On a platform somewhere on the snail's back, Teach, who had been training, stopped and looked up at the figure descending from the sky.
"It's Golden Lion Shiki!" Doflamingo also looked up, introducing the man to Teach, who was seeing him for the first time.
Golden Lion Shiki? Teach's gaze instantly became fervent.
He was a major executive of the former Rocks Pirates, now one of the strongest pirates in the world, with a bounty even higher than Roa's, second only to the Golden Roger!
"That guy is a terrifyingly strong monster!" Doflamingo recalled his first meeting with Shiki two years ago and couldn't help but feel a lingering fear.
"Even back then, Boss and Kaido only barely managed to fight him together!"
"Even now, Boss should still be a little distance away from him," Doflamingo speculated. A few months ago, Roa and Whitebeard's battle ended without a clear victor, but Whitebeard was clearly the stronger party. Whitebeard and Shiki's strength should be similar. Therefore, there was still some gap between Roa and Shiki. Doflamingo felt his reasoning was quite rigorous.
A monster even stronger than Roa? Teach's eyes burned with fervor. All his plans had only one goal: to become stronger, stronger than everyone else! Only by possessing power that surpassed all others could his ambition, which was in no way inferior to anyone else's, be fully unleashed!
So.
"Keep training, Doffy," Teach hoisted the massive dumbbell he had set aside and started running, grunting. "We can't interject in their discussions! Zehahaha! For us, becoming stronger is the only thing we need to consider!"
"Fufufufu! You're right!" Doflamingo laughed along.
But. Hmph! Just you wait, Teach! Don't think it ends here! The day I fully master Enma is the day you, fat pig, get slaughtered!
Meanwhile, Capone Bege remained silent. His small group of two had become three, and he was still the lowest in rank! The good news, though, was that Teach was at least easier to get along with than Doflamingo.
On the other side.
"You arrived so fast, Uncle Shiki. I thought we'd be the first to arrive." Roa greeted Shiki as he descended from the sky.
"Hmph," Shiki landed on the snail's head, glanced at Roa, then at Kaido standing beside Roa. "Cut the crap, what's this plan of yours?"
"Don't be so impatient, Uncle Shiki," Roa said with a smile. "Let's wait for everyone to arrive and discuss it together. Otherwise, it'll be too troublesome to explain it to each person."
"It won't be long now; Auntie Linlin and Uncle Wang Zhi are also about to arrive."
"Then you'd better not make me wait for nothing." Shiki didn't press the issue but said with interest, "You, kid, have been causing quite a stir lately, haven't you? 'The Most Evil Man in History'—your name is even more famous than mine now!"
"Oh, no, no," Roa said, a little embarrassed. "I just did a tiny, insignificant thing."
Shiki snorted. "However, the newspaper said you fought that guy Newgate?" Immediately, Shiki's grin widened, his eyes containing the aggressive nature of a lion.
"Something like that happened," Roa nodded, already feeling a bit helpless. I knew it. It was a routine by now.
And so, in the center of the desolate island.
Boom!
Two blades suddenly clashed in mid-air. Black lightning, formed from Haki, exploded, tearing the clouds in the sky in an instant.
"Zehahaha! You didn't disappoint me, kid! You've already reached this level!" Unrestrained laughter echoed across the island.
Roa said nothing, just kept swinging his sword. The desolate island suffered. The clash of two monsters left it on the verge of collapse within minutes. Roa took the opportunity to suggest a ceasefire. "Let's stop here. If we keep fighting, the island will collapse."
"Then let's go to the sky!" Shiki was still eager for more.
Roa felt a headache coming on. Sparring with Big Brother Kaido was a good chance to show off, but fighting Shiki was different. He couldn't show off, and he might even get beaten.
Thankfully, at that moment.
"Did I disturb you? Did I come at a bad time?" A smiling voice rang out from the side.
Roa looked in the direction of the voice, and a joyful expression instantly appeared on his face. "No, you've come at precisely the right time, Uncle Wang Zhi!"
The big boss of Hachinosu Island, Roa's old friend, Wang Zhi, had arrived.
"Tsk." Shiki clicked his tongue, displeased. He had come at the worst possible time!
"Oh, isn't this Shiki? Still not dead! Heaven truly has no eyes!" Wang Zhi greeted Shiki, with whom he had fought fiercely a year ago, his tone clearly full of resentment.
"Hmph, if you want to die, I'm not entirely against helping you," Shiki sneered.
"Hahahaha, don't be so tense!" Another laugh rang out, and another man appeared. With long white hair, wearing a captain's coat, and holding a wine bottle, he was drunkenly gulping down sake.
"Old friends reunited should reminisce with good wine and food. Oh, except for Roa."
"John?" Shiki frowned slightly. "And—"
It was Captain John, also a former Rocks Pirate executive, who had now formed his own pirate crew. And beside him, there was a man clad in heavy armor, carrying a giant axe. "Hahahaha! Kaido and Roa arrived early too! It's truly nostalgic; you two kids are already world-renowned figures now!"
"Especially Roa, wahahahaha! Besides Shiki and Newgate, all of us have been left in the dust!"
