Everyone aboard was silent, for today, a legend had drawn to a close...
"Rayleigh, what are your plans?"
Barn smiled as he "looked" toward Rayleigh and asked.
Barn's sudden question caught Rayleigh off guard, but he still answered.
"I'm already feeling tired. I plan to open a little tavern in the Sabaody Archipelago and spend the rest of my days quietly with my wife."
"World, what about you?"
Perhaps World hadn't expected Barn to ask him. He opened the one eye he had kept closed, glanced at Barn, then shut it again, though he answered.
"I'm going to settle the score with those guys."
Barn shook his head with a wry smile. Of course he knew who World meant by "those guys."
That misunderstanding really hurt World deeply. Forget it. Nothing I say now will get through to him. I'll talk to him another day. Come to think of it, I'll need Leonard's help with this, won't I?
Barn turned his head toward Leonard as he thought.
Leonard sensed Barn's gaze, but he was a little puzzled. He had already joined Barn's guild, so naturally, he would go wherever Barn went.
Sure enough, Barn shook his head and then turned toward Golden Lion.
"Shiki, what are your plans?"
Golden Lion wore a rare look of sorrow. He dragged a hand heavily down his face, then rested it against his forehead and spoke.
"Barn, the East Blue really is a sea full of miracles."
Golden Lion's answer had nothing to do with his question, leaving Barn momentarily stunned, but he replied anyway.
"Yes. After all, it's the sea that gave birth to a man like Roger."
At that moment, Barn added another thought to himself.
And the future members of the Straw Hat Pirates, too.
"Roger... surely he wouldn't want this sea ravaged by war."
Golden Lion spoke with his head still lowered.
Those words made Barn's heart tremble. He knew that in the original course of events, Golden Lion had gathered pirates from all over to conquer the East Blue. He didn't want that to happen. His guild, which was also his base of operations, was here too.
But now he was asking this. Was it because of Roger?
So Barn answered.
"Probably not..."
"I want to protect this sea, because it's the homeland of the man I, Golden Lion, acknowledged!"
Barn froze. This wasn't how the script went. Was this the so-called "butterfly effect"?
But after thinking it over, Barn found Golden Lion's decision perfectly reasonable. In the original story, Roger had turned himself in, but the Marines had loudly proclaimed that they had captured him. That was what had driven Golden Lion to attack Marine Headquarters in a humiliated rage.
Golden Lion was a proud man. The man who had defeated him had ended up captured by the Marines, and his pride would not allow that!
Now, however, Golden Lion knew that Roger had actually surrendered. Coupled with everything Roger had said and done during their visit, that had probably changed his outlook. Judging by his words just now, Golden Lion had previously considered destroying the East Blue; he had simply abandoned that idea now.
Golden Lion had a nasty disposition. Yes, "nasty" was hardly an unfair word for it. Many people had connections with him, but most of those relationships were nothing more than mutual exploitation. He had very few true friends. Although Roger had clashed and exchanged fire with Golden Lion dozens of times, both large and small, he had ultimately earned Golden Lion's recognition. From his roaring in the prison cell to his present melancholy, it seemed Roger had become an indispensable part of Golden Lion's life-or perhaps a "comrade" in a different sense.
Now that his friend was gone, Golden Lion, who had fought him all his life, perhaps wanted to do something for him.
That thought occurred to Barn, and he asked.
"Shiki, wasn't your goal to conquer the world?"
Hearing Barn's words, Golden Lion gave a self-mocking smile. He shook his head and said.
"Conquer the world? The moment I lost to Roger, I lost the right to do that. Roger was the one who had that right, but now he's gone. All I want now is to follow his path. I want to find out what he truly wanted. Since he used his life to write a new chapter for this world, I'll use mine to witness Roger's choice!"
Listening to Golden Lion, Barn knew that he was no longer the Golden Lion from his memories. He had changed. He had learned to cherish certain things, and to protect them.
Perhaps this is Roger's charm.
At that thought, Barn smiled, and Roger's face as he laughed heartily appeared in his mind again.
Haven't I been influenced by Captain York in much the same way?
