Shaya: Look, Roger not only entrusted his wife and child to me, but he also has to thank me.

"Garp can't be relied on, Oden can't be relied on—who else can I rely on?"

Roger's brow had already furrowed into a tight knot by the time he finished speaking.

"Isn't that obvious? Naturally, you rely on me."

Shaya no longer played dumb at this point, directly cutting through Roger's confusion. He pointed at himself and said softly.

"You're saying I should rely on you?"

Roger was taken aback, clearly not expecting that Shaya could be the one to lean on.

"Of course you rely on me. If not me, then who else?"

"In this world, is there anyone more worthy of your trust than I am?"

Shaya's expression turned earnest as he spoke.

"You? Worthy of my trust?"

Roger looked Shaya up and down, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

Though Shaya and Shanks looked nearly identical, their temperaments were worlds apart. Compared to the carefree, easygoing Shanks, Shaya's eyes seemed murkier, more calculating.

"I am naturally worthy of your trust."

At this, Shaya nodded.

"Moreover, right now, aside from me, you have no one else to trust or rely on!"

Shaya spoke to Roger seriously.

"How so?"

Roger seemed intrigued and asked Shaya.

"Roger, do you know what you mean to the World Government?"

Shaya began by questioning Roger.

"Hm? Not entirely clear, but I imagine it's not insignificant!"

Roger thought for a moment and replied with a chuckle.

"It's not a matter of insignificance—it's a matter of being the World Government's greatest thorn in their side..."

"Roger, do you realize?! From the moment you and your pirate crew reached Raftel, from the moment you learned the contents of the Poneglyphs placed on that island—contents absolutely forbidden for anyone to know—your very existence became a threat to the World Government's rule over the seas, and to the Celestial Dragons' privileged status in this world."

Shaya laid Roger's danger out plainly.

"So the World Government will spare no effort to erase every trace of you! Especially when your name carries that crucial letter 'D'—that only adds crime upon crime, compounding the offense!"

Shaya brought up the rumors surrounding the D. Clan.

"Uh..."

Clearly, Roger understood his own identity, so when Shaya mentioned the D. Clan, his brow furrowed deeply, and a flicker of wariness toward the World Government showed in his eyes.

"While you're alive, the World Government might still be restrained by your personal strength and the military might of the entire Roger Pirates, opting for a more conciliatory approach..."

"But once you die, the Roger Pirates will scatter like loose sand, and the only shred of threat you pose to the World Government will vanish without a trace! At that point, do you think the World Government will allow a child inheriting your accursed bloodline to be born into this world?"

Before Roger could speak, Shaya pressed on with his questioning.

"It's obvious—the World Government won't just let your bloodline grow unchecked. So, once you die, the government will completely wipe out this entire Baterilla Island, along with everyone on it..."

"Roger, don't think I'm exaggerating, and don't think the government is incapable of such a heinous act as slaughtering an entire island! Everyone present here has personally experienced the God Valley Incident—no one knows this world's dark side better than you."

"So trust me—if destroying one island and wiping out hundreds of thousands of people can erase the last traces of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, from this world, then the World Government and us Celestial Dragons will surely be happy to do it. They'll consider it a good deal! After all, ever since we Celestial Dragons ruled these seas eight hundred years ago, that's how we've always operated..."

Shaya paused here for a moment.

Seeing Roger's expression grow darker, he turned his gaze to Garp beside Roger and said softly, "At that point, do you think Garp would defy the World Government for your child? The justice weighing on his shoulders is already suffocating him, isn't it?"

"So then, you who have conquered these seas and are called a living legend, Pirate King Gol D. Roger—now answer me: in this world, aside from me, who is myself a Celestial Dragon and part of the privileged class, who else can help you?"

With that, Shaya looked at Roger and asked solemnly.

"Indeed, as you say..."

"If things take the worst turn..."

"Aside from you, a Celestial Dragon who can use your privilege to protect my child and wife, there seems to be no other way..."

Roger followed Shaya's line of thought.