"Gin Axe?" Kaido, who had also arrived on the island and was originally watching the fight, snorted coldly. "You two came too!"
"We were just guests on Hachinosu Island," Wang Zhi said with a smile, "so I just invited them to come along."
"This is truly a pleasant surprise; well done, Uncle Wang Zhi!" Roa seized the opportunity to sheath his sword, his face full of smiles. "Uncle John and Uncle Gin Axe, it's been seven or eight years since we last met, hasn't it?"
Gin Axe and Captain John, though these two unlucky fellows would both become zombies under Moriah in the future, their strength was still extraordinary. At the very least, they were high-level fighters on par with Emperor-level subordinates. Otherwise, how could they have been executives in the Rocks Pirates? And how did Gin Axe assist Wang Zhi in fighting Shiki a little over a year ago?
As for why they became so weak as zombies, practically like cannon fodder, one could only say that even the Sword God Ryuma, and the world-shaking Nation-Wrecker Oars (a true ancient giant), drooled as zombies, didn't they?
Gin Axe, carrying his large axe, said faintly, "After you, kid, abandoned us and escaped alone back at God Valley, we haven't seen you since. It must have been eight years."
"Hahahaha, thinking about it now still gives me chills!" Captain John laughed heartily. "The immortal Five Elders, they're truly troublesome."
"Hahaha!" Roa showed no hint of embarrassment. "I was just a kid back then, so don't be too hard on a child."
"Hahahaha! You brat!" Gin Axe laughed heartily. "You haven't changed a bit!"
"I felt the same way when I first saw Roa last year," Wang Zhi also laughed. "But at least two things have changed: he's become stronger, and he's caused trouble for more people."
"Hahahahaha!" Gin Axe and Captain John burst into laughter.
Roa's smile grew wider. "Seeing that everyone's relationships are still so good, I'm relieved." Wang Zhi's popularity wasn't bad either, at least much better than Big Brother Kaido and Uncle Shiki.
"Let's go! The rest of them should be arriving soon. Let's start the feast and wait for them!" Shiki also sheathed his sword, displeased. There was no way to fight now.
And so, the group moved towards the coast, chatting and laughing. The individuals in the original Rocks Pirates might not have had strong relationships, but eight years later, gathering and reminiscing about the past seemed to instantly bring them closer.
Then, upon reaching the coast where the Grand Fleet was anchored, another person was sitting on a rock by the shore, waiting for them.
"Oh! Red! My friend, long time no see, how have you been?" Roa greeted the newcomer with a smile.
A slender figure, elegantly dressed, looking more like a nobleman than a pirate—Baryonyx Redfield surveyed the remaining members of the Rocks Pirates before his gaze settled on Roa's face.
"A reunion of the Rocks Pirates' remnants. Why did you call me here?"
"The reunion is secondary, the main thing is, there's a fantastic big plan!" Roa said. "I need your help, my friend!"
Friend? Redfield shook his head helplessly. "If it's too much of a demand, then I won't participate."
"Haha, don't worry about it, Red. Everyone's thinking the same thing." Wang Zhi walked over and said with a smile, "Thanks for the previous war. Without your containment of that bastard Shiki's rear, the war wouldn't have ended so easily. I also apologize to you; Hachinosu Island simply didn't have the strength to continue fighting, otherwise, I wouldn't have let Shiki off like that!"
"It's nothing," Redfield didn't care much. They had no connection whatsoever; they just happened to be enemies with the Flying Pirates at the same time. "Without you guys, I wouldn't have had so much fun in the early stages."
"Hmph!" Shiki snorted at the main topic of their conversation.
"Even Red the Solitary has come? What an impressive lineup!" Gin Axe chuckled. "It reminds me of God Valley back then!"
"Just one more person left!" Kaido snorted coldly. "That old hag Linlin! She really thinks she's the grand finale!"
"Mama Mama! Is some brat talking bad about me?!" A loud laugh suddenly descended from the sky, along with the woman sitting on a cloud. "Kaido, you brat, you've gotten even more arrogant after a few years!"
"Linlin!" Kaido instantly looked up at the woman descending on a cloud, his tone a strange mix of annoyance and inexplicable delight. "Finally here?"
Roa turned back thoughtfully. In the distance, on the sea, a large ship singing a song was rapidly approaching. On the bow, a figure was waving towards them.
"Hey! Roa!"
Roa's lips curled slightly.
"If everyone's here, let's start the feast!"
The monsters' feast thus began.
The feast was held on this desolate island. Roa was a little worried that if they didn't come to an agreement and actually started fighting on the Grand Snail Fleet, everything would be over. As for how to hold a feast on a desolate island with nothing on it, it could only be said that Shiki and Doflamingo's abilities were too useful.
Shiki only needed to sweep his hand across the ground, and within a minute, a temporary palace was erected. Then, Doflamingo used his ability to add details to the palace. The entire process took only a little over ten minutes, not even enough time for the cloned soldiers to transport the necessary supplies for the feast from the Grand Snail Fleet.