Barn recalled what Captain York had told him back then, and his smile gradually widened.
"Oniwood, what about you?"
When his name was called, Oniwood silently stepped behind Golden Lion and placed his hand on his sword's hilt.
"I also want to witness the 'new era' Lord Roger spoke of."
"Oh! Then come and take a look at my guild first."
Hearing no objections, Barn smiled and said.
"Hahaha, let's get going!"
"Pops! Mr. Barn broke out of prison! And Golden Lion, the one you're on good terms with, too!"
That was Marco's voice. He was always so lively aboard Whitebeard's ship.
"Oh? Guhahahaha! I knew Barn wouldn't sit quietly in a place like that. And Shiki, too! Guhahahaha! I can practically see Sengoku's livid face already!"
Whitebeard took the newspaper from Marco, glanced at it, and spoke happily.
"Wow, Mr. Barn's bounty went up again! Nine hundred and ninety million! Incredible! Breaking out of Impel Down-that's never happened in history, has it? Mr. Barn is amazing."
"Yeah! Vista, Mr. Barn really is strong! Pops! Let's go visit him!"
Marco made the suggestion to Whitebeard.
Whitebeard rubbed his chin and said.
"Hmm. It is about time I saw him."
In truth, Whitebeard still felt guilty for doing nothing when Barn had been imprisoned.
"Thank goodness. Lord Barn is all right. Thank goodness."
On Amazon Lily, Hancock had also seen the report and was beside herself with joy, but...
"Little Hancock, what has you so happy?"
"N-nothing!"
Hancock hurriedly hid the newspaper behind her back, but how could that escape Gloriosa's notice?
She reached out and snatched the newspaper from behind Hancock, then saw the news of Barn's escape.
Gloriosa, who now had a few wrinkles at the corners of her mouth, curled her lips slightly at the report and teased Hancock playfully.
"It seems the great hero of Amazon Lily has captured our little Hancock's heart!"
"H-he has not."
The irreverent former empress had made Hancock blush bright red.
"Hehehe."
That was Gloriosa's laugh after her little scheme succeeded...
"You're finally back, you bastard master!"
"Chirp, chirp!"
Adam appeared aboard Barn's ship with Fitz. Seeing the master he hadn't met in so long, Fitz flew excitedly around Barn.
"Hehe, watch it, or I'll give you a beating, you idiot apprentice!"
Barn smiled at Adam as he played with Fitz.
Just then, a dark shadow appeared beneath the surface of the sea, growing larger and larger.
"It's that whale!"
Golden Lion spotted the enormous shadow in the water and immediately used his power to lift the little sailboat into the sky.
Sure enough, Laboon's enormous head emerged right where the boat had been, and he let out a joyful cry.
"Hahaha! Laboon!"
Barn rode Laboon ashore. This was a small island in the East Blue. The island itself was large, and at its center stood an enormous mountain that pierced the clouds, like a pillar linking heaven and earth. That was how it had earned the name "Sky Pillar Island."
Barn's guild had been built on this island. Its sheer size surprised even Rayleigh and Golden Lion. An enormous mission board stood in front of the guild.
Rayleigh stepped forward to examine it and found that the missions had all been submitted by nearby residents. They ranged from helping villagers find lost pets to dealing with Sea Kings, and so on, with detailed rankings for each mission.
They couldn't help turning their eyes toward Adam and Barn, who were walking together.
They admired Adam's ability to get things done, but admired Barn's idea even more.
"You bastard master, I've finished building the guild you asked for. Our power is expanding rapidly. In the East Blue, our influence even surpasses the Marines', but we don't have a name yet. The right to name it is yours, Master."
Barn froze for a moment.
That's right. My guild still doesn't have a name!
He had established this guild to break the current order and pursue freedom, so...
"Let's call it 'FFF'!"
"Huh?"
Clearly, Adam didn't understand what those three Fs stood for, and he voiced his confusion.
Barn merely smiled with an air of mystery and said.
"Fight for freedom."
With that, Barn walked into the guild, leaving Adam standing alone in a daze at the entrance.
"Fight for freedom, huh?"
Adam bit his finger and murmured to himself.