The second person to leave the Oro Jackson was Kozuki Oden. The boisterous daimyo from the Land of Wano, with his famous swords Ame no Habakiri and Enma at his waist, wore a simple, honest smile on his face.
"Everyone! This is where we part ways!" Oden announced, bowing deeply to every person still on the ship. "Sailing with all of you has been the greatest honor of my life!"
"Oden-san!"
Shanks and Buggy, who were still just teenagers, rushed forward with tears in their eyes. One of them hugged Oden's left leg, and the other grabbed his right, refusing to let go.
"Are you sure you'll be alright going back alone?" Rayleigh asked with a frown. "The situation in Wano right now is..."
Everyone knew that Wano was not the same peaceful country Oden had left behind. A man named Orochi had stolen the throne and was now working with enemies from outside the country. The beautiful land of cherry blossoms was now covered in shadows, a dangerous place to return to.
"Hahahaha! Don't you worry!" Oden waved his hand dismissively, his laughter booming across the deck. "It's nothing I can't handle! Just a small problem, not worth mentioning!"
He refused everyone's offer to go with him, his eyes filled with the stubborn and naive pride of a true samurai. He truly believed that he could fix everything on his own and bring the light back to his home country.
Kyle watched him, this man who was so straightforward it was almost foolish, and couldn't help but picture the tragic future that awaited him. He saw a pot of boiling oil, a man holding his loyal retainers above his head, and heard the sound of a gunshot that would echo across Wano. The tragic story was already written, and its hero was now walking toward the stage, full of hope.
Just as Oden was about to turn and leave, Kyle finally spoke up.
"Oden."
Oden turned his head, a look of confusion on his face.
"The samurai code of Wano can be too honorable sometimes," Kyle said calmly, his eyes sincere. "When you're dealing with lawless dogs, playing by a samurai's rules won't always work."
He paused for a moment, his gaze becoming sharp. "Giving in over and over again only makes them bolder. The only way to win is to fight back."
The words hung in the air, leaving the others on the crew a little confused.
Oden just stood there, scratching his head with a puzzled look on his face as he tried to understand what Kyle meant. He didn't fully grasp the deeper warning in his friend's words, but he trusted him completely, so he nodded seriously.
"Kyle-san, your words... I'll remember them!" He then broke into a wide grin, showing a mouth full of white teeth. "Thank you! Well then, everyone, until we meet again!"
With that, he turned and walked away with strong, confident steps.
It was another tearful goodbye. The Oro Jackson set sail once again, but the sounds of laughter and joy that once filled the ship were gone, never to return to what they once were.
When the ship finally arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago, Rayleigh also began to prepare to leave. He had changed into a simple, plain outfit, carrying nothing with him but the sword at his waist.
"Well then, this is my stop," Rayleigh said, adjusting his glasses. His tone was as calm and steady as always.
"Ohhh?" Shanks deliberately dragged out the sound, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. "Mister Rayleigh, getting off at Sabaody? Are you going to see someone special here?"
Buggy immediately caught on. He put his hands on his hips and shouted in his high-pitched voice, "Hmph! He's definitely going to see that lady who owns the bar! I saw him last time! Rayleigh was staring at her for a really long time!"
"Hahahaha! Shakky's drinks are pretty expensive, Rayleigh. You got enough secret cash on you?" Jabba chimed in, leaning against the ship's railing and teasing his old friend without mercy.
"Hey! You guys..." A vein started to throb on Rayleigh's forehead. Even the normally composed Dark King couldn't keep his cool right now. "What nonsense are you talking about! I'm just planning on living a quiet life here in retirement!"
Kyle was leaning against a nearby wall, watching Rayleigh's red-faced attempt to act calm with a small smile on his lips. He didn't say a single word, but the teasing look in his eyes was more annoying to Rayleigh than any words could have been.
"I'm leaving!" Rayleigh practically ran away. He waved his hand over his shoulder without looking back and jumped right off the ship.
Watching their vice-captain's flustered escape, a long-overdue burst of genuine laughter finally erupted on the deck, chasing away some of the sadness that had lingered for so long.
The journey continued. Crew members left one by one. At every port they stopped at, there was another farewell. The deck, which was once so crowded with dozens of people that you could barely move, grew emptier with each passing day. The loud shouts, the rough laughter, and the hearty songs all slowly faded away. Soon, the only sounds left were the flapping of the sails in the wind and an endless, heavy silence.
Finally, the Oro Jackson docked at a port on a small, unnamed island. It wasn't a bustling town, just an ordinary stop in the Grand Line—so ordinary that it wasn't even marked on most maps.
Jabba slung his massive battle-axe over his shoulder, its sharp blade glinting in the sunlight. Kyle carried his naginata, with a simple bag tied to its handle.
"I guess it's our turn to go," Jabba said. They were some of the first members of the Roger Pirates, and now, they had chosen to leave together at the very end.
Shanks and Buggy stood in front of them. Their eyes were red and puffy, but they were trying their best not to cry. Saying goodbye so many times had almost made them numb, but the empty feeling in their chests just kept growing bigger.
"Hey, you two," Jabba said with a grin. "The next era belongs to you. Don't you dare bring shame to the name of the Roger Pirates!"
Kyle walked up to the two teenagers and placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Don't look so sad. A man should save his tears for a happy reunion," he said. He looked at Shanks, then glanced over at Buggy. "Your journey is just beginning. Don't disgrace me, and don't disgrace the Captain. If you get into trouble out there, don't you dare use my name. When I have time, I'll come and find you."
He pulled his hands back and clenched them into fists, a small smile on his lips. "And when I do, if I find out you've been slacking on your training, don't blame my fists for not being gentle."
As he spoke, a faint, almost invisible ripple of Haki shimmered around his knuckles. He lightly bumped his fists against the fists of Shanks and Buggy.
"Kyle-ge..." Shanks looked up, his eyes full of sorrow.
"Hmph... who would ever slack off on training!" Buggy rubbed his red nose, trying to sound tough. "This great man is going to become even greater than Captain Roger and own all the treasure in the world!"
Kyle and Jabba shared a smile, and the heavy weight of another goodbye felt a little lighter. They turned and walked down the gangplank without looking back, just like they had done countless times before when going to get supplies.
The anchor of the Oro Jackson was pulled up one last time. The legendary ship carried the few remaining crew members and the two young men who would one day shake the entire world as it slowly sailed out of the harbor. The ship grew smaller and smaller until it was just a tiny black dot on the horizon.
The once-lively Oro Jackson was now hauntingly quiet.
Shanks sat all alone on the ship's figurehead, staring down at the straw hat in his hands.
Buggy hid in a dark corner of the cabin, clutching the dagger Roger had given him, his shoulders shaking as he cried.
This legendary ship, which had carried countless dreams and witnessed unbelievable glory, was now sailing toward the end of an era.
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