Twenty-one years old.
"Yes! Twenty-one years old!"
The Red Count glanced at Roy with a sigh.
Roy, you're still young.
"At just over twenty years old, he already possesses the ability to contend with the older generation of powerful figures."
Looking across the entire ocean, how many can do that?
Whitebeard? Kaido? Big Mom? Golden Lion?
Were they as strong as you are now when they were your age?
Roy fell silent.
He thought of those legendary figures.
Yes, he's only twenty-one years old, with a bounty of 2.5 billion, Emperor of the Sea, controlling a region of the sea, and having countless powerful followers.
" Mr. Red..."
"I see."
"I understand."
" Awakening cannot be achieved by simply fighting desperately."
"It requires accumulation, an opportunity, and a bit of luck."
"You now have accumulated enough experience."
"What's lacking is just the right opportunity."
"It will come when it comes."
"It can't be rushed."
Roy took a deep breath, and the anxiety in his eyes gradually dissipated.
Instead, there is composure and calmness.
" Mr. Red."
He said earnestly.
The Red Count waved his hand.
"Don't mention it."
"Now that I've joined your pirate crew, we're family."
We're family, no need for formalities.
Roy smiled.
That smile came from the heart.
From that day on, Roy's life gradually returned to normal.
Every morning, he still goes to the gravity field to train, but no longer as intensely as before; instead, he trains with a more measured approach.
In the morning, he went to challenge the eagle to a sword duel.
Amidst the flashing swords and clashing blades, he focused solely on the art of swordsmanship, no longer contemplating any Awakening.
In the afternoon, he went to Bullet to spar with him in physical combat.
With each punch landing squarely, he enjoyed the thrill of the fight itself, no longer fixated on breaking through defenses.
In the evening, he went to visit Kozuki Toki.
The widow of Kozuki Oden has lived on Hachinosu for over a year and has gradually adapted to life there.
She would occasionally chat with Roy about events from eight hundred years ago. Although these didn't involve any secrets, they still helped Roy gain a deeper understanding of the world.
Days passed by.
Roy's state of mind became increasingly peaceful.
That anxiety, that persistence, that obsession, gradually dissipated.
but--
The desire for Awakening has not disappeared.
It's just in a different way, settling deep in my heart.
It was late at night.
Roy arrived at the gravity field alone.
Moonlight streamed through the skylight, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Roy stood quietly in the center of the field, his eyes closed.
Countless images flashed through my mind.
Doflamingo's Awakening, with its overwhelming white threads.
And the words of the Red Count.
"What's lacking is just the right opportunity."
"It will come when it comes."
Roy opened his eyes and looked up at the night sky.
The moonlight was bright, and the stars twinkled.
His gaze pierced the night sky, as if he could see into the distance.
That's Whitebeard's territory.
There, lives the World's Strongest Man.
If I were to challenge him to a fight...
A life-or-death struggle...
A glint of light flashed in Roy's eyes.
Perhaps, it's worth a try.
That afternoon, Roy had just come out of the kendo dojo, covered in sweat, and was about to take a shower.
A communications soldier came running quickly.
Captain Roy! Urgent communication!
"Mr. Long from the Revolutionary Army has personally called!"
Roy raised an eyebrow.
dragon?
Why did that guy call himself?
He took the Den Den Mushi and pressed the answer button.
"Dragon, what's up?"
On the other end of the phone came Monkey D. Dragon's deep, powerful voice.
" Roy, long time no see."
" The Revolutionary Army has been making good progress recently and needs to increase its arms orders."
Roy frowned slightly.
"For something this trivial, just have your men contact Tesoro."
"Why did you call in person?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.
Then, a deep, resonant laugh came from the dragon.
Hehehe...
" Roy, there's something I think I should tell you."
Roy's heart skipped a beat.
"What's up?"
The dragon's voice carried a hint of barely concealed joy.
My son has been born.
Roy was stunned.
son...
Luffy?
He suddenly realized what was happening.
That's right, the year 1500 of the Sea Circle Calendar is the year Luffy was born!
During this time, I was Devil Fruit Awakening of the fruit that I completely forgot about such an important matter!
Congratulations, Dragon.
Roy suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said calmly,
What's your son's name?
" Monkey D. Luffy."
The dragon's voice carried a hint of pride.
"It's a healthy boy, and his cries are deafening."
A faint smile curved Roy's lips.
The crying was deafening.
Where is he now?
"Is he/she beside you?"
The dragon paused for a moment,
"No."
" The Revolutionary Army is too dangerous, so I sent him to the East Blue."
"I'll leave it to my elderly father to raise."
Roy immediately pictured Garp's old face in his mind.
That old man is probably holding his grandson right now, beaming with joy, isn't he?
Your father?
Roy asked the question knowing the answer already.
" Garp the Marine Hero?"
"Um."
The dragon's voice carried a hint of complexity.
"That old guy may be unreliable, but at least he's safe."
East Blue Windmill Village is a remote little village, far from the ravages of war.
He will grow up safely there.
Roy nodded.
"That's good."
He looked at the Den Den Mushi), and the face reflected on it clearly had a slipper print on it.
The slipper print was clearly visible, as if it had just been made recently.
Roy's lips twitched.
Did Dragon get smacked by Garp with a slipper?
"Dragon, your face..."
He asked tentatively.
On the other end of the phone, Long was silent for two seconds.
Then, a bitter laugh was heard.
"He was beaten up by that old guy."
He said that by throwing Luffy to him, I was just causing him trouble.
Then... he swung his slipper.
Roy couldn't help but laugh.
Just as I expected.
Okay, I understand.
"Have your men contact Tesoro regarding the arms deal."
He'll arrange it.
The dragon nodded.
"Good."
" Roy, thank you."
The call ended.
Roy put away the Den Den Mushi, stood by the window, and gazed at the distant sea.
Luffy...
The chosen one from the original story, the man destined to stir up the world, has now been born.
It's right in the East Blue, right in Windmill Village.
A complex light flashed in Roy's eyes.
Should we go take a look?
Look at that future Pirate King, what does he look like now?
and...
Rouge and Ace were there too.
The woman I rescued on Baterilla Island two years ago, and the child who is still unborn.
Ace should be two years old now.
A surge of impulse welled up within Roy.
Go see them.
Go see what the future " Fire Fist " Ace looks like now.
And what's so special about Luffy, the future " Pirate King "?
Roy took a deep breath, turned and walked out of the office.