"Jihahahaha! So Roger's finally reaching the end of his road, huh? But losing to the Marines and being executed in the East Blue? That's a pathetic way to go!"
Roldy sat across from an unexpected companion.
A massive pirate ship drifted through the sky.
The man beside him was none other than Shiki the Golden Lion.
"Roger probably wants to leave himself behind in the old era," Roldy replied calmly. "Even if the method's hard to swallow… judging by his expression, he's planning something big."
He poured Shiki a glass of wine, then unceremoniously drained the rest of the million-Berry bottle himself.
To him, it was just something to quench his thirst.
"I didn't expect you to storm Marine Headquarters like that, Shiki."
"That was reckless."
"…But thank you."
There was genuine warmth in Roldy's voice.
He knew why Shiki had done it.
Even if the man hadn't said so directly, it was obvious—he feared Roldy might lose control and charge into Marine Headquarters himself.
So Shiki had drawn the Marines' attention first.
In truth, with Roldy's current strength, if he chose to flee, almost no one in the world could stop him.
Not Sengoku.
Not Garp.
Even adding three Admiral-level fighters likely wouldn't be enough.
Still—
Shiki's gesture meant something.
"Jihahahaha! No need for that sentimental nonsense!"
"You think Sengoku's crew can hold me down?"
"I'm the Flying Admiral, Golden Lion Shiki!"
At this point in time, Shiki stood at his absolute peak.
His overwhelming Conqueror's Haki and fully awakened Fuwa Fuwa no Mi made him one of the true monsters of the era.
Even Whitebeard would think twice before forcing a confrontation.
The mobility granted by the Float-Float Fruit placed Shiki in an almost unbeatable position.
"So then, kid," Shiki asked, leaning back, "what's next for you?"
"Roger's about to die."
"You've been chasing him since the Rocks Pirates fell apart."
"Now what?"
In Shiki's eyes, Roldy had always been fixated on Roger—much like Garp.
With Roger gone, surely there would be a void.
Perhaps—
A chance to reclaim his strongest right-hand man?
Roldy smiled faintly.
"You know me."
"I don't go backward."
"And besides… there are still interesting things to do."
"Like crushing a few Celestial Dragons every now and then."
Shiki's grin widened.
Now that was a flavor he liked.
They spoke for a while longer—about Roldy's future moves, and Shiki's coming ambitions.
Then—
The seas grew quiet.
Every major figure seemed to go still at once.
But among the masses, discussion burned brighter than ever.
Everything revolved around Roger.
The Marines waited for his death, hoping piracy would falter long enough for them to tighten their grip.
Pirates waited, gathering strength to contest the next throne.
Civilians?
They simply waited to witness history.
East BlueLoguetown
The Town of the Beginning and the End.
An accurate name.
Roldy walked the streets with a bottle of East Blue liquor in hand, Sheen following beside him.
Both wore tailored black suits.
From time to time, powerful pirates passed by—faces known throughout the New World.
They had come to witness the fall of a king.
"Hmm?"
Roldy's eyes shifted slightly.
A familiar silhouette.
Sheen followed his gaze.
Inside a tavern sat a figure in a black coat, high heels clicking faintly against the floor.
Her right hand ended in a golden hook.
A cigar burned lazily between her lips.
The surrounding tables were crowded—
Yet the space around her was empty.
"…That's Crocodile from the New World, right?" Sheen murmured.
He had no idea how his captain had crossed paths with the rising pirate before.
But as his eyes drifted toward those long, pale legs—
His expression changed.
Ah.
So that's it.
Spring had arrived, huh…
If Roldy possessed the telepathic abilities of Red-Haired Shanks' rival—or worse, the mind-reading talent of someone like the Red Count—Sheen would already have a fist-shaped crater in his skull.
Reliable in most matters.
Hopelessly lecherous in others.
What a sly shark.
Roldy stepped into the tavern.
Whispers immediately followed.
"Doesn't he look familiar…?"
"Must be someone important…"
"I've seen that bounty poster before…"
Ignoring them, Roldy dragged a spare table over and dropped into the seat beside Crocodile.
"Yo. Long time no see, Crocodile."
He spoke casually.
Crocodile looked up.
For a brief moment, something flickered in her eyes—
Then vanished.
Only now did Roldy notice the change.
The once-unyielding ambition was gone.
In its place—
A dull stillness.
"Oh?"
"Looks like the New World hit you harder than expected."
"And the hook's a bold fashion choice."
Crocodile stood abruptly.
"So you came to mock me?"
"Fitt Roldy."
The tone irritated her.
It reminded her of another man—
A monster beyond reason—
Who had taken her hand with a single slash and, in a similar tone, suggested something absurd about her future.
Roldy waved dismissively.
"Mock you? No."
"Even if a fledgling eagle crashes a thousand times while learning to fly, it's still admirable."
"What I'm curious about is what you'll do next."
"And just so you know—my offer still stands."
The tavern fell quiet.
History was moving.
The Pirate King's execution loomed.
And somewhere between the beginning and the end—
New ambitions stirred.
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