Shabondy Archipelago, Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
"Click."
The Den Den Mushi placed on the bar counter had closed its eyes, bowed its head, and fallen into slumber.
The person on the other end of the line had hung up.
At the bar, Rayleigh, holding a bottle of wine, and Shanks, eating a bowl of noodles, fell silent simultaneously.
Behind the bar, the owner, Shakky, who was leisurely smoking a cigarette, silently snuffed out the butt.
And around the circular tables outside the bar, the members of the Straw Hat Pirates, the Kuja Pirates, and the leaderless Colon Pirates, all gathered here, were stunned.
"What does it mean,"
Buggy, the man with the red nose, swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly, "that Mr. Gaban is controlled by Roa?"
With a soft 'thud,' Rayleigh placed the wine bottle on the table, took off the gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and wiped them. "It's no longer a secret, is it? Besides being able to easily cause various natural disasters comparable to those of nature, Roa also possesses the ability to control others."
"So,"
The world's most beautiful woman, Kuja Pirates Vice-Captain, Hancock, frowned slightly, "Gaban was controlled by Roa?"
"Unimaginable,"
Shanks swallowed the noodles in his mouth, sighing with a touch of melancholy, "That's Mr. Gaban."
Among the Gold, Silver, and Bronze trio of the Roger Pirates back then, which one wasn't a powerful pirate whose name echoed throughout the world?
And now, has that guy Roa even been able to control a man as strong as Mr. Gaban?
"With countless Sea Kings guarding the exterior and Mr. Gaban taking charge inside,"
Robin bit her thumbnail. Her mother had scolded her for this many times, but whenever she faced a crucial decision, she still unconsciously made this gesture.
"Fish-Man Island has undoubtedly become a perilous den now, but the good news is that Colon should be temporarily safe."
If that child were truly in a life-or-death crisis, he probably wouldn't have had the chance to contact them.
"Although he should be safe from immediate danger, I'm afraid he is already in a desperate situation with no way to escape."
Benn Beckman, the Vice-Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, exhaled a smoke ring and slowly said, "But the situation now is that it's extremely difficult for us just to get to Fish-Man Island, let alone rescue him."
"Colon did just say that Roa will be heading to Fish-Man Island immediately, right?"
Rayleigh and Robin were somewhat silent.
Even combined, they couldn't break through the Sea Kings' defense and reach Fish-Man Island, let alone with that guy Roa soon arriving there.
If they went there now, it would definitely be a dead end.
"But we can't just give up on Colon."
Shanks said seriously, "He is my friend, and I absolutely cannot watch him fall into danger and remain indifferent."
"That's easy to say, but you tell me what we should do, Shanks!"
Buggy retorted angrily.
"As for that—"
A firm light flickered in Shanks's eyes. He raised his hand, pressing down on the straw hat on his head, the shadow of the brim covering half of his face.
Then, he sighed dejectedly, "Haven't thought of it yet."
"I'm going to hit you!"
Buggy, who had been eagerly anticipating a weighty pronouncement, instantly became furious, his face turning into a shark's.
"Beckman, quickly use your smart brain to come up with a plan!"
The man looked at his vice-captain with anticipation.
"If we can't achieve the goal through force, then we can only resort to negotiation, right?"
Beckman suggested.
"Negotiation?"
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
"But,"
Rayleigh took another sip of wine, "What kind of bargaining chip do we have to negotiate with Roa?"
Silence descended upon the bar once more.
That's right, even if they wanted to negotiate, what could they use to negotiate with that guy Roa?
"We can worry about negotiation later; the most important thing right now should be to leave the Sabaody Archipelago, shouldn't it?"
Shakky slowly spoke from behind the bar, "Roa is going to Fish-Man Island, and if Colon is also controlled by Roa, our whereabouts might be exposed to Roa."
Everyone's expressions immediately darkened.
Indeed.
If Roa were to track them down, that guy likely wouldn't show any mercy.
The Sabaody Archipelago was no longer safe.
And almost simultaneously, at Fish-Man Island.
After a brief speech, Gaban returned with his good son and Tiger.
Colon breathed a small sigh of relief.
He had informed everyone about the current situation of Fish-Man Island, so hopefully, they wouldn't risk coming to Fish-Man Island anymore.
Forget about him; absolutely do not come.
Fish-Man Island was already dangerous enough now, but it would become even more perilous later.
Colon dared not imagine what would happen if that guy Roa personally descended.
Perhaps he, too, would be turned into a corrupted old man like his dad.
