The massive whirlpool slowly began to settle. The storm clouds drifted away, and sunlight finally broke through, spilling over the deck of the Oro Jackson. Yet even that golden light couldn't wash away the lingering scent of blood and gunpowder in the air.
All across the sea, battered ships limped away in every direction, dragging their shattered hulls behind them.
Kael leaned lazily against the railing, quietly observing the aftermath.
He saw the Golden Lion, Shiki, standing atop a floating ship, laughing madly at the empty horizon. His laughter carried madness, despair and the unwillingness to accept defeat.
He saw Charlotte Linlin, prowling about with a snarl, shouting Kaido's name again and again with no answer, her expression so fierce it could make a grown man faint.
And he saw Edward Newgate, silent and solemn, standing at the prow of a small boat his massive frame like a mountain against the horizon.
The Rocks Pirates once a monstrous force that made the world tremble had finally, truly fallen apart today.
Alright, one look at this scene and it's clear: everyone's acting!
Every last one of them's putting on a show, and only Rocks got beat to a pulp!
"Oi, boys! I'm back!"
A booming, exuberant voice split the silence on deck.
Everyone turned at once to see Gol D. Roger, covered in blood, hauling himself up onto the Oro Jackson with the help of a floating plank.
With a loud thud, Roger collapsed onto the deck, sword and all. But instead of staying down, he popped right back up, spread his arms wide, and grinned brighter than the sun.
"Party time!"
"Captain!" "Roger!"
The crew rushed forward, helping him up in a flurry of hands and laughter.
Rayleigh frowned, pulling out a roll of bandages from his coat. "At least let me patch you up first… Forget it. Why do I even bother?" He sighed as he began wrapping Roger's wounds with practiced hands, but the captain had already snatched a barrel of rum and started gulping it down like a man possessed.
The exhaustion and pain of battle vanished, swept away by the intoxicating rush of victory.
Soon, barrels of rum and platters of roasted meat covered the deck. Wounded crew members sat where they could, patching themselves up while laughing loudly about the fight they had just survived.
"Hahaha! You guys should've seen Rocks' face at the end! What a sight!"
"That old bastard Garp's punch was insane! I swear I felt the whole island shake all the way over here!"
"But if we're talking about who profited the most this time…"
Scopper Gaban, wrapping his arm, shot a teasing glance toward Kael, who was sitting casually in the corner sipping orange juice. "I'd say it's our very own hunting expert, huh?"
All eyes turned toward Kael and more importantly, to the mountain of bulging sacks piled up behind him.
Roger drained his rum barrel, wiped his mouth, and laughed heartily. "Kuhahahaha! He's right! Kael, you sneaky brat! While we were out there fighting for our lives, you went and raided the Celestial Dragons' treasury!"
Kael shrugged, looking completely unapologetic. "Hey, I believe in tactical division of labor. You fight, I get rich. Teamwork, right?"
That was his logic, plain and simple: Roger fought Rocks, Kael handled the rest.
"Oh, stop pretending! Open 'em up already, let's see what you got!" Gaban rubbed his hands together like an excited fly.
"Yeah! Open them up!"
"Show us what kind of treasure the Celestial Dragons hoard!"
Amid the growing chants and laughter, Kael smirked and nudged the sacks with his foot. "Alright, alright. Everyone gets a share."
A cheer erupted. The crew crowded around as Kael untied the bags.
Mountains of gold, dazzling jewels, and diamond-encrusted trinkets spilled out across the deck, gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight so bright it nearly blinded everyone.
"We're rich!"
"Finally! I can upgrade my weapons!"
The crew dove into the treasure piles like a pack of happy moles, laughing and tossing handfuls of coins into the air.
Kael didn't bother stopping them. He just let them enjoy themselves. Most of these treasures were things he had "borrowed" from the Celestial Dragons anyway gold, gems, and all sorts of lavish junk.
Kael: I'm not interested in money! (Small horse voice)
But then, Roger called out, struggling to open a particularly heavy and ornate chest inlaid with gold and pearls.
"Oi, this one's really heavy! Bet there's something big inside!" he shouted, motioning for a few crewmates to help.
"One, two, three open!"
They heaved together, lifting the lid with a loud creak. But instead of mountains of gold, what greeted them was a soft velvet lining… and something small resting quietly in the center.
Not jewels.
Not a Devil Fruit.
Not even a Poneglyph.
It was… a baby.
A baby boy, fast asleep, his cheeks rosy, lips parted ever so slightly. His hair bright red, fiery and vivid made him look like a tiny ember in a sea of gold.
The deck fell utterly silent.
Every eye turned toward the chest. Every breath caught.
Time itself seemed to stop.
"…"
"…"
"Kael!!!"
Rayleigh was the first to react, roaring Kael's name at the top of his lungs. "You damn thief! You even steal babies now?!"
Hey, that's slander!
"This wasn't me!" Kael waved both hands frantically, looking genuinely bewildered. "I swear I didn't know! Who the hell hides a baby in a treasure chest?!"
He quickly stepped closer, peering down into the chest.
And when he saw that unmistakable crimson hair, his mind went blank.
Wait… gold… no red legend!
He had looted God Valley, hunted Celestial Dragons, emptied their vaults, witnessed Rocks' fall, and Roger's rise.
But fate, in all its twisted humor, had just told him he wasn't merely a witness to history.
Because lying in that chest… was the future Emperor of the Sea.
The man who would inherit Roger's hat.
The man who would stop the Marineford War with a single gaze.
The man known as Red-Haired Shanks.
Kael looked down at his dust-covered hands, then back at the baby.
Looks like I got the MVP… and everyone else just tagged along for the win.