As the three core members—Gold, Silver, and Bronze—all awakened Conqueror's Haki, the Roger Pirates clearly underwent a qualitative transformation.
The crew members on the entire ship felt as if they had gained several enhancement buffs, brimming with hope and confidence.
They were certain they could become one of the world's top pirate crews.
Even if they charged into the New World right now, they would definitely make a splash and secure a place among the elite pirate crews.
After celebrating the successful navigation of danger and the awakening of Haoshoku by Rayleigh and Jabā, the Roger Pirates once again embarked on their free adventures.
Their current dream was to sail around the world, stepping onto every possible island for new adventures, right up until the 'Final Island'.
This was also the main reason they were constantly darting around every route in Grand Line Paradise.
Conquest was out of the question; what they loved was a free and thrilling adventurous life.
However, in the days that followed.
Every time Roger appeared on an island with normal commerce, their intelligence would immediately be sold by the Underground Dark World to the Rocks Pirates, allowing Fang Huo to continuously correct their course.
The distance between the Rocks Pirates and the Roger Pirates grew shorter and shorter.
If the Roger Pirates hadn't been constantly darting around the major routes, they might have been met head-on by the Rocks Pirates on one of them long ago.
"These guys are as good at running as Shiki was back then!"
On one island, the Roger Pirates had again left before the Rocks Pirates could arrive, which made Rocks a little hot-tempered.
"Aren't we getting closer? It's only one island away now."
Fang Huo wasn't too worried, because during these days of pursuit, the Roger Pirates seemed to have gained two more crew members.
This was a good thing for the Rocks Pirates.
What was most exaggerated was that Roger had actually recruited a Navy Colonel and the Captain of a guard squad from an Affiliated Country.
If Colonel Miyaguren truly wasn't a Marine spy.
Then what incredible charisma must Roger possess!
To be able to bring even a Navy Colonel onto his ship.
It's just unknown which Cadre secretly created a Permanent Log Pose when the Roger Pirates landed on the Final Island, Laugh Tale.
Could it be Colonel Miyaguren?
Or perhaps it was someone else entirely.
After the God Valley Incident, Roger even offered to recruit Iron Fist Garp, and eventually entrusted his own son to Garp.
Fang Huo recalled that when Fire Fist Ace was pursuing Blackbeard Teach, he seemed to have developed an unforgettable bond with a Female Marine Lieutenant.
It seems both father and son possess a certain charm in this regard.
Of course, the protagonist Straw Hat Luffy, along with Smoker the Smoker and Koby the Effort King, similarly share an unbreakable, entangled bond.
---
On the other side.
Aboard the Roger Pirates ship, as the Rocks Pirates closed in, Roger felt an increasing sense of unease.
He didn't know what was happening, but instinct and intuition urged him to leave quickly.
"Roger, what's going on! Why is the time we spend on islands getting shorter and shorter recently?"
Jabā, who had a black, fluffy ponytail, complained somewhat unhappily; he hadn't finished exploring this new island yet.
He hadn't even visited the island's Entertainment District for some leisurely enjoyment.
Jabā called himself the 'Missionary of Love', dedicated to sowing the seeds of love throughout the world.
He also had a dream: to have an earth-shattering, brief, yet sincere romance with beauties from every single race.
Forget the Snake-Neck Tribe and the Mink Tribe, he even wanted to preach to the Tontatta Tribe and the Giant Race.
He believed that love could break through racial boundaries, ignore worldly opinions, and disregard differences in size and age.
Love is invincible, love is infinite... This is the supreme truth of the [Missionary of Love].
"Has something happened?"
Rayleigh, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and serving as the ship's strategist and Vice Captain, had also noticed Roger's abnormality.
"I don't know either, I just have this feeling, as if the entire sea is urging me to leave."
"Now even the wind is telling me to hurry up and leave..."
Roger frantically grabbed his own hair; he truly didn't know what was happening.
He even slapped himself hard a few times, trying to dispel this vague and ethereal feeling.
"The sea and the wind are telling you to leave quickly?"
Rayleigh's eyes widened. What was this?
Could the sea and the wind have consciousness?
What kind of joke was this?
Roger must be going crazy.
However, Roger had indeed previously demonstrated the special ability to hear the 'Voices' of animals and even stones, which had helped the Roger Pirates avoid danger and find treasures several times.
Out of trust in Roger, Rayleigh still ordered the other crewmates to hoist the sails and speed away.
Perhaps the sea and the wind really were conveying a message of danger to Roger.
---
As the Rocks Pirates closed in, the weather in this sea area suddenly underwent a massive change, becoming covered in dark clouds.
Even Fang Huo aboard the Sword of Xebec noticed the abnormality.
"This weather isn't right. Is an Extreme Storm Weather event about to erupt?"
The fierce storm winds caused the Sword of Xebec to shake violently; even the Gravity Ability struggled to stabilize the hull, and the flying speed was significantly reduced.
One must know that Extreme Storm Weather is the bane of the Float-Float Fruit ability.
Golden Lion Shiki's Flying Fleet was most afraid of encountering this kind of Extreme Storm Weather.
That's why the Flying Fleet had the most navigators and climatologists among all the Divisions, used to observe and predict extreme weather and avoid it beforehand.
This is also the main reason why the future Golden Lion Shiki wanted to obtain Nami, the 'Weather Child'.
"Bad luck! Let's avoid this extreme weather first!"
Rocks shouted at Fang Huo. Since they had been chasing for so many days, spending a little more time didn't matter, and safety was equally important.
"I think I've found something!!"
Fang Huo frowned deeply. Although the Extreme Storm Weather severely interfered with the Sword of Xebec, this thunderstorm weather also greatly enhanced his Electromagnetic Wave Sensing range.
He detected some life signatures in the distance, including several powerful presences.
Could this possibly be the Roger Pirates?
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed through Fang Huo's mind, and his expression changed abruptly.
Could it be that his and Rocks' pursuit of the Roger Pirates would result in them being struck by Extreme Storm Weather, just like the future Golden Lion Shiki's Flying Fleet was attacked in the Battle of Edd War while surrounding the Roger Pirates?
Was this the rhythm of being targeted by the sea, targeted by the world?
Jabā once said Red Hair Shanks was the child of destiny, and Red Hair Shanks said Straw Hat Luffy was the new child of destiny... Could Roger be the child of destiny of this era?
After all, Roger was the first to reach the Final Island and ushered in the Great Pirate Era... In this world, fate and prophecy exist!
"What did you find?"
Rocks frowned when he saw Fang Huo's solemn expression.
Logically, a single bout of Extreme Storm Weather shouldn't be enough to make Fang Huo change his expression.
Something more dangerous and serious must have happened.
Meanwhile, Fang Huo had quickly opened the Seven-Colored Gate, allowing Stussy and Shimotsuki Furiko to take their two sons into the Lost World...