Arranged Down to the Last Detail! A One-Year Pact

"Cheers!"

On this island, which Roa had just named "The Story of Laughter," another banquet began.

The atmosphere remained lively, and everyone was still singing and dancing.

Of course they should be happy, because they have just accomplished an unprecedented feat: circumnavigating the world, finding the legendary Great Treasure, and truly conquering the Grand Line!

Isn't that something to be happy about?

However, even though he had found the Laugh Tale and realized his dream that he had pursued for many years, Roger's smile still carried a hint of melancholy.

Not only him, but Rayleigh and Gaban were also laughing, but there was a hint of snickering in their raised eyebrows.

As always, Roa would clap silently when someone sang loudly, and cheer with a smile when someone danced energetically, but he was more like an outsider, as if he were just watching a drama from above.

Most of the time, he simply observed Roger silently.

Because the black mist emanating from Roger's body at that moment was truly delicious.

"Captain, what's wrong? You seem a little unhappy."

Shanks moved closer to Roger, and the boy, who seemed somewhat precocious compared to his Red Nose best friend, keenly sensed that something was wrong with his captain.

"Nothing! Hahaha, go have some fun with Buggy!"

Roger reached out and ruffled the boy's hair, his smile looking no different from usual.

But.

"Captain,"

Shanks, however, kept a straight face and said seriously, "If there's anything you need to say, you can tell me!"

"Hahaha! You little rascal, you really dare to say that!"

Roger burst into laughter.

However, looking at the serious-looking boy in front of him, he suddenly felt a pang of regret. "Speaking of which, shouldn't I have kept you and Buggy here?"

"Huh?"

Shanks didn't quite understand what this meant.

"Sooner or later you will also set sail. As for this place, shouldn't we wait for the future when you come here yourselves?"

Roger stroked his chin and said, "Isn't this directly robbing you of the joy of future adventures?"

"That's not true!"

Shanks said somewhat anxiously, "Sailing with the captain and everyone else is the happiest thing for us!"

"Hahaha! Only a brat would say that!"

Roger ruffled Shanks's hair again and said earnestly, "Listen carefully, Shanks, true growth is about constant partings and constant encounters."

"We will grow old, you will grow up, and sooner or later you will have to stand on your own, especially after knowing all this."

"Captain.-"

Shanks, who is only nine years old this year, looked a little confused and sad.

Will we have to leave the captain and his crew someday?

"Alright, go play with Buggy."

Roger gave Shanks a nudge on the shoulder. "Kid, you don't need to think too much. The most important thing for you right now is to have fun."

"Oh..

Shanks hesitantly approached his Red Nose best friend.

Meanwhile, Roger tilted his head back and downed the wine in his glass, casually wiping the liquid from the corner of his mouth, and strode towards Roa.

"Roa, let's talk."

He said.

"We've been waiting for you."

Roa nodded with a smile.

The two left the dimly lit room and went straight to the edge of the island, where they sat cross-legged on a tall Gold Mountain.

It was truly a Gold Mountain, piled up with all sorts of gold artifacts, with only a few jewels and gemstones mixed in.

"You're right, Roa. Finding this place is far from the end, not even the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning."

In the dim light, Roger remarked with a hint of regret, "We've arrived too early."

"That's not right,"

Roa smiled. "You're the one who arrived too early. I'm not."

Roger, who was lost in thought and immersed in a subtle emotion, suddenly froze and subconsciously turned to look at Roa.

Even in such dim light, Roa's incredibly handsome and unusually young face was clearly visible.

"Yeah, you're only fifteen!"

After wandering for half his life, causing chaos throughout the world and earning a reputation for evil that resounded in every corner of the world, Roa returned still just a half-grown child!

This kid is amazing! I subconsciously forgot about his age!

"Damn it! So young!"

Roger was immediately indignant. "What kind of monster are you, kid? Even someone with extraordinary talent like Kaido or Charlotte Linlin couldn't possibly reach your level at this age!"

"I'm also very troubled by this,"

Roa sighed as well, "What's frustrating is that as I get older, there are fewer and fewer things in this world that can cause me distress."

You little brat!

Roger gritted his teeth inwardly.

You're getting a good deal and then acting innocent, aren't you!

"So,"

Roa raised an eyebrow. "So you already know everything, but are troubled by not having the power to change anything?"

"Huh? I'm not that bored. What's there to worry about? Everyone has their own things to do."

Roger, who was so carefree just a moment ago, gritted his teeth the next, "It's just a pity that I missed the battle eight hundred years ago, and it seems I can't make it in time for the one eight hundred years later!"

"What kind of person is Joy Boy waiting for, and how will he change the world?"

I really want to see it!

At that moment, Roger raised his hands like a child and complained loudly, "Damn it! Why did the timing have to be wrong!"

Roa raised the corners of his mouth.

