Chapter 124: The Wave of the New Era, A Souvenir from Laugh Tale?
So-called "ill-fated relationships" are bonds that, no matter how times change, will eventually meet.
For example, the reincarnation of Nika and Imu. The reincarnation of Joy Boy and Imu. The reincarnation of the Pirate King and Imu.
And for example...
The future Pirate King Luffy and his first mate, 'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro.
"Hey~ Zoro, I'm so hungry~"
"I'm hungry too, that's why I'm leading the way to find food!"
The green-haired swordsman led the way, followed by a straw-hatted boy whose stomach was growling loudly.
"But we've been walking in this town for thirty minutes..."
Luffy muttered, causing Zoro to fly into a rage. "Shut up! It's such a small town, do you think I'd get lost? I saw a sign just now, just follow me!"
As they argued, they heard gasps and the sound of bowls shattering from nearby.
"What the hell? The World Economic News Paper's reports are getting more and more ridiculous—what does it mean 'The Zodiac fought an Admiral on Sabaody, and the Red Line was pierced'?"
"Red Line? Pierced? Can words even be arranged like that? Hey! Boss—my fried rice spilled, can you make me another..."
"Shut up! I'm busy reading the paper, no time!"
A loud voice rang out, causing Luffy and Zoro to freeze.
Zoro froze for two reasons.
First, he was confused about when this restaurant appeared next to them. Why didn't he see it when he was leading the way?
Second...
"The Zodiac?"
This term made him pause instantly. His mind involuntarily recalled the figure wearing a Boar Mask a few months ago.
After setting sail and learning some basic knowledge of the sea, he was fairly certain—that person was likely 'Inoshishi' (The Boar) of The Zodiac.
But clearly, Luffy couldn't care less about that.
"Food! Food!"
He roared excitedly and rushed into the restaurant.
The restaurant was strangely quiet. Everyone had their heads down, reading newspapers.
Looking closely, many customers had knocked over their cups, spilling alcohol all over themselves, yet they didn't seem to notice.
While Luffy was ordering food from the boss, exclaiming "Everything looks so good!" and "Eh! I'm starving to death, I can't wait!", Zoro walked to the counter.
The boss had been dragged away by Luffy to cook, leaving his newspaper on the counter.
So Zoro picked it up and started reading.
Then he understood why the customers in the restaurant had stopped eating.
[The Zodiac Reappears! World Noble Kidnapped?]
[The Zodiac Clashes with Admiral! Two Islands of Sabaody Archipelago Sink!]
[Leader of The Zodiac? The Red Line Pierced!]
For the first time in history, the top three headlines of the World Economic News Paper's special edition were all related to the same organization.
Zoro looked at the photos.
The first photo showed a ruined building—faintly, the words 'Yaksha House' could be seen on the debris.
The surrounding area bore exaggerated battle scars—lightning craters and high-temperature scorch marks turned the place into a wasteland.
Zoro found it hard to comprehend what kind of thing could cause such destruction.
The second photo was even more absurd.
It seemed overexposed, blindingly bright.
In the center, a figure with massive wings, surrounded by glowing light, seemed to be blasting another figure down onto an island, which was clearly sinking.
From the caption, Zoro roughly understood—the winged figure was 'Yuji' of The Zodiac, and the one being shot down was Marine Admiral 'Akainu'.
"Not Inoshishi... but he looks ridiculously strong too. The Zodiac guys..."
Zoro muttered internally.
Finally, he turned to the last photo.
This photo was special—it was taken from a considerable distance.
It showed a massive object.
Zoro knew it—the 'Red Line'.
The colossal wall dividing the four seas, the symbol of the beginning, middle, and end of the 'Grand Line'.
But now, on this ancient, massive continent... there was a hole.
Inside the hole, sunlight shone through.
It fell upon a figure hovering over the distant sea.
Below was the caption from the World Economic News Paper.
[Due to our reporter fainting from shock while taking this photo, this image was purchased at a high price from an anonymous photographer, 'Old Ray's Wife'.]
[Incidentally, the identity of the existence who pierced the Red Line remains a mystery. However, it is confirmed that he seems to be a member of The Zodiac, but does not appear to be one of the known 'Top Executives' wearing animal masks. Our reporters are tracking follow-up reports.]
"..."
Even Zoro, who prided himself on his calm, didn't know what to say.
His mind recalled what Shimotsuki Koushirou emphasized before he left Shimotsuki Village.
"Zoro, as you can see—the strong on this sea are as numerous as carps in a river."