But no matter what, this was all he could do.
Big Brother Shanks, Sister Robin, the rest is up to you!
Just, Mom...
At this moment, Gaban, walking not far in front of Colon, suddenly spoke, "By the way, Colon, who were you talking to just now?"
Tiger, who was walking side by side with Colon, felt his heart sink.
Colon, preoccupied with his thoughts, instantly stiffened and then spoke with a sudden panic, "W-what are you talking about, you rotten old man? When did I talk to anyone?"
"Hmm? Are you not taking your old man seriously, kid?"
Gaban turned his head with a smirk, "My Observation Haki has been focused on you the whole time."
Crap!
Did the rotten old man discover it after all?
Why haven't you been this serious before?
He only became so attentive when serving as Roa's dog and dealing with his own son!
Colon's heart pounded like a drum.
What to do?
If it was just himself dying, then it wouldn't matter.
Die if he must, what's there to be afraid of?
A man bravely facing death—isn't that a decent ending too?
But what about Mom?
With Dad becoming like this, if he were gone too, what would Mom do?
Colon felt utterly confused, his face continuously changing between fear and unease.
"Tell me, Colon,"
The smile on Gaban's face diminished, replaced by a touch of seriousness, "Who did you tell about the situation on this island?"
Did he even hear what he said?
The rotten old man's Observation Haki was really something.
But.
"N-nothing of the sort,"
Colon tried to keep his voice calm, "You must have misheard."
"Hey, hey, hey, you stupid son!"
Gaban instantly fumed, puffing out his beard and glaring, "Didn't your old man tell you that you're really bad at acting?!"
Tiger next to him agreed deeply.
With Colon's stammering tone, darting eyes, and constantly shifting expression, why bother lying?
However, Tiger didn't find the comical Colon funny right now.
His heart was heavy.
Colon is in danger!
Gaban still looked like the Gaban of the past, but only looked like it!
Tiger quickly interjected, "Maybe he was just telling his companions he was safe. No need to be too serious, Mr. Gaban."
Hearing Tiger's words, Colon was greatly relieved, nodding his head rapidly like a pecking chick, "Exactly! Just letting my companions know, telling them not to come and risk it!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Gaban raised the corner of his mouth, and his tone became somewhat casual and relaxed.
"Y-yes, yes, of course, that's how it is!"
Colon scratched the back of his head, nodding repeatedly with a slightly awkward expression.
"Hahaha, you child!"
Gaban laughed heartily.
Then.
The next instant, a pitch-black hand directly grabbed Colon's neck, slamming him onto the ground.
"Ugh!"
Colon immediately groaned, feeling like his neck was about to be twisted right off.
"Listen, child,"
Gaban looked down at his good son, his tone carrying a touch of pity, "You can deceive me sometimes. As a father, if my son lies to me about something insignificant, I'll just laugh it off."
"But Colon, when it concerns this island, when it concerns Boss's orders, I won't allow any deception!"
"Now, son, tell me everything that happened just now, who exactly were you talking to!"
"..."
Colon clenched his jaw.
Rotten old man, why are you so incredibly perceptive at this moment when you shouldn't be?
"Wait, Mr. Gaban!"
Tiger looked anxious, rushing over to try and mediate.
But Gaban suddenly turned his head at that moment, "And you, Tiger, you were helping cover for this kid just now, weren't you!"
Tiger instantly froze.
Gaban took a deep breath, turning back to look down at his good son, "Colon, don't make Dad's job harder!"
"I—"
Colon grit his teeth, "I really was just contacting my companions!"
"You little brat!"
Gaban had a helpless smile on his face, but a dangerous glint shone in his eyes. "Naughty, disobedient boys need a good lesson from an adult!"
A few days later.
Ryugu Palace.
Gaban rushed in with his wife and son.
His wife, Anna, silently wiped her tears because Colon, whom Gaban was carrying, was covered in bandages and looked bruised all over.
The Half-Fish-Man teenager's only remaining spirit was in his eyes.
Before this return to Fish-Man Island, he had never imagined that one day he would be severely interrogated by his own respected father.
But the truth was that after that day, his useless, controlled old father kept sighing while beating and interrogating him with an expression of disappointment, wishing he would do better.
Even though his mother cried and pleaded nearby, this rotten old man ignored her completely, only muttering that he couldn't let Colon go astray, but his hands showed no mercy.
"Oh, sorry, sorry, I'm late!"
Gaban greeted Neptune's family, who were standing outside the gate of Ryugu Palace, with an apologetic look, "Boss hasn't arrived yet, has he?"
