January, Sea Era 1497.
The Roger Pirates landed on Roland Island.
The dangerous conditions surrounding it had given them plenty of trouble, but after a considerable struggle, they had made it through.
"That was seriously dangerous! I nearly died! Now even whirlpools give me the creeps."
Buggy stuck out his tongue.
"It wasn't that bad. We've been through worse, after all."
Beside him, Shanks smiled and patted Buggy on the shoulder.
Without Captain Roger's ability and the Fish-Man Sambel's sensitivity to ocean currents, getting in would have been far harder.
"Let's head ashore, everyone, and get the last piece of the puzzle."
Excitement surged through Roger, and the others felt the same.
But they knew that even though Hades had told them about this place, getting their hands on the Road Poneglyph would not be easy.
They had no idea what connection Hades had to this force called "NESTS," which they had never heard of before.
Judging from what Hades had said, however, NESTS was a relatively independent organization, not under his control.
Roger was the first to step ashore.
The contrast with Roland Island's expanses of blooming violets was plain to see.
The shores of Roland Island were a complete mess.
The wreckage of pirate ships and merchant ships floated near the shore or had been washed up onto it.
There was no telling how many ships had met their end in the dangerous waters surrounding Roland Island.
Some of those ships dated back many years.
The unusual environment created by its unique magnetic field allowed the island's violets to bloom all year round.
Thick white mist drifted through the skies around the island, hiding Roland Island from ships in the distance.
Many ships had accidentally been caught in the whirlpools surrounding Roland Island and ultimately failed to escape.