On the deck of the Cream Princess Bill, the pirates instantly erupted in chaos.
"How could this happen? That's Lady Bonney!"
It was incomprehensible!
Lady Bonney was, without a doubt, the strongest executive in the entire Charlotte Family, second only to Lord Katakuri and Her Majesty the Queen!
She was a genuine powerhouse with a bounty of 1.1 billion Berries!
Even if they searched the entire world, they shouldn't find many people stronger than her!
Yet, the mighty Lady Bonney had been defeated so easily!
Who in the world was this enemy?
Even a Pirate Emperor like Lord Katakuri wouldn't be able to defeat Lady Bonney with such minimal effort!
Regardless of the confusion.
"Hurry and report to Whole Cake Island! Something terrible is happening!"
The pirates frantically pulled out their Den Den Mushi and called the family executives on Whole Cake Island.
At that moment, at the port of Whole Cake Island, Perospero was leisurely sipping afternoon tea at a small table.
"How peaceful," he said, setting down his teacup and sighing gently.
It was too peaceful.
After Katakuri seized the title of King of Totto Land, his status as First Minister had fallen significantly within the family.
That detestable Katakuri!
Don't you understand that primogeniture is the most important tradition in the Blue Sea?
You committed treason!
Mama was certainly wary of you and constantly suppressed you, but as a son, shouldn't you have deferred to her?
How could you launch a coup and depose Mama at the slightest provocation?
"Alas," Perospero sighed helplessly.
It was useless to complain now. All the other siblings supported Katakuri, and even Mama had been defeated. What could he do?
"Peros," the man sitting opposite Perospero, Kuma, looked restless. "When will Bonney return?"
"Don't worry, Kuma," Perospero said flatly. "You know Bonney's strength, don't you? Even you can't compare to her now. How much time could a random group of pirates possibly waste? She'll be back soon."
"This isn't Bonney's first mission. You don't need to be so anxious every time, do you?"
Speaking of which, that wretched Katakuri!
He gets to relax while dumping all the minor matters on me!
Even greeting the victorious siblings upon their return has to be done by me.
Kuma, who looked far more mature than he did twenty-five years ago, only slightly nodded after hearing Perospero's words.
However, the mountain-like, robust man still showed a hint of anxious affection. "In my heart, Bonney is still just a child."
A child?
A child that few can match across the entire ocean, who can effortlessly treat a city like building blocks?
"Relax, there's no way—"
Buru-buru-buru.
The Den Den Mushi on the table suddenly began to ring sharply.
"Oh? Looks like she's done!"
Perospero raised an eyebrow, picked up the Den Den Mushi, and answered. "Hello, Bonney, did you take care of—"
"Lord Perospero!! It's terrible! Lady Bonney has been captured by the pirates!"
"What!"
Perospero's face contorted with alarm.
Kuma immediately stood up, gritting his teeth, and instinctively reached to remove his gloves!
Perospero abruptly reached out and grabbed Kuma's hand, then fiercely said into the Den Den Mushi, "Contact the Intelligence Division! Tell them to inform Katakuri immediately!"
Then, he looked at Kuma. "Kuma, take me with you!"
Even though Bonney was Katakuri's staunchest supporter, as her elder brother, he couldn't stand by while his beloved sister was captured!
Kuma nodded heavily without hesitation. He grabbed Perospero's hand with one hand and struck the air behind him with the other.
Pssh!
With a soft sound, the two instantly vanished from their spot.
Almost simultaneously.
On the deck of the pirate ship.
Bonney looked at Roa with disbelief. "I have heard the name Roa from my older brother Katakuri, but he said that man named Roa was his best friend! He was a childhood friend who knew him since the Rocks Pirates era!"
"That would be me."
Roa nodded gently in satisfaction. My good brother hasn't forgotten me.
"What nonsense are you talking about, brat!"
Bonney struggled, kicking the air with her long legs, but the massive Haki hand gripped her large body so tightly that she couldn't generate any force, only kicking futilely.
That didn't stop her from shouting at Roa. "Although I don't know much, my brother Katakuri said that Roa was only a few years younger than him! He was one of the most famous pirates on the high seas over twenty years ago! You weren't even born when he became famous!"
Saladin, who was timidly huddled in a corner and hadn't said a word, paused slightly after hearing Bonney.
Was there really a famous pirate named Roa on the high seas over twenty years ago?
Why have I never heard of him!
Furthermore.
Saladin carefully glanced at Roa's back.
Didn't Lord Roa say earlier, after I told him what year it was, that it was twenty-five years later?
It can't be, can it?
Could that really happen?
"Girl, this world is far vaster than you imagine," Roa said with a soft laugh. "It's nothing much to have simply skipped over twenty years of time. Even without that, I wouldn't age."
"Huh? What fantasy are you spouting?"
Bonney just bared her teeth like a startled kitten. "You brat, are you trying to fool me like I'm an idiot! Let me down if you have the guts! Don't think I won't cut you just because you're handsome! I'll cut your head clean off!"
Hmm, now that's about 80% accurate.
Seriously, Aunt Linlin called me a brat back then, and now her daughter is doing it.
Roa shook his head slightly, exasperated. "You really are a disobedient child. Do you know that your very existence is entirely thanks to me?"
"If I hadn't introduced your father, Kuma, to my Aunt Linlin, where would you be?"
"Eh!"
The usually aggressive Bonney froze abruptly after hearing Roa's words.
It's true that my most respected brother Katakuri told me that the only reason my father and mother got together was because of some trick played by a guy named Roa.
How does this brat know about that?
Could this young kid really be the world-renowned pirate from over twenty years ago?
Could it be—
Bonney's eyes instantly lit up. She had found a logical explanation. "You're that Roa's son, aren't you! You learned all this from your father and now you're trying to fool people in Totto Land for a quick con!"
Roa twitched his lips.
It seems she only inherited Aunt Linlin's body and looks.
The brains are inherited from Kuma's side. She didn't inherit any of Aunt Linlin's shrewdness.
He said quietly, "I don't need children."
Are you kidding? I can live forever, what do I need children for?
Hmm?
Roa looked up at the distant horizon.
In the sky far away, two figures suddenly appeared out of thin air.
No, they didn't appear out of nowhere; they were simply moving so fast that it looked like instantaneous movement.
"Oh, finally, someone who recognizes me has arrived."
Roa breathed a genuine sigh of relief.
He couldn't stand this feeling of being unknown.
The two distant figures paused in mid-air, then vanished again in the next instant. When they reappeared, they smashed directly onto the deck of the pirate ship like meteors.
The supposedly sturdy pirate ship was instantly crumpled, almost folding in half.
"Bonney! Are you alright!!"
Kuma landed and immediately lunged toward Bonney, who was still restrained by the black palm in mid-air.
"Dad!"
Bonney's face instantly paled. "Be careful! That guy is super strong! I was completely no match for him!"
"Strong?"
Perospero, who had arrived with Kuma, gave his panicked sister a calm, composed smile. "No matter how strong someone is, they shouldn't dare cause trouble here, in Totto Land! Don't worry, Bonney, we've already notified Katakuri. He'll be here soon."
"It's the Minister of Medicine, Kuma, and the Minister of Candy, Perospero!!" Saladin couldn't help but shriek again.
Although they weren't as famous or highly bountied as the Destroyer Princess, nor were they members of the Sweet Commanders, these two were still exceptionally formidable figures!
"Bonney, I'll get you out first!"
Ignoring Saladin's shouting, Kuma rushed forward without hesitation, throwing a forceful punