Inside the palace on the back of the giant snail, a rather unpleasant banquet was underway. One of the two invited guests, Golden Lion Shiki, sat with a gloomy face, chain-smoking and drinking heavily. Across the long table, the other guest, Patrick Redfield, known as the Red Count, appeared much more at ease. Dressed in a brand-new suit, and despite his injuries, he still swayed his goblet with aristocratic grace, the clear liquid inside glowing a blood-red under the light.
"Such a fine banquet, why aren't you smiling, Shiki?" Redfield asked with amusement. "Are you unhappy?"
"If you're truly eager to die, I'm not opposed to obliging you!" Golden Lion suddenly looked up, a fierce glint in his eyes as dark lightning crackled around him.
"Is that so?" Redfield showed no fear, merely smiling as he looked at Roa, who was seated at the head of the table. "Roa, what do you say?"
"Alright, alright," Roa leaned back leisurely in his chair, breathing rhythmically. He smiled and said, "The purpose of this banquet is to let you two bury the hatchet. Don't be so confrontational."
"Bury the hatchet?" Golden Lion glared fiercely at Roa. "Brat, are you telling me what to do?"
"After all, wasn't it all stirred up by you, Uncle Shiki?" Roa said lazily. "Redfield was completely an innocent bystander. If you don't clear up this misunderstanding now, are you really planning to go to war with us?"
Golden Lion's face grew even gloomier. "Are you threatening me?"
"How could I, how could I?" Roa waved his hands repeatedly. "I'm just complaining about how difficult this is for me. Really, being caught in the middle is tough."
"But Roa, you'll naturally help your allies, won't you?" Redfield's smile became even more playful. "You just said so."
What kind of bizarre love triangle is this? I really can't handle it. Roa sighed. "You should know when to stop, Redfield. Nothing serious happened, right? In fact, Uncle Shiki suffered heavy losses because of you. Just for my sake, let's put an end to this. Anyway," he spread his hands, "you two can't come to any conclusion, can you? Are you, Uncle Shiki, going to keep chasing, and you, Redfield, going to keep running, never doing anything else?"
The two who had been constantly at odds finally fell silent. Golden Lion knew Roa wouldn't help him against Redfield. Redfield also understood that even if Roa helped him fend off Golden Lion, he wouldn't do anything to his closest friends and family. And relying solely on themselves, as Roa said, would they just keep chasing and fleeing? Seeing both of them silent, Roa knew they had implicitly agreed. Hmm, giving me face, aren't you?
"However, Roa," Redfield changed the subject, asking a question he had been eager to ask since the banquet began, "What are you enjoying?" There was no food or drink in front of Roa, yet he looked as if he was savoring some exquisite delicacy.
"Hmph, why do you think this brat is called a Calamity? Because to humans, he is a calamitous existence," Golden Lion scoffed. "And the suffering of humans affected by a calamity is his food!"
Redfield was startled. Literal meaning? He feeds on human suffering?
"Hahahaha," Roa scratched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed. "I'm a bit picky."
Redfield pursed his lips. He truly is a monster.
"Alright, kid," Golden Lion said with some impatience, "The banquet's over. What has Roger been up to lately?"
So impatient. But it wasn't just Golden Lion; even Redfield quietly cast a glance at Roa. That's Roger! Who could say no to Roger?
Roa said, "The Roger Pirates have returned to the Grand Line's Paradise."
"Paradise?" Golden Lion frowned. "What's that guy doing there?"
"Not just Paradise, they might even go to the Four Seas," Roa said casually. "Roger said he wants to circumnavigate the world again."
"Doing something so inexplicable?" Golden Lion couldn't understand.
"Probably preparing to relive his youthful days with his wife and child," Roa said.
Then. Golden Lion and Redfield were both stunned.
"Wife and child?" Golden Lion instantly exclaimed in disbelief. "Roa, what do you mean?"
"What do I mean?" Roa blinked. "Roger has a wife, and she's already pregnant. That's what it means."
Redfield took a sip of red wine. "That's hard to imagine." For a great pirate like Roger to marry and have a child, isn't that too dangerous? The scum of this world never show mercy to the old, the weak, women, or children.
"That guy actually got married!" Golden Lion sneered. "Is he immersed in boring family games now?"