And so, the lively grand feast began. All the monsters, and their respective executives, participated. At the head of the palace was a separate round table, where the monsters chatted and laughed happily. Below, at various tables, sat the executives.
Charlotte Perospero, the eldest son of the Charlotte Family, felt his scalp tingle just by glancing at the round table.
"What exactly does Roa want to do? Gathering so many monsters at once! Does he really want to revive the Rocks Pirates?" he couldn't help but ask in a hushed voice.
"There can no longer be a second Rocks Pirates," Katakuri replied casually, his eyes darting to the side. "No one can tolerate someone riding on their heads! At most, it's just cooperation."
That's terrifying enough! Perospero licked his lips. If these monsters cooperated, they'd probably punch a hole in the heavens!
"More than that, Big Brother Peros," Katakuri nudged his head towards the table next to them, "don't you think that kid looks a bit familiar?"
Perospero followed Katakuri's gaze. It was a chubby black man who was currently eating ravenously. Perospero's pupils instantly constricted. "Could it be!"
In fact, they weren't the only ones who noticed this. At the round table, Charlotte Linlin also saw Teach, whose two hands were busy stuffing food into his mouth. She was stunned for a moment. "Hey, Roa, am I seeing things? That kid has the same face as Rocks!"
"Oh, you noticed, Auntie Linlin? Women are indeed more observant," Roa chuckled. "Big Brother Kaido didn't even notice for so many days."
"What?" Kaido turned his head, and his gaze immediately landed on Teach's face. He was also surprised. So that's what his face under the bandages looked like? No wonder that brat Roa said there would be a surprise!
But, could I be blamed for that? His face was covered in bandages before!
"No way?" The remnants of the Rocks Pirates were all stunned. Wang Zhi, in particular, exclaimed in shock, "Rocks actually has a son?"
"Hahahaha, that's too much!" Gin Axe chuckled. "He kept it a secret from us all this time! But, he entrusted him to you, Roa?"
"It was just by chance," Roa shrugged. "I just happened to meet him."
"Chance?" Captain John, already drunk, laughed heartily. "There's no such thing as chance in this world! All chances are the inevitability of fate!"
"Roa, perhaps, this is a fated encounter."
"Fate?" Roa's lips curved. "Perhaps."
"I'm actually quite excited. What kind of power will Rocks' son have?!" Charlotte Linlin's eyes blazed, and her crimson tongue was already licking her lips.
"Teach is very strong," Roa's smile widened. "But give up, Auntie Linlin. If you really bore the Captain a grandson, he wouldn't rest in peace in hell."
"Hahahaha! How can he rest in peace when he's already in hell?" Gin Axe couldn't help but laugh. "But indeed, a bastard like Rocks definitely belongs in hell!"
"I'm actually quite looking forward to it," Wang Zhi chimed in. "What kind of expression would Rocks have if Linlin actually bore him a grandson!"
"It's going to be very interesting!" Captain John, hiccuping from his drink, his smile undiminished, said, "How about it, Roa, let Linlin give it a try?"
Roa pondered for a moment, then nodded seriously. "If it's a free love, I don't object."
"Puhahahaha!" Gin Axe laughed so hard he bent over. "Then, that's even more exciting!"
"Alright, he's just a kid who inherited Rocks' bloodline." Shiki didn't care much about this. That kid was just Rocks' son, but not his successor. In this world, bloodline inheritance was not true inheritance; the transmission of will was the true passing of the torch!
"Roa, how long are you going to keep us in suspense?" Shiki asked. "Speak, your grand plan!"
Redfield, who had been silently listening and eating, also became interested and looked at Roa.
"In that case, I'll speak." Roa became slightly serious. "Everyone, don't you think the New World is a bit too crowded?"
Crowded? Everyone was stunned for a moment. What did he mean by that?
"Let's join forces and drive the World Government out of the New World!" Roa raised his right hand, then suddenly clenched his fist, as if already holding this vast sea in his grasp.
"World Government?" Charlotte Linlin instantly frowned tightly. "Are you crazy, Roa! Have you forgotten God Valley back then?"
"That's right," Wang Zhi also nodded. "No one knows the strength of the World Government better than us."
"If it's for something like this," Redfield also said, "Roa, then I won't be participating." It would be crazy to go to full-scale war with the World Government with him.
"Don't misunderstand," Roa was not surprised by their reaction. He just smiled and continued, "It's not about going to war with the World Government. We just need to drive out all of the World Government's forces in the New World! Is that a difficult thing for us?"
"Think about it, everyone. After that, the New World will become our inland sea! We will be able to carve up this entire sea!"
"Everything in this sea will bow before us! Each of us will occupy a sea area, establishing our own empires like emperors!"
"Isn't that more impressive than Captain Rocks' inexplicable pirate kingdom?"
At these words, everyone was stunned. Their eyes gradually lit up.
"Zehahahaha!" Shiki had already burst out laughing. "I'll admit it, Roa, when it comes to madness, none of us can compare to you!"
"Carving up the New World? It certainly sounds very interesting!"
Alas, is Shanks still no match for Aizen? You, Chouwa!
Wow, the previous chapter was censored... I quickly modified it and put it back out. I didn't even write much...