Facts proved that a pirate's ability to recover was directly proportional to their desire for destruction, and their reasons for celebration were inversely proportional to their moral compass. One second, they could be on a life-or-death battlefield; the next, they could be a drinking party with arms slung around each other's shoulders.
On the beach, a huge bonfire crackled, roasting an unknown beast that Roger had felled with a single stroke. Grease dripped into the flames with a sizzling sound, and the rich aroma of meat filled the night air. Kyle leaned against a rock that had been flattened by a shockwave, holding a wooden bowl and feeling like a tattered wreck swept away by the tide of the times. His bones felt like they were holding a fierce debate, and every inch of his muscles was protesting the inhumane treatment they had endured that day.
"I'm just saying… can't we wait until the ship is repaired, or at least until I recover, before we have a banquet?" Kyle complained weakly. "Is this habit of throwing a party anywhere and everywhere really okay?"
"Kuhahaha! Kids are such a bother!" Roger held a huge beast leg in his left hand while his right arm was wrapped around the shoulder of the newly joined Gaban. Both of their faces were flushed from drinking. "Pirates should eat meat and drink heavily! Right, Gaban?"
"Exactly!" Gaban had clearly integrated perfectly into the crew's atmosphere. He raised his cup and clinked it heavily with Roger's. "To becoming friends through fighting! Cheers!"
Rayleigh sat on the other side of the fire, simply smiling as he wiped his saber, completely unfazed by the touching scene of "long-lost brothers finally reunited" unfolding before him.
Kyle rolled his eyes and silently tore off a small piece of roast meat to stuff into his mouth. Ah, it's so delicious. A true gift from nature. He looked at the three men before him: Gold, Silver, Bronze… Roger, Rayleigh, Gaban. The core of a future legend was now complete.
So… what about me?
A strange feeling arose in Kyle's heart. Was it anxiety? Excitement? Or was it a powerful desire to find his own place among these monsters? He knew he didn't want to be a mere mascot. He would strive to become the "Iron" of the Roger Pirates! The King's Three… and me. Interesting.
"Speaking of which, Roger," Gaban said, taking a big swig of wine and wiping his mouth, "why did you go to sea? You said you wanted to… hic… turn the world upside down?"
The flickering light of the bonfire danced on Roger's face, making his usually goofy smile appear surprisingly profound.
"A dream," Roger said, his voice slightly muffled as he took a bite of meat. "I want to see what's at the end of this great sea. I want to accomplish something that no one else has ever done!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring ripples in the hearts of both Kyle and Gaban. He didn't mention becoming the Pirate King1, nor did he speak of any desire for wealth, fame, or power. There was only pure, unadulterated curiosity and ambition.
Gaban was stunned. He looked at the genuine light in Roger's eyes and felt as if he were seeing the ultimate version of his own dream. He wanted to travel the world, but this man wanted to reach the very end of it.
"Kuhahaha!" Roger seemed to feel the atmosphere had become a bit too serious and quickly reverted to his usual boisterous self. He nudged Kyle with his greasy arm. "Hey, Little Kyle! What about you? What's your dream?"
Instantly, three pairs of eyes focused on Kyle. Rayleigh's held inquiry, Gaban's were full of curiosity, and Roger's… Roger looked like he was waiting for a good show.
My dream?
Kyle's brain worked rapidly. The World's Greatest Swordsman? Too much trouble; people would challenge him every day. Conquer the world? Also too much trouble; being a hegemon sounded exhausting. Wealth, beauty, fame, power? Now that… that sounded pretty good.
Just kidding, just kidding. In a world full of monsters, shouting some conventional slogan felt a bit underwhelming, especially in front of these three future legends. He recalled tales from his past life about a certain man—the red-haired Shanks, one of the future Four Emperors2, who roamed the seas and could stop wars with a single phrase: "Please, give me some face." What kind of power was that? Piracy wasn't just about fighting; it was also about human relationships. The "Face-Face Fruit" had to be the strongest Devil Fruit in the world! A bold and bizarre idea began to form in his mind.