"It's not bad, is it?" Roa said with a smile. "For someone like Roger, having someone to fight for will only make him stronger."
"It had better be!" Golden Lion said. Perhaps he didn't even notice, but the corner of his mouth gently curved upwards. Seriously, I told you not to be so in love, Uncle Shiki.
"It'll probably be another year or two before he returns to the New World," Roa said. In the original story, it took the Roger Pirates about a year to circumnavigate the world again with Kozuki Oden. Although Oden has been replaced by Olvia now, the time spent shouldn't be too different.
The corner of his mouth gradually lifted, and Roa said with a grin, "By then, Uncle Shiki, if you can afford the price, I can help out too."
"Hmph!" Golden Lion scoffed. Even he couldn't produce a second Mythical Zoan at the moment.
"Roger, huh?" Redfield murmured. The man who defeated the Rocks Pirates, the pirate with the highest bounty in the world today.
"What, Redfield, are you interested too?" Roa asked with a smile. "Want to come along?"
Redfield paused, then said with some playfulness, "As long as Golden Lion can afford the price, I don't mind."
"Bastard!" Golden Lion picked up a glass of wine and downed it, then cursed before leaping up. "I'm leaving!"
"Take care, Uncle Shiki!" Roa didn't try to stop him, smiling as he bid Shiki farewell. This uncle truly needed to cool down.
At this time, Redfield put down his wine glass. "Why, Roa."
"Why what?"
"What kind of binding force does this fragile alliance have?" Redfield asked curiously. "Aren't you afraid I'll turn around and betray you?"
"Ah? Betrayal?" Roa raised an eyebrow. "Aside from whether you're that kind of person, Redfield, you know what betrayal means, right? Do you want to be an enemy of Uncle Shiki, me, Big Brother Kaido, and Auntie Linlin all at the same time?"
Redfield was stunned, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "You're right." The power this guy could command was probably even greater than Golden Lion's.
"Just focus on your own affairs," Roa said casually. "Most of the time, I probably won't need your help for anything."
Focus on my own affairs? Redfield looked at Roa with a complex expression. This kid was certainly not a good person. In fact, from his abilities, he was definitely an evil seed. But this evil seed treated him with great respect.
"Alright," Redfield nodded. "If there's anything, just say the word."
"Same here," Roa said magnanimously. "If you need any help, contact me anytime."
Redfield smiled faintly, raising his goblet to Roa. Roa shook his head, picked up a bottle of red wine from the table, and toasted back. The latter half of the banquet was quite enjoyable. Roa and Redfield talked extensively. Redfield was curious about the Rocks Pirates incident back then. Roa was also somewhat interested in Redfield's solitary adventures.
That's why he said Uncle Shiki simply didn't understand. If you really want to win over someone like this, you have to put in the effort.
Redfield stayed in the Germa Kingdom for a day, then left in a small boat specially prepared by Roa. Although their time together wasn't long, Roa was confident that Redfield would not withdraw from their alliance.
As for the Vampire Fruit, Roa, of course, did not give it to Redfield. Not to mention whether Redfield would accept it, the current Redfield had no need for this fruit; he was in his prime. Keep it for now, and see if I can find a subordinate suitable for this fruit in the future.
After this small twist, the grand snail fleet continued its journey back to the latter half of the New World. However, they hadn't sailed much further when another unexpected situation arose. Roa received a call.
"Brother Roa," on the other end of the line, Stussy's voice held a hint of panic. "I just got some news; don't panic when you hear it."
Roa paused. "I'm a professional businessman. I've undergone rigorous training; I won't panic."
"I just received a mission. The higher-ups want me to host some people," Stussy said gravely, lowering her voice. "And then help them find you."
"So, who are they?" Roa was somewhat curious. For Stussy to be panicked, could it be that the highest commander of CP0 had personally mobilized?
"It's high-ranking CP0! And," Stussy paused, even in a secret conversation with Roa, she instinctively lowered her voice, "the Holy Knights!"
"The Holy Knights?" Roa was genuinely surprised. "Oh? Are those guys mobilizing so early?" It was hard to say if they were truly the World Government's highest combat force, but the Holy Knights, with their apparent immortality and teleportation abilities, were indeed difficult to deal with. But that didn't make sense. Captain Rocks was so arrogant back then, and the Holy Knights didn't directly go looking for trouble with him. Why are they directly coming for me now?
