"Go and search!"
So Roger had said before closing his eyes.
After that.
The flying Pirate King Roger died.
More than a decade after the Great Pirate Era began.
East Blue.
Foosha Village.
Inside a small tavern.
Roger was drinking with his companions. They occasionally appeared around the world, but they had also grown accustomed to this life in hiding.
Taking their place on the seas was another rookie pirate crew.
The Red Hair Pirates!
Since Roger retired into seclusion, three pirate crews had emerged from his ranks, growing stronger by the day and making names for themselves in their own regions.
The Devil Pirate Crew, the Red Hair Pirates, and the Buggy Pirates.
Bullet spent most of his time on Sky Island, while only Red-Haired and Buggy still frequently returned to the seas.
In this little village, several boys were also growing stronger. They had promised to become pirates and each set sail on their own.
"Garp, your son's been missing for so long. Aren't you going to look for him?"
Roger seemed to be waiting for something and casually bumped fists with Garp.
"He's the wind, the most powerful Logia on Sky Island. When has he ever needed me to worry about him? Besides, apart from the missing Seagull Laboratory Members, Kaido and Dragon probably know more of Shane's secrets than anyone else in the world today."
Garp sipped his afternoon tea, looking every bit a retired old man.
"But Kaido's kept his mouth shut. He won't say a word about why Shane fell asleep back then or where the City of Heaven went. Dragon met Shane earlier than we imagined, too. Perhaps what they set out to do never stopped."
"Even eliminating Imu was only part of the plan. Everything happening now was planned in advance."
These