Kyle put down his wooden bowl and cleared his throat. He puffed out his chest, mimicking Roger, and revealed a mysterious smile.
"My dream, you see…" He deliberately drew out his words, successfully piquing everyone's curiosity. "Is to become the 'King of Connections'!"
"…Huh?"
Roger, Gaban, and even the normally composed Rayleigh all had their expressions freeze on their faces.
"King of… Connections?" Gaban repeated the unfamiliar term, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Kuhahaha! What kind of crazy dream is that?" Roger was the first to react, bursting into deafening laughter. "Do you want to be a king? Or do you just want to know everyone in the world?"
Kyle calmly raised a finger, putting on an expression that said, you're all too young to understand. "What do you think is the strongest power on this great sea?" he asked.
"Haki, of course!" Gaban answered without a second thought.
"A powerful Devil Fruit?" Roger added.
"An unyielding will?" Rayleigh offered his own answer.
Kyle shook his head, his look of worldly wisdom growing stronger. "You're all mistaken. The strongest power on this great sea is 'relationships.' It's 'connections.' It's what I call 'face'!"
He stood up and began to pace back and forth in front of the bonfire, his tone becoming passionate. "Imagine it! When we run into other pirates, I make a call on a Den Den Mushi, and the Fleet Admiral 3 says, 'Brother Kyle, I'll send a Marine warship to help you right away!' When we're short on funds, I make another call, and the world's richest man says, 'Brother Kyle, don't worry about money, spend as much as you want!' When we face a powerful enemy, I walk up, pat them on the shoulder, and say, 'Give me some face,' and they have to obediently back down!"
The more Kyle spoke, the more excited he became, as if he could already see his glorious future: holding hands with the Fleet Admiral 4of the Marines, embracing the leader of the Revolutionary Army, and stepping on the Celestial Dragons of the World Government5!
"I won't have to lift a finger myself. A single word, a single glance, can make the whole world revolve around me! This is my dream! I want my name, my face, to become the most valuable currency on this great sea! I want to become… the King of Connections!"
He finished his speech with his hands on his hips, striking a pose he deemed incredibly cool, and waited for everyone's adoration. The scene, however, fell into a strange, profound silence. Only the crackling of the bonfire could be heard.
Roger's mouth was agape, the meat in his hand completely forgotten. Gaban's expression was one you'd expect from someone who had just seen a Sea King fly. Rayleigh pushed up his glasses, the look behind the lenses complex, as if he were trying to decide if he was looking at a genius or a peerless idiot.
"Pfft—"
"Kuhahahahahahahahaha!"
Roger's laughter finally broke the silence. He laughed so hard he bent over, tears streaming from his eyes. "Interesting! That's so interesting! King of Connections! Kuhahaha! Kyle, what in the world goes on inside your head?!"
Gaban couldn't help but laugh as well. He felt that while the dream sounded absurd, when he really thought about it, it actually seemed… kind of amazing.
"Although it sounds ridiculous," Rayleigh admitted with a helpless smile, "if you could truly achieve it, it would, in a sense, be an invincible power."
Kyle looked at them. Even though they were laughing, there was no mockery in their voices, only pure, genuine amusement and even a hint of recognition. A warm current surged through his heart.
"Good! I approve of your dream!" Roger finally finished laughing. He raised a huge barrel of sake and shouted boldly, "Then it's decided! I will reach the end of the world and become the Pirate King6! Kyle will be the King of Connections, making the whole world give him face! Gaban will travel the world! And Rayleigh…"
He looked at Rayleigh. Rayleigh just smiled and raised his cup. "As for me, I just want to see with my own eyes what kind of chaos you all can stir up in this world."
"Kuhahaha! Good!"
"Cheers!"
Four cups and barrels of varying sizes clinked heavily together above the bonfire.