King had met Caesar Clown before.
When he worked in the Marine Science Unit, Caesar and Vegapunk had come to study him.
So, the moment he saw Caesar, he knew that the second task his boss had given him was complete.
Why is this guy here?!
Caesar's face was contorted in a mix of panic and horror that he couldn't suppress.
Blood-Hand Dylan is one thing, but how is this Lunarian here too?!
Now there's nowhere to run!
Wait a minute!
Are they targeting me, the genius, specifically?
Blood-Hand Dylan went to the base to cause a ruckus, forcing me to flee?
How despicable! These pirates are truly too despicable!
Caesar instinctively turned his body into gas and floated backward, trying to escape. At the same time, he shrieked, "Marines! What are you standing around for?! Hurry up and protect this genius!"
The Marine soldiers, who were equally terrified by King's sudden appearance, hesitated. After all, this was a high-ranking officer under the Disaster Roa!
But a Marine's justice could not retreat!
"Dr. Caesar, get out of here! We'll take him on together!"
The Marine Colonel in charge of the ship roared, leading his soldiers in a charge toward King.
"Then I'll leave it to you!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Caesar flew off the deck.
He was a user of the Gas-Gas Fruit, a Logia type, and could fly by turning into gas.
King showed no reaction as he looked at the Marine soldiers who had mustered their last bit of courage and were charging at him. Instead, a flame suddenly shot out from his body.
The flame instantly expanded into a fire dragon dozens of meters long. The deep red flame was so thick it looked like magma. It lunged directly at the soldiers, who looked on in horror.
"No!!"
The Marine Colonel only had time for one tragic scream before he was swallowed by the fire dragon. Not just him, but all the Marine soldiers were swept away in an instant. Even the ship was ignited, even though the flames hadn't touched it yet—the intense heat alone was enough.
Caesar, who was flying away at top speed, only dared to look back once. He was so terrified that his soul nearly left his body.
Monster!
He's a monster!
Vegapunk, this is all your fault!
If you hadn't forced this genius out of the lab, how would I have ever run into these monsters?!
"So, you're going to compete with a Lunarian in a race?"
A faint voice came from beside him.
Caesar instinctively looked up, and a long, pitch-black leg was swinging at him like a steel whip.
"Ugh!"
With a groan, Caesar was knocked out of his elemental form. His nose bridge caved in and his face twisted as he was sent flying backward like a cannonball.
King flapped his wings and gave chase, catching up to Caesar in an instant. He casually grabbed the man's head and slammed him down onto the burning deck of the large ship.
This time, Caesar didn't sustain any damage. As a Logia user, his body scattered into gas the moment he hit the ground.
But in the next second, a boot covered in pitch-black Armament Haki descended from the sky, landing squarely on the cloud of gas.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
A scream echoed across the sea.
What a waste of a devil fruit.
King thought. Recklessly using your elemental form in front of a Haki master is just asking for death.
Caesar was once again stomped out of his elemental form by King. His chest caved in as he let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
King just shook his head at the sight.
This guy was so weak, it wasn't even satisfying to vent the frustration he'd accumulated in the lab all those years ago.
King bent down, grabbed Caesar by the neck, and lifted him up. "Welcome to Disaster Company."
Shortly after, at the New Marine Headquarters.
"What?"
Sengoku, who was in a state of great distress, looked up in shock. "Caesar was kidnapped?"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
The communication officer had a cold sweat on his forehead. "It wasn't just Blood-Hand Dylan! The Demon Descendant King was there too! He was hiding, and when Vice Admiral Nadley was killed by Dylan and Dr. Caesar was forced to retreat, King suddenly appeared and captured him!"
"So, the target was Caesar from the very beginning?"
Sengoku's brows furrowed.
This is bad!
Roa already has a lot of ancient technology blueprints he stole from Ohara, and he also has that blueprint he took from Water 7, the one the government has been so vague about!
Judge on his crew is already a big problem, and now Caesar has been kidnapped as well.
If he really manages to resurrect some terrifying ancient technology...
"And at a time like this!"
Sengoku slammed his fist on the table.
The main Marine forces were all out searching for the Roger Pirates. There was no one left to pursue Dylan and King to reclaim Caesar.
