Above the Flower Capital of Wano Country,
An island floated in the sky.
In the somewhat incongruous courtyard at the center of the island, rebuilt after its destruction.
"No way?"
Roa, enjoying the Black Qi he hadn't experienced in days, spoke in surprise, "Uncle Shiki, are you really going to find that Red Count?"
"You're right, kid. To defeat the Roger Pirates, I need stronger power!"
Golden Lion's expression was stern. "I need a master of Rayleigh or Jabba's caliber!"
Even masters of his three executive's level wouldn't be enough.
No, to be precise, even monsters of Roa or Kaido's level wouldn't suffice.
To squarely defeat the Roger Pirates, he needed true top-tier masters!
Otherwise, Roger would forever hold the upper hand!
"That Redfield guy is indeed a very suitable candidate."
Golden Lion's eyes gleamed with raw ambition, like a male lion preparing to hunt—no, male lions usually don't hunt themselves.
Female lion!
"His strength might not match mine or Roger's, but he's certainly no weaker than Rayleigh or Jabba!"
"But Redfield has always been a lone wolf,"
Roa reminded him, "Getting him to join might not be easy."
While the game suggested that the Lonely Red was essentially like Bullet, someone who appeared to be a lone wolf but actually longed for comrades,
Could Uncle Shiki possibly win Redfield over with love?
Don't be ridiculous; he's not Roger.
"He won't have a choice but to agree!"
Golden Lion sneered, "Do you think he's Roger? Does he have the right to refuse me?"
As expected of Uncle Shiki's style, truly a pirate version of an overbearing CEO.
But I wanted to say similar words to you, Uncle Shiki.
Do you think you're Captain Rocks? Can you use force to subjugate a master of that level?
"Just Redfield isn't enough,"
Golden Lion, unaware of Roa's thoughts, continued to sneer, "What do you think of Wang Zhi?"
"Wang Zhi?"
Roa raised an eyebrow, "Uncle Shiki, do you really want to have a class reunion?"
Although he didn't have much screen time in the original story, Wang Zhi was actually a super strong guy.
His ability to occupy Hachinosu Island for so many years undisturbed spoke volumes about his strength.
Although he was defeated by Blackbeard in the original story, Blackbeard at that time already possessed two Devil Fruits, had won the decisive battle against the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, and had become a new Emperor. Moreover, that battle also involved the Navy represented by Koby and the interference of Trafalgar Law.
To still possess such strength thirty years later, Wang Zhi, who has developed for six years and is gradually reaching his peak, should be comparable to Rayleigh and Jabba, if not slightly inferior.
"It's all because you damn brat won't come to my side!"
Golden Lion glared fiercely at Roa once more.
While Roa's strength was still quite a bit behind Rayleigh and Jabba,
With his talent, it would likely only take a few years for him to surpass them and directly dominate Rayleigh and Jabba!
Roa chuckled, scratching the back of his head, "Of course, I'm always on your side, Uncle Shiki."
After a pause, he added, "As long as the commission is enough, I'll support you against any opponent!"
"Forget it! I don't have that many Mythical Zoan fruits!"
Golden Lion snorted, unsurprised. "Just watch, Roa. I'm the one who's going to dominate this sea! Neither Roger nor Whitebeard will be anything more than my defeated opponents!"
He says that, but those two aren't even in the same league as you.
Roa felt a touch of lament.
If he wasn't so fixated on Roger, why would Uncle Shiki end up so tragic like in the original story?
Spending twenty years cultivating a bunch of inexplicable fierce beasts to destroy Roger's hometown, the East Blue—anyone who hears this plan and doesn't burst out laughing can truly be diagnosed with depression.
He could have become the second Pirate King, taking advantage of Kaido, Big Mom, and Red-Haired Shanks not yet having fully developed, and Whitebeard being uninterested in the Great Treasure.
"Go for it!"
With myriad thoughts, Roa finally gave Golden Lion an encouraging thumbs up.
Leaving Redfield aside for now, if he were to go after Wang Zhi, Roa doubted Wang Zhi would submit to Golden Lion, which would definitely lead to a battle.
And a battle, of course, was a good thing.