An interesting man.

"So, Roa,"

Roger looked at Roa again, his eyes more serious than ever before. "What exactly do you want? Now you can finally tell me. What does this kid know?"

Before reaching the Laugh Tale and uncovering the blank history, was he already foreshadowing something?

"Didn't I already say that, Roger?"

Roa simply smiled and said, "I hope you will go and usher in a new era."

"A new era?"

Roger immediately frowned, somewhat suspiciously asking, "Why would I do something so pointless?"

What does it matter to him what the world becomes? He's just a pirate.

"Aren't you already running out of time?"

Roa Ya said matter-of-factly, "I've caused so much trouble for this world in the first half of my life, so I'll use the last of my life to make a contribution to it."

"Who cares about you!"

Roger instantly became angry. "So you're convinced I'm doomed, huh? Even if I really am going to die, in my final moments, I'd rather spend my child's childhood with her!"

That brat's words are so infuriating!

"No, Roger, you will."

Roa remained unperturbed, simply smiling as he said, "Because the will passed down through generations, the tides of time, and people's dreams—these are all unchangeable. As long as people continue to pursue the answer to freedom, then all of this will never cease."

Roger was stunned.

This kid—

Why am I saying things that sound like they should be my own?

Damn, wouldn't that be terrible as a dying man's last words?

No! It's too early to think about your last words!

"Since you can't wait until then, then like Joy Boy, entrust everything to the future, Roger."

Roa said, "The time isn't right yet? Then create the time! When the wave sweeps the world, the heroes will naturally appear."

The moment those words were uttered, Roger's body visibly trembled.

Are we entrusting everything to the future?

In that instant, Shanks' image flashed through Roger's mind, followed by his infant daughter Robin.

Just as he said, sooner or later, the children will grow up and begin their own adventures.

By then, should we still make the children feel that the time isn't right?

Although he may never witness firsthand how the person Joy Boy was waiting for would change the world, as Roa said,

Why not just entrust this dream to those who come after us?

All I can do is, like Joy Boy, offer some assistance to those who come after me!

Isn't this a more suitable way for me to die than in a hospital bed?

As Roa said, they wouldn't live much longer anyway, so they waited.

Roger's eyes widened suddenly.

Was Roa waiting for this moment from the very beginning?

If I remember correctly, the first thing he said when he arrived at his ship was to confirm whether he had a terminal illness.

"What's going on with you, kid? Are you some kind of prophet?"

Otherwise, how would he know what he would feel upon reaching the Laugh Tale?

How could he possibly make me fall for him with just a few words?

Roa simply shrugged. "Secrets make men more alluring."

"You brat!"

Roger was so angry that his long mustache was trembling.

"Let's decide on that, Roger."

Roa stood up, gazing at the endless darkness before him, and said leisurely, "You will usher in a new era."

"Well, let's start by spreading the news of your discovery of the Great Treasure all over the world. I wonder if Imu will be so scared he can't sleep at night? That victor from eight hundred years ago probably doesn't know that Joy Boy has left behind a big surprise."

For eight hundred years, rumors of the Great Treasure have circulated at sea, but they have remained just that—rumors. Very few people believed them, let alone someone like Roger who actually went out of his way to find it.

"What do you think of the title 'Pirate King'?"

Roa laughed and said, "An unprecedented conqueror of the Grand Line, a king who stands above all pirates, the Pirate King."

Pirate King?

Roger nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds pretty good. The King of Pirates seems to Seven Monarchs, but to give me all the honors and give me such a title, are you really willing to be subordinate to me?"

"What are you saying?"

Roa looked utterly bewildered. "How many times do I have to repeat myself? I stopped being a pirate the day the Rocks Pirates disbanded."

"What does the Pirate King have to do with me, a merchant? It's Uncle Shiki and his crew who should be angry. But Uncle Shiki was just taught a lesson by you, so he shouldn't be bothering you again anytime soon. You can rest assured about that."

That brat!

Roger's lips twitched.

"Once I become the Pirate King, the whole world will start to believe that the legendary Great Treasure is real."

Roa Ya stepped onto the pile of gold, his shoes making a slightly crisp sound. "All the wealth, power, and status in the world are here!"

"Give it one chance, and the world's madmen will be set ablaze!"

"How about we make this opportunity your public execution?"

Roa crossed his arms, looking serious. "The Pirate King, who had acquired all the wealth, power, and status in the world, declared to the world before his death that all his treasure was buried in Laugh Tale."

"And then, wouldn't that be the era when men all over the world set sail? Hmm, let's call it the Great Pirate Era?"

"Wait, wait!"

Roger interrupted him somewhat impatiently, "How did it suddenly escalate to the point where I'm being publicly executed!"

Oh, this one?