But then his tone shifted abruptly. He slowly narrowed his eyes, looking down at Shaya from above, and asked coldly, "Even though I understand everything you've said! But still, Shanks' brother. What does any of this have to do with you? After all, you're a Celestial Dragon too, aren't you? You're my enemy as well, correct?"

"So then, you, the younger brother of Shanks—on this sea where the World Government, Celestial Dragons, Marines, and pirates all converge—which side do you truly choose to stand on?! Answer me! Tell me, what exactly do you want to gain from me?!"

As Roger's words fell, a crimson Conqueror's Haki began to flicker faintly in his eyes!

In that moment, Roger was like a waking lion, his Haki spilling out.

"Uh..."

Stussy, who had been following behind Shaya and waiting for an opportunity, suddenly found herself unable to move the instant Roger unleashed his Haki!

She felt as if she had been locked onto by a man-eating beast, a fear that seeped into her very bones! At this moment, she was like Monet on Ice Fire Island, pinned down by Zoro's gaze...

But the Conqueror's Haki Roger released now was on an entirely different level from what Zoro had unleashed back on Ice Fire Island.

If Zoro's Haki was a newborn lion cub just opening its eyes, then Roger's Haki was an invincible lion king in his prime.

"I can't move! I absolutely can't move..."

"I'm going to die! If this keeps up, I'm really going to die!"

Stussy knew she had still underestimated Roger, the Pirate King.

If Roger intended to get serious, not only would she and Shaya have no chance to escape, they wouldn't even have the opportunity to use a Den Den Mushi to notify the nearby Marine warships and call for reinforcements.

The gap in strength between them and Roger was on an entirely different level.

"You ask which side I'm really on?" Shaya listened to Roger's words, a smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "Do you even need to ask? I'm on my own side!"

"Roger! Tell me everything you know!"

"Where exactly is the final island marked by those four Road Poneglyphs? And what is truly recorded on the stone tablet there?"

"I know it can't just be a simple record of the historical events from the Void Century, erased by the World Government..."

"If it were just ordinary Poneglyphs, the ones carved on other monuments already record enough! There'd be no need for a separate one..."

"So I'm certain that on that final island, called Laugh Tale, there must be something else special there..."

Shaya ignored Roger's Haki and spoke to him in a deep voice.

"I see? So you really are Shanks's brother, after all?"

Roger was momentarily stunned by Shaya's words, then he suddenly laughed.

Then, as if something occurred to him, Roger added, "Celestial Dragons, Marines, pirates—in the future, countless people from different classes and identities will gradually awaken! They'll set out to search for Laugh Tale and fight for the ONE PIECE for all sorts of reasons! That will absolutely be an unprecedented golden age!"

"So I will never tell you..."

"If you want to know something, go find it yourself! You little Celestial Dragon brat!"

"I've put everything you want to know right there..."

Roger crossed his arms in front of his chest, directly refusing Shaya's request.

"Hey, Roger! Do you realize you don't have the right to refuse me right now?!"

"Do you truly understand your current situation? Your wife, and your unborn child—their lives are still in my hands!"

"Even if you're terminally ill and don't have much time left, you should at least give some thought to your child and your young wife, shouldn't you?!"

"Roger, you wouldn't want your wife and child to get hurt, would you?"

Shaya threatened Roger.

"I'm still not telling you..."

"That guy Shanks plans to find it himself."

"Even though our crew already brought him near the final island..."

"That kid ultimately decided that in the future, he would form his own pirate crew, and then do it himself, relying on his own strength to find the ONE PIECE!"

"So since you're Shanks's brother, go out to sea and find it yourself!"

"Everyone's dreams must be achieved with their own hands!"

With that, Roger strode up to Shaya, ignored the trembling Stussy, and used his rough, large hand to firmly pat Shaya on the shoulder.

"You bastard..."

Shaya was taken aback; Roger's words seemed to wake him up...

Yes! One's own dreams must be achieved through one's own efforts!

Got it! Shaya would go back right now and learn all of Vegapunk's knowledge!

He'd etch that knowledge firmly into his own brain!

Then, he'd turn around and clone a hundred Little Empresses, and throw a massive orgy.

