Roy and his companions finished their final training session and returned to Kuraigana Island.
The still somewhat green Hawk Eyes had been successfully talked into joining the crew by Roy, though he still needed Saga's approval.
How had Roy talked him into it? Naturally, Roy knew which master swordsmen in this world Hawk Eyes could challenge.
Hearing that, how could the sixteen-year-old Hawk Eyes hold himself back?
After several hours of flight, the group slowly came to a stop in front of the castle.
Saga, who knew about their training plans, had been waiting at the entrance since Roy returned to the island.
A faint scent of blood hung around each of them. There was no telling how many Sea Kings they had slain, but Saga could still see how much they had grown.
"Looks like you've made tremendous progress!"
Hawk Eyes was the first to step forward. "Master, I..."
Seeing Hawk Eyes hesitate, unable to get the words out, Roy stepped forward.
"Senior Saga, Mihawk has already agreed to join my crew, and he's found his own path of the sword."
Saga stared at the disciple he had so carefully trained. He hadn't expected Roy to spirit him away after only four years.
"Roy, you brat, it seems you had an ulterior motive when you came to this island. You said you were just passing by, but I'd say you came for Mihawk!"
"Hahaha~"
Roy looked embarrassed. After all, he was spiriting away the man's disciple. Saga could say what he liked; it wouldn't cost Roy a thing. Besides, Saga had taught him too, so Roy could be considered half his disciple.
Hawk Eyes stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Master, I've found my own path of the sword. I also want to see more of the wider world and cross swords with more swordsmen."
"So this is your decision?"
Saga raised an eyebrow. Seeing Hawk Eyes' determined expression, his face changed, and he looked gratified.
"Hahaha~"
"Since you've made your decision, how could I, as your master, stand in the way of my disciple's desire to grow stronger?"
"Oh~ Let's have a party!"
Seeing Saga agree to let Mihawk join the crew, the others cheered as well. Soon, a lavish dinner was laid out in the clearing.
The group raised their glasses, and Roy spoke first.
"Everyone, let's welcome Mihawk as an official member of the crew."
"Today also marks the official founding of our pirate crew, the Roy Pirates! Cheers!"
"Oh~ Cheers!"
Everyone stood and clinked glasses, the joyful atmosphere affecting everyone around them.
Even the ever-stern old man Saga was caught up in the mood, clinking glasses with Roy and the others again and again.
The party continued late into the night, the bonfire illuminating everyone's excited faces.
Roy put down his glass and looked around at everyone. This was what he had gained over the past five years.
Now sixteen, Roy had grown to 2.8 meters tall. He believed reaching three meters in a few more years would be no problem at all.
His long golden hair was tied back, and a black cloak draped over his shoulders, leaving his muscular chest bare. He wore the same green military pants and boots as Bullet.
Gone was the noble air he had given off in a suit; instead, his appearance lent him an imposing aura.
He possessed all Three Types of Haki, and had even trained his Observation Haki to the point of Future Sight and his Armament Haki to the level of internal destruction.
He also had swordsmanship at the peak of the swordsman level, a fruit ability that was practically a natural disaster at sea, and his own powerful mental strength.
In battle, he could also connect with every member, allowing the team to communicate freely in their minds and unleash even more terrifying combat power.
Over four years of training, Roy was not the only one who had grown stronger. The others had changed considerably as well.
Take Bullet: now seventeen, he had grown to a staggering five meters tall. With his knotted muscles and the boost from his Mythical Zoan Fruit,
his current physique was probably not much inferior to Kaido's. Add his Armament Haki at the level of internal destruction and the sheer amount of Haki that even Roy envied, and he could fight an emperor-level powerhouse for an entire day.
Hawk Eyes wore a burgundy rose-patterned coat over his bare chest, with a cross necklace around his neck. He had yet to don his top hat, and the enormous Black Blade Yoru was strapped to his back.
With his hawk-like eyes, he was only a step away from becoming a supreme swordsman. His Armament Haki had also reached the level of internal destruction, and together with his Observation Haki, which was even stronger than Bullet's, he radiated a sharp, formidable presence.
Even Roy had to be on full alert when fighting him. The only thing was that he didn't call out his moves in battle, which Roy felt wasn't exciting at all.
Savi was only thirteen, and there was no telling what hormones he had been taking. He was second only to Bullet in the Roy Pirates,
making him the second tallest. With muscles like Bullet's, he looked quite intimidating.
Tesoro and Stella had both grown to their original heights. Over four years of growth, each of them had mastered two types of Haki, as well as the Six Powers at the secret-technique level.
Roy believed that even against the ordinary Vice Admirals of Marine Headquarters, they could hold their own.
Pea, who looked very much like Roy, had also become the Roy Pirates' chief quartermaster.
His control of the battlefield during combat, his healing using life essence extracted from plants, and his endless supply of food all brought enormous benefits to the team.
With this group of companions, all of them exceptionally talented and powerful, Roy would fear no force in the world on this voyage.
Even if they couldn't win, at worst they could follow the Golden Lion's example and fly into the sky. They could still retreat safely.
Over the next three days, Roy also asked Saga what major events had recently taken place at sea.
But Saga had little patience for Roy, who had spirited away his disciple. He simply tossed Roy the newspapers he had collected over the past year and told him to read them himself.
"Hey~ That old man..."
Roy gave a helpless, bitter smile and began leafing through the newspapers in his hands.
"Great pirate Red Count Redfield battles Fleet Admiral Kong for ten days and nights, defeated and captured!!!"
"Tch~"
"The Marines really know how to make themselves look good. Defeated and captured? Wasn't it Garp and Sengoku who swooped in at the end and picked up an easy win?"
Roy curled his lip in disdain at the Marines' behavior.
"The Marines' three great 'monsters' promoted to Headquarters Vice Admiral/Rear Admiral!!!"
"Boring."
"West Blue powerhouse Gecko Moria destroys several Marine Branches, becoming this year's first pirate Supernova. He has reportedly left West Blue for the Grand Line!!!"
"Oh! Moria?"
Roy saw another familiar figure. Moria had yet to become the comical figure he would later be, and still looked quite imposing.
"Roger Pirates vanish in the waters around Jaya Island while being pursued by the Marine hero!!!"
"Hmm~"
It seemed Roger and his crew had gone to Sky Island. Roy hoped he could meet them there this time. He was planning to ask Roger and the others for guidance on the techniques of Conqueror's Haki Coating!
After all, he and Rayleigh were old acquaintances, weren't they?