On the coast, a woman with soft green hair, wearing a short pink kimono and a samurai sword at her waist, gazed out at the sea with anticipation. In the distance, several colossal snails stood, and one was rapidly approaching the coast.
"Here!" The woman excitedly waved repeatedly. "I am here!"
Roa stood atop the snail's head, watching the woman on the increasingly close shore.
No way? Is fate acting up again? I can actually meet her like this!
Separating him from this woman was not just the vast ocean, but an insurmountable torrent of time. For them to meet like this, Roa knew not what to say except "fate." However, since she had delivered herself to him, was there any reason not to take her?
When they were very close to the shore, Roa flicked his fishing rod. The fishing line shot out, expertly wrapping around the woman's slender waist with Haki. Then, with a soft cry of "Ah!", Roa exerted a little force, directly reeling her in from the coast like a fish.
The woman felt herself instantly flying, the wind whistling past her ears. Before she could react, she had already crossed the sea and landed on the snail's head.
"Oh! Caught a beautiful woman!" Roa held the fishing rod, grinning as he watched the woman, hanging in mid-air by the fishing line, swaying in the wind. "What good luck!"
The woman was initially flustered, her hand instinctively pressing down on the hem of her rather short kimono. She glanced around in a panic, and then she saw Roa. Almost instinctively, her face flushed slightly.
Oh, what a handsome young man...
However, now was not the time for appreciating beauty! The woman, blushing, said somewhat awkwardly, "Excuse me, could you please put me down first?" Being suspended in mid-air like a fish was quite embarrassing.
"Before that," Roa's lips curved, "Woman, did you say you're going to Wano Country?"
"That's right!" Hearing "Wano Country," the woman's emotions became slightly agitated. "My destination is that country of samurai! Could I trouble you to take me there?"
"You're not very polite, are you?" Roa's smile turned a little strange.
Hmm, if the people of Wano Country were to introduce their homeland now, the opening line would probably be something like: "The Country of Samurai... Our nation hasn't been called that for a very long time." Ha.
"But you're very lucky," Roa casually tugged the fishing line. The woman landed rather awkwardly, sprawling on her back, her two slender, long, and pale legs curled up in pain.
So painful! The woman's delicate brows furrowed. He's too rough, isn't he? Is this how one should treat a delicate lady?
"I happen to be going to Wano Country, so giving you a ride isn't out of the question." Hearing this, the woman's small complaint vanished instantly, replaced by sheer delight.
"Really?"
"Of course, I have no need to deceive you," Roa said with interest. "But before that, who are you?"
"How rude of me! I haven't even introduced myself yet!" The woman quickly stood up in a flurry, straightened her clothes, and smoothed her disheveled hair with her hand, then bowed slightly towards Roa. "My name is Kozuki Toki, and for certain reasons, I am currently heading to Wano Country!"
Now it was fully confirmed. Roa nodded slightly. This woman's Time-Time Fruit ability was quite interesting. However, what interested Roa even more was what she, born 800 years ago, knew and what she intended to do in Wano Country.
"Kozuki?" Roa feigned surprise. "The Kozuki family of Wano Country?"
"That's right! The Kozuki family! Although I've never actually been to Wano Country." Kozuki Toki was once again delighted. Since the young man before her knew the Kozuki family, he had likely truly been to Wano Country! Was she this lucky? She had just arrived 800 years later and was already on a ship bound for Wano Country!
Uh— She glanced down nervously. This snail should count as a ship, right?
Kozuki Toki was overjoyed, then suddenly felt she was losing her composure. With a slight blush, she bowed deeply to Roa again. "How rude of me. I was so overjoyed that I didn't even have a chance to thank you, uh—" She suddenly stammered, unsure how to address Roa.
"Roa. Just call me Roa." Roa introduced himself.
"Thank you so much! Roa-kun!" Kozuki Toki's voice was genuinely sincere. "You're truly a good person!"
