"What? The Pirate King's godson?"
Steger's face went pale. He hadn't expected this at all. The very idea that Gol D. Roger the only man to ever conquer the Grand Line had a godson shook him to his core.
Even if the boy wasn't Roger's true blood, just being acknowledged by such a man meant he couldn't possibly be ordinary.
Steger's mind raced. The World Government had long suspected that Roger's bloodline might still exist, and the possibility of a child born with what they called a "demonic heritage" had already caused great unease among the high ranks. But this an adopted son was an entirely new threat.
If Roger's blood heir had yet to be found, and now a godson had appeared… the implications were disastrous. Cold sweat ran down Steger's forehead.
"You didn't know? Well, of course you wouldn't," Buck said with a knowing grin. "It was a secret, after all Captain Roger's godson isn't something we just went around bragging about."
Steger's eyes narrowed. "Roger taking in a godson? That sounds like a lie."
"Believe what you want," Buck replied, still smiling with quiet pride. "He became the captain's godson only about three months before Roger's execution."
He folded his arms, his grin widening. "You don't have to believe me, and honestly, I don't care if you do. My brother is destined to shake the world. He'll conquer the Grand Line, just like the captain before him. He'll become the next Pirate King. My brother has that power."
Buck's tone grew almost reverent, his chest swelling with something that sounded like pride but carried a hint of mockery.
"Ross has decided to inherit Captain Roger's will," he went on, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "That makes me happy enough to let you two go. Consider it a favor from my brother. If not for him, you'd both be dead already."
With that, Buck turned his back, clearly intending to leave Steger and Shuzo alive.
"Wait!" Steger called out, a mix of curiosity and dread in his voice. "If that Ross kid is really your brother, and Roger's godson… then he must be powerful, right? How strong is he compared to you?"
"Me?" Buck chuckled, shaking his head as though the question were absurd. "Comparing me to Ross would be an insult to him."
Without another word, he leaped aboard the blazing ship of the Fire Pirates, leaving Steger and Shuzo stunned on the deck.
If Buck was that powerful and he was feared across the seas then what kind of monster was Ross?
"Quick!" Steger barked at his men. "Return to base immediately! I must contact headquarters. This information is too critical to delay. I'll report directly to Fleet Admiral Kong!"
His voice trembled with urgency as the navy ship turned toward the East Blue branch.
Meanwhile, aboard the Fire Pirates' vessel, Buck stood at the prow, gazing at the endless ocean. A cruel smile curled on his lips.
"Ross… I wonder if you'll like the gift I've prepared for you," he murmured. "Fame, fortune you'll have it all soon enough. I'm sure that'll make you happy."
But his smile wasn't one of affection. It was sharp and poisonous.
Buck didn't mind belittling himself in front of others; he knew where true power lay. The more he exalted Ross's name, the more the Navy would take notice. A godson of the Pirate King such a title would make Ross the target of the entire world.
If the World Government viewed him as a living reminder of Roger's defiance, they would never rest until he was eliminated.
The thought of Ross being hunted from sea to sea filled Buck with twisted satisfaction. He could almost hear the headlines already: "Roger's Godson Captured!"
Would the remnants of Roger's crew retaliate? Buck wasn't worried in the slightest. Roger was dead, and even Rayleigh the "Dark King" had vanished into obscurity. Most of the Roger Pirates were scattered or retired.
Even if they cared, what could they do?
"Let's see how long you can survive, Ross," Buck muttered, eyes glinting with malice. "When the whole world learns who you are, even the sea won't be big enough for you to hide."
He could already picture the chaos to come. Every pirate, bounty hunter, and government dog would chase after Ross not out of justice, but greed. After all, if Roger's godson existed, then maybe he knew where the One Piece was hidden.
…
Ross, of course, knew nothing of any of this.
He sat cross-legged in his cabin, staring at the open chest in front of him. Inside, a glittering hoard of gold, silver, and jewels gleamed in the lamplight.
A rough count told him it was worth at least ten million berries.
"My retirement fund is finally here!" Ross burst out laughing, his voice echoing through the ship. "Guess I can finally live out my days in peace no more pirates, no more chaos! Just good food, good drink, and the sea breeze!"
He threw his head back, laughing until tears rolled down his cheeks.
Ten million berries enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life.
"Pirates?" he snorted. "To hell with pirates! Who needs that kind of trouble?"
Across the cabin, his crewmate Tess Omic blinked in confusion. Ross wasn't even thirty yet and he was already talking about retiring?
Meanwhile, back in the East Blue naval base, Steger was hunched over a transponder snail, his tone deadly serious.
"This is Commodore Steger of the East Blue division. I need an immediate line to Fleet Admiral Kong. Urgent intelligence to report!"
Within minutes, the connection was made.
"This is Fleet Admiral Kong," came the deep, gravelly voice from the other end. "Report your findings."
Steger relayed everything he'd heard from Buck word for word. He didn't exaggerate, but the weight of his report was enough to make the air in the command room feel heavy.
For a long moment, Kong said nothing. Then, his voice came low and grim. "Roger's godson? Could that be possible?"
He exhaled slowly, his tone sharpening. "Whether he's truly Roger's godson or not doesn't matter. The fact that he's tied to the Roger Pirates makes him an enemy of the world. Send his picture to headquarters immediately. I want a bounty issued at once."
"The remnants of Roger's crew must not be allowed to rise again."
Steger hesitated. "Understood, sir… but what bounty should we set for him?"
Kong thought for a moment, his mind weighing the risks. "If Buck claims that Ross surpasses him in strength, then setting the bounty too low would be foolish."
He paused, then spoke decisively.
"Set his bounty at one hundred million berries. Whether he's truly Roger's godson or not, that title alone makes him worth the price."
"And one more thing keep his identity quiet for now. Don't make any large-scale naval movements in the East Blue. Once the bounty poster spreads, the hunters of the sea will do our work for us. A hundred million berries will draw them like sharks to blood."
The line went dead with a soft click.
Fleet Admiral Kong leaned back in his chair, muttering under his breath. "Roger… did you really leave behind a godson? And where is your real son hiding now?"
Outside, the ocean wind howled.
And somewhere far away, Ross was still laughing unaware that his name had just been etched into the world's most wanted list.
A bounty of one hundred million berries.
The godson of the Pirate King.
The man who, unknowingly, had just become the next storm on the Grand Line.