Roa explained to him, "According to the procedure, you just need to find the Navy—your old acquaintance Garp, right?—and confess to him. The Navy will, of course, declare that Marine Hero arrested the Pirate King. But that doesn't matter; he'll take all the credit for the captain's death, so you being the Pirate King won't make a difference either."

"After you surrender, given your status in the underworld, the World Government will likely hold a public execution of you, in order to restore the prestige of the government and the Navy. After all, they've had quite a bit of trouble with us lately."

Has this kid planned out his death in such detail?

Roger's lips twitched. "No surprises? What if something unexpected happens?"

"An unexpected incident occurred -"

Roa gave Roger a deep look, then sighed, "Then I'll have to think of another way."

"Then the servant got what he deserved!"

Roger was furious.

I will mourn for you.

"Who cares about you!"

Roger roared.

But.

That seems to make a lot of sense.

If there were ever a day when public executions were to happen, wouldn't the World Government spare no effort to broadcast it live worldwide?

In that case, no matter how much Wu Si and the others could manipulate the silk, that one moment would be enough to change everything!

Anyway, I really don't have much longer to live.

But, Robin.

He had said that even though his days were numbered, he wanted to spend as many years as possible with her. "From the moment we found this island, the joy of sailing was no longer possible, Roger,"

Roa chuckled and said, "Once the news of your discovery of the Great Treasure gets out, the World Government will definitely spare no effort in searching for you. Next, it won't just be Garp; the Divine Knight, the Five Servants, and even that Imu might personally intervene."

"You can't expect me to keep this a secret, can you?"

"And what about you?"

Roger countered, "Roa, won't you be targeted?"

"What?"

Roa was shocked. "I've helped you so much, Roger, and you still won't keep this a secret?!"

This guy is such a hypocrite!

I don't care!

Roa retorted unreasonably, "If word gets out that I've been here, then I'll expose all the secrets to the world."

Let that Imu Im start cleaning up the world.

"..."

Roger's eyes and the corners of his mouth both darkened.

This brat is a real tough nut to crack! Does he really think he can threaten himself with the future of the entire world without a care in the world?

Moreover, he's probably serious!

"Disband the Roger Pirates, Roger."

Roa said, "Let everyone change their appearance and hide away, and spend the most precious time with their wives and children. But don't stay with them too long, you'll definitely be the primary target. Who knows when Imu might suddenly appear out of nowhere? So, you'd better turn yourself in as soon as possible."

"You really arranged everything perfectly,"

Roger sneered, "So, Roa, what exactly are you expecting in this so-called Great Pirate Era?"

No.

"No?"

"Or rather,"

Roa said meaningfully, "What I look forward to is this era itself."

Roger pursed his lips.

This era itself?

As he said, with countless restless ambitious individuals flocking to the sea, will that inevitably lead to a chaotic Great Pirate Era?

Roa, what he craves is chaos itself!

That brat!

Roger's hand had already unconsciously rested on the hilt of his beloved knife at his waist.

Madman!

Beneath Wu Zang's carefree and playful demeanor lies an incredibly twisted and toxic soul!

The Hundred Plans theft scheme was solely aimed at making the world more insane and chaotic!

"Shall we take action?"

Roa laughed and said, "It's best not to now, otherwise, I'm afraid no one will be able to get out of here."

Roger paused, then released his grip.

Indeed, in such an environment, this kid's abilities are simply too invincible.

"One year,"

Roa held up one finger. "Let's postpone this battle until the year's end. By then, I should have the strength to fight you fairly."

"I also really want to fight you, Roger. If I can't defeat you, it will feel like something's missing. Everyone has already forgotten about the captain, so let me avenge him."

Having already missed Rocks, I can't afford to miss Roger.

"During this year, you can also spend more time with your child."

Roa said, "It wouldn't be good if it were any longer. Experiencing separation after the child is old enough to understand would be even more painful, wouldn't it?"

Roger was pleased.

Leaving when Robin was old enough to understand, and then leaving again when she was old enough to understand, seems to have caused less harm to the child.

Roger fell silent.

Although I knew Roa had ill intentions, and although I knew this guy longed for an even more chaotic future.

But his words made her heart flutter, or perhaps it was just her instinct to think that way.

Since I no longer have Wan Hui, I might as well entrust everything to the thief!

Just like Joy Boy back then.

Shanks, and Robin, whether it's one of you or someone else, we definitely need your help.

As Roa said, only in the midst of a world-shaking frenzy can true heroes emerge.

Since that's the case.

"A year?"

Roger took a deep breath and looked at Roa, "Then you'd better not regret it later."

Leaving this kid on the sea any longer would be far too dangerous.

If we can take care of this kid at Kuizhikang, that would be a huge win.

"A year has passed, and I eagerly await your arrival."

"I'm laughing, "Roa said.

Excellent!

If Roger has to wait several years before turning himself in, wouldn't that period be incredibly boring?