Roa-kun, huh? Roa's lips curved. That was truly an unprecedented address. The people of Wano Country all called him the "Ferocious Tiger." Seeing the unconcealed joy on Kozuki Toki's face, Roa's smile deepened. His eyes revealed a clear foolishness. In the original story, she was apparently deceived by human traffickers and almost sold.
He had originally intended to take her immediately, as this woman could use her ability to escape to the future at any time. Even someone as strong as himself couldn't cross time to capture someone. But now, Roa suddenly changed his mind.
He was looking forward to seeing Kozuki Toki's expression when she saw Wano Country today, a country so gentle and pure. In that instant, the dark aura she would release would surely be delicious, wouldn't it? In any case, Wano Country was only half a day's journey away. If he kept an eye on her, she wouldn't have a chance to escape! Even if her Time-Time Fruit ability had no wind-up time, her emotions would surely fluctuate before she made up her mind to escape.
Hehehehe!
"Haha, you really know how to talk, woman!" Roa laughed heartily. "That's right, who on the seas doesn't know that I, Roa, am a truly good person?" To empower the world to resist danger, to overthrow the corrupt World Government, I have truly exhausted myself!
"Let's go, Wano Country is very close now!"
"Then I'll leave it to you, Roa-kun!" Kozuki Toki's cheeks were flushed.
He's really a good person, Roa-kun, and so handsome! It's just that he's a bit too young, still a boy, too much of an age difference from me.
No! The woman suddenly started shaking her head vigorously. Kozuki Toki, what shameless things are you thinking?! The most urgent matter now is to get to Wano Country!
Roa watched her with interest. An interesting woman. You've successfully caught my attention.
Seemingly embarrassed by Roa's gaze, Kozuki Toki averted her eyes and carefully changed the subject. "Roa-kun, may I ask why you are going to Wano Country?"
"Oh, I have a friend there, and I need to discuss a plan with him." Roa said frankly. He was planning to teach the World Government a lesson, but the Calamity Company alone wasn't powerful enough, so he needed some assistance.
"And you, what about you?" Kozuki Toki's expression stiffened slightly as she feigned nonchalance. "My parents were both from Wano Country, but they have passed away, so I wanted to return and see the country where they lived."
"Oh? Is that so?" Roa chuckled.
She's lying. This woman had another purpose for going to Wano Country. Having traversed 800 years of time, it would be nonsense to say she merely wanted to see her parents' homeland.
Kozuki Toki seemed to not want Roa to press further on the matter, so she stiffly continued to change the subject, repeatedly asking Roa what the current world was like. Roa also pretended not to know, merely casually recounting some of his adventure stories. This left Kozuki Toki's eyes sparkling with wonder. Although it was a change of subject, this lady from 800 years ago was indeed very interested in the current world.
Until.
Grumble grumble. A strange sound broke their conversation.
Kozuki Toki froze for a moment, then her face turned beet red. She covered her stomach in extreme embarrassment, her voice stammering, "I-I'm sorry, Roa-kun, I haven't eaten all day..."
After getting a little more comfortable, she no longer referred to herself as "young lady."
"Come on, I'll take you to get something to eat." Roa chuckled softly.
"Thank you so much!" Kozuki Toki, blushing, bowed to Roa again. As the daughter of a samurai family, to show such an embarrassing side in front of Roa-kun! How shameful!
But Roa-kun is truly kind!
So, Roa led Kozuki Toki to the kitchen used by his executives. Of course, Roa wasn't truly kind; he just knew that if Kozuki Toki left his side, she might disappear in the blink of an eye. Not only did he accompany Kozuki Toki, but Roa also kept watching her the entire time. His gaze made the woman's face flush throughout.
Roa-kun keeps looking at me... Could it be, love at first sight? The gentle and innocent woman's heart suddenly pounded fiercely. He was handsome, gentle, and saved her from danger—that was unfair!
But thankfully, soon, Kozuki Toki's attention was drawn to something else.
"Boss!" A pair of patrolling soldiers walked past them, respectfully bowing and greeting Roa.
