Hearing Keiko's words, Roger asked in a heavy voice, "Who are you? What do you want?"
At that moment, the surrounding Roger Pirates finally reacted, drawing their weapons and pointing them at Keiko. Despite being surrounded by blades, Keiko showed no panic, meeting Roger's gaze with calm eyes.
This confidence and composure made even Roger cool his head. He spoke in a low voice to his crew: "Put your weapons down."
"Roger..." Gaban looked at him with concern, but the captain merely shook his head. The crew lowered their weapons, though they remained wary, watching Keiko and Roger with anxious eyes.
Keiko withdrew her hand and said, "Gol D. Roger, I am here to make a deal with you."
"A deal?" Without the weight of Keiko's hand on his wrist, Roger felt some relief. After adjusting his mindset, he asked directly, "What could I possibly have that you'd want for a trade?"
"You are suffering from an incurable disease, aren't you?" Keiko spoke bluntly. "You have, at most, three or four years left to live."
Roger's expression darkened. He had only learned of his terminal illness the previous year. To treat it, he had recruited Crocus as his ship's doctor, spending the last year trying to stabilize his condition. It was because he felt his time was running out that he was so desperate to find the fourth Road Poneglyph and reach the Final Island—to ensure his life in this world wasn't spent in vain.
But this should have been a top-secret matter, known only to him and his crew! Roger didn't want to be known as a "sickly man." Did she expect him to be mocked or pitied in battle? How did Keiko know? He had never met her, nor even known someone like her existed! By all logic, someone with her strength couldn't be a nobody.
Since she had already exposed it, there was no point in lying. He said gravely, "You're right. I am terminally ill."
"I can save you."
Keiko's words shocked Roger. His pupils dilated as he gasped, "What did you say?"
"Your disease might be incurable to others, but that doesn't mean I can't heal it," Keiko said. "I can cure your illness, but in exchange, you need to do me a favor."
"Of course!" Roger replied instantly. "As long as you can cure me, I'll do whatever you ask!"
This illness had haunted him; he lived in a frantic rush because he knew his days were numbered, hoping to leave no regrets in his final years. Now, someone claimed they could heal him? It should have been impossible—he had searched the world for famous doctors, and only Crocus could even suppress the symptoms. Even if Keiko had transcendent power, that didn't necessarily mean she surpassed Crocus in medical skill.
Keiko gave a faint smile and flicked her finger. In the next instant, Roger's right arm was "severed"!
Under the shocked gaze of the crew, Roger's arm flew through the air and landed on the deck!
"You bastard!" The Roger Pirates were furious, thinking Keiko had launched a sneak attack. Their weapons were raised again, this time striking out at her!
"Wait!" Roger shouted at the top of his lungs. "Drop your weapons!"
Shock was still visible on Roger's face. His roar stopped the crew in their tracks. One member couldn't help but yell, "Captain! What are you doing? This woman just took your arm!"
"No, it wasn't 'cut'!" Roger said solemnly.
He could feel it. Keiko hadn't actually hacked off his limb. He might not be her match, but he believed no one could take his arm so easily—and even if they could, it wouldn't happen without him noticing. He didn't even have the physical sensation of having lost an arm! In fact, there was no pain at all!
"Correct. It wasn't a cut," Keiko answered his confusion. "It was 'Surgery'."
"I am a doctor who ate the Op-Op Fruit. The terminal illnesses that stump other doctors are merely minor procedures to me."
The Op-Op Fruit? The Roger Pirates had sailed the seas for years and were well aware of this Devil Fruit and its miraculous functions, but they hadn't expected someone to actually possess it. If it was the power of the Op-Op Fruit... then perhaps he really could be cured!
"That's fantastic!" Roger said excitedly. "I stand by my word. If you cure me, I'll help you with anything!"
"Even if it means taking on the World Government?"
"Of course! But that is my personal decision; I won't trade my companions' lives for a deal!"
If Keiko asked him to fight the World Government, Roger would storm the Holy Land alone, but he wouldn't drag his crew into it, knowing the odds were slim. Besides, a confrontation with the Government was likely inevitable for him anyway, as the last Road Poneglyph was probably in their hands.
It sounded contradictory—getting cured just to survive, only to go to the World Government and die—but to Roger, it made perfect sense. He wanted to live because he refused to die from a mere disease. How embarrassing would that be? A man like Gol D. Roger, dying in a bed? If he was going to die, it would be in a blaze of glory, not fading away in some ignored corner!
"It won't come to that," Keiko laughed softly. "I won't ask you to fight the Government directly. I just need a favor."
"The World Government will likely invade Elbaf soon. I want you to help the giants hold the line against their assault."
Hearing this, Roger laughed loudly. "How hard can that be?! I have some history with Dorry and Brogy; I won't stand by and watch their homeland be destroyed!"
"Don't relax just yet," Keiko warned. "The World Government is completely different now. You sensed that powerful Haki earlier, didn't you?"
"Indeed..." Roger nodded. "The intensity of that Haki was staggering. But... Conqueror's Haki shouldn't be able to be boosted by external forces."
Armament and Observation Haki can be strengthened through training, but Conqueror's Haki only grows as the user's own spirit, presence, and confidence grow. It cannot be trained, let alone enhanced by outside means. Roger had no way of knowing the Five Elders had fused with their counterparts from another world.
Keiko didn't bother explaining. "The World Government is not what it used to be. Even with your help, Elbaf may not be safe. Do not be careless. Give it your all."
Roger turned serious. "Since you put it that way, I assume you aren't just recruiting us?"
Elbaf was already the world's strongest nation. If even the Roger Pirates weren't enough, it was hard to imagine who else Keiko was looking for. While Keiko couldn't move openly, she still had Gremmy! If Gremmy acted, it would relieve significant pressure. With these forces, their combat power should be sufficient.
The deal was struck. Keiko said, "Prepare a room for me. I will begin your treatment."
She had studied medicine for years in the Seireitei, learning from medical texts and various renowned doctors. Sometimes Beltz would even help out. While she wasn't quite at a transcendent level, she was an excellent physician. Combined with the Op-Op Fruit, "incurable" was no longer a word in her vocabulary.
Inside Roger's room, Keiko used Kaidō (Healing Kido) to examine his body and then activated her fruit.
Room!
Inside this operating theater, Keiko was as omnipotent as a god.
While Keiko treated Roger, Erensig informed Harald that Elbaf might be in trouble. Harald panicked and wanted to return immediately. Erensig didn't refuse; it was a good idea to have Harald warn them early. Over the years, Erensig had kept his promise to let Harald visit Elbaf once a year.
However, Erensig usually stayed away from the actual family reunions and kingly business, picking Harald up the next day. Consequently, he didn't know much about Elbaf's recent progress. This trip was both a warning and a chance to assess their military strength.
"Loki has eaten that legendary Devil Fruit. He truly inherited the bloodline," Harald said gravely on the way to the Garganta. "But he's still too young. Give him ten years—no, even five or six—and he will definitely surpass me."
Harald had been dead for some years, mostly fighting in the Soul Society. Time there was less "expensive," and after several years, he had merely restored his strength to its peak. However, having a different kind of demonic power in his body gave him a degree of regeneration, which was crucial.
Theoretically, few could even approach Harald's level, but Loki was special. He had survived being thrown into the Underworld—a place crawling with giant beasts—at birth. That feat alone was unparalleled in One Piece. Now, with a legendary fruit, his ceiling was even higher. Thus, Harald predicted Loki would eventually surpass him. (Actually, after Harald's death, Loki had wanted to get revenge on the World Government, but Harald—newly revived in the Soul Society—had stopped him).
With these forces, their combat power seemed adequate. Erensig nodded and led Harald into the Garganta. This wasn't Harald's first time traveling through this path to One Piece. When they emerged, they were inside the "Schatten Bereich" of Wano.
The Schatten Bereich of Wano had grown significantly. Initially, Beltz only carved out space in the shadow of Onigashima, but as the situation turned grim and Keiko's power grew, she decided to expand it. She didn't have Quincy powers, but Gremmy did! Gremmy, the "Strongest Sternritter," had no problem expanding the shadow realm. Now, it covered the entire country of Wano.
Erensig and Harald parted ways after exiting the shadow. Harald rushed to Elbaf, while Erensig prepared to head to a specific nation: Elegia, the Kingdom of Music!
It sounded like an ordinary music-loving country, but only he knew it sealed a terrifying existence: the Tot Musica, the Music Demon King! Tot Musica was the ultimate boss of the movie Red, requiring two Yonko crews (internal and external) to defeat. Its strength was beyond doubt. Of course, since it was a movie boss, he wasn't sure if it existed in this "main" timeline. (After all, the Navy didn't have Zephyr here, and Tesoro didn't exist).
However, since Uta had appeared in a manga panel, he felt the Music Demon King likely existed too. Before, he wasn't strong enough to provoke such a being, but with Keiko as a safety net, Erensig could afford a bold attempt. If he could devour the Music Demon King, his strength would skyrocket, completing 90% of his growth.
With the World Government about to attack Elbaf, he needed to boost his combat power quickly. This was the ultimate shortcut. Erensig transformed into a Great Red Dragon and took flight from Wano! Elegia was a nation on the Grand Line, so it wasn't too far. It didn't take long for him to arrive. He shifted back to human form and descended.