Sitting behind his desk, Tom froze when he heard Roger's words. He slowly looked up, as if he hadn't fully processed what had just been said. He rubbed his ears in disbelief and asked:
"You said… what happened to you?!"
Roger, seeing the stunned expression on Tom's face, grinned without the slightest attempt to hide it.
"I'm terminally ill. I'm dying soon."
"I can feel my life force slipping away fast… I might only have a year or so left."
As he spoke, Roger reached for another bottle of red wine on the coffee table. He popped the cork and took a deep swig. Wine trickled down from the corner of his mouth.
After gulping down several mouthfuls, he set the bottle down, wiped his mouth, and stood up. He walked over to Tom and casually sat on the desk, looking at Tom's shocked expression and instead began comforting him:
"Hey, Tom, don't make that face when old friends meet!"
"Cheer up! This might be our last time seeing each other!"
"No need to look like you're attending a funeral."
Roger remained in good spirits. He clapped Tom on the shoulder while speaking, and his gaze naturally drifted to the blueprint spread across Tom's desk.
Seeing a seagull emblem on the ship design, he let out a curious noise. It was as if he'd found an intriguing toy, and he immediately asked with interest:
"Hmm?"
"Is this a warship you're designing?"
"A Navy ship?!"
"The Marines actually came to you for a warship design?!"
Hearing this string of questions snapped Tom out of his shock. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he suddenly shot up from his chair and grabbed Roger by the arms, roaring in frustration:
"Hey! You bastard, is this really the time to be curious about something like that?!"
"What do you mean you're sick?! Did you even get a second opinion?!"
"I know a great doctor right here in Water 7. Come on, I'll take you now!"
Tom grabbed Roger by the wrist and was about to storm out the door. But after only a few steps, Roger dragged him back to the desk.
"Don't waste your energy, Tom."
"Of course I saw other doctors, but none of them are as skilled as Crocus."
"You remember Crocus, right? The doctor on my ship. Thanks to him, I've managed to live this long."
"Hahahaha!"
"Look, Tom, I've already accepted this. No need to get worked up."
"While I still have time left, let's catch up like old times."
"Oh, and tell me more about this Navy ship you're working on."
"I'm really curious, why would the Marines come to you for a warship?"
As he spoke, Roger gently pushed Tom back into his chair, then patted the blueprint and asked again with a mischievous smile.
"…You've really got some nerve, you know that?!"
"How can a guy like you not live long…"
Tom stared into Roger's eyes for a long time before finally forcing himself to accept the reality. He leaned back, let out a long sigh, then straightened his posture and began explaining.
"A while ago, a Navy squad came to Water 7 and asked me to draft a blueprint."
"The one leading them was a Vice Admiral from Marine Headquarters… Garp the Hero."
"You know him well, right?"
Roger nodded at the mention of Garp, then laughed aloud.
"That bastard! Doesn't he already have a ship? His warship is already one of the best in the Marines. Why would he need another design from you?"
"Tom, no offense to your skills, but the Marines aren't exactly lacking in technology. They shouldn't need…"
Before Roger could finish, Tom raised a hand and interrupted:
"It's not for Vice Admiral Garp. He brought along a young Vice Admiral from headquarters."
"The ship is meant to be his."
"I think his name was Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
"From what I overheard, this Yoriichi had just recently been promoted to Vice Admiral."
"The Marines didn't assign him a ship."
"And this whole thing feels really odd to me, Roger. Since you're here, help me figure this out."
"Don't you think it's strange that two Vice Admirals came together to ask me to design a ship? It feels like they might be after... that."
Tom didn't say it outright, but Roger immediately understood what he meant.
"Pluton, huh…"
Roger's expression darkened as he stroked his chin. He knew full well the blueprints for the ancient weapon Pluton were in Tom's hands.
Hearing Roger confirm it, Tom nodded heavily.
He then glanced at the blueprint on his desk and muttered irritably:
"I don't know what the Navy's true intentions are."
"It's been keeping me up at night…"
"This warship blueprint still only has the frame. The deadline to turn it in is fast approaching."
"It's not that I can't design a warship… It's just… giving it to the Marines feels like I'd be building my own grave."
"Roger, do you understand what I mean?!"
Tom scratched his head with frustration, visibly torn.
"Hehehehe…"
"Relax, Tom. If it's those two guys, I don't think they're after Pluton."
Roger suddenly chuckled, watching Tom's troubled face. Tom looked at him in confusion.
"Well, in any case, I doubt they're interested in ancient weapons."
"Don't worry. They probably just want a warship design."
"So the Marines promoted Yoriichi Tsugikuni to Vice Admiral but didn't assign him a ship? Hahaha, looks like the higher-ups don't want him freely sailing across the seas."
"World Government… I won't let you get your way!"
As Roger spoke, a bright gleam flashed in his eyes.
Tom didn't fully understand Roger's certainty about their intentions, but he trusted Roger deeply. Hearing his reassurance, Tom finally relaxed a little.
"Hey, Tom, have you already gathered the materials for the warship?"
Tom had no idea why Roger was suddenly asking about that or why he was even interested in a Navy ship. He shook his head in confusion.
"Then take the keel from the Oro Jackson and use it for Yoriichi's ship!"
Roger suddenly slapped the table, grinning wide.
Tom looked at him in stunned disbelief. His mouth opened, but he couldn't speak.
He couldn't understand why Roger would suddenly make such a decision.
Even if he believed he didn't have long to live, wasn't it too drastic to dismantle his own ship?
Besides, the Roger Pirates still had many members. Why not pass the ship down to them?
Why give the precious keel to a Marine?
After all, the keel of the Oro Jackson was made from the legendary Adam Wood!
Why would a pirate do something like this… for a Marine?
"Tom, my crew is already disbanded. If the Oro Jackson reappears on the seas, it'll become a target for the Marines."
"This time when I set sail, I only did so after repainting the ship, but I've already been spotted."
"A treasure like the Adam Wood shouldn't disappear with me or the Roger Pirates."
"Take the ship apart. Use whatever's useful to build Yoriichi Tsugikuni's warship."
"That young Marine… he really struck a chord with me."
"He'll be… the wave that changes the world."
"I'm placing my bet… on the future."
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100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
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