The massive pirate ship sailed through the waves.
On the deck, the jolly pirates sang and danced.
"Yohohoho, yohohoho!"
"Yohohoho, yohohoho!"
Nobody knew when this song started to spread across the seas. People only knew that when they were at their happiest, most joyful, and wanted to sing out loud, this was the song to sing.
Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban linked arms. Each held a cup or bottle of wine in one hand and food in the other. Their smiles were as bright as the sun.
"Carry Binks' Sake, to you!"
Roger was a little drunk, but he still shouted with his croaky voice. To be honest, it sounded terrible.
"Like the sea, do as you please, ride the waves!"
Compared to him, Rayleigh's singing, with his arm around Roger's neck, was much more pleasant. It was carefree yet heroic.
Considering the two, it was only natural that Shakky would choose Rayleigh.
Talent was a huge plus. When everyone was an athlete, someone who also studied art was very popular.
"Across the sea, the noisy sunset, the birds' songs, drawing circles in the sky!"
Gaban was also completely immersed in the moment. He swung his legs higher than anyone else, and his smile was brighter than anyone else's.
It wasn't just them; everyone in the Roger Pirates was laughing freely.
Even the two kids, Shanks and Buggy, sang happily and loudly.
They were now on their way to the Final Island!
Roa pulled a chair over and sat on it backward, resting his chin on the back of the chair. The smile on his face was slightly distorted, making him look even more relaxed.
He didn't sing along, but he supported them by wrapping his arms around the back of the chair and clapping his hands to the rhythm.
They're so happy.
Roa's lips curled upwards.
It reminds me of the Rocks Pirates back in the day.
Even though everyone back then would get into a huge fight every now and then for some ridiculous reason, they were still very happy when they had a banquet together.
Compared to back then, the only thing lacking in this banquet was enough good food. Roger was not as generous as the Captain in that regard.
"Roa, why aren't you happy?"
Roger, holding a bottle of wine and hiccuping, staggered over. With no sense of dignity, he plopped down on the deck next to Roa.
"We've found the location of the Final Island! The legendary One Piece is about to be ours!"
"I am happy."
Roa said with a smile. "I'm very short on cash right now. I hope the legendary One Piece won't disappoint me."
Joy Boy, if you give me some nonsense like the true One Piece is the friendship you made along the way with your crew, I'm going to kill your pet elephant first, and then I'm going to dismantle your robot.
"You're right about that!"
There was a hint of anticipation in Roger's eyes. "Wahahahaha! It will definitely be a colossal amount of treasure! After all, everyone says that all the power, authority, and wealth in the world are buried there!"
He was a pirate, and there was no pirate who wasn't interested in treasure.
"However,"
Roger paused. When he looked at Roa again, the drunkenness in his eyes slowly faded. "Roa, I still don't understand. If you wanted to find the Final Island, it wouldn't have taken you any effort, would it?"
After the initial excitement wore off, Roger realized something very strange.
Did Roa really need their help to find the Final Island?
Roa already had two of the Road Poneglyphs, the one from Fish-Man Island and the one he took from them.
The one on Zou was basically defenseless to Roa. He could get it anytime he wanted.
The only one that was a bit of a hassle was the one held by Charlotte Linlin. But even if Roa didn't know about it before, he would after this incident. It wouldn't be hard for him to get his hands on it.
So, he could easily find the Final Island by himself, couldn't he?
Then, why did he bring them along?
Why did he share the One Piece with them?
"Because,"
Roa's lips curled. "This isn't the end, Roger. This isn't even the beginning of the end. It's just the end of the beginning."
Roa's words were a bit convoluted, but Roger still understood what he meant.
Roger's expression became serious.
Does he mean that even after we find the legendary One Piece and uncover the secret of the Void Century, everything still won't be over? My ultimate dream still can't be fulfilled?
"Roa, what do you know?"
Roger's tone became even more serious.
"Don't worry about it, Roger."
Roa simply stretched languidly. "All you need to do right now is happily head towards the Final Island."
