A fleet of giant snails was heading back toward Egghead Island. On the massive platform made up of several large snails, the executives of the Calamity Company were doing their daily training. Usually, there was little communication among the executives; they just did their own thing. But now, things were a little different.
"Wow, do these two guys never talk?"
A sweating Loki sat cross-legged on one side of the platform, watching Bullet and King, who were quietly training not far away, with great interest. "I've never seen them talk to anyone else!"
"That's just how Bullet and King are,"
Teach, who had also just finished training, chuckled. "Since I joined the crew, I've barely talked to them unless the Boss was around. King is a bit better; he'll at least acknowledge you. But Bullet, zeee-hahaha! Just like his name, he's just a bullet in the Boss's hand!"
"He just goes bang and takes out all the enemies."
Although Loki had some disdain for Teach, the son of Rocks, after some interaction, he found that this kid was actually quite decent. And most importantly, there weren't many normal people in the Calamity Company, and Teach was already one of the easier ones to get along with.
"Bullet is our senior, you know! The person who has followed the Boss the longest besides Dylan."
Beside him, Doflamingo said with a smirk, hugging his arms. "You could say that he doesn't look at anyone else besides the Boss, especially now that he's been given a part of my treasure. Even King is a little inferior to him, right?"
"How about it, Loki? Want to test his skills? If you take him down, you'll be the undisputed number two in the Calamity Company, right?"
"Huh?"
The eleven-year-old Doflamingo was already close to an average person's height, but he was still the size of a kitten in front of Loki. To see his face clearly, Loki had to lower his head deliberately.
"Do you take me for a fool?"
He had just been severely beaten by King not long ago, and this idiot was now egging him on to challenge Bullet, who might be even stronger than King?
"You come and take a few hits from me first!"
"Uh!"
Doflamingo, the troublemaker, instantly looked panicked.
"Don't take it seriously, Loki,"
Teach laughed heartily. "This guy Doffy just likes to joke!"
"That's right, it's just a joke..."
Doflamingo quickly got out of the situation. This guy wasn't as simple as he looked.
Bege, who had been silent on the side, couldn't help but feel a little amused. As more and more people joined, Doflamingo's status was indeed becoming less and less prominent.
But then, he felt a wave of sadness. After all, no matter what, Doflamingo was still above him. He could only pick on Enel. But that kid was also a Logia user, and the Lightning-Lightning Fruit was a very powerful Logia, full of potential. Would he be relegated to the bottom of the executive ranks in the future?
Thinking of this, Bege couldn't help but shiver. He didn't want that to happen.
He roared in his heart and picked up the heavy barbell he had placed to the side, jogging away.
"What's that kid going crazy about now?"
Loki was a little confused.
"Bege has always been very hardworking."
Teach said. It was more accurate to say that everyone here had to be hardworking and no one dared to disappoint that man.
"What about Bullet? And these two guys?"
Loki looked at the two other people in the corner. One was Moria, who was practicing his Haki by hitting a steel target, and the other was Enel, who was doing push-ups with heavy weights on his back. "Why won't they even say a word to me?"
"You could say it's just their personality. Moria and Enel aren't very social."
Teach said with a smile. "But don't underestimate them. Both Moria and Enel have extraordinary abilities."
Devil Fruits? Loki rubbed his smooth chin. He also had a Devil Fruit he really wanted to get. The legendary Devil Fruit treasured in Elbaf! But unfortunately, his stubborn father wouldn't budge. Hmph! When he returned and took the throne, he would definitely try that fruit.
"But that guy is really a hands-off boss!"
Loki was a little annoyed. "As a disciple of Rocks, why does he seem to have such a good relationship with that bastard Roger? He even went on his ship!"
Teach glanced at him. Only this kid dared to call the Boss "that guy," and of course, only when the Boss wasn't around.
"No one can guess what the Boss is thinking."
The smile on Teach's face faded a little. "But this time, it seems he's going to the legendary Final Island."
Did the legendary great treasure really exist? Where would it be? What would it look like? Damn it, Roa, why did you go alone!
…
A huge ship was sailing fast on the sea. Two kids were hiding at the corner of the cabin, cautiously watching the man who was lying lazily on a deck chair, basking in the sun.
"That guy must be planning something!"
The red-nosed boy lowered his voice, but the anxiety in his words was still obvious. "The captain and the others have been deceived by him! Shanks, we must expose his true colors!"
Behind him, the red-haired Shanks shook his head helplessly. Didn't Mr. Rayleigh and Mr. Gaban always keep an eye on him? It wasn't our turn to spy on him, was it?
