his life this time. If it weren't for him, it was hard to say if that woman Linlin would have shown mercy. Shiki asked himself, if he and Roa had switched places and Roa was the one lying there while he was standing by, would he have saved Roa? He wasn't sure. Was it possible that beneath this crazy exterior, this kid Roa actually had a grateful heart? What a joke!
But in any case… "I'll remember this favor." Golden Lion said bluntly. "Roa, if you ever need anything, just say the word. As long as it's something I can do, I won't refuse."
"Oh! I couldn't possibly!" Roa waved his hands repeatedly, but then he immediately sighed and said, "But since you've said so, Uncle Shiki, I won't be shy. If I run into any problems in the future, I'll definitely come to you for help first!"
Golden Lion's mouth twitched again. This kid, changing his expression at the speed of light.
However, he had indeed been too concerned about Roa's threat recently! He almost forgot that Roger was his first and strongest enemy!
Golden Lion rested for a day at Roa's place. The next day, after he had recovered a little mobility, he flew away by himself. He wouldn't allow his frail appearance to be exposed to outsiders. Although it had already been exposed, he wouldn't let it be for too long.
"Bye bye! Uncle Shiki!" Roa waved goodbye to Golden Lion like a good child. This uncle was really too polite. To say that he could ask him for anything, what a pleasant surprise.
It wasn't until Golden Lion's figure disappeared into the clouds that Roa stretched. "Well then, it's time to go find Roger." The Great Snail Fleet began to turn back.
On the coast of a certain uninhabited island in this sea area, the Roger Pirates' ship was quietly docked. On the coast, the Roger Pirates were having a party.
Roger held his daughter in one hand and a cup of wine in the other, looking at the red-skinned fish-man sitting opposite him. "So, when is Roa coming?"
"He's already on his way." Tiger said concisely. "You've already asked nine times. Can you stop asking?"
"Wahahaha! Has it really been that many times?" Roger laughed heartily, not caring at all. He even moved a little closer to Tiger. "So, can you really not rush him?"
"…" Tiger rolled his eyes and simply didn't bother to answer.
"Waaaaah!" At this moment, the daughter in his arms suddenly began to cry loudly.
"Roger, didn't you say you were going to feed Robin?" Beside him, Olvia, who wasn't interested in the men's drinking party and was using her time to review ancient texts, frowned. The gentle woman now had a powerful aura.
"S-sorry, Olvia!" A drop of cold sweat dripped down Roger's forehead, and his voice stuttered. Olvia was usually a very gentle and intellectual woman, so once she got angry, it was hard to placate her.
"I'll feed her right now!"
"Then hurry up!"
"Yes!"
Tiger watched Roger fumbling to feed his daughter and couldn't help but feel a little dazed. The legendary great pirate, Gold Roger, actually had this side to him? Well, compared to that guy Roa, he was so much warmer.
But it was at this moment.
"Hmm?" Roger, who was feeding his daughter, suddenly looked up. In the distance on the sea, huge snails quickly emerged from below the sea level.
"Are they finally here?" Rayleigh raised his head, drank the wine in his cup, and then turned his head. "Roger?"
"Olvia, I'm sorry. It seems I can't feed Robin now." Roger stood up and carefully handed his daughter to his wife. "Take her to the back."
"Be careful." Olvia took her daughter and walked back, gently reminding him.
"Mm." Roger nodded with a smile.
"So, Captain," Buggy said, trembling a little. "Are we going to fight Roa now?" A year ago on Fish-Man Island, Roa had scared him so much he almost buried all of them at the bottom of the sea.
"We probably won't fight," Roger just looked into the distance, at the figure flying in from the sky. "But, it doesn't hurt to be prepared."
"So, we're still going to fight?" Buggy's face was crumpled.
"Hahahaha! Buggy! Pull yourself together!" Jabba laughed. "Look how calm Shanks is!"
Buggy turned his head and saw his good brother with the straw hat give him a brilliant smile. Shanks was indeed different from him. Buggy couldn't help but think this.
And at this moment, in the sky, a dark figure shot over and then made an unnatural sharp turn, making a right angle in the air and falling straight down. Just as he was about to land, a gust of wind spread out, and the person landed lightly.
"You've been waiting, Roger." Roa said with a smile. "I had to send Uncle Shiki back first. Speaking of which, you guys hit him too hard."
Then why did you plot against him? Roger's eyelid twitched.
But before he could say anything, Roa asked him bluntly, "Speaking of which, you did contract an incurable disease, didn't you, Roger?"
"What?" At this, the members of the Roger Pirates were all dumbfounded. Jabba was so shocked that his sunglasses fell to the ground.
How did he know?! This information was only known to the people on the Roger Pirates' ship!
The black and white colors in Roa's eyes shifted, and he nodded gently. Hmm, it seemed to be true. It made sense. Since Crocus was on the ship, he must have already contracted the incurable disease.
"That's right, but Roa, how do you know?" Roger looked at Roa with a very curious expression. How on earth did this kid know? It wasn't possible that there was a spy for Roa among his trusted crew, was it?
"Since you don't have much time, what are you waiting for?" Roa didn't explain. He waved at Roger. "Let's go, brother. We're going to the Final Island!"
"What do you mean, 'brother'?" Jabba's mouth twitched. This kid was really good at cozying up to people!
"What do you mean, 'we'?" Rayleigh's eyelids also twitched. Was he planning to travel with them?
And Roger's mouth gradually widened, and his features contorted. "What do you mean, 'the Final Island'?! Roa! What do you mean?"
"Huh? Was I not clear enough?" Roa tilted his head. "I know the location of the remaining two stones."
"Roa!!" Roger almost jumped for joy. "You! Are you an angel?!" They wouldn't have to search for a needle in a haystack anymore. They could go straight to the Final Island!
After a brief moment of shock, all the members of the Roger Pirates were filled with ecstasy.
"This is great!!" Buggy laughed and jumped. "Captain! Your dream is finally going to come true!"
Behind them, Olvia, who was holding her daughter, also had tears in her eyes. Was this it? Was this the moment? Was the long-held wish of Ohara finally about to be fulfilled?
"As a reward," Roa raised the corners of his mouth. "It's not too much to ask for you to take me to the Final Island, right?" He had to go to the Final Island himself. Otherwise, what if Roger was lying to him? Right?
As for his safety on Roger's ship—ha, since he was on Roger's ship, he wasn't the one who needed to worry about his safety.
"Of course! Let's set sail now! My good brother!"
Beside him, Tiger blinked blankly. Did he just hear something he shouldn't have?
In any case, the Roger Pirates no longer had any intention of having a party and immediately set sail.
"So Roa, where do we get the third stone?"
"On Zou, the elephant. Coincidentally, that huge elephant is currently active in this sea area. Hmm, this is Uncle Shiki's territory. I'll ask him for the elephant's exact location."
"Wahahaha! You, you! Anyway, we're setting sail! My boys! The Final Island is now just one step away!"
"Yes!"
And so, Roa temporarily traveled with the Roger Pirates.