One Piece: Lord of Disaster.

Chapter 199: Everything is arranged perfectly! The one-year agreement.

"cheers!"

On this island, which Roya had just named "The Story of Laughter," another banquet began.

The atmosphere remained lively, and everyone was still singing and dancing.

Of course they should be happy, because they have just accomplished an unprecedented feat: circumnavigating the world, finding the legendary treasure, and truly conquering the Grand Line!
Isn't that something to be happy about?

Even though he had found the final island and realized his long-cherished dream, Roger's smile carried a hint of melancholy.

Not only him, but Rayleigh and Jabba were also laughing, but there was a hint of melancholy in their raised eyebrows.

As always, Luo Ya would clap silently when someone sang loudly, and cheer with a smile when someone danced energetically, but he was more like an outsider, as if he were just watching a drama from above.

Most of the time, he was just silently observing Roger.

Because the black mist emanating from Roger's body at that moment was truly delicious.

"Captain, what's wrong? You seem a little unhappy."

Shanks moved closer to Roger, and the boy, who seemed a bit precocious compared to his red-nosed best friend, keenly sensed that something was wrong with his captain.

"Nothing! Hahaha, go have some fun with Bucky!"

Roger raised his hand and ruffled the boy's hair, his smile looking no different from usual.

but.

"captain,"

Shanks, however, kept a straight face and said seriously, "If there's anything you need to say, you can tell me!"

"Hahaha! You little rascal, you really dare to say that!"

Roger laughed.

However, looking at the serious-looking boy in front of him, he suddenly felt a little annoyed. "Speaking of which, should I not have brought you and Bucky here?"

"Eh?"

Shanks didn't quite understand what this meant.

"Sooner or later you will also set sail. As for this place, shouldn't we wait for you to come here on your own in the future?"

Roger stroked his chin and said, "Isn't this directly robbing you of the fun of future adventures?"

"That's not true!"

Shanks said somewhat anxiously, "Sailing with the captain and everyone else is the happiest thing for us!"

"Hahaha! Only a brat would say that!"

Roger patted Shanks' head again and said earnestly, "Listen carefully, Shanks, so-called growth is about constant partings and constant encounters."

“We will grow old, you will grow up, and sooner or later you will have to stand on your own, especially after… knowing all this.”

"captain……"

Shanks, who is only nine years old this year, looked a little confused and sad.

Will we have to leave the captain and his crew someday?
"Alright, go play with Bucky."

Roger gave Shanks a nudge on the shoulder. "Kid, you don't need to think too much. Right now, all you need to do is have fun."

"Oh……"

Shanks hesitantly approached his red-nosed best friend.

Meanwhile, Roger tilted his head back and downed the wine in his glass, casually wiping the wine from the corner of his mouth, and strode towards Roya.

“Roya, let’s talk.”

He said.

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Roya nodded with a smile.

The two left the dimly lit room and went straight to the edge of the island, where they sat cross-legged on a tall golden mountain.

It was truly a mountain of gold, piled up with all sorts of gold artifacts, with only a few jewels and gems mixed in.

“You’re right, Roya. Finding this place is far from the end, not even the beginning of the end, but just the end of the beginning.”

In the dim light, Roger said with a sigh, "We've come too early."

"That's not right."

Luo Ya smiled and said, "You're the one who arrived too early. I'm not."

As Roger was pondering this, immersed in a subtle emotion, he suddenly froze and subconsciously turned to look at Roya.

Even in such dim light, Roya's incredibly handsome and unusually young face was clearly visible.

"Yeah, you're only fifteen!"

After wandering for half his life, he turned the world upside down and his evil reputation resounded in every corner of the world. But when he returned, he was still just a half-grown child!
This kid is amazing! I subconsciously ignored his age!
"Damn it! He's so young!"

Roger was immediately indignant. "What kind of monster are you, kid? Even someone as gifted as Kaido or Charlotte Linlin couldn't possibly reach your level at this age!"

"I'm also very troubled,"

Roya also sighed, "What's frustrating is that as I get older, there are fewer and fewer things in this world that can bother me."

"You boy!"

Roger gritted his teeth inwardly.

You're getting a good deal and then acting innocent, aren't you!
"so,"

Roya raised an eyebrow. "Is it that you already know everything, but are troubled because you lack the power to change things?"

"Huh? I'm not that bored. What's there to worry about? Everyone has their own things to do."

Roger, who was so carefree just a moment ago, gritted his teeth the next second, "It's just a pity that I missed the battle eight hundred years ago, and it seems I can't catch up now either!"

"What kind of person is Joy Boy waiting for, and how will he change the world?"

I really want to see it!

At that moment, Roger raised his hands like a child and complained loudly, "Damn it! Why did the timing have to be wrong!"

Luo Ya raised the corner of his mouth.

Funny man.

