One Piece: Nobody knows Devil Fruits better than me.

Chapter 197 JOYBOY
"Hahaha! Emmett—do you understand? This is how you tie a 'knot'!"

"Even when facing the vast ocean, confronting tsunamis, waves, and gales, it can remain stable for a long time. The so-called 'knot' is just such a thing."

A voice could be heard in Roy's ear.

It's quite unique.

People often use words like 'bold,' 'cheerful,' 'gloomy,' and 'deep' to describe a voice.

But at this moment, the sound was strange.

His tone was high-pitched, his manner bold, and his words passionate.

What word best describes this sound?

Roy was subconsciously thinking about it.

"don't know."

At the same time, another voice came out.

“But—Joey Boy, to put it another way, isn’t a knot just something that ‘binds’ a rope?”

"Didn't you hate being restricted the most? You even gave up your original name to avoid being restricted."

It was only at this moment that Roy finally saw the scene in front of him clearly.

In the distance, the sea shimmered.

It was dusk, and the sun was about to set.

He appeared to be on an island.

There were two figures, one large and one small.

The larger one is a gigantic robot.

Roy had seen it not long ago in Egerhead—the ancient robot 'Emmite'.

In front of Emmett was a small hill.

On the hilltop, a figure sat cross-legged.

At this moment, he was smiling as he answered Emmett's question.

"Yeah, I'm a pirate, so I hate being restricted the most."

"However, I don't think a 'knot' is necessarily a constraint—"

He stretched out his finger and casually tossed the unfinished knot in his hand toward Emmett, where it wrapped around the animal.

Then he grinned at Emmett.

"The so-called knot is a bond, Emmett!"

He was wearing a straw hat covered with red cloth.

Compared to his fame, his appearance is not particularly remarkable—he looks quite ordinary, probably in his thirties.

But the curve of his smile seemed to resonate with people.

In that instant, Roy had the answer to his previous question.

How should I describe the person in front of me?

The answer is—freedom.

Whether it's her voice or her smile.

He gives the impression of a breeze blowing across an island, a bird soaring in the sky, and a fish swimming in the ocean.

It seems that nothing in this world can bind him.

Even if he is knocked down, even if he is defeated, he will not fall because of it—he is a man as free as the sun.

That is him.
"Joey Boy".

Roy knew the other party's identity and understood his own situation—his current state was very similar to when he used the Memory Fruit to enter Lingling's memories.

The scene before me is a memory of the past.

"Conqueror's Haki is the 'spirit of the soul'."

Roy murmured the word to himself, feeling that the value of the golden lion was still rising.

If Conqueror's Haki is a power generated by the soul.

So the Conqueror's Haki left in the knot by Joy Boy is naturally a part of his soul.

What Roy is seeing at this moment should be the memory of when this knot was created.

"Bond?"

Upon hearing this, Emmett asked the same question again.

"Yes—I hate being tied down, but I enjoy the bonds I share with my friends, just like you and me."

Joy Boy grinned, untied the knot, and continued tying it: "That's the best thing."

But upon hearing this, Emmett seemed somewhat angry: "Even though you say that, you still don't want to leave with me, do you?"

"Everyone is still waiting for you, and we still have the strength to fight."

It patted its battered, tattered machine body as it spoke.

Yes.

Even though that great war has ended.

Even if they were defeated because of betrayal.

Even though his comrades had already scattered.

But it knew—as long as the man in front of it raised his arms and shouted.

Everyone will still return to the battlefield.

But
"Not this era, Emmett."

Joy Boy shook his head. He gazed at the distant sea.

"This time, we lost."

He will not deny this fact.

He could almost see the darkness rising from the horizon and eventually spreading throughout the world.

They lost.

He broke his promise and betrayed the trust placed in him.

Fortunately, they left behind a spark.

“We must part ways here, Emmett.”

He looked at his friend—even though it was a robot.

"The abyss will follow my trail. I will live here for a while, get married and have children, and perhaps even establish a small country."

"Afterwards, I will leave and go to the 'Final Island' to store the embers, and then personally bid farewell to the 'Abyss'."

He said this to Emmett.

"but."

Emmett was clearly reluctant to part with his friend.

Because he knew that this parting would be forever.

But at this moment, all he was met with was Joey Boy's warm yet firm gaze.

"It's alright, Emmett."

He grinned again.

"I know it will be damp in the dark."

"I know that parting will be painful."

"I know the wait will be agonizing."

"But I will come back!"

He laughed.

"In the promised time, Joy Boy will fight alongside you—your comrades!"

As he finished speaking, the knot in his hand was already tied.

He held the knot high, facing the setting sun on the distant sea, as if he wanted to hang it up again.

Even the longest night will eventually see the sun rise.

"I won't die."

He looked at his friend and gently tossed the knot away.

"Because in this world, there will always be people who pursue freedom!"

That's also why he gave up his own name.

Because of everyone who pursues freedom.

Both could be Joy Boy.

"."

At this moment, watching Emmett from my memory pick up the knot, her massive figure rise, and sail away across the ocean.

Roy's gaze fell on Joy Boy, who was sitting on the hill.

He felt a sense of awe at the legendary pirate's spirit and magnanimity.

But at the same time, he was also unsure how to proceed.

Where's the promised clash of Conqueror's Haki?
But just as he was filled with doubt.

"Hey, friend."

But he heard a sound.

Roy subconsciously looked up.

Then, to his astonishment, he saw that Joy Boy was smiling at him.

“You’ve been standing there for a long time.”

That's how he greeted Roy.

At this moment, Roy's astonishment was beyond words.

He had seen Lingling's memories before, but he never imagined such a thing would happen—in Lingling's memories, Rocks and Whitebeard wouldn't suddenly turn around and greet him.

"Don't be surprised."

But at this moment, Joy Boy seemed to have seen through his thoughts.

He adjusted his straw hat, then grinned and pointed to himself: "You heard that too, didn't you? I don't like being tied down."

“I am ‘free,’ so memories cannot confine me.”

Freedom? So even memories can't confine you?

Roy found it absurd—what kind of talk was that?

But Joy Boy did not elaborate further.

He simply raised his hand and pointed to the ground beside him.

"So, would you like to come over and have a chat?"

　Today's update is 8K. I had a couple of days off over the weekend, but my brain is starting to feel foggy again lately.
　　Actually, this scene of awakening Conqueror's Haki was originally planned for the end of Egghead Island, but the Egghead Island storyline was too long, so I simply moved it here, which might cause a slight break in the pacing.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)