The man was old. Real old. Made sense if he was in his prime in his 30s and to his 50s. And Roger died when he was almost just over 54. Meaning the man in front of them had to be in his 70s. 75 to be exact. He wore a long baggy sweater. Almost like one would see a worker wear in icy environments. It came down past his hips. His pants were baggy shorts that left hairy legs exposed. His sleeves rolled up.
His face was striking. It was slim and sharp at the chin where grey hair grew into a chin width patch about an inch long. He had hard laugh lines around his mouth. A sharp slim nose with a large bushy mustache below it. His eye seemed hard, but given the lines at the corners and under them he was used to having them squinted from laughing. Finally his hair was done up into a pony bun with many loose strands coming down from his hairline and sides of his face.
Perhaps most intriguing of all…Was that the crew could all catch small glimpses of his torso. Which had noticeable grey hair, but most importantly. Was covered in scars and made of solid toned muscle
"The Red Sash Pirates. What brings you to old man Zekes Lounge, Bar and Services?" The crew all looked at the man, unaware of who was standing in front of them. Leroy didn't talk. Squinting his eyes. Raven to was silent as the man looked oddly familiar
The looming and soon to come realization of the fact that Neither would know right away as his Bounty Poster was very old and did not show an Accurate depiction of the man.
"Ah yes" Noir began "I'm Noir the Chef. And we were hoping that you'd be able to coat our ship? Whatever that means? So that we can go into the new world."
"Chef huh? Are you half as good as Jack Silvers?" He said teasingly. A wide smile coming over his face
"Jack Silvers?" Leroy said, hopping down. "How do you know about Jack Silvers? Just who are you, Zeke?" Leroy asked, walking up to the man who was hunched slightly and appeared to be about 6'2. "Oh you know 'em?"
"Yeah. Sparrow told me about him…Said he was a great cook on the Ship he used to sail on as a Kid…So I ask again…Who are you?"
"Sparrow? Only Sparrow I know is Little Rowrow. Or as he's now come to be known as 'Black Hair' Sparrow. Is that the same guy?" Zeke asked stroking his beard
"Yes! Sparrow helped raise me when I was little! Used to always come by my Village!" Leroy said with excitement "Well in that case. Maybe you know me then. My Names Ezekiel Hand."
With those words Spoken. Almost everyone in the room had their eyes widened suddenly. Save for the fact of Calliope, Eddie, Kale and Dezzi. "Wait Wait Wait…Ezekiel Hand? As in The Ezekiel Hand?"
"Wait…So everyone knows him too? I only know him because Sparrow would always talk about him when he was a chore boy and apprentice on some ship when he was a kid…"
"Leroy." Raven said, looking at him. "If that's the Case…That was no Ordinary ship. Because Ezekiel Hand…"
"He was The First Mate of The Pirate King!" Jeanne said next. Then the other four had their attention peaked. Kirk followed up by saying "It's said he was labeled as the World's Strongest Martial Artist…"
"Wait Wait…So Sparrow sailed with Roger? He never told me that!" Zeke then piped up "Guess you never asked. Rowrows always had a problem with being vague sometimes. And Calm down. I think thats enough flattery. I'm far too old now to live up to those titles and Names."
"Besides. I'm not a first mate anymore. And I'm plenty rusty…" Dahlia chimed in, still leaned forward "Don't sell yourself too short there Zeke. You're still probably over a million times stronger than them."
"Heh. Probably literally." Zeke said cracking his neck "Heh-Heheh…" Leroy laughed nervously "Damn, mind teaching me something old man? I dont know how thats possible…"
"Maybe." He shrugged. Dahl spoke again as well "Well…hmmm. There was that Scientist that had a bunch of Doohickies that said that some earthquakes are Trillions of times stronger than the smallest. So if its possible for Nature. Then it's more than enough to say that it's possible for people. Heck you're an example surely. You must be a huge amount stronger than some normal Marine." Dahl said pointing to Leroy
"Yeah I guess so…" He said sitting down. Zeke came around the bar and hopped onto a stool as well "Alright, any more questions? I'm quite fond of reliving the old days. Given there's not much for me in today's world as a washed up old man." He said with a smile.
"You have the man that was the Right Hand of the Pirate King. The man who conquered the entire grand line and made the whole world go stir crazy 20 years ago chasing that Treasure?" He poured a drink of pure liquor.
"Don't you want to know if it's even real?" He asked, locking onto Leroy. The entire room seemed to get tense at the question. It'd be a lie to say at least one of them hadn't at least thought about it for a half second. The Room was eerily quiet. But only a single second passed, because Leroy was quick with his answer
"Absolutely Not!" He suddenly said with a sharp and short tone. "I don't want to hear a single fucking word about it. I won't let you ruin that for me. For us, Old Man. I'd rather die than even find out a single thing that I don't find out naturally. No Cheat Sheets. No hints. Nothing."
"I didn't become a Pirate just for it all to be handed to me when I've fought so hard to earn it. I want to Earn it! If we can't do it on our own. How can we call ourselves pirates? What would be the point of the adventure?"
Kale smirked at that. He didn't expect anything different. All of them felt tension in the air, but also felt a relief in their hearts.
"Heheh. Hahaha! Now thats an answer. Trust me." He stand up. "I wasn't gonna tell you anyway. But consider my interest piqued, Red Sash."
"Do you really think that you can handle the Grand Line? Theres things out in that Sea that one would struggle to even call normal. Real monsters of man out there. Enemies at every corner. Because there, thats where everyone chasing the One Piece, Become Pirate King? Hell just to achieve their dream?"
"They're serious about it. So, do you think you can really Conquer it?" He looked down at Leroy. Who then stood and face him
"Yes. I'll beat it. Overcome anything it throws our way. Pirate King is about being the Freest Right? Then ya gotta overcome what's stopping you from being free."
The crew felt those words in their very souls. All giving a variety of positive reactions crossing their faces. The simplest thing they all said. 'That's our Captain.'
"Now that's a hell of an Answer…" He looked him up and down. Maybe it was nostalgia. Maybe it was similar. But in that moment as Zeke looked at him. He could help but see-
Gol D. Roger.