"So, Roya,"

Roger looked at Roya again, his eyes more serious than ever before. "What exactly do you want to do? Now you can finally tell me."

What exactly does this kid know?
Was he already prophesying something before reaching the final island and uncovering the blank history?
"Didn't I already say that, Roger?"

Luo Ya simply smiled and said, "I hope you will go and create a new era."

"A new era?"

Roger immediately frowned, somewhat suspiciously asking, "Why would I do something so pointless?"

What does it matter to him what the world becomes? He's just a pirate.

"Aren't you already running out of time?"

Luo Ya said matter-of-factly, "I've caused so much trouble for this world in the first half of my life, so I'll use the last of my life to make a contribution to this world."

"Who cares about you!"

Roger was instantly annoyed. "So you're convinced I'm doomed, huh? Even if I am truly going to die, in my final moments, I'd rather spend my child's childhood with her!"

That brat's words are so infuriating!
"No, Roger, you will."

Luo Ya remained unperturbed, simply smiling as he said, "Because the will passed down through generations, the tides of the times, and people's dreams—these are all unchangeable. As long as people continue to pursue the answer to freedom, then all of this will never stop."

"..."

Roger was stunned.

This kid...

Why did you say something that seemed like it should have been your own words?

Damn, that would be so cool to say as a last words!

No! It's too early to think about your last words!

“Since you can’t wait until then, then like Joey Boy, entrust everything to the future, Roger.”

Roya said, "The time isn't right yet? Then create the time! When the wave sweeps the world, heroes will naturally appear."

The moment those words were uttered, Roger's body visibly trembled.

Are we entrusting everything to the future?
In that instant, Shanks' image flashed through Roger's mind, followed by his infant daughter Robin.

As he said, sooner or later, the children will grow up and begin their own adventures.

By then, should we still make the children feel that the time is not right?

Although we may not be able to witness firsthand how the person Joy Boy is waiting for changes the world, as Roya said, isn't it enough to entrust this dream to those who come after?

All I can do is, like Joy Boy, provide some assistance to those who come after me!
Isn't this a more suitable way for me to die than in a hospital bed?

As Roya said, he wouldn't live much longer anyway—

and many more.

Roger's eyes widened suddenly.

Was Roya waiting for this moment from the very beginning?

If I remember correctly, the first thing he said when he arrived on his ship was to confirm whether he had a terminal illness.
"You brat—what's going on? Are you some kind of prophet?"

Otherwise, how would he know what he would feel after arriving at the final island?
How could he possibly make her fall for him with just a few words? Luo Ya simply shrugged, “The secret is that it makes men more alluring.”

"Stinky brat!"

Roger's long mustache trembled with anger.

"Let's leave it at that, Roger,"

Luo Ya stood up, gazing at the boundless darkness ahead, and said leisurely, "You will usher in a new era."

"Well, let's start by spreading the news that you found the One Piece all over the world. I wonder if that guy Im will be so scared that he can't sleep at night? That victor from eight hundred years ago probably doesn't know that Joy Boy has left behind a big surprise."

For eight hundred years, rumors of the One Piece have circulated at sea, but they have remained just that – rumors. Few people believed them, let alone someone like Roger who actually went out of his way to find it.

"What do you think of the title 'Pirate King'?"

Roya smiled and said, "An unprecedented conqueror of the Grand Line, a king who reigns supreme over all pirates, the Pirate King."

"One Piece?"

Roger nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds pretty good. The King of Pirates seems to be a bit higher than the Seven Lords, but you're giving me all the honors and giving me this title. Are you really willing to be subordinate to me?"

"What are you talking about?"

Roya looked completely bewildered. "How many times do I have to repeat myself? I stopped being a pirate the day the Rocks Pirates disbanded."

"What does the King of Pirates have to do with me, a merchant? It's Uncle Shiki and his crew who should be angry. But Uncle Shiki was just taught a lesson by you, so he shouldn't be bothering you again anytime soon. You can rest assured about that."

That brat!
Roger's lips twitched.

"Once I become the Pirate King, the whole world will start to believe that the legendary One Piece is real."

Roya stomped his foot, his shoes making a slightly crisp sound as they landed on the pile of gold. "All the wealth, power, and status in the world is here!"

"Given just one chance, the world's most madmen will be set ablaze!"

"How about we make this opportunity your public execution?"

Roya crossed his arms, looking very serious. "The Pirate King, who had acquired all the wealth, power, and status in the world, declared to the world before his death that all his treasures were buried in Laugh Tale."

"And then, wouldn't that be the era when all the men in the world set sail and go out to sea? Hmm, let's call it the Great Pirate Era?"

"Etc., etc!"

Roger interrupted him somewhat impatiently, "How did it suddenly escalate to the point where I'm being publicly executed!"

"Oh, this one?"

