Roger's Strength (Seeking Flowers)

"What's the matter?"

Roger's gaze fixed directly on Patri Vic.

"Do you have any news about Byrnndi World?"

"Byrnndi World?"

Roger paused.

He thought for a moment, then answered honestly: "Actually, I did see him a few days ago."

The Roger Pirates hadn't been at sea long, and the ship they were sailing now wasn't the Oro Jackson, just an ordinary vessel.

They wanted to set sail for the New World.

But their ship's specs were too low; even after coating, it was easily destroyed when they encountered Sea Kings.

They had no choice but to hire shipwrights on Sabaody Archipelago to build them a new ship.

That would take quite some time, though.

They'd been staying on Sabaody Archipelago all this while.

A few days ago, they ran into Byrnndi World on the archipelago.

Because Byrnndi World's reputation was equally formidable in the New World. He had a solid track record of provoking the Navy Headquarters and attacking the Rocks Pirates Ship while escaping unscathed.

Roger naturally remembered him.

"Do you know where he went?" Patri Vic pressed.

He'd only asked casually, but it turned out Roger actually knew.

"Wouldn't it be better to drink and chat at the same time?" Roger said with a grin.

"Oh?" Patri Vic smiled.

"Hahaha... Cheers!"

The three cups clinked together with a crisp sound.

"It's been a while since I've had such fine liquor." Whitebeard took a big gulp.

"Not bad." Patri Vic set down his cup and praised it.

"Hahaha... I often come here to drink. Out of all the taverns on Sabaody Archipelago, this is the only one that suits my taste."

"Alright, now tell me where Byrnndi World is."

Though Patri Vic was enjoying the drinks, he hadn't forgotten his main purpose.

"Based on his route that day, he was heading toward the North Blue." Roger answered honestly.

"What business do you have with Byrnndi World?" Rayleigh asked curiously from the side.

"Nothing much. Just want to kill him." Patri Vic took a sip of the fine liquor and replied calmly.

"Is it because he attacked your Rocks Pirates Ship?" Gaban chimed in.

He'd read the news about Byrnndi World. A few months ago, he'd attacked the Rocks Pirates Ship, and the papers had covered it.

It was likely that was how he'd offended the Rocks Pirates.

Patri Vic nodded slightly.

"His strength is no joke," Roger said seriously.

When they'd met a few days ago, Roger and Byrnndi World had even fought, but they stopped due to the Navy's interference.

Still, Roger had memorized Byrnndi World's departure route.

"Are you underestimating us, you bastard?" Whitebeard laughed loudly.

Byrnndi World's strength was indeed impressive, with an extraordinary Devil Fruit.

But he was Whitebeard!

How could he fear some petty Byrnndi World?

"Hahaha... Want to have a fight, Edward? Let me see the strength of you Rocks Pirates officers." Roger asked with interest.

Since he'd run into an officer of the Rocks Pirates, this was a perfect chance to test their strength—he couldn't let it slip by.

But their fight wouldn't be to the death, just a simple spar.

"You want to challenge me? I doubt you could even beat Vic." Whitebeard laughed in response.

"Is that so?"

As he spoke, Roger's gaze fell on Patri Vic: "Want to have a fight, Vic?"

Roger was quite curious about the strength of the Rocks Pirates officers, but what intrigued him most was Whitebeard's power.

After all, Whitebeard had roamed the New World for years, with a bounty higher than Patri Vic's.

So naturally, he believed Whitebeard was stronger.

But since he couldn't fight Whitebeard, fighting Patri Vic was still a good choice.

"Fine."

As it happened, Patri Vic also wanted to know Roger's current strength.

The two arrived at the shore of Sabaody Archipelago.

"I'll go easy on you, Vic." Roger wore a confident smile on his face.

"Of course, so will I." Patri Vic nodded in reply.

"Boom!"

Both figures vanished from their spots in an instant, and a thunderous explosion erupted in the space between them, kicking up a cloud of sand.

Their fists collided.

Though Roger was still in the first half of the Grand Line, his strength was far from weak.

He possessed all three types of Haki, was skilled in Body Technique, and fully matched the combat power of a Rocks Pirates executive.

"Bam! Bam! Bam!!!"

Neither of them used any other power—they only clashed with Armament Haki and physical techniques.

The ground beneath them cracked into countless fissures, torn and battered into a mess.

Their battle naturally drew the attention of many Sabaody residents.

"That man with the straw hat... could it be Roger?"

A pirate pulled a wanted poster from his pocket and stared at Roger with excitement. "It's him! Gold Roger, with a bounty of 450 million Berry!"

In the first half of the Grand Line, Roger's name was famous. After all, in Paradise, a bounty over 100 million was enough to catch the attention of many strong fighters.

Let alone 450 million Berry for Gold Roger!

"Who's the man fighting him?"

Some weaker pirates in the first half of the Grand Line hadn't yet seen wanted posters for the New World's powerful crews.

So they didn't recognize Patri Vic.

"He... he's an executive of the Rocks Pirates—Patri Vic!"

A pirate pushed up his glasses with a pale face, a cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The Rocks Pirates dominated the entire New World, their reputation spreading far and wide.

Even pirates in the first half of the Grand Line who had never seen a Rocks executive's wanted poster had certainly heard of the Rocks Pirates.

"Why is a Rocks executive here? Could it be... they want to conquer the Grand Line?"

"Even the Navy can't do a thing about the Rocks Pirates. Conquering the Grand Line would be child's play for them."

A pirate swallowed hard and spoke with a trembling voice.

The New World was widely recognized as the most dangerous sea in the world.

And the Rocks Pirates thrived there.

Conquering the Grand Line would be nothing to them.

But Rocks had no interest in the pirates of Paradise, and the wealth of the countries in the first half of the Grand Line couldn't compare to the New World.

So unless there was a special reason, Rocks simply didn't want to come to the "countryside."

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