Golden Lion left just like that.
Carrying the anger of his recent failed operation, his annoyance with his disloyal disciple Roa, and his anticipation for his next plan, he hastily departed.
Roa knew that once he started moving, the New World would descend into chaos.
However, after returning to Wano Country, Roa's life didn't immediately return to peace.
Morgans continuously relayed the latest battle reports from the North Blue—millions of Flevance people, filled with despair and resentment, left their homeland, splitting into groups and beginning their nomadic journey across the North Blue.
To make matters worse, the World Government immediately ordered all allied nations in the North Blue to hunt down all Flevance refugees. All newspapers relentlessly reported that the Flevance survivors were afflicted with a terrifying infectious disease.
Once discovered, regardless of gender or age, they were to be immediately executed.
It must be said, the World Government was truly ruthless.
They already had only a few years left to live, and now the World Government wanted to snatch away even this last bit of time. The Flevance refugees, already filled with hatred for the World Government, completely lost their minds.
It should be noted that Flevance was originally a country that rose through mining, with a relatively young demographic structure. Even after removing the elderly, weak, women, and children who couldn't fight, there were still nearly a million able-bodied laborers remaining.
And now, all these people hated the World Government to the core. Even if only a portion of them were willing to take action, it would lead to—
"Boss! The North Blue is in utter chaos now!"
Morgans' voice over the Transponder Snail exclaimed, "The utterly crazed Flevance people are determined to get revenge! Honestly, we haven't even done anything yet, and those allied nations that sent troops to Flevance are already facing their retaliation."
"Sigh,"
Roa sighed at this, "How desperate must they be to make such a choice? Help them as much as possible; innocent people shouldn't be wronged any further."
"Boss!"
Morgans' voice suddenly choked with emotion, "You truly think so much of them!"
"Who made me so kind-hearted?"
Roa couldn't help but sigh, "I'm just someone who can't stand seeing anyone being bullied unilaterally. I have to help them fight back fiercely."
This time, I'm truly doing a good deed.
Although he felt the World Government maintained world order, many times, Roa thought the World Government was indeed superior to himself.
"By the way, Boss,"
The routine sighing over, Morgans' voice turned serious again, "The World Government has been covering up the actions against the Flevance people. No newspaper dares to report it, and even in the North Blue, only those countries that have been attacked know about their retaliation."
"So, the more rational ones among the Flevance people have decided to do something big."
"Oh? How big?"
"Isn't the Reverie about to be held?"
"Oh! That's quite big indeed!!"
The Reverie, held every four years, is a meeting where the World Government invites kings from allied nations to Mary Geoise to review the past four years' work and look forward to the next four years for the world.
As Roa began quietly anticipating big news, the wind, stirred by him, slowly drifted across the sea.
A certain sea area in the New World.
The booming of heavy cannons gradually ceased. Beneath the billowing smoke were several pirate ships, riddled with holes from the cannon fire.
On the deck of one of the swaying pirate ships.
"Spare me!"
A pirate whose legs had been melted by magma lay on the ground, wailing continuously, "Zephyr, the 'Black Arm' Admiral, please spare my life!
I know I was wrong; I'll never be a pirate again. Throw me into Impel Down, let me face judgment!"
He was utterly terrified. Not long after entering the New World, he encountered this Marine fleet.
Everyone else was dead, and died horribly.
Blown up by cannonballs, shot by bullets, melted by magma, and... had their heads stomped in by hard leather boots.
"Judgment?"
Zephyr stood before the man, his shiny black leather boots gleaming.
His attire had changed drastically from before.
His original purple suit had turned black, and his sleek hair was gelled back, standing erect, full of a sharp edge. Even his original wire-rimmed glasses had become sunglasses.
"I used to believe that you truly deserved to be judged, that the law should decide your fate. The most heinous criminals would face execution, while those with lighter offenses could repent."
Zephyr tilted his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of melancholy, "But it wasn't until recently that I truly understood: how can scum like you repent?"
"The moment you became pirates, your fate was sealed—only one outcome awaits!"
His right foot lifted, then stomped down heavily.
Thud.
Red and white splattered everywhere.
