Every day, the newsbird delivered the day's newspaper to Lucifer.
Sometimes, Lucifer couldn't help but admire Morgan's abilities.
Morgan was one of the heads of the dark world.
He was a user of the Bird-Bird Fruit in albatross form.
Morgan was also the president of the World Economic News Agency.
His primary job was gathering news and publishing newspapers.
He upheld the professional ethics of a journalist.
His existence directly influenced the news dissemination speed in the One Piece world.
People in different places could get first-hand information immediately.
Lucifer counted the days on his fingers.
He didn't want to, but reality forced him to.
Without counting on his fingers, it was hard to estimate the current time.
Currently, it should be three years after the ship doctor Kurokas joined the Roger Pirate Crew.
Roger ruled the Grand Line, said to be "impossible to conquer."
Roger was then called the "Pirate King."
Soon after, by Roger's command, the Roger Pirate Crew secretly disbanded.
Then Shanks and others each returned to their hometowns, waiting for something.
Then, in the year 1498 of the One Piece calendar, one year after the crew disbanded, Gol D. Roger surrendered to the World Government and was arrested.
Roger was sentenced to death in Log Town, East Blue, marking the beginning of the Great Pirate Era.
Seeing the Great Pirate Era approaching, Lucifer felt genuine anxiety—insecure about his strength.
Don't think catching up to Rob Lucci was a big deal.
When Luffy defeated Rob Lucci, Rob Lucci's power was just average then.
The main reason was Rob Lucci's long undercover stay at Water 7.
As for Lucifer's current level, he was only at Rob Lucci's standard.
He hadn't reached his target.
One year later, Pirate King Roger would be publicly executed.
Log Town then was full of "reserve monsters."
For example, Red-Haired Shanks, Flamingo, Crocodile, Hawk Eyes Mihawk, and many more were not to be underestimated.
Even characters like Moonlight Moria were among them.
Though relatively young, these people were much stronger than Lucifer now.
Monsters were monsters because they led all others in every aspect from a young age.
Though Lucifer's constitution had been supplemented by the Earth Fruit, allowing him to qualify among monsters, the gaps made up were still small.
This was the main difference between Lucifer and true monsters.
His cultivation talent and ability weren't bad, but his foundation was lacking.
Monsters were monsters because they were ahead of everyone in everything.
Some would mention the three Marine Admirals.
The three Logia-type monsters, such as Zephyr, looked down on him due to Kizaru's focus on his fruit powers.
That was wrong.
The three Admirals were strong in all abilities.
But in later times, being Logia users with potent fruit powers made them more dominant.
To most people, the Admirals appeared to rely more on fruit powers.
Another reason was that flowing non-solid matter couldn't be coated in Armament Haki.
Time still flew by.
Lucifer spent every day training without rest.
Only by sweating more than others could one gain more results.
Amidst the days of training, the event Lucifer had anticipated finally arrived!
This day was destined to be remembered in history: the Roger Pirate Crew's captain, Gol D. Roger, despite numerous hindrances from "comrades" and Marines, finally arrived at the final island—Raftel!
The whole world exploded with excitement.
Pirates, Marines, civilians, even the lofty Celestial Dragons—all were the same!
Everyone knew that after hundreds of years, someone finally took the top spot.
That person's name was Gol D. Roger!
The Pirate King—Gol D. Roger!
"Pirate King, huh..."
Looking at the news on the newspaper, Lucifer smiled, recalling a meeting many years ago.
At that time, he was still a child, inspired by the passion in the Pirate King stories.
He followed his master's side, repeatedly saying, "Master! Can I become the Pirate King?"
Whenever Daniel heard these childish words, he would just smile quietly without replying.
"Want to become Pirate King... such long-lost passion!"
Lucifer shook his head and smiled.
Though he was only a little over ten years old now, having lived two lives, his mindset was no longer that of a child.
"Well, Shanks and the others should be around fifteen or sixteen..."
Lucifer muttered to himself, holding a huge "dumbbell" (a giant barbell).
This beach was Lucifer's unshakable training ground.
It belonged to the private territory of the Chris family.
Usually, no one came here.
After all, the noble privileges were evident here, though the Chris family never acted arrogantly.
The beach was Lucifer's base—training, thinking, and almost everything was done here.
Setting down the "dumbbell," Lucifer wiped sweat from his forehead.
In the sunlight, his not-too-explosive muscles gleamed brightly.
At ten, Lucifer had grown tall.
His long-term muscle accumulation had formed a respectable build.
Though not a monstrous muscular type, he was lean in clothes and strong without.
"Well, time to prepare. The seas from West to East are not calm!"
Lucifer ended his training early today.
After receiving such big news, he needed time for reflection.
---To be continued---
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T/N:
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