Somewhere on the front lines of the Land of Endless War.
The endless war continued without end, and the front lines remained engulfed in flames.
But in this narrow mountain pass, no one knew that the leaders of the two sides at war were secretly meeting.
Neither side had brought many people, only a few trusted guards.
Although the atmosphere was tense, and both sides wanted nothing more than to draw their guns and turn the other into a sieve, they still did their best to hold back.
This meeting concerned the interests both sides shared.
"I don't think there's any need to waste words,"
one of the leaders said. Leaning against the rock wall, he frowned and smoked, his tone heavy. "If we don't deal with that monster, this country will never know peace."
"We couldn't agree more."
The leader of the other side, a relatively well-dressed man, nodded solemnly. "He only wants to see this war continue forever. Until he's had his fill, none of us can achieve victory."
"However, even if we join forces, our troops alone will never be enough to defeat him!"
The smoking man blew a smoke ring. "For six years, his puppets have swept through and destroyed every pirate crew that approached this country, including many great pirates with bounties exceeding one hundred million! Not to mention that he has monsters like Bullet under his command!"
"That's nothing to worry about,"
the well-dressed man said. "He's always stayed in our territory, so we've been able to observe him more closely. He's deliberately kept his information hidden all this time, warning us that we absolutely must not leak anything about him."
"Oh?"
The smoking man's eyes lit up.
"The Rocks Pirates parted ways on terrible terms back then, and there's been constant friction between them over the past two years. I doubt those monsters will sit still if they learn where he is!"
The well-dressed man's voice turned cold. "And there's also the Marines! Six years ago, his bounty jumped by seven hundred million in one go! He must have done something that made the World Government hate him to the bone!"
"Exactly!"
The smoking man nodded repeatedly. "If we can't do it ourselves, then we'll leave it to those who can!"
He continued, "All we need to do is use this opportunity to drive him and his people out of this country!"
"That's right! Now, let's discuss the details of the plan."
"The plan? The plan is for all of you to die!"
A cold voice came from above.
The people secretly meeting here froze, then instinctively looked up.
A figure fell from the cliff, shaking the earth and sending dust billowing into the air.
"Lord Roa says he's been betrayed!"
A young man with long golden hair, tall and powerfully built despite his youth, coldly stared at everyone before him.
The well-dressed man's face instantly turned deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "B-B-Bullet! W-Wait! You were born in this country! Gray was one of my former subordinates! I even held you when you were a child!"
"I only obey Lord Roa's orders!"
Bullet sneered.
As for Gray?
That man had ultimately failed to realize his ambition of becoming king. He had been personally killed by the man standing before them.
Soon afterward, Roa saw the two great leaders in his own manor, both trembling violently and slumped on the floor like two piles of rotten meat.
"You actually leaked my whereabouts!"
The elegantly dressed, slender, and handsome young Roa was furious. "That's too awful! How could you be so awful? Now my peaceful life has been ruined!"
The well-dressed man nearly burst into tears. Pointing at the man beside him, he wailed, "I-I was bewitched by this man! Lord Roa, p-please believe me! I absolutely won't do it again! Please forgive me this once!"
"Forgive you?"
Roa snorted. "How can I forgive people who would betray even a young boy like me?"
The well-dressed man was completely dumbfounded.
"Hahahahaha! What's left to say now?"
The other leader suddenly burst into laughter. Knowing he was doomed, he instead found the courage to shout, "Roa! You piece of trash! Don't you just want to keep this country in eternal chaos so you can control it?"
"I'm telling you! Sooner or later, someone in this country will rise up and make you pay for all your blood debts!"
"What are you talking about?"
Roa asked in surprise. "You're the ones who started the war. You're the ones who killed the people. Why are you blaming me?"
The man's impassioned fury suddenly choked off.
"A few years ago, you all knelt down and begged me for help, and I genuinely helped you when you needed it,"
Roa sighed. "What exactly did I do wrong to make you hate me so much? Saving you from danger time and again still wasn't enough. You're truly greedy."
He felt so wronged.
Even without him, the war would have continued.
He had merely eliminated the influence he himself had brought. How had that made him the great villain?
"..."
The man was speechless.
The well-dressed man suddenly broke into a wail. "We were wrong! We were wrong! You're a monster that feeds on human suffering! We should never have submitted to you in the first place!"
"That's a terrible thing to say."
Roa scolded him. "You did something wrong and still insult people afterward. You really are beyond saving! If ingrates like you stay alive, they'll only make bread more expensive! Bullet!"
Bullet dragged the two men, who were both crying and laughing, outside.
"Lord Roa,"
Dylan said calmly, "the news has already spread through the underworld. There's no way to stop it. What should we do?"
"Every feast must come to an end. It's time to say goodbye,"
Roa sighed. "So this is what they mean by being unable to leave one's homeland?"
He had stayed in this country for a full six years—only one year less than on Beehive Island.
Moreover, he had absorbed far more dark energy here than on Beehive Island, and even collected more vengeful spirits!
Roa felt that compared to Beehive Island, this place was actually his homeland!
Those two bastards! They had forced a thirteen-year-old boy to leave his homeland. If they didn't deserve to die, who did?
"Sigh, that's why I always say it would be wonderful if every country in the world were like this one."
Roa sighed repeatedly. "Forget it, Dylan. Pack our things. We're leaving."
If he didn't leave now, several uncles and aunts would probably come knocking soon.
There was no need to mention the World Government. Six years ago at God Valley, he had killed hundreds of Celestial Dragons in one go. He might even have killed the moon-headed man's wife and children as well. It wasn't impossible for the Knights of God to be dispatched directly.
He had to get out of here.
Roa's estimate was completely accurate. Once the news spread, the monsters reacted one after another.
In the New World.
"Gahaha! I knew that brat was still alive and well! The Land of Endless War?"
"Ma-ma-ma! Katakuri! Let's go! We're going to pick up your good brother!"
In Mary Geoise.
"That great sinner is still alive and well? Send Garp! He must die!"
What even Roa had failed to anticipate was this.
In the skies above the waters near the Land of Endless War,
"Wororororo! It's actually this close! Roa! I'm coming!!"
Before you continue