Admiral Kong, can't you come back?
The situation on the seas is driving me crazy!
The Roger Pirates and Disaster Company are both more troublesome than the other!
They're really making this world go completely out of control!
Night. At an uninhabited coast on Sabaody Archipelago.
A pirate ship silently emerged from the sea. Unnoticed by anyone, it docked there.
"No one has noticed us,"
Roger stood at the bow, his Observation Haki covering the entire island. He turned and said with a smile, "If you're going to leave, now's the time, Rayleigh."
"So, the time has finally come to say goodbye?"
Rayleigh, carrying a bag, walked to the side of the ship and looked up at the giant mangrove trees that looked like giants in the darkness.
"How did it go by so fast? I remember when we left Sabaody for the Final Island, it took so long."
He sighed. "I remember it being a very long journey."
They had spent decades on that journey to finally reach their destination. How was it so fast to get from the destination back to the start?
"Enjoy your retirement, brother!"
Roger walked over with a laugh and gave Rayleigh a farewell hug. He then whispered in Rayleigh's ear, "I'm not going to die!"
Rayleigh paused, then hugged Roger back. "I know."
Just like Joy Boy eight hundred years ago, Roger's will would also be passed down.
"Alright,"
Releasing Rayleigh, Roger looked at the two kids behind him, who were also carrying small bags.
"Shanks and Buggy, you two will get off here as well. Rayleigh will take good care of you from now on."
"Captain—"
Buggy was already teary-eyed. Hearing those words, he burst into tears and instinctively threw himself at Roger. "I don't want to leave you!"
He had lived on this ship and with this pirate crew for as long as he could remember. It was too hard for him to accept leaving it now.
"Alright, Buggy."
Rayleigh grabbed the boy by the collar and lifted him up. "Real men don't need tears for goodbyes."
"Waaaah! Uncle Rayleigh, you're so cold-hearted!"
Buggy cried.
At the same time, Shanks' eyes were also red.
It wasn't just because of the upcoming farewell, but also because of what the captain had told him yesterday about his own lineage.
"Just go and do what you want, Shanks,"
Roger said with a smile to the boy who had inherited his straw hat. "Don't be bound by your status or bloodline. You have to be yourself first."
"Okay!"
The red-haired boy nodded heavily, his hand pressed firmly on his straw hat. "I will treasure your hat, Captain!"
"That's good. But don't just give it to anyone,"
Roger said with a laugh, patting his head. "But if you don't want it someday, that's fine too."
Then he stepped forward, raised his hand, and wiped the tears from Buggy's face.
"Buggy, you're the same. This sea is vast. Just go for it. Living happily is more important than anything."
"Yes! Captain!"
Buggy cried even louder.
"Then, we'll be going."
Rayleigh grabbed Shanks with his other hand and jumped off the large ship's deck.
After landing, he didn't look back, just walked straight ahead.
"Goodbye, Roger."
"Goodbye, brother."
Roger leaned against the railing, quietly watching the figures of his first mates gradually disappear into the darkness.
The rest of the Roger Pirates, still on the deck, were also silent.
First Mr. Gaban left, and now Mr. Rayleigh. Their numbers had been halved. This pirate crew was finally nearing its final destination.
"Hahaha, why are you all looking so gloomy?"
Roger burst into laughter. "That guy Rayleigh is going to find Shakky!"
Shakky!
Mentioning that name, the older pirates on deck had a subtle change in expression.
That's right!
Mr. Rayleigh was going to live a quiet life with Shakky!
When they thought about it that way, there was nothing to be sad about. Shakky had been a dream girl to so many people back then! Even Captain Roger was once enchanted by her!
"Wahahahaha! I just didn't want him to have it too easy, so I dumped Shanks and Buggy on him!"
Roger laughed with a proud expression.
"How despicable, Captain!"
The pirates immediately laughed along with him.
"So, Captain, are you still pining for Shakky?!"
And then.
"So, Roger,"
A soft voice came from behind him. "Who is Shakky?"
"Uh—"
Roger awkwardly turned his head. In front of him was the calm-faced Olvia.
I said something I shouldn't have!
Caesar had no idea how long he'd been in the dark room.
