By the shore of a deserted island.
The pirates of the Beasts Pirates gazed anxiously at the sky.
"Why haven't they come back yet?"
"Could something have happened?"
By the shore, on the back of a snail.
"Nothing happened, right?"
Judge, who had finally emerged from the laboratory, had lost weight. His haggard face was also filled with worry.
After all, their enemy might very well be that legendary Marine Hero!
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Bullet's voice was cold and hard. "Boss won't lose to anyone!"
As a soldier, he trusted his commander completely.
"That's right, that's right!"
Bullet's conviction seemed to infect Judge. The man whose confidence had been warped away by Roa's abilities nodded repeatedly in agreement. "Boss is destined to change the world. He absolutely won't stop here!"
Sitting atop the snail's head, Doflamingo curled his lips.
It would be best if that bastard Roa were dead!
If he died, Doflamingo would be able to free himself from his fear of him.
But how could that bastard possibly die?
Was there really anyone in the world capable of killing him?
The fear of Roa in Doflamingo's heart unconsciously elevated that man's image to an infinite height.
"They're back."
Dylan, who had remained calm the entire time, suddenly smiled.
Everyone raised their heads in unison and looked toward the direction where Roa had left earlier.
They saw a huge dragon winding down from the high sky.
"Big Brother Kaido is back! Lord Roa succeeded!!"
The pirates on the shore cheered wildly.
In the sky, the pitch-black dragon slowly descended.
Kaido noticed the enormous snails on the sea below. Those giant bugs were simply too unusual—not only were they huge, but they also carried buildings on their backs.
"What are those?"
he asked.
"The country ruled by the head of the scientific research department I just recruited—Germa Kingdom. Have you heard of it, Big Brother Kaido?"
Roa spoke in an unconcerned tone. "It's the headquarters of my company now. Not bad, right?"
Abel was slightly surprised.
Boss is more capable than I imagined.
"Hmph."
Kaido snorted coldly.
Germa Kingdom?
He seemed to have some impression of it.
How long had it been since he last saw this kid, and he had already taken over an entire country?
Although it did not look very large, it was still a genuine country. The resources it could mobilize were on a completely different level from those of an ordinary pirate crew.
The black dragon slowly landed by the shore.
"Big Brother Kaido! Welcome back!"
The pirates of the Beasts Pirates were already beside themselves with excitement.
At the same time, Roa had brought Abel down onto the snail's head.
"Welcome back, Boss."
Dylan walked over and instinctively glanced at Abel beside Roa. "Is this... a Lunarian?"
His features were far too distinctive. Brown skin, white hair, and black wings. Dylan had heard of them as well.
"A Lunarian?"
Judge was even more astonished. "There are actually surviving descendants?"
"This is Abel,"
Roa introduced him. "I rescued him while saving Big Brother Kaido. From now on, he'll be the head of our company's security department."
"Abel?"
Dylan nodded slightly. "Welcome aboard, Abel. I'm Dylan."
As expected of Boss!
This is a Lunarian! The race that was said to bear the name of God!
"Hello."
Abel forced a faint smile.
Bullet and Doflamingo also studied him.
They had never heard of any Lunarians, but anyone could tell at a glance that this man with fire burning behind his head was no ordinary person.
"All right, we'll talk after we've introduced everyone,"
Roa said, taking two steps forward and looking down at the shore from above. "Big Brother Kaido, how about a banquet? We can discuss what I mentioned earlier while we're at it."
Kaido, who had returned to human form and was covered in burns, raised his head. "Why throw a banquet with you, brat?"
Not long after, the mighty snail fleet crushed through thousands of waves and vanished beyond the horizon.
A banquet was being held in the banquet hall of the Germa Kingdom's royal palace.
"That's why I said, why throw a banquet with you, brat!"
After draining an entire vat of liquor in one go, Kaido casually wiped the alcohol from the corner of his mouth and cast a sidelong glance at Roa, who was sitting beside him. "What a mood killer."