Are they picking on the weak ones, huh? I'm really being underestimated!
"That seems to be the case right now." In front of Roa, Stussy's voice, which usually had a certain affected tone, now became solemn. "You must be careful!"
Roa's eyes narrowed. The Holy Knights, huh?
"Interesting. I'd like to play with them. Since they want you to host them, then give them a good reception, little sister Stussy. Help me find out what kind of people they really are."
"Understood."
Almost simultaneously, in a certain sea area of the New World.
A seemingly unremarkable ship was quietly sailing. On its deck, scattered individuals looked like sailors, but their demeanor suggested otherwise. Their aura was cold, their expressions stern, and their muscles tensed, as if ready for battle at any moment—more like assassins. Protected in their center was a middle-aged man in a luxurious white suit, currently holding a Transponder Snail and complaining loudly.
"Damn Gherling! Making me travel all this way! He must be afraid I'll threaten his position! That bastard holding a grudge! Tell him to wait for me, I'll take his Commander position one day!"
"Is that so?" A laughing voice came from the other end of the line. "Shall I relay that message to Saint Gherling?"
"Hmph!" The man snorted. "Do as you please! I'm not afraid of him!"
"Alright, just go and complete the mission honestly," the voice on the other end said. "If anything goes wrong, you know the consequences."
"Of course I know!" The man's lips curled up. "However, to gain the permission of the gods, to be allowed to become a new Holy Knight from a mortal, I'm quite interested in that brat named Roa."
"Don't mess around, this is a plan that that person approved."
"I'm personally leading this, and you're still worried?"
"Hmm, if you really can't handle it, remember to summon me."
"What nonsense? Am I really incapable of handling a brat?!" The man continued to bicker on the deck. His vulgar behavior made it hard to believe he was a member of the World Nobles, and moreover, a noble among them, a Holy Knight! But those stern-faced assassins—elite agents from CP—acted as if they saw and heard nothing, merely maintaining their vigilance. Even though in this sea area, besides their ship, there was no other ship in sight.
At the same time, North Blue.
On a certain deserted island.
On one side of the island's coast, several ships were docked. Inside a makeshift shack on the shore, a group of people were loudly squabbling.
"Didn't he say he had something important to discuss with us? Where is he!"
"I only came because of Doctor Trafalgar's invitation!"
"Does he know what a sin it is to waste our time?!"
Dragon stood outside the window, looking inside. After a couple of glances, he couldn't help but sigh softly.
"Are these all the people?" Too few.Too few people came.
"This is the limit," Doctor Trafalgar said, shaking his head beside him. "They are the very few revenge-driven individuals who still retain some sanity. Most others couldn't even be bothered with us." Given that they were all seeking revenge, it was indeed hard to find many who could still remain calm. The vast majority were already dominated by anger and despair, solely focused on retaliating against everything.
"Let's start with them." Dragon pushed the door open and walked in.
"Who are you?" The people in the room found Dragon to be a complete stranger. Who is this?
"His name is Dragon, Monkey D. Dragon, the son of that Marine hero the newspapers said was involved with us!" Doctor Trafalgar followed behind Dragon, introducing his identity to the crowd.
The survivors of Flevance gathered there were stunned. Then, someone immediately exclaimed, "Marine? Trafalgar! You betrayed us!"
"Don't misunderstand! I've decided not to be a Marine anymore. I asked Doctor Trafalgar to invite you here to help you!" Dragon said earnestly.
"Help?" The Flevance survivors sneered. "You're not one of us; how can you help us?!"
"Help you deal with the true culprit!" Dragon said firmly. "No matter how you retaliate against the affiliated nations or even the non-affiliated nations, the World Government, which truly caused all the tragedy, remains completely unharmed!"
"You…" The survivors looked bewildered.
"Let's overthrow the World Government together!" Dragon was convinced that the World Government was the source of all tragedies in this world. The World Nobles were wantonly exploiting the entire world, both affiliated and non-affiliated nations. Only by overthrowing the World Nobles' rule could this world truly see change!
Thus, the army known as the Freedom Fighters was established today.