At the Manor.
The pirates Roa had brought back from Beehive Island were packing up.
After all, they had lived here for six years, so they had quite a lot of luggage.
Roa, meanwhile, was inspecting his legion.
"Now that's magnificent!"
In the courtyard, which had yet to be repaired, rows of expressionless figures stood in perfect formation. Roa folded his arms and nodded repeatedly as he looked them over. "I didn't even realize I'd built up such a fortune."
They were all Roa's wraiths.
There were more than a hundred of them in total. Every one was a pirate with a bounty exceeding fifty million Berries, and several of them were Devil Fruit users! Those who had mastered Haki numbered in the double digits.
That was Roa's greatest gain over the past six years, aside from his own growth and Bullet.
In truth, Roa had never expected there to be so many.
After all, this country was actually rather remote. It was poor and chaotic, yet its martial spirit was surprisingly strong. Few pirates came here to seek excitement.
The only explanation was that pirates were simply far too curious.
After many pirates disappeared here and rumors of ghosts began circulating, even more pirates came rushing over with the attitude of, Let's see what's going on.
Had the Rocks Pirates possessed so many formidable officers at their peak?
Could Captain Rocks have done this?
To put it bluntly, with these mindless creatures alone, Roa could easily flatten this country.
"Lord Roa, are we leaving this country next?"
Bullet stood behind Roa, still straight as a javelin. At least he had made some progress—he had spoken without first shouting a report.
"What is it, Bullet?"
Roa glanced back at him. "You don't want to leave?"
"Of course not!"
Bullet shook his head decisively. "It's just... are we really going to do nothing?"
Were they really just leaving like this?
"What should we do? I can't make this country any better than it already is."
Roa sighed. "Damn it, I'm so useless!"
This country was already doing very well.
It wasn't as if he could imitate the Celestial Dragons and play around in God Valley, right?
Ultimately, the dark energy also came from people. Without people, there would be no food.
"Lord Roa!"
Dylan hurried over. His expression was somewhat strange as he handed Roa a fruit. "The soldiers really did find a Devil Fruit."
"Oh? They really found one?"
Roa raised an eyebrow and took the fruit.
It had a distinctly mechanical appearance. Its blue skin was covered with raised shapes—some triangular, some circular, and some square—not to mention the spiral patterns.
"It's the Combination Fruit, all right."
Roa nodded in satisfaction.
They had really found it?
Several years ago, he had ordered the soldiers of both factions to search for a Devil Fruit near the front lines.
As for how he could mobilize their soldiers, he could only say that far too many people had been eager to curry favor with him.
The leaders of both factions had knelt before him like dogs, begging for his help. That was no exaggeration.
That was also why he could easily find out what those two leaders were up to.
Dylan's eyes held a trace of amazement. As expected of Lord Roa!
"Do you want to eat it? This is the Paramecia Combination Fruit. It allows the user to combine objects they come into contact with."
Roa held the fruit out to Dylan.
It was merely an ordinary Paramecia Devil Fruit, so giving it to Dylan would not be a waste at all.
"Sorry, Lord Roa. I don't think this Devil Fruit suits me."
Dylan shook his head. "If I had to choose, I'd want a Zoan Devil Fruit."
"All right."
Roa did not waste any more words.
Dylan was a master of physical combat, so a Zoan ability really would suit him better.
He would keep this fruit for now.
"By the way, Dylan,"
Roa said, "what do you think about us establishing a company?"
"A company?"
Dylan thought for a moment before asking, "In what field?"
"War!"
Roa smiled. "A company that exists neither to conquer nor to plunder, and not even to make a profit, but solely for war itself."
"Huh?"
Even someone as weathered as Dylan was now a little bewildered.
"It'll surely be interesting! A company that provides weapons, soldiers, and military consultation—and even directly participates in wars!"
Roa spread his arms and embraced the world. "Wherever there is war, there we are! Wherever we are, there is war!"
Six years in this country had taught Roa that war was a wonderful thing!
Although, strictly speaking, at this stage Roa only needed a country like the Land of Endless War to grow. After all, dark energy was renewable. As long as people continued to suffer, dark energy would flow endlessly.
But he couldn't stay on one island for the rest of his life, could he?
Roa wanted to see the world properly, too.
He really did want to start a war that would sweep across the entire world. However, until he possessed power surpassing the World Government, it was better to keep a low profile.
"I understand."
Dylan nodded slightly. "Then we'll first need sufficient weapons and soldiers. Do you have any ideas?"
This country would actually be perfect. It was highly suitable.
But Roa couldn't bear to destroy their simple and kindhearted ways.
Then, were there any other places in the world with enough weapons and sufficiently powerful soldiers?
Were there?
There really was one.
There was a country in this world called Germa.
If he calculated correctly, that fellow Judge's Artificial Human Soldiers should already be in cultivation by now, right?
Looks like he would have to make a trip to the North Blue first.
But before that, he needed to make his escape.
Once his luggage was packed, Roa prepared to head to the coast and board a ship.
The two sides currently at war had complicated feelings about his departure.
Lord Roa had indeed forcibly maintained the balance of the war, intending to keep this country trapped in flames forever. But whenever either side fell into danger, he really did come to their aid.
Eternal warfare was undeniably a hell for the country itself. But what about the upper ranks of their armies? Was it really hell for them? They didn't have to go to the front lines, and they still enjoyed all the benefits they were supposed to.
Sigh, those two leaders simply hadn't understood this point. They always felt that Lord Roa's existence prevented them from seizing the highest authority in the country.
Regardless, they could not stop Roa from leaving. All they could do was present him with farewell gifts—some gold, jewelry, and the like.
Roa was deeply moved. This country wasn't made up entirely of ingrates, after all. His efforts hadn't been wasted.
One cart after another rolled out of the fortress. The ones pulling them were not animals, but Roa's wraiths. There was no other reason—they were simply faster. The fortress was still some distance from the coast where the ships were docked, so they needed to pick up the pace.
Roa poked his head out of one cart and looked back at the fortress growing farther and farther away.
I'll definitely come back!
Hmm?
Roa suddenly raised his head.
Something was wrong.
The clouds in the sky were moving strangely.
There was no wind now, yet the clouds were churning violently.
It was as if some monster was approaching within them.
"Roa!"
Sure enough, in the next instant, a roar like thunder came from the sky. "I knew you were still alive, you brat!"
"Huh?"
Roa froze for a moment. That voice sounded so familiar.
"This voice is...?"
Dylan, who was in the same cart, suddenly changed expression. "Lord Roa, he got here too quickly!"
"Whoa! Now that's magnificent!"
After a brief moment of shock, Roa sighed in exasperation.
In the sky, the clouds formed a gigantic vortex. Within it, a colossal creature slowly descended.
Blue scales, a flowing mane, long whiskers, and sharp horns.
The enormous Azure Dragon lowered its head from the clouds. "Uhohohohoho! Long time no see, brat!!"
"Big Brother Kaido..."
Before you continue