Food and alcohol filled the table in front of everyone, with Roa the sole exception.
He leisurely crossed his legs and greedily breathed in the air, completely out of place in the lively banquet hall.
"You're being too strict, Big Brother Kaido,"
Roa said lazily. "Isn't the point of a banquet for both host and guests to enjoy themselves?"
"I'm too lazy to waste my breath on you,"
Kaido said. His good brother's magma had dealt him maximum damage, so he was wrapped in thick bandages. He grabbed another vat of liquor and gulped it down. "Tell me, brat. What exactly do you mean about Wano Country?"
"Wano Country is a fine place."
Roa perked up a little and grinned. "Do you know much about that country, Big Brother Kaido?"
Kaido put down the liquor vat. "That country follows a policy of isolation, so no one knows much about it. All I know is that many years ago, an extraordinary swordsman emerged from that country—Ryoma."
"Yes. That was during the period when that country was known as the Land of Gold."
Roa nodded. "The dragon-slaying samurai Ryoma protected that country from invading enemies."
"The Land of Gold."
Kaido's eyes lit up slightly. "Does that country have a lot of gold?"
"It should, right?"
Roa was not entirely sure either.
Since it was called the Land of Gold, it should not be short on gold.
But was that ever shown in the manga?
He could not remember. He only recalled that Wano Country had abundant resources and that Kaido's factories had been operating in full swing.
"But that country has a mineral more valuable than gold."
Roa said.
"More valuable than gold?"
Kaido became interested. "What is it?"
"Seastone."
Roa said, "Wano Country is the world's largest producer of Seastone! Of course, almost no one on the seas knows about this yet."
"Seastone?"
Kaido's voice immediately rose. "Are you serious?"
"Of course."
Roa nodded. "Let's go to that country together, Big Brother Kaido. The territory will be yours, and the ore will be mine. We both have a bright future ahead of us."
It was not that Roa did not want to take Wano Country for himself. The problem was that Kozuki Oden was also a genuine monster, with strength absolutely sufficient to match Big Brother Kaido.
"Are you taking me for an idiot?"
Kaido sneered, though his eyes were shining. "But if it's really as you say, then this country is worth a visit."
"Right?"
And so, their next target was Wano Country.
Returning to a little earlier, to the island where the battle had taken place.
No, this was no longer an island. It was now a violently churning sea.
Marine Hero Garp stood atop a huge plank, with the still-shaken island residents behind him.
There were too many people and not enough boats, so Garp had acted decisively and dismantled the island's ruined buildings into planks. Only then had he barely managed to prevent the tragedy from growing worse.
He had already contacted Headquarters. The nearby Marine base would soon send warships over, so there should not be any major problems.
However, this humiliating defeat still left the Marine Hero's eyes gloomy.
That brat... is he the one Rocks spoke of, the person who inherited his will?
Garp had a powerful premonition.
No, it was not even a premonition anymore!
He was utterly certain that the brat, who was only thirteen years old this year, would become the greatest enemy of the Marines and justice!
Several days later.
"Boss!"
Roa was leisurely watching Abel and Bullet fight when Dylan hurried over with a sheet of paper.
"Your wanted poster has been updated!"
"Oh?"
Roa became interested and took the paper from Dylan's hand.
It was his wanted poster.
Unlike the appearance of a child he had had six years ago, this time it showed his beast-man form.
"Cool!"
Roa could not help praising himself as he looked at the spirited smile on his face in the wanted poster.
But where had the Marines gotten a picture of him?
Which legendary photographer had taken it?
To have captured his appearance on that battlefield, under those circumstances, was truly something.
Of course, that was not the important part.
The important part was this.
Roa looked at the words below.
"Dead or alive."
He paused, and delight flashed through his eyes. "Calamity Roa, bounty: 1.5 billion Berries!"
"Vice Admiral Garp is pretty reliable after all!"
Before you continue