"Um... about that..."
In the New World, aboard the Golden Lion Pirates' flagship, the ship's doctor stared at the helm embedded in Shiki's head, lost in thought.
After a long while, he let out a soft sigh. "Sorry, Captain. It's lodged too deeply. If we force it out, it could put your life in danger."
"Is that so?" Shiki curled his lip and took a mirror to inspect his new appearance. "Then forget it. Though I do look a bit like a rooster now."
The people nearby exchanged glances, but no one responded.
"Oh, right. How's Roger doing?" Having accepted his new look without the slightest trouble, Shiki asked casually.
Woge spoke up. "Well, the storm stopped not long after we left. Roger's crew is still heading toward Laugh Tale. We lost half our fleet—should we intercept him again, Captain?"
After thinking for a while, Shiki shook his head. "Forget it. Whatever the reason, we lost that naval battle. I, Golden Lion, am not the sort of man who refuses to admit defeat. We'll wait until he becomes the Pirate King, then find another chance to fight."
"If you want to make progress in swordsmanship—if you want to become an expert who surpasses even Roger—then you must step beyond your current limitations."
Aboard Roger's ship, Shin spoke to Shanks with a grave expression.
Before him stood fifteen-year-old Shanks, sword in hand, his face more serious than ever. In the distance, Buggy watched with wide eyes. His body had been successfully recovered yesterday; it had turned out to be wedged beneath the stern, just barely short of falling into the sea.
Besides Buggy, quite a few other crew members were watching with wide eyes as well. For them, someone giving Shanks guidance was major news indeed. In every sense of