"A Logia Devil Fruit ability. Solid tactical sense. All three types of Haki. Decent physical combat ability. Most importantly… not excessively cruel in conduct."
Roldy's mind worked rapidly.
He had heard of Crocodile before.
Yes, as a pirate, his rise had been soaked in blood and violence. But he was… interesting.
When weak, he had relied on strategy to seize wealth from powerful families. Once he grew stronger, he sought out formidable opponents to challenge. There were good people among his targets, certainly—but most were powerful pirates. He used their resources to build himself up.
In Crocodile's view, plundering civilians was inefficient—and beneath him.
Among pirates, that almost made him a rare breed.
Not a good man.
But not beyond redemption.
And Roldy himself had never claimed to be righteous.
Add Crocodile's potential… and Roldy's current shortage of capable subordinates—
He extended a hand.
"You're a brat who can't yet see how vast this world is."
"Interested in boarding my ship?"
It was rare for Roldy to show goodwill. Most of the world saw him as ruthless and tyrannical.
Crocodile froze for a split second.
He had roamed the seas alone for years. No one had ever offered him something like this.
Then—
The pride of youth surged.
His face flushed red.
One defeat would not break a man filled with ambition.
He did not see despair.
In this moment, Roldy's goodwill felt unnecessary.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
A sand blade lashed out, striking Roldy's hand.
Crocodile leapt back, dissolving into swirling sand.
"You want me as your subordinate? Sorry—never happening!"
"Roldy! One day I'll return with greater power! Today's humiliation—I won't forget it!"
He shattered a palace window and fled as a streak of sand into the horizon.
Fast—
But insignificant in Roldy's eyes.
Still, Roldy made no move to pursue.
Strangely enough—
Had Crocodile accepted so easily, Roldy might have felt disappointed.
An eagle whose wings were not fully broken would never stop flying.
But Roldy knew Crocodile's nature.
One day, that eagle would fall.
Perhaps it would become a grounded chicken.
Or perhaps—
It would bathe in blood, grow new wings, and soar higher than before.
"Gahahahaha!"
"My offer stands forever! If you change your mind, my ship will always have a place for you!"
Roldy laughed loudly, ignoring the furious curses echoing faintly from the sky.
With Crocodile's defeat, the Kingdom of Tia fell entirely into Roldy's hands.
Crocodile's subordinates were no match for Roldy's forces and were quickly eliminated. With the king and nobility dead, the takeover was effortless.
Roldy converted the vast royal palace into his headquarters.
The common people continued their lives as usual.
Only the ruler had changed.
There was no unrest.
Roldy reduced the crushing taxes by thirty percent.
That alone was enough for the populace to sing praises of his "benevolence."
News spread quickly:
"Rampaging" Roldy had seized the Kingdom of Tia.
Crocodile had been defeated—yet managed to escape alive.
The seas stirred slightly.
Marine Headquarters held a meeting regarding the matter. However, since Tia was not a World Government member nation—and considering Roldy's overwhelming strength—the Marines ultimately took no direct action.
Crocodile's bounty did increase.
After all, escaping from Roldy was no small feat.
His name gained greater recognition.
And then—
He vanished.
No reports.
No sightings.
But few cared.
In the New World, a so-called "silver-tier" pirate was nothing more than dinner-table gossip.
Time flowed on.
Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1497
Roldy was twenty-eight years old.
The Kingdom of Tia had fully transformed into his stronghold. The former royal castle was fortified like an iron fortress.
He now commanded over 300 subordinates.
Aside from his most trusted deputy, Sheen, he had more than six fighters with bounties exceeding 50,000,000 Berries serving as field captains.
Recruiting talent.
Constructing warships.
Expanding influence.
Roldy had remained relatively quiet.
Until—
A newspaper arrived.
He shot up from his chair.
Headlines blazed across the front page:
"The Ultimate Treasure, One Piece! The Pirate King Is Born!"
"Unprecedented Feat! Reaching the Final Island! Pirate King Gol D. Roger!"
"The Final Voyage? What Lies Ahead for the Roger Pirates?"
On the cover—
That radiant, infuriating grin.
The face Roldy had thought about day and night.
He ground his teeth in twisted delight.
Part of him wanted to twist Roger's head off just to see if Roger had ever thought about him as much.
"Big Brother… do we make a move?"
Sheen asked cautiously.
"Make a move? Of course we make a move!"
"That damn Roger—he actually did it…"
If he set aside his personal hatred, Roldy had to admit—
Roger had accomplished something unprecedented.
The title of Pirate King was well earned.
But…
The Pirate King had just been born—
And would soon die.
What a waste.
"However…"
Roldy unfurled a sea chart across the table.
Roger's voyage had captivated the entire world. His route was widely circulated.
While it didn't reveal the location of the Final Island, Roldy—sharp-minded in both strategy and combat—noticed something.
"These islands they stopped at…"
His brain turned rapidly.
To most, the route meant nothing.
To him—
There was a pattern.
Many of those islands…
Were they not the homelands of Roger's crew?
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