Not far away, by the ship's rail, Rayleigh and Gaban chatted while casually glancing at the deck chair.
"Damn it! Don't think you'll succeed! The Roger Pirates will be protected by Captain Buggy!"
Buggy muttered, trying his best to hide, only showing one eye to peek.
Shanks drooped his eyes, looking a little listless. "What's the point of hiding here, Buggy? He's already found us."
"No, I haven't."
A leisurely voice came from over there.
"You hear that, Shanks!"
Buggy instantly turned his head proudly. "He said he didn't find—" The smile on the boy's face instantly froze. He turned his head back stiffly like a robot.
"Sigh."
Shanks let out a helpless sigh.
But at this moment, Buggy gritted his teeth and rushed out with his two short legs. He ran directly to Roa, who was sunbathing leisurely, and shouted at the man with his eyes closed. "Roa! What are you—Mph!"
He only managed to say half of his sentence. Shanks, who had followed him, had already covered his mouth and was dragging him back. At the same time, he didn't forget to apologize to Roa. "Don't mind him, Mr. Roa. Buggy is a little mischievous."
He really didn't know whether to say Buggy was brave or not. He was terrified when he thought they were going to fight Roa, but when Roa actually showed up, he dared to charge at him.
Roa finally opened his eyes and sat up halfway, sizing up the red-haired boy in front of him with interest. He was only nine years old, but he showed no sign of cowardice when facing him. His eyes were calm, with only a hint of apology. What incredible spirit! Was it hereditary? Or was it really due to Roger's good guidance?
"Shanks, right?"
Roa said with a smile. "Want to come to my side? Roger won't be able to live much longer, right? You'll need a new home."
Buggy struggled even more fiercely. This guy was really harboring ill intentions! He actually cursed the captain to die! A mere disease? How could the captain possibly die! And he wanted to take Shanks away! Shanks was the captain's heir!
"I'm sorry, Mr. Roa."
Shanks just bowed slightly in apology. "I won't leave this ship, and the captain won't die."
"What a lovely child."
Roa smiled. "He will die. Roger will definitely die, and it won't be long from now."
"Hey, Roa! You don't have to curse me like that, do you?"
Roger walked over in annoyance, pressing down on the straw hat on Shanks's head. While rubbing Shanks's head, his tone was not very friendly. "The world is not short of miracles. Who says I'm going to die for sure!"
That's right! How could the captain die! Shanks lowered his head as Roger rubbed it, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He was going to continue sailing the seas with everyone!
"You never know."
Roa smiled. "Perhaps you will die willingly." If you don't die, who will start the Great Pirate Era?
"Roa..."
Roger frowned slightly. "Do you know something?"
"Who knows? I'm just guessing."
Roa said with a smile and stretched. "Don't take it seriously."
Roger gave Roa a deep look.
"Whatever. Let's go eat. I don't know if it'll suit your taste."
"That's probably going to be a little difficult. I'm a super picky eater."
"Then you'll just have to deal with it."
"Indeed. Otherwise, we won't be able to get to the Final Island."
"How picky can you be? Will it have such serious consequences?"
But what a pity. Roa took one last look at Shanks.
Then, in the ship's dining room, dinner began. The atmosphere was a little awkwardly tense. Roa's arrival made everyone on the Roger Pirates quite uncomfortable. Everyone just ate their own food fiercely.
While chewing on the unappetizing food, Roa looked at the members of the Roger Pirates one by one with interest. After the Rocks Pirates, they were the most legendary pirate crew in history. It felt quite strange to be traveling with them.
Rayleigh frowned at Roa's gaze, and Gaban rolled his eyes. Finally, Roa's gaze settled on the woman beside him, or rather, the child in the woman's arms. Roa's eyes instantly became a little complicated.
"Is this child named Robin?"
This name was the biggest comfort.
Olvia was startled when she suddenly heard Roa's voice. She instinctively hid her daughter behind her. Roger, however, looked calm and nodded. "That's right. Robin. Gol D. Robin. Her mother gave her the name."
"Gol D. Robin?"
Roa raised an eyebrow. "How about Nico Robin? If she takes your last name, it'll be hard for her to travel the seas in the future."
Roger rolled his eyes. "You don't have to worry about that. I'll protect my child." This bastard kid was certain he was going to die, wasn't he? Wait! Roger suddenly realized what was wrong. How did this kid know Olvia's last name? He had never told anyone.
"But seriously,"
Roa smiled. "I was surprised when Dr. Clover told me you took a female historian. The Roger Pirates actually recruited a female crew member!" It must be very inconvenient to have an all-male crew.