Busy day and night, day and night, 'busy' with the Little Empresses...

Ahem...

"Let's go, Stussy."

"There's nothing we need here anymore."

"Oh, and tell Fleet Admiral Kong that Roger is on this island..."

"Have them prepare a hundred warships immediately!"

"No, tell them to prepare a thousand warships, surround the entire island, and launch a Buster Call! Completely destroy this bastard who dares to defy a Celestial Dragon's orders..."

With that, Shaya ignored Roger right in front of him, turned his head slightly to look at Stussy behind him, and spoke with a hint of anger.

"Huh? Me?"

Stussy was stunned speechless by Shaya's words.

This definitely isn't a joke, is it?

Shaya actually wants her to notify Fleet Admiral Kong right in front of Roger?

Is she sure she won't get cut down by Roger's sword in one swing?!

"Hey? No, don't..."

"Although I really can't tell you what's recorded on the island of Raftel."

"However, I can give you something else!"

"How about this? I'll hand over my 'Kamui' to you."

"That move—that little brat Shanks can use it too!"

"You can't be worse than your brother, can you?"

Roger looked at Shaya, a flicker of urgency flashing in his eyes.

Roger's baseline and way of thinking were higher than those of ordinary Celestial Dragons.

Especially after having a child and a wife, he had become much gentler.

"He's taken the bait."

At this, a glint of scheming success flashed in Shaya's eyes.

Yes, all of this was nothing more than Shaya's calculation.

Whether it was the world of Shaya's past life or this world.

People in every world seemed to love compromise...

You see, as long as Shaya proposed a demand that Roger absolutely couldn't agree to—one that went against Roger's beliefs—without Shaya needing to waste words, Roger himself would give Shaya what he wanted.

At the same time, after this back-and-forth from Shaya...

Not only would Roger beg Shaya to take away his wife, Portgas D. Rouge, and the still-unformed Ace in Rouge's womb...

He would also grab Shaya's hand and thank him.

"Let me think it over!"

"You know, protecting your child and wife is still a troublesome matter for me, a Celestial Dragon! You have no idea how much the Five Elders despise you!"

"Since you can't satisfy my primary demand right now and can't truthfully tell me the information about Raftel, I'll have to seriously consider whether this is worth it or not."

Shaya continued to string Roger along.

"Kid, don't always be so hung up on gains and losses!"

"As a man, you need to be a bit more romantic..."

After hearing Shaya's words, Roger's brow furrowed tightly.

Compared to Shanks, Shaya—Shanks's younger brother—seemed much sharper.

And much harder to fool.

"Heh."

At this, Shaya only let out a light laugh.

Then, Shaya looked at Roger and said softly, "Roger, I think you've misunderstood me. What I mean is, it's not impossible to protect your child and wife. After all, I'm a Celestial Dragon—it's not effortless for me, but it's a small matter! But the price needs to go up. Just handing over Kamui to me as the only bargaining chip is clearly not enough."

As Shaya spoke, he fixed Roger with a deep, wolf-like gaze, as if he intended to drain every last bit of wealth from Roger's body.

At the same time, Shaya thought to himself, "Roger, you may be the Pirate King, but you're still too upright, too green. Or rather, aside from relying on me, you've already reached a dead end. After all, you only have a few months left to live—there's no time left to find anyone else for help. So please forgive me for extorting you before your death."

"After all, what I'm telling you is the truth. If you entrust your wife and child to Garp, they will both die. But if you entrust them to me, they will live—including Ace! Ace—he's a man who could become my son. I'll take good care of him and make his name resound throughout the world! Only, as a member of CP0 and the Divine Knights, directly under my command and obeying me..."

As for Shaya, this was all just standard procedure for him.

These skills of manipulating people were things he had learned from books in his past life.

Shaya could be said to have thoroughly studied the "Great Love Immortal Venerable."

Although he had only grasped a few superficial tricks of the 'Venerable,' it was enough.

Four-thousand-word chapter! Please keep reading! Please keep reading! Please keep reading, brothers~