We await Blackbeard's bare fangs, the moment he kills Thatch and seizes the Dark-Dark Fruit.
Only then will he leave the Whitebeard Pirates and become a lone wolf.
That would be the best time to make the arrest.
Before that...
Roy's gaze fell on the first one.
Pure Gold.
By carrying it with you, you can slow down aging and achieve a near-immortal lifespan.
Now, that piece of Pure Gold has been swallowed by a giant lanternfish.
If you find that fish, you can find Pure Gold.
Roy closed his notebook, leaned back in his chair, and looked out the window at the sky.
As the sun sets, it paints the horizon a golden-red hue.
The outline of Hachinosu looked particularly magnificent in the afterglow.
Roy's eyes reflected that golden-red expanse, but his mind was contemplating the future.
With Wano Country conquered, the Seastone resource is now secured.
Construction of Hachinosu is in full swing, and the Sea Train has already connected the five major strongholds.
Bloodline Transplantation technology has matured, and the capabilities of rank-and-file soldiers are rapidly improving.
The collection of Devil Fruit is growing richer, and the pool of talent is also expanding.
The next step is to find Pure Gold.
Then, they used Pure Gold as bait to lure the real great pirates to join them.
for example--
The Red Count, Patrick Redfield.
That legendary Red the Aloof, the king of lone wolves.
If we can get him to join us, Hachinosu's combat strength will be elevated to another level.
A smile crept onto Roy's lips.
That old man should be here soon.
We parted ways in Mary Geoise last time.
She also told him about the Vampire Fruit.
Given his personality, if he can't find that fruit, it will come to him sooner or later.
Back then...
Roy snapped out of his thoughts, stood up, and walked to the window.
The sun gradually sank below the horizon, and night fell.
The port lights up, workers are still busy, merchant ships are still loading and unloading, and everything is in good order.
This is his territory.
That's his power.
This is his home.
Roy took a deep breath, his eyes blazing with intense light.
Leaving the office, Roy turned and walked towards the medical area.
Kozuki Toki, the widow of Kozuki Oden, the user of the Time-Time Fruit, the woman who traveled from eight hundred years ago.
According to Vera's medical skills, she should be awake by now.
Roy walked down the long corridor to a private ward deep inside the medical area.
At the entrance, two guards were on duty. Upon seeing Roy, they immediately saluted.
Roy waved his hand and pushed the door open to enter.
The ward wasn't large, but it was decorated very warmly.
Soft sunlight streamed through the window, and a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air.
Kozuki Toki lay quietly on the hospital bed.
Those gentle eyes were open, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Hearing the door open, she turned her head slightly to look at the person who came in.
When she saw Roy's face clearly, her expression instantly became complicated.
There was hatred, vigilance, confusion, and also a trace of... indescribable emotion.
Roy ignored her gaze, walked to the bedside, and sat down in a chair.
I just watched her quietly.
The two looked at each other and remained silent.
An eerie sense of oppression permeated the air.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
Finally, Kozuki Toki couldn't hold on any longer, looked away, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
" Captain Roy... you saved me... but why?"
Her voice was soft, yet it carried an uncontrollable hatred.
Why would the man who caused Oden's death save him?
Roy looked at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.
" Lady Toki, why look at me like that?"
" Oden's death was simply due to a clash of ideologies between the two sides."
"And--"
"Didn't I already try to persuade him before the war started?"
"I advised him to give up, telling him that with his strength, he couldn't withstand the Kaido."
But he wouldn't listen.
"He insisted on opening the country, and insisted on fighting for Wano Country."
Roy's gaze was as calm as still water.
" Lady Toki, you should know your husband better than I do."
That person is stubborn; once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it.
"His death was no one's fault."
"It was his own choice."
Kozuki Toki lowered his head and remained silent.
Tears fell silently.
She certainly understands her husband.
That Lord Fool, that man who would do anything for his beliefs.
He certainly would make that choice.
"But..."
Kozuki Toki she spoke.
"But... he's dead... Momonosuke and Hiyori... they were so young..."
Roy didn't speak, he just watched her quietly.
After a long while, Kozuki Toki raised her head and wiped away her tears.
Those gentle eyes now held an unwavering resolve.
She looked at Roy and said, word by word.
" Captain Roy, tell me, what exactly do you want?"
"You saved me, not out of pity, and certainly not out of compassion."
What exactly do you want?
Roy looked at her, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
She is a smart woman.
I want to know--
Roy spoke slowly,
What exactly happened eight hundred years ago?
Kozuki Toki was stunned.
Eight hundred years ago?
She stared at Roy, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"You know... I came from eight hundred years ago?"
Roy nodded.
" Lady Toki's ability allows people to travel through time."
"And you yourself came to this era from eight hundred years ago."
Kozuki Toki was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
" Captain Roy, what you want to know, I cannot tell you."
"Why?"
Because I don't know either.
Kozuki Toki's gaze became distant.
"When I was born, the World Government had already been established."
"A war that swept the entire world did indeed occur before I was born."
"But my parents didn't tell me the specific details of that war."
"They only said that my mission was to find Wano Country."
"Then..."
"Waiting for a prophecy."
"Prophecy?"
Roy frowned slightly.
What prophecy?
Kozuki Toki looked at him, a complex light flashing in her eyes.
Twenty years later, on a full moon night, nine shadows fell from the sky—
" The Wano Country will surely open its doors."
Roy fell silent.
He had already heard this prophecy that night in Kuri.
I initially thought this was just a lie that Kozuki Toki made up to give the people hope.
But now it seems...
"You really saw the future?"
"Roy asked."
Kozuki Toki shook his head.
"It's not about seeing, it's about perceiving."
" The Time-Time Fruit's power allows me to vaguely perceive certain fragments of the future."
"Those fragments are blurry, but they definitely exist."
"Twenty years later, the Nine Red Scabbards and Momonosuke will return."
" The Wano Country will one day truly open its doors."
"This is... the trajectory of fate."
Roy stared at her, remaining silent for a long time.
Then he smiled.
That smile carried a hint of something indescribable.
"Destiny?"
I don't believe in fate.
Kozuki Toki looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
" Captain Roy, you don't believe in fate, but what do you believe in?"
Roy stood up and walked to the window.
Sunlight shone on him, casting a long shadow on the ground.
I believe it--
He spoke slowly,
"It is power."
"They're partners."
"It's about enabling those who follow me to survive and thrive."
As for fate...
He turned around and looked at Kozuki Toki.
"If fate truly exists, then I will rewrite it with my own hands."
Kozuki Toki was stunned.
Looking at the young man before her, she felt a surge of indescribable emotions.
This man is different from Oden.
Oden believed in fate, prophecy, and those ethereal and intangible things.
And the man before me—
He only trusts himself.