On an unnamed ship where Reid was staying, he suddenly smacked his forehead hard.
"Ah! My stupid brain—how could I forget about Oden?!"
Next to him, Roger burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Brother Reid, what's wrong this time? Don't worry, my body's already healed, and your medical skills are incredible. We'll solve any problem. Once I've settled Rouge safely, we can set sail freely again."
"Roger, Kozuki Oden should be in Wano Country by now."
Reid's expression darkened.
"Reid, you know Oden too? Oh right, I forgot—you're the Child of Destiny. What, is Oden in danger as well?"
Roger suddenly tensed up. He wasn't afraid of his own death, but if something happened to one of his sworn brothers, he would never allow it.
Reid nodded heavily, his face grim.
"Roger, Wano Country is still far away. If we don't hurry there, Oden will be thrown into a boiling oil pot and executed by gunfire inside it."
"WHAT?!"
Roger grabbed Reid's shoulders, his pupils shrinking into needle-thin slits.
"It's true. This is what's about to happen. So let's find Rouge first, then head straight to Wano to save Oden."
"Reid, Oden's strength isn't far from mine. Killing him wouldn't be easy."
Reid understood—Roger was still clinging to a sliver of hope, unwilling to believe it.
He shook his head and sighed.
"Sigh… Roger, Oden values loyalty and friendship above all else. He puts his family and brothers first."
"You mean—"
"Yes. He was tricked. His enemies used his family to set a trap. Oden could have easily defended himself—even defeated them. But his wife and children were his weakness. In the end… sigh."
Reid couldn't bear to continue. Just remembering the scene from the manga had enraged him, and the anime's heart-wrenching portrayal of life and death had left him deeply shaken.
After hearing this, Roger was engulfed in shadow. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, the air grew still, and an overwhelming aura of terror radiated from his body!
In the cockpit, Shanks noticed the commotion outside.
"What's wrong with the Captain? I haven't seen Roger this furious in a long time."
Nearby, Buggy was still grumbling to himself, but when he heard Shanks muttering, he also turned to look at Roger and Reid on the deck.
"Such a terrifying presence…"
Buggy shuddered. He had never seen Roger like this before. Trembling, he adjusted his red hat and tiptoed toward the deck.
Shanks wanted to follow, but remembering Roger's earlier orders, he held back—though worry still gnawed at him.
"Did Captain Roger's illness flare up again? It doesn't seem like it… I hope he's okay."
On the deck, Reid, standing closest to Roger, felt the full intensity of his rage.
"Even when Roger learned Rouge would die, he wasn't this furious."
Reid was stunned.
Buggy cautiously approached Roger.
"Ca-Captain Roger… what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? L-Let me perform a juggling act to cheer you up!"
Buggy began flailing his limbs in exaggerated, ridiculous motions.
"Reid, do you know where Rouge is right now?"
Roger looked up at Reid, his face eerily calm, betraying none of the fury from moments ago.
But Reid knew—Roger was seething beneath the surface, ready to explode at any moment.
"I'm not entirely sure if she's already there."
"It's fine. Tell me. I have Rouge's Vivre Card—if the direction is right, it'll guide us."
Roger pulled out a small piece of paper from his clothes.
"That's Rouge's Vivre Card, right?"
Reid watched as the card twitched slightly before pointing in a specific direction.
"Yes. Reid, where might Rouge be now?"
Roger followed the card's direction with his eyes.
"If I had to guess, it's probably an island called Baterilla, likely in the South Blue."
"Baterilla Island in the South Blue… so it really is there." Roger murmured.
"Roger, you know this place?"
Roger stared at the Vivre Card's guidance and nodded.
"Yeah. That's Rouge's hometown."
"Oh… I'd forgotten about that."
Reid mentally noted it. Of course—hometowns were places of nostalgia and security for most people.
Buggy, standing nearby, had no idea what they were discussing. Though curious, he knew better than to interrupt, especially with Roger in such an uncharacteristically serious mood.
"Roger, do you want to head to the South Blue first?"
Roger didn't answer.
Instead of responding to Reid's words, he asked Reid very seriously.
"Reid, when will Oden die?"
"What?! Oden is going to die?!" Buggy, standing nearby, nearly popped his eyes out in shock, shouting in disbelief.
"What... Oden is going to die?" Shanks, who had been steering the ship, could no longer hold back and rushed out of the cabin to join the others.
"Captain, is Oden in danger?"
Tears welled up in Shanks' eyes—Oden was someone he deeply cared about.
Roger placed a hand on Shanks' head, signaling him to stay quiet.
"Let me think for a moment."
Reid sat cross-legged, and after a short while, he stood up again.
"I'm not entirely sure, but it should be in about three or four years."
"Whew..."
Roger let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this, then quickly regained his cheerful demeanor.
"Hahaha, that's plenty of time. Let's head to the South Blue first."
Shanks couldn't help but tug at Roger's robe.
"Captain Roger, aren't we going to Wano to save Oden? Isn't he in danger?"
"Yeah, Roger! Whoever dares to hurt Oden, I, Buggy the future Pirate King, won't let them get away with it!"