Ever since he was captured by that monster, King, he had been put in Seastone shackles, completely losing all his strength.
Then he was taken to the small sky island, Weatheria—a country that had also been conquered by those two monsters!
He was carelessly thrown into a room. Aside from a doctor from the country treating his wounds on the first day and someone bringing him food every day, no one bothered with him. It was as if he had been completely forgotten.
Caesar cursed relentlessly in his heart.
He cursed Vegapunk, the World Government, and Marine Headquarters.
But he was too afraid to curse Roa and King for fear of accidentally saying it out loud and being heard.
When will this end?
Caesar sighed in his heart.
Finally, one day, the ground vibrated slightly, and soon after, the door was pushed open.
King walked in, grabbed Caesar, and lifted him. "Let's go. We're here. The boss wants to see you."
The boss?
Disaster Roa?
That monster wants to see me?
Caesar's legs were shaking from fear.
That guy was a complete lunatic!
He had even killed a Marine Fleet Admiral!
If he accidentally angered him, what hope was there for him to survive?
Can I not go?
I have a disease where if I see Roa, I might die!
But it wasn't up to him.
King didn't care what Caesar was thinking. He grabbed him and walked out the door, then took flight.
It was then that Caesar realized that the small sky island had descended onto an island, one he even recognized.
Isn't this Egghead Island?
Right. This island is in the sea area Roa occupies, so it's only natural for him to repurpose a useless island like this.
Dylan and King, along with Caesar and the weather scientists from Weatheria, landed on Egghead Island and boarded a snail that was parked on the island. They entered a magnificent palace on its back.
"Oh! Welcome back, Dylan, King. You must have had a tough trip."
Caesar heard a cheerful young voice.
He subconsciously looked up and saw a young man sitting leisurely on a throne.
Disaster Roa!!
Although he looked handsome and had a gentle smile, he was a monster among monsters, one of the most terrifying pirates in the world!
The most evil man in history!
Caesar quickly averted his eyes, not daring to look for another second.
Then, he saw Judge standing to the side.
Huh?
Why does Judge look so sickly? He looks so weak.
Noticing Caesar's gaze, Judge gave him a triumphant smile.
That despicable Judge! What are you so proud of?
Caesar immediately glared back at him.
Back in Mads, the two had always been at odds.
Roa watched Caesar and Judge glaring at each other, and said with interest, "Well, Dr. Caesar, I'll only ask you once. Are you willing to work for me?"
"Huh?"
Only once?
In that instant, the hairs on Caesar's neck stood on end!
That means if I refuse, I die, right?
"Yes, yes! This genius, no, I am absolutely willing!"
Caesar nodded frantically, his back completely soaked in a cold sweat.
"Good,"
Roa nodded slightly. "From today on, you will be Judge's deputy. The position of Vice Head of the Research Department is yours."
"Judge's deputy?"
The shivering Caesar, who had been as meek as a quail moments before, suddenly widened his eyes. "Lord Roa, are you saying that Judge is above me? My research is completely superior to that guy's! He should be my deputy!"
"Hey! Caesar!"
Judge immediately got anxious. "How dare you lie in front of the boss! My work is so valuable, it's an insult for me to even assist in your low-level technology!"
He fought with me for the second-in-command position in Mads back then, and now he wants to fight me for the Head of Research?
"Alright, Judge,"
Roa waved his hand, signaling Gadget to be quiet.
Then he looked at the indignant Caesar. "Call me Boss. And, Caesar, do not question my decisions."
Caesar's eyes went wide.
A bone-chilling fear crawled up his spine and completely took over his mind.
"Waaaahhh!!"
A scream echoed through the grand palace.
The weather scientists who had been brought along with him all turned pale.
"And to you all,"
As he placed a collar on Caesar, Roa looked at the scholars. "I'll be needing a lot of help from you too. I want a city that flies in the sky!"
The weather scientists gulped.
It looks like we can't refuse, can we?
No matter what, everything was now on track.
At the same time, the entire sea was also constantly changing.
In the blink of an eye, a year passed.
After that year, the sea area occupied by Disaster Company had a new nickname.
People called it,
The most free sea in the world.
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