In addition to Neptune's family, there was a visibly bruised Tiger; he had also been thoroughly disciplined.
Neptune looked at Colon, whom Gaban was carrying, with a complicated expression, "Mr. Gaban, I heard about the matter. There was no need to hurt Colon to this extent."
"Alas, we are all parents. Who would willingly harm their child unless forced?"
Gaban sighed helplessly, "It's just that Colon is not following the right path. I warned him repeatedly, but this kid still thought of causing trouble."
"If it weren't for the fact that the Boss said not to be too hard on him during a previous call, I definitely wouldn't let this brat off so easily!"
Neptune's eyes were filled with sorrow.
What has the former child-loving Mr. Gaban been turned into?
Roa!
It's all because of you, you...
"Snap."
A soft sound suddenly came from the air in front of them.
The transparent air was pushed open, forming a massive air-door dozens of meters high. A man with a bull-horn-like hairstyle stepped out, then respectfully stood aside and knelt on one knee.
Then, the man familiar and terrifying to Neptune and the others, Roa, slowly walked out from that air-door.
He wasn't alone; following behind him were Enel and Bege, whom they had met before.
And, a colossal figure that had to bend over to pass through the giant air-door.
His mere steps on the ground produced a dull, heavy sound.
The ancient giant, with a pair of horns on his head and exceptionally fierce eyes, looked around in surprise.
"Oh, so this is Fish-Man Island? It's my first time coming here in person!"
Seeing that behemoth, Neptune's heart sank even further.
The cursed Giant Prince Loki!
Although not comparable to the Devil Descendant King who visited this island last time, he was still a high-ranking cadre under Roa!
A great pirate whose name had spread throughout the world in the past few years.
"Boss!"
Gaban, carrying his good son, respectfully went up to meet him, "You've arrived!"
"Lord Roa!"
Neptune's family also hurriedly greeted Roa.
"Hmm,"
Roa nodded slightly to the crowd, then looked down with interest at the good son Gaban was carrying, "Is this your son, Colon?"
"Yes, Boss!"
Gaban quickly placed Colon in front of Roa, forcing him to kneel, "This is my good-for-nothing son!"
"Please give your order on how to deal with him!"
His wife, Anna, behind him, was already in tears at this moment. She quickly knelt down, bowing her head to Roa repeatedly, "Lord Roa! Please spare this child! Please! Please!!"
Mom...
Colon's body was severely injured, and Gaban was pressing his head down to make him kneel. He couldn't even turn his head to look at his crying mother.
The young man was simply in inner agony.
"Look what this bad boy has forced his mother to do,"
Roa shook his head with a touch of emotion, "With a father and mother who love you so much, yet you're still not satisfied; you will be punished by heaven, you know."
"Roa!!"
Colon almost ground his teeth.
Why has it come to this? Isn't it all because of you, you rotten bastard!
"I'll ask directly,"
Roa said, "Were you talking to the remnants of the Roger Pirates before?"
"I don't understand what you're—"
Colon was about to deny it.
But.
"Oh, so it was them?"
The corner of Roa's mouth lifted into a smile. "Then, second question, was Shanks among the people you were talking to?"
Colon's eyes widened. Before he could even react, he saw Roa nod lightly again, smiling, "Oh, so that guy was there too?"
"That's excellent. So, where are they now? Let me guess, are they at the Sabaody Archipelago, where Rayleigh is in hiding?"
"What exactly did you do!!"
Colon screamed out in near panic.
Could this guy possibly know what he was thinking?
How is that possible?
"As expected of the Boss!"
Gaban looked respectful.
Is this an ability similar to Queen Otohime's Observation Haki?
"So they really are at the Sabaody Archipelago?"
Roa nodded contentedly.
"In other words,"
Loki looked excited, "we'll soon be able to find that bastard Straw Hat, right!"
"More or less,"
Roa casually nodded, then praised, "You did well, Gaban. You saved me a lot of trouble."
"It's what I should do!"
Gaban's smile was incredibly fawning.
Roa's smile deepened. "As a reward, let your son work with you too."
Upon hearing this, Gaban looked even more overjoyed, his small sunglasses nearly falling off his nose in excitement. He immediately banged his head on the ground in a deep bow.
"Boss, you are too generous!"
Generous?
Roa smiled, looking at the bruised and battered Colon,
"Colon, you wouldn't want to see Gaban personally kill your mother, would you?"
Colon's eyes gradually widened.
This time, it was truly a father and son united in battle.
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