Visibly, a hint of pleasure appeared on Zephyr's face. "Zephyr-sensei!"
Behind him, Sakazuki, wearing a Marine cap, also looked excited. "Next target?"
"The New World is chaotic,"
Zephyr sneered, "precisely because there's too much scum like Roa! Let's start with... that most recent guy!"
Hachinosu Island.
The towering Skull Building remained almost unchanged compared to six years ago. The scenery of this island was as beautiful as ever,
Only today, this beautiful island was covered by a giant shadow.
And casting this shadow was an island floating in the sky.
"Shiki! What do you mean by this!"
A man stood at the top of the Skull Building, loudly questioning the man floating in the sky, "Do you want to contend for Hachinosu Island with me?"
"If I had that interest, would it have been your turn to occupy this place six years ago?"
In the sky, Golden Lion laughed, "Wang Zhi, what's the point of constantly holed up on this island? Do you miss the days of the Rocks Pirates?"
Wang Zhi frowned, "I'm not in the mood for your nonsense. What do you want?"
"I need your strength! Come be my right-hand man! Wang Zhi!"
Golden Lion extended his hand, just as he had invited Roger before, excitedly inviting Wang Zhi, "Let's, like in the days of the Rocks Pirates, turn this New World upside down!"
Hmm, with Roger, he could turn the entire world upside down, but with Wang Zhi, the New World would be the most.
Golden Lion thought, I'll make do.
But.
"Are you trying to make me laugh?"
Wang Zhi's cold laughter reached Golden Lion's ears, "Shiki, what are you, acting like Rocks?"
Golden Lion's face instantly darkened, "Are you refusing me too? Do you dare to refuse me?"
West Blue, a massive pirate ship slowly docked on the coast of an island.
"Wahahahahaha! We're finally here!"
Roger eagerly leaped from the bow of the ship, excitedly tilting his head back and shouting in surprise, "What a huge tree! It reminds me of the Treasure Tree Adam from Elbaf!"
At the center of this island stood a colossal tree that blocked out the sky, its dense canopy almost completely obscuring the heavens.
"That must be the Tree of Knowledge of Ohara, right?"
The knowledgeable Rayleigh pushed up his glasses. "It's said to have started growing thousands of years ago and is the world's largest library."
"Oh! That sounds truly amazing!"
Roger nodded. "But the most important thing now is to find archaeologists who can decipher ancient texts!"
"You said, ancient texts?"
A startled voice suddenly came from nearby.
Roger instinctively turned his head.
In the nearby woods, a white-haired woman holding a gun emerged in surprise from behind a large tree, observing them. A target hung on a tree trunk not far behind her; she seemed to be practicing shooting.
"Wait! You're a—"
Upon clearly seeing Roger's face, the woman's expression instantly changed to one of shock, "Gol D. Roger?!"
The most famous, highest-bountied, supposedly strongest, and most publicly known great pirate! Why is he here?!
"It's Gol D. Roger!"
Roger corrected the woman with a smile, then asked, "Do you know where the archaeologists on this island are? I'm looking for someone to help me decipher the Poneglyphs."
"Hey, you shouldn't just blurt out things like that, Roger."
Rayleigh spoke with a hint of helplessness.
Studying the Poneglyphs was a grave crime.
Surely the first person they met on this island couldn't be a Poneglyph scholar capable of deciphering them all?
"You want... to decipher Poneglyphs?"
The woman's eyes instantly lit up.
Hmm?
Rayleigh froze.
No way?
Later, on the Roger Pirates' ship.
The white-haired woman looked at a stack of rubbings, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Captain Roger, you actually have several rubbings of Poneglyphs?"
"Hahahaha, I never thought you could actually decipher ancient texts!"
Roger was equally excited.
They had come to the right place!
"You said you were practicing shooting to go out to sea later and search for Poneglyphs, so,"
Roger said solemnly, "Sail with us! We'll find other Poneglyphs, we'll find the Road Poneglyphs, and then we'll go to the Final Island to uncover the secret of the world's unity!"
"Sail with us! Olvia! This is my lifelong request!"
The white-haired woman, Nico Olvia, felt a sense of longing.