Kozuki Toki looked at these soldiers with surprise. "Roa-kun, why do they all look the same?"
"Oh, they're just artificial soldiers cultivated using a certain technology," Roa said casually.
"I see." The ancient artifact from 800 years ago showed no unusual reaction upon hearing this explanation, merely nodding in understanding. It seemed the technological level of the seas back then truly couldn't be compared to now. Roa grew even more curious about that period of history.
"However," Kozuki Toki's focus was on something else. "Roa-kun, they all call you 'Boss'? Does that mean you're the leader of this fleet?"
Roa shrugged indifferently. "Is that strange?"
"No, I just think it's truly amazing!" Kozuki Toki exclaimed from the bottom of her heart. Roa-kun is only in his teens, right? He's still at an age that could be called a child, yet he already owns such an enterprise? And as the great leader, Roa-kun actually personally escorted me to get food... Even kinder!
But in the next moment, the flush on Kozuki Toki's face vanished, startled by the sight not far away!
"That is!" Her pupils suddenly constricted.
There was a platform, and on that platform, two figures were engaged in a fierce battle. Bullet, swinging mercury-heavy fists, and King, flapping his wings, unleashing wind and fire. Kozuki Toki's gaze settled on King.
"Lunarian?" She almost lost her composure.
"What's wrong?" Roa asked with a smile.
"Roa-kun, that's a Lunarian, isn't it? The race called gods!!" Kozuki Toki instinctively grabbed Roa's sleeve, quite shocked.
"Gods?" Roa feigned surprise, asking, "What are you talking about? Aren't the Celestial Dragons called gods?"
The woman's face visibly stiffened again. She quickly said, "I-I might have remembered wrong..."
Oh no! I let it slip! Kozuki Toki hadn't made up her mind to tell Roa her origins. Although Roa-kun was very kind. But this was her biggest secret; she couldn't expose it casually.
However, it really is a Lunarian! I've only heard of them in legends; this is the first time I've seen one with my own eyes! It's said that they played a huge role in that war!
"Don't worry about it, they're all my subordinates." Roa said casually, with an indifferent expression. But these words sounded like a thunderclap in Kozuki Toki's ears.
That was the Lunarian race, called gods! And they're Roa-kun's subordinates? Eight hundred years ago, even that legendary man was only a companion of the Lunarian race!
"Oh, um..." The bewildered Kozuki Toki responded somewhat haphazardly to Roa. So much so that she didn't even notice as they passed a factory. One must know that in that factory, the former Shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Sukiyaki, was grunting and groaning, forging weapons for the Calamity Company.
Kozuki Toki was indeed a very beautiful woman, and very well-mannered. This could be seen from how she ate. Even though she was ravenously hungry, her eating remained elegant, not appearing crude in the slightest. While eating, she didn't forget to thank Roa again.
However, she was also curious. "Roa-kun, aren't you going to eat anything?"
"I'll pass," Roa said with a grin. "I'm saving room for the big meal later."
"I see!" Kozuki Toki naturally assumed Roa's "big meal" referred to a banquet with his friend once they reached Wano Country. From this, she received even more delightful news. Since he was specially saving room, that meant...
"Are we almost at Wano Country?"
"That's right, very soon."
"Very soon" meant a few hours later. The Snail Grand Fleet had already arrived at the base of Wano Country's cliffs.
"This is Wano Country?" Kozuki Toki stood with Roa on the snail's head. The executives behind Roa showed no reaction. They weren't curious about where this woman came from, nor did they want to ask about her relationship with their Boss. That was the Boss's business.
"But what is this?" She looked up at the towering cliff face in astonishment. Where did such a cliff come from on the edge of Wano Country?
"Roa-kun, did we come to the wrong place? The Wano Country my parents spoke of wasn't like this!"
"Then your parents' information is a bit outdated," Roa laughed wildly. The eyes of his executives behind him were a little strange. What's wrong with this woman?
"Let's go. Up there, that's Wano Country!"
It's truly, exciting!