Roya explained to him, "According to the procedure, you just need to find the Navy—your old acquaintance Garp, for example—and turn yourself in to him. Of course, the Navy will claim that a Navy hero arrested the Pirate King. But that doesn't matter. He gets all the credit for the captain being killed, so it doesn't matter if you become the Pirate King."

"After you surrender, given your status in the underworld, the World Government will likely hold a public execution in order to restore the prestige of the government and the Navy. After all, they've been through a lot with us lately."

Has this kid planned out his death in such detail?
Roger's lips twitched. "No surprises? What if something unexpected happens?"

"An accident has occurred—"

Roya gave Roger a deep look, then sighed, "Then I'll have to think of another way."

"So I died for nothing, huh?!"

Roger was furious.

I will mourn for you.

"Who cares about you!"

Roger roared.

but.

That seems to make a lot of sense.

If there were ever a day when public executions were carried out, wouldn't the world government spare no effort to broadcast them live all over the world?
In that case, no matter how well they can manipulate public opinion, that one moment is enough to change everything!
Anyway, I really don't have much time left to live.

But Robin...

He had originally said that even though he was nearing the end of his life, he wanted to spend as many years as possible with her...

"From the moment we found this island, happy sailing has become impossible, Roger,"

Roya smiled and said, "Once the news that you found the One Piece gets out, the World Government will definitely spare no effort to search for your whereabouts. Next, it won't just be Garp, but the Knights of God, the Five Elders, and even that Im may personally take action."

"You can't expect me to keep this a secret, can you?"

"And what about you?"

Roger countered, "Roya, won't you be targeted?"

"what?"

Roja was shocked. "I've helped you so much, Roger, and you still won't keep this a secret?!"

This guy is such a hypocrite!

"I don't care,"

Roya said unreasonably, "If news of my visit here gets out, then I will expose all the secrets and let that guy Im start cleaning up the world ahead of time."

"..."

Roger's eyes and the corners of his mouth both darkened.

This brat is a real tough nut to crack! Threatening himself with the future of the entire world so casually?
Moreover, he's probably serious!
"Disband the Roger Pirates, Roger."

Roya said, "Let everyone change their appearance and hide away, then spend your last moments with your wives and children. Don't stay with them for too long, though. You'll definitely be the primary target. Im might just drop out of nowhere at any time, so you'd better turn yourself in as soon as possible."

"They really arranged everything so clearly for me,"

Roger sneered, "So, Roya, what exactly are you expecting in this so-called Great Pirate Era?"

"No."

"No?"

"Or rather,"

Luo Ya said meaningfully, "What I look forward to is this era itself."

"..."

Roger pursed his lips.

What about this era itself?

As he said, with countless restless ambitious people flocking to the sea, will that inevitably lead to a chaotic era of pirates?
Roya, what he craves is chaos itself!

This little devil!

Roger's hand had already unconsciously rested on the hilt of his beloved knife at his waist.

madman!

Hidden beneath the joking and laughing facade lies an incredibly vicious and twisted soul!
After all the scheming and plotting, all they wanted was to make this world even more insane and chaotic!
"Do you want to take action?"

Luo Ya laughed and said, "It's best not to now, otherwise, I'm afraid no one will be able to get out of here."

Roger paused, then released his grip.

Indeed, if a war were to break out in such an environment, this kid's abilities would be far too invincible.

"One year,"

Roya held up one finger. "Let's postpone this battle for a year. By then, we should have the strength to fight you fairly."

"I also really want to fight you, Roger. If I can't defeat you, I'll feel like something's missing. Everyone has forgotten about the captain, so let me avenge him."

Having already missed Rocks, I can't afford to miss Roger.

"During this year, you can also spend more time with your children."

Luo Ya said, "It wouldn't be good if it were any longer. It would be even more painful for the children to experience separation after they've grown up and become more mature, wouldn't it?"

Roger was taken aback.

Leaving before Robin was old enough to understand, versus leaving after she was old enough to understand, seems to have caused less harm to the child in the former case.

"..."

Roger fell silent.

Although I knew Roya had ill intentions, and although I knew this guy was yearning for an even more chaotic future.

But his words made her heart flutter, or perhaps it was just her instinct to think that way.

Since I no longer have a chance, I might as well entrust everything to those who come after me!
Just like Joey Boy back then.

Shanks, and Robin, whether it's one of you or someone else, we definitely need your help.

As Roja said, only in the midst of a world-shaking frenzy can true heroes emerge.

That being the case.

"A year?"

Roger took a deep breath and looked at Roya, "Then you'd better not regret it."

Leaving this kid on the sea any longer would be far too dangerous.

If I can finish off this kid before I die, that would be a huge win.

"We look forward to your arrival one year from now."

Roya said with a smile.

great.

If Roger has to wait several years before turning himself in, wouldn't that period be too boring?
(End of this chapter)