As for what exactly will happen in the future, Lucifer will figure it out himself when the time comes.
But one thing Mage said made perfect sense: Shanks is indeed from the West Sea.
Lucifer asked this precisely because Shanks was from the West Sea, and the Roger Pirate Crew was about to secretly disband.
At this time, Shanks, who wasn't yet strong enough to act freely in the latter half of the Grand Line, would inevitably return to the first half of the Grand Line and the Four Seas.
Moreover, Lucifer knew that after Roger's surrender and the news of his public execution spread, Shanks would surely return to the Four Seas.
Lucifer wondered if he might happen to meet Shanks returning to the Four Seas during this period.
It had to be known that by then, Shanks definitely would have deepened his Haki mastery.
Otherwise, how else could he have run around with the Roger Pirate Crew?
He had even once boldly declared he would "kill Whitebeard."
Lucifer's idea was simple: besides meeting this future Yonko, he wanted to "accidentally" learn Haki training methods from him, especially Armament Haki.
It was known that almost everyone in the Roger Crew was indifferent to Devil Fruits.
Their dominance on the seas was due to everyone having strong Haki skills.
Lucifer aiming at Shanks was absolutely the right decision.
Besides, twenty years later, the destined child Luffy's teacher was Rayleigh, the Roger Crew's vice-captain, the "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh who could stop a baby's crying.
Lucifer really admired the Roger Pirate Crew.
Just randomly naming one person was enough to show the prowess—they were truly exceptions, almost all at Yonko level.
The "Yonko," the "Red-Haired" Shanks, needed no introduction.
Then the "Dark King" Rayleigh, of course.
Then characters like Sparka Jaba and Barrett—at worst, still Yonko-tier.
And then there were others like Kozuki Oden, and more.
Thinking of these, the long-dormant fire in Lucifer's heart was already burning.
"Father... I think I'm ready to set sail!"
Lucifer looked up, his eyes bright and spirited.
"Is that so..."
Mage was not surprised by Lucifer's words; he was just calm.
"Yes, you're qualified to set sail.
Only by going out can the strong have a broader stage and a bigger world.
Staying here won't make you strong!"
"Thank you for understanding, Father!"
Lucifer bowed his head.
"So, when do you plan to leave?"
Mage asked openly.
"Depends. I probably won't leave anytime soon; there are still some preparations to make."
Lucifer thought and replied.
Of course, this was just an excuse.
The real reason was that he was waiting—waiting for the news of Roger's surrender to spread before departing.
"Alright, whatever you need, just tell Morris to prepare it."
Mage said.
Morris was the Chris family's old steward, already sixty years old.
He had grown up with Mage and taken care of Lucifer since childhood—the family's "three-generation elder."
All affairs of the Chris family were managed by the old steward.
Once a large family, the Chris family still claimed considerable size.
Mage was able to waste time daily without starving thanks to the family's sizeable resources.
Though talented members had dwindled to just a few, and the family business was long gone, rental and tax income alone covered the family's living expenses.
"Alright, I'll ask Grandpa Morris to get ready.
Father, I'm going to rest first."
Lucifer nodded.
"Go ahead."
Mage nodded without saying more and watched Lucifer leave the hall and return to his room.
After Lucifer left, Mage put down his book, gazed out of the window, and muttered,
"Is it beginning?
The will of 'D' has already reached the final island.
A new era is coming..."
Then the entire hall fell into silence, as if no one was inside.
Lucifer, back in his room, didn't hear Mage's words.
Even if he had, he wouldn't find them strange.
Many believed the Chris family he "reincarnated" into wasn't ordinary.
Of course, the current Chris family was also extraordinary.
Families with 'D' in their name were never simple.
Plus, with such a powerful Logia-type fruit in the family, how could the Chris family be simple?
Lucifer had long been used to this and wasn't surprised anymore.
Back in his room, Lucifer changed clothes and rested a while.
After thinking about matters, he left to find the old steward Morris.
Many things needed early preparation, such as the ship.
A sailing ship was essential for going to sea—how else could one sail?
Considering the Four Seas' situation, a simple sturdy ship was enough.
The island the Chris family lived on had shipwrights.
The island wasn't large, and people's survival depended on the sea.
Without shipwrights, it was impossible to manage.
Lucifer had already decided to let the old steward prepare a single-mast sailing ship.
A bigger ship would require more crew, and Lucifer could only handle so much alone.
Recently, Lucifer also read books on ships—maintenance, handling, and navigation.
Preparations were sufficient.
However, Lucifer had not yet decided his future path.
In other words, he hadn't chosen between a Marine or Pirate route.
He was still struggling with this choice.
---To be continued---
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T/N:
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