"You will eventually go to the Grand Line. I won't stop my disciple from pursuing his dream."
"But before that... ensure you are fully prepared."
Now, Zoro recognized the vastness of the sea again.
A guy who destroyed dozens of pirate ships in one strike, a guy who sank an island in one hit, and now a monster who pierced the Red Line alone...
"The Zodiac, the Four Emperors, and... the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' where that man is."
Zoro looked down at the swords at his waist.
"Is this the Grand Line we are going to challenge?"
He whispered, trembling.
That was the biological instinct of fear.
And the excitement and anticipation of a swordsman.
"Eh? Zoro, are you finally willing to be my partner?"
An untimely voice interrupted Zoro's musings.
He turned and saw the guy he just met, stuffing a pile of food into his stomach amidst the boss's "Holy crap", now looking at him like a ball with excitement.
"Who wants to be your partner?"
Zoro glared at him.
"But you just said you wanted to go to the Grand Line, I heard it!"
"Are you an idiot? I'm not going now—Teacher told me, unless my swordsmanship grows strong enough by challenging the strong, or I find strong enough partners..."
Zoro said, then saw Luffy getting even more excited.
"Right, right! You're already strong, and..."
He grinned, pointing a thumb at himself. "Although the departure time is different from expected, I'm very strong too."
"Who's talking about that?"
Zoro didn't deny the guy was strong.
He had seen Luffy fight. as a rare ability user in the East Blue, ordinary pirates were nothing before him.
"Compared to the real monsters, you are completely... Hm? Wait—how much food did you order? Didn't you say you forgot your money because you set sail early?"
Mid-sentence, Zoro noticed a problem—the pile of food next to Luffy was absurdly high.
Luffy continued stuffing his face. "What does it matter? You have money, right?"
"Most of my money was stolen by those pirates and spent! Did you forget how we met?"
As they spoke...
"...Two esteemed guests~"
The muscular boss arrived in front of them. "If I heard correctly... do you two... have no money to pay the bill?"
While the future Pirate King and his first mate were forced to wash dishes in a restaurant.
New World, 'Elbaf'.
Yang World, West Village.
A banquet was underway.
But unexpectedly, those partying weren't the Giants of Elbaf, but a group of human pirates.
Strictly speaking, only the bar proprietress serving giant food and drinks, and a pink-haired boy wearing a viking helmet, were Giants.
"Hey—Lucky, take me to sea with you! I'm very strong!"
The Giant boy spoke to the man who was tiny compared to him.
"Hahahaha!"
The fat man wearing a green hat and small sunglasses laughed loudly.
He bit into a piece of meat. "That won't work, Kotz. Didn't the Captain already reject you?"
"Besides... Gulp gulp..."
He drank a Giant-sized cup of ale, sighed in satisfaction, and pointed to the side with his lips. "Mr. Gaban is still there. I don't want to get beaten up by him... Hahahaha!"
"Didn't Dad used to be a pirate like Shanks? Why won't he let me set sail?"
Kotz said unhappily.
"It's not that he won't let you, but..."
Lucky Roux looked at the three figures drinking alone in the distance.
He grinned.
"The sea isn't stable right now—it's not suitable for a young man without enough resolve."
Clearly, the Giant boy named Kotz didn't understand what resolve meant.
Sulking, he looked at the three men in the distance.
Living in Elbaf with limited information, he didn't truly know their identities.
But any veteran pirate or Marine on the sea... would never be unfamiliar with them.
Former Roger Pirates No. 3, 'Scopper Gaban'.
Former Roger Pirates No. 2, 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh.
Former Roger Pirates Apprentice, current Emperor of the Sea, 'Red-Haired' Shanks.
Yes—these three drinking and chatting about the past were legends enough to shake the sea and make the World Government and Marines nervous.
However, their conversation wasn't exactly legendary.
"Hahaha! Rayleigh, I didn't expect you to have a day where you hide private money—careful not to let Shakky find out, or you'll have to sell yourself to the auction house!"
Gaban mocked his old friend.
"...Hah? I don't believe Ripley doesn't check your accounts?"
In front of his old friend, Rayleigh dropped his usual composure, speaking annoyed. "Besides, my stash is very hidden—even Shakky doesn't know."
"...I don't know what you're talking about. Ripley is a good woman."
"Heh? Maybe I should ask her right now?"
"Old geezer, are you looking for a fight in Elbaf!?"
