"Rolan, when will we move Sky Nation here? There's nothing left," Lina said, lying beside Rolan, her fingers tracing circles on his bare chest.
Rolan's hand moved slowly, as he slid his fingers gently into her, yet his eyes remained half-closed, his expression unreadable.
"Yes, once the weather stabilizes, we can begin relocating Sky Nation," he replied, his tone calm but with a hint of amusement.
Lina quickly pushed his hand away, blushing furiously. "Stop! Rolan, I… I really can't handle it anymore. Go find Robin instead."
A faint smirk curved Rolan's lips. He had come to Lina in the afternoon at Robin's insistence for mercy, yet he hadn't expected Lina to be so easily flustered.
"We should move Sky Nation quickly anyway," he added.
Lina nodded, her face still flushed, though she didn't realize that Rolan's reason wasn't exactly what she imagined. Among the three women in his life, Hancock was strongest, followed by Robin, and Lina the weakest. Even with the relocation, none of them could truly match Rolan's power. But at least moving Sky Nation would give him a chance to vent some of his energy.
---
The next day, newspapers across the world reported every shocking event that had unfolded in Totto Land. Headlines spread like wildfire, sending waves through the recently quiet Pirate World.
---
New World, Wano Country, Onigashima
In a dim, gloomy room, a giant "Minotaur" scowled at the newspaper in his hands. Four Emperors Kaido.
"Charlotte Linlin… she's gone?" he muttered, taking a long gulp from his wine gourd, the liquor spilling down the corners of his mouth. Then he slammed it to the floor with a crash, wine flowing everywhere.
"You've really regressed, old woman. How could you be defeated by a newcomer?" Kaido growled, tears glimmering in the corners of his eyes. He couldn't fathom the death of Big Mom.
Though rivals in the title of Four Emperors, he and Linlin shared a bond formed long ago in the Rocks Pirates. They had fought together through countless battles, their camaraderie forged amidst chaos and lawlessness. Kaido's current Devil Fruit power had even been gifted by Linlin herself.
"Damn old woman, even in death you leave me to clean up your mess!" he muttered, gripping his club and slowly rising to his full height.
---
New World, Moby Dick
"Whitebeard! Whitebeard! Bad news, bad news!" Marco rushed toward Whitebeard, clutching a stack of newspapers.
"What is it this time, so flustered?" Whitebeard asked, withdrawing his hand from a moment of indulgence with a leopard-print nurse.
Marco handed him the newspaper, frustration clear. Why won't he restrain himself? he thought.
"Rolan killed Big Mom!"
Whitebeard's eyes widened. He grabbed the newspaper, scanning the headline:
[Shocking! Big Mom Dies in Battle! A New Four Emperors Emerges, Who Is He?]
The photos showed Rolan standing tall amid the ruins, Den Den Mushi in hand, with Charlotte Linlin collapsed in a pool of blood behind him.
This is Rolan? Whitebeard read further, confirming the truth. Big Mom was indeed dead, slain by Rolan.
Whitebeard frowned. Unlike Linlin and Kaido, he valued the bonds of comrades and family deeply. Though separated by differing ideals, he could not dismiss the emotional weight of the loss. Yet vengeance was not his concern. Pirates lived a life of risk, and every death was a part of the world they chose.
On the stern deck, a young, freckled man grinned at the news, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Rolan has grown this strong… When will I reach his level?"
---
New World, Red Force
Red-Haired Shanks stood by his ship's rail, holding a newspaper. The sea breeze lifted his cloak and his red hair, revealing his scarred left eye.
"Rolan… what exactly is he planning? And who really is he?" Shanks murmured.
Benn Beckman, smoking, appeared at the bow. "Boss, worrying about Rolan again?"
Shanks didn't turn, replying faintly, "Yes, I don't know what he wants to do. With this strength, few can rival him. What is he capable of?"
They both exchanged a glance, shock mirrored in each other's eyes. "Could it be…"
---
Paradise, Sky Nation
"This is today's newspaper from the Blue Sea patrol, everyone take a look!" a giant pterosaur announced, dropping several copies in the main hall.
"Wyper, why deliver it yourself? Your subordinates should suffice, and the King's Guards still need training," Gan Fall said.
Wyper opened the newspaper, showing the headline and photograph. "Soon we can move to the New World. Look."
Gan Fall's jaw dropped. "This is… King?"
Before he could continue, a tall, striking woman rushed in. "Rolan? Where is he? Show me!"
Wyper handed her a fresh newspaper. "Queen, this concerns the King."
She ignored him, taking the newspaper with flushed cheeks, eyes sparkling with admiration. Gan Fall and the others sighed at Rolan's luck.
From that moment on, she declared any news about Rolan must come to her first. She leaned back, content.
____
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