"You said, Dr. Clover?"
Olvia's voice trembled. "Roa, you went to Ohara?" Olvia had to be afraid. This guy Roa had a terrible reputation on the seas. Everyone agreed that he was a grade-A bad guy! The evaluation of "most evil in history" might even be unfair to the second most evil one. This guy actually went to Ohara. What did he do there?
"Huh? You didn't know?"
Roa was genuinely surprised. "I went to Ohara to get some information and had a chat with Dr. Clover and the others."
"Don't worry. I didn't do anything else. But you, Olvia, have you not contacted your hometown since you left Ohara?"
"Tsk, tsk,"
He clicked his tongue. "That's not good. Although you've found a good place for yourself, you shouldn't forget your roots."
"Anyway,"
Roger seemed a little relieved. "Ohara is fine, right?"
"Yes."
Roa nodded. Olvia's furrowed brows finally relaxed.
But.
"Ohara is indeed fine, but the scholars don't seem to be."
Roa added.
"What?"
Olvia's emotions were like a roller coaster. Her face instantly turned pale.
"Hey! Roa! What did you do!"
Roger's expression was very serious.
"I told you I didn't do anything. I just took some information,"
Roa spread his hands. "But Ohara's people were very proactive and reported it to the Marines, who were led to the island."
"As you know how rotten the Marines are, they probably thought I was conspiring with the scholars, so they arrested all of them."
"..."
Olvia looked dazed. Then, her voice trembling, she confirmed. "The Doctor and the others, they were all arrested?"
"Yes,"
Roa nodded. "They've probably been thrown into Impel Down. I hope they're okay."
It was hard to be okay. Impel Down was not so much a prison as it was a large-scale execution ground. Many people wondered why pirates weren't executed directly but were imprisoned in this prison. Those who said such things had a complete misunderstanding of this prison. The environment on each floor of Impel Down was not meant for pirates to retire in. It was essentially to torture the prisoners. For ordinary people, it was a living hell. They usually didn't live long before being tortured to death. Of course, the guys on the sixth floor were an exception. The defenseless scholars probably wouldn't be an exception.
Upon hearing this, Olvia's body swayed, and she almost collapsed to the ground, tears welling up in her eyes. "Everyone... How could this be..."
Roa sniffed. "Ah! This is the good stuff!"
"Hey! Roa!!"
Roger glared at Roa. The other members of the Roger Pirates also looked displeased.
"This isn't my fault, is it? Can you go find historians, but I can't go find information?"
Roa shrugged. "You should blame the person who reported it, or the Marines?"
"..."
Roger gritted his teeth. "You shut up!" He finally understood why everyone on the sea avoided him like the plague! He really was a person who brought disaster wherever he went! He probably brought this up just for his own amusement!
But now, he couldn't kick him off the ship, nor could he start a fight. So, dinner ended in a hurry.
But Roa enjoyed his dessert until the next day. Although Olvia's black aura wasn't as potent as Toki's, it was still good. As a reward, when Roger died, he would take care of her daughter. Roa thought generously.
Because of this incident, the members of the Roger Pirates, who already didn't have a good impression of Roa, completely ignored him. Many even glared at him. This was really... He had said that he didn't like it when people were hostile toward him.
But thankfully, just a few days later, their destination for this voyage was reached.
"Hoho! It's big, isn't it?"
Roa stood at the bow of the ship, shading his eyes as he looked at the behemoth walking on the sea in the distance. "You won't find a creature larger than this one anywhere in the world!" Speaking of which, he had to thank Old Man Shiki for helping him find this place so quickly. When he told him that he wanted the power of the Mink Tribe, Shiki didn't hesitate and sent the exact location in the shortest amount of time. What a great guy!
"Zou!"
Roger also smiled for the first time in a while in front of Roa. Was the third stone here?
"Ang!"
Roa's eyes suddenly widened. It was very sudden. A thunderous roar sounded in his ears, making his ears hurt.
"That sound!"
Roger also looked up in surprise.
"What's wrong?"
Rayleigh and Gaban were a little confused, but they quickly reacted. "Did you hear a sound we couldn't hear again?"
"You heard it too, Roger? What is it saying?"
Roa asked curiously. "Did you hear it clearly?" He couldn't hear it at all. Could Roger, who had shown the ability to hear the Voice of All Things so long ago, hear it clearly?
"You heard it too?"
Roger looked at Roa in shock. It wasn't just him; the executives of the Roger Pirates also looked surprised. Could it be! This guy had the same ability to hear the Voice of All Things as Roger?
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