Seeing the two about to spar, Shanks quickly intervened. "Mr. Gaban, Mr. Rayleigh—it's rare to drink together, let's not talk about such things."
He smoothed over the two old men's sore spots in a few words.
Hearing this, Gaban and Rayleigh looked at Shanks, knowing he wanted to talk business.
"Speak, Shanks—coming all the way to Elbaf and calling Rayleigh over... did you want to confirm something?"
Gaban downed his bowl-like cup of ale.
Yes.
Since Pirate King 'Roger' died, the crew rarely met.
Gaban occasionally visited old friends to drink.
But being invited specifically by Shanks like this... was a first.
"Ah, there are indeed some things."
Shanks nodded.
"It's about the 'New Era' Captain Roger spoke of."
At the mention of serious business, Rayleigh and Gaban turned solemn.
Any crew member who went to Laugh Tale knew—the 'New Era' was coming soon.
It was the wave that would change the world, the 'Hope' for the world's freedom.
Shanks continued, "You both know my identity. After the Captain died, I returned to the Holy Land for a while."
Rayleigh and Gaban showed surprise.
They knew Shanks wasn't ordinary—he was a direct descendant of the Celestial Dragon 'Figarland Family'.
"I joined the God's Knights."
Shanks said, his voice cold.
Clearly.
Those years weren't pleasant for him.
What he saw and did there... still made him sick to recall.
"They didn't fully trust me. I didn't meet 'That Person'."
Shanks whispered.
Rayleigh and Gaban knew who he meant—they had heard Roger speak of the monster who might be the 'World' itself.
"But even so, I obtained a lot of intel through some means."
"Including a fruit the World Government has been searching for, and a name."
He touched his severed left arm.
"Because of fate, that fruit has found a suitable owner."
That was the 'New Era' he bet on.
"What I want to tell you two is that name..."
"'Star Lord'."
Shanks said.
Hearing this, Rayleigh and Gaban's expressions turned completely grave.
"The person Roger mentioned on Sky Island?"
Gaban frowned.
"Mm."
Shanks said. "According to what I heard in the God's Knights, he is called the 'Enemy of God', the existence the World Government fears most."
"I think I've guessed how Captain Roger knew this name—it should be related to Rocks and Whitebeard..."
Just as he was about to continue.
"Captain."
The bar door opened, and a man walked in.
It was the Red Hair Pirates' Vice Captain, Ben Beckman.
He clutched a newspaper tightly. "Read this."
He handed it to Shanks. Shanks glanced at it, his expression freezing.
Then...
"As expected..."
An excited smile appeared on his lips.
"Mr. Rayleigh, Mr. Gaban—look at this!"
He tossed the paper to them.
The two old men took the paper and saw the content... and the figure piercing the Red Line.
Incidentally, Rayleigh's expression darkened—he saw 'Grove 13' was gone.
Although he believed Shakky could protect herself, the bar was undoubtedly destroyed.
This gave him a slight chill.
But clearly, Shanks didn't know his thoughts.
"It's 'Star Lord'!"
The Emperor's voice held unprecedented joy and anticipation.
"He really still exists."
Shanks clenched his fist, Haki surging.
"The wave of the New Era—is coming!"
He was perhaps one of the few people in the world who knew much of the truth.
So he understood how important the content of this newspaper was!
He looked at Gaban and Rayleigh quickly. "Mr. Gaban, Mr. Rayleigh—do you remember the item the Captain got from Laugh Tale?"
He asked.
"Item... Oh? You mean that?"
Gaban paused, then realized.
After reaching Laugh Tale, although they learned the truth of the world, they couldn't take anything because the time wasn't right.
The only exception was some 'Souvenirs' from Laugh Tale.
Since those items didn't look like treasure, no one thought of taking them.
Except Roger.
"I remember Roger took it, saying he wanted to make it a souvenir for others."
Gaban smiled nostalgically.
He looked at Shanks. "I thought he gave it to you and Buggy, who couldn't go to the island? But from your tone... it seems not?"
Shanks nodded. "I confirmed with Buggy in Loguetown. He didn't receive it."
Gaban looked at Rayleigh.
If neither Shanks nor Buggy got it, and he didn't, then only Rayleigh remained.
But...
"...He didn't give it to me either."
Rayleigh shook his head.
Then, they looked at Shanks. "What's the use of that stuff?"
They didn't understand—to them, it was truly a 'useless item'.
But Shanks shook his head.
"I'm not sure if it's what I guess it is, but if it is..."
"It might be the Key Item that determines the ending of the coming era!"
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