"And then, create a new era."
"A new era?"
Roger chewed on those words.
What is this guy Roa planning?
He couldn't figure it out. He didn't understand.
"Oh, Roger! Look!"
While Roger was contemplating, Roa suddenly patted him on the shoulder, his tone filled with a hint of surprise.
Subconsciously, Roger turned his head and saw his precious daughter Robin, probably spurred on by the cheerful uncles' songs and dances, shakily standing up and happily wiggling her body in her special baby seat.
Next to Robin, Olvia was pleasantly surprised. She subconsciously looked at Roger. The couple's eyes met, and they both showed a joyful smile.
They're so in love.
What does being in love feel like?
I didn't get to experience it in my previous life, and I definitely won't in this one. I'm more interested in hatred than love.
However.
Roa watched with interest as a little Robin was excitedly picked up and kissed by Olvia, giggling all the while.
Her natural physique is so much worse than Yamato's.
At her age, Yamato could already play frisbee with me. Those two little legs of hers could run like the wind.
But, Robin and Yamato are like Roger and my brother Kaido. The one who gets a head start doesn't necessarily win in the end.
The talent gap between the two little girls shouldn't be too big.
"She's a lovely child,"
Roa said with a smile. "Can I hold her?"
"Of course not!"
Roger didn't hesitate at all and flatly refused. "You're too dangerous, you brat!"
"I told you I'm not some kind of devil,"
Roa could only sigh helplessly. "No matter what, I wouldn't harm a child like her, right? The world just misunderstands me too much."
Roger's lips twitched. How can he even say that with a straight face?
But no matter what, the Roger Pirates were indeed making rapid progress toward the Final Island.
Even though they were currently sailing in the territory of the Golden Lion Pirates, they were still doing so brazenly. After his crushing defeat, there was no way that Shiki would seek more trouble.
Back in time a little, at New Marineford.
"So, the final result is a complete defeat for the Golden Lion Pirates?"
Sengoku frowned as he looked at the intelligence report. "What are those guys doing? Their combined power was far greater than the Roger Pirates, right?"
"Wahahaha! Roger isn't that easy to defeat!"
On the sofa across from him, unlike Zephyr, Garp, who still held the rank of Vice-Admiral after refusing to be promoted to Admiral no matter how much Sengoku pleaded, was eating rice crackers and laughing loudly. "Did that guy Shiki get a good beating?"
"You bastard Garp, are you happy about Roger's victory?"
Sengoku looked up and glared at his old friend. "And put down my precious rice crackers!"
"Wahahaha! Don't be so stingy, Sengoku! So, what happened to Shiki?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed the documents on the table in annoyance. "Their main force was completely wiped out. Almost all of their top cadres were taken down. Now the Golden Lion Pirates are just an empty shell."
"Wahahahaha!"
The Hero of the Marines, Garp, laughed heartily.
But before he could say anything more, Sengoku said fiercely, "If you say 'as expected of Roger' one more time, get out!"
"Hahahaha! As expected of Sengoku!"
Garp scratched his head, a little embarrassed. However, the laughter in his eyes slowly faded, and his tone became serious. "Still, this is a good thing for us, isn't it?"
"It is a good thing, but the pirates' losses were smaller than expected."
Sengoku sighed. "What if the cadres are all dead? As long as Shiki is alive, the Golden Lion Pirates will not fall apart. They are still a huge threat to us and the government!"
"The large-scale military conscription is a must! In this era of rising pirates, we need more power for justice!"
The Marine Hero shrugged, noncommittal.
And a little while later.
In a certain sea in the Golden Lion Pirates' territory, the massive and untamed elephant continued to walk forward without stopping.
At this moment, a few massive snails had crushed the waves created by the elephant's movement and quickly arrived below it.
"This is way too big!"
Loki looked up, his jaw dropped.
Its height was almost the same as the Treasure Tree Adam that supported Elbaf!
No!
Its legs were still walking in the sea!
If you included its legs, it was even taller than the Treasure Tree Adam!
"Are there really creatures this big in the world?"
Moriah, who had always been a little distant from the group, was also completely stunned.
How powerful would it be if I could turn this thing into a zombie?!
"It's called Zunesha!"
Contrary to his rough appearance, the knowledgeable Teach spoke up at the right time. "Some say it started walking a thousand years ago, others say it started during the Void Century. What's certain is that throughout its long history, it has never stopped walking."
Behind him, the mercenaries Dorry and Brogy looked up at the elephant, a hint of nostalgia in their eyes.
They had encountered this elephant when they were young, but they never went aboard. Even for the Giants, this elephant was too tall.
Could they actually go up this time?
"Are we going to take this thing out?"
Doflamingo clicked his tongue. "It's so big that it won't be easy to take it down, will it?"
"Don't worry about it. That's what the Boss said."
Dylan said calmly. "No matter what we do, it won't react."
According to the Boss, this giant elephant was atoning for a sin.
It would not stop walking until the one who had the right to command it gave the order.
"Anyway, our goal this time is the country on the elephant's back, right?"
Bege scratched his face, a little suspicious. "But does it really exist? How can anyone survive on an elephant's back? What do they eat?"
"Are you questioning the Boss's orders, Bege?"
Bullet finally turned his head, his eyes as cold as a knife, and his tone filled with murderous intent.
"I'm just curious, that's all!"
While cursing in his heart, Bege put on a friendly smile.
That guy Bullet basically treated Roa's words as divine law. Not only did he do it himself, but he also didn't allow anyone else to question it.
"It exists!"
Again, it was the scholarly Teach. He said with a smile, "There's a race called the Minks. They're said to have the appearances of humans combined with various animals, and their power is quite astonishing."
"We'll know when we get up there."
King said slowly, "Let's go."
"Mhm."
Dylan nodded slightly.
And so, the giant snails rumbled to life.
Their bodies were already quite large, but in front of Zunesha, they looked like little chicks. They could only slowly climb up the elephant's leg.
But this action made the three giants on their backs a little uncomfortable.
The devices that were meant for ordinary people to use for the climb were completely useless for Loki and his companions.
They could only awkwardly hold onto the edge of the platform to keep from falling.
But thankfully, the snails' climbing speed wasn't slow, and they soon arrived on the elephant's back.
When a lush forest appeared before them, Doflamingo couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder. "It really exists? By the way, how did this forest even grow here?"
Bege nodded in agreement.
Is this even logical?
"None of that matters,"
Dylan simply said indifferently, "Let's go. We have a job to do."
The snails did not stop for a moment and rumbled forward.
Trees that had grown for who knows how many years were easily pushed over and crushed, and wide paths were carved out in an instant.
Such a huge commotion naturally attracted the attention of the residents living in the forest.
Black shadows leaped through the trees.
"It's an intruder! Another intruder!"
"Hurry and report to the Duke! It might be a companion of the two from before!"
"Oh! Our movements have been exposed!"
Teach grinned. "Dylan, are we going to ignore them?"
"Isn't this perfect?"
Dylan said calmly. "Let them gather all their forces, and then we'll take care of them all at once."
"Let me do it!"
Loki said with an excited look on his face, holding his spiked club. "This is a great chance to test out my new power!"
His brief clash with Roger before couldn't even be called a test. He was sent flying before he even touched him.
This time, it was different!
And so, soon after, at the Mink's Duke's Palace.
"Duke Inuarashi! This is bad! The intruders are back! This time, it's an army!!"
"What?"
The rotund Sheep Mink, Duke Inuarashi, the supreme ruler of the country, was instantly shocked.
Before this, how long had it been since this country had had any intruders?
It couldn't be reached by a Log Pose, and the difficulty of landing was incredible. This island, Zou, had basically had no visitors since ancient times.
What's going on now? Why have they had two waves of intruders in a row?
But now was not the time to be thinking about such things!
The Duke hurriedly gave the order. "Quick! Gather the warriors! We cannot let the intruders run wild!"