Chapter 70: Leaving Elbaf Again
Although Roy was still under naval surveillance, leaving the island wasn't difficult for him.
Horus could gather lightning and transform into a cloud, carrying both him and Amatsuki Toki across the skies.
Because of that, Roy wasn't particularly worried about being tracked—the Navy's scouts would only end up staring at empty skies.
When he returned to the Sheep's House, he was greeted by the smell of food. Toki, wearing an apron, was setting plates on the table one by one.
"So rich," Roy said, sitting down as his hand mischievously brushed against her leg under the table.
"Stop that," Toki scolded softly, though her lips curved into a helpless smile. She leaned in to give him a quick kiss. "From today, you'll be training with Elders Jarul and Jorul. You'll need your strength, so I'll make sure to cook well for you."
"You're sounding more and more like a perfect wife," Roy teased, pulling her closer.
He kissed her again and again, unwilling to let go.
"who wants to marry you…" Toki muttered, her cheeks flushed.
Roy grinned. "So you don't plan to take responsibility?"
"What if you fall for other girls in the future?" she murmured, hugging him tightly. "Maybe you should marry some of them too… younger ones."
Roy chuckled, looking her straight in the eye. "Then I'll marry them and you."
Toki stared at him, torn between exasperation and affection. "How greedy," she said softly, smiling. "It's up to you."
Before Roy could reply, she hurried off, cheeks red.
They were arguing before breakfast again—how typical of them.
---
Cake Island
A Marine warship was anchored by the shore, while high above, a white cloud drifted lazily among the others.
Charlotte Linlin lay sprawled across Zeus's soft, puffy body, snoring softly.
Since her return the day before, she'd noticed the warship stationed near Cake Island. Her first thought had been to chase away the intruders and then return to her castle for sweets and sleep.
But when she saw Kong on the deck, she changed her mind.
So now she was hiding on Zeus, fast asleep above the clouds.
"Mmm… why's he still here?" she grumbled upon waking, peering down with a frown. "How annoying!"
"Mom, remember what he told you?" Zeus asked carefully.
"What did he say again?" Linlin scratched her head, blinking. Then her eyes widened. "Ah! I was supposed to start dieting! I promised Brother Roy I'd lose weight!"
Zeus sighed. "That's not what I meant…"
"It was about Observation Haki," he reminded her.
"Oh! Right!" Linlin puffed her cheeks. "That sly villain down there is just trying to trick me!"
"Mom… we're the bad guys," Zeus mumbled quietly.
"Nonsense! Linlin's just doing what Brother Roy said—learning and growing! The World Government that killed mother is the real villain!" Linlin declared furiously, pointing toward the warship below.
On the beach, Kong was calmly eating breakfast. His brows twitched. That brat… did she really think he couldn't sense her up there?
Still, he didn't move. If not for Roy's potential importance, he would have already smashed that noisy girl out of the sky.
When Linlin fell asleep last night, he had even tried to chase her using Moon Step—but even then, he couldn't catch up to Zeus.
"Let's go," Linlin said with a sigh. "We'll come back later. I need to find a cure for this stupid food craving… otherwise, I'll never be able to keep my brother close."
She cast one last longing look toward Cake Island. "And I'll lose weight too… always stay pretty… Will I still be pretty, Zeus?"
Zeus didn't answer—he simply flew her away, following the eternal pointer toward the Drum Kingdom.
"Hunger, huh…" Kong muttered to himself. He doubted there was a cure for that kind of problem.
---
Grand Line – Mechanical Island, Future Kingdom of Baldimore
Snow fell heavily over the frosted streets. A young Vegapunk, bundled in a thick coat, rubbed his hands together and breathed into them for warmth.
"If only science could change the seasons here," he murmured, watching the white flakes fall. "So people could feel spring again."
---
North Blue – Comic Town
Under a gray sky, Tsuru stood by the docks, her blue hair glistening with raindrops.
The sea was unpredictable—calm in some places, stormy in others, as fickle as the human heart.
She caught a few drops in her palm and closed her eyes, letting the rain wash over her face.
Lately, no matter how much she used her Devil Fruit to calm her mind, one person's image kept surfacing in her thoughts.
That boy. That shameless, mischievous brat.
Why did she keep thinking about him?
"He hasn't been captured yet? Good…" Tsuru whispered.
The base commander had told her that Roy was still in Elbaf, training under two giant elders. His temporary crew had been disbanded.
He wasn't a pirate—not yet.
She smiled faintly. I'll convince you next time we meet.
Tsuru turned to leave, but as she passed a couple walking together under an umbrella, whispering and laughing, she stopped for a moment.
Was that… jealousy?
No, impossible.
"It must be fake," she muttered, shaking her head.
She glanced back as the man said, "It's raining tonight. How about a candlelight dinner?"
"Sure. You cook."
Tsuru groaned under her breath. "So annoying."
No matter how hard she tried, that strange feeling wouldn't fade—neither with her fruit's power nor the falling rain.
It just stayed there, quietly, frustratingly, lodged in her heart.
---
Time flowed like water.
A full year passed.
Roy had trained under Elders Jarul and Jorul, honing his strength to the limit. Occasionally, he flew on Horus to check on Cake Island—but Linlin never showed. Her trail had vanished.
The plan to reform her and Totto Land had to be postponed.
By now, Roy was nine years old—one year left before his next great journey.
The two giant elders watched him with reluctant smiles as he packed his things.
"You're leaving again," Jorul sighed.
"Don't look so gloomy, Elders," Roy said with a laugh. "It's not like I won't come back."
"Why not stay?" Jorul said softly. "Those two fools you're looking for aren't worth the trouble."
Roy smiled, hugging the giant's enormous finger. "If I find them, I'll tell them you're still waiting."
Jorul snorted and pushed him gently. "Liar. You just can't sit still. Go on—while you're still young. Explore the world and leave your legend behind."
<><><><><>
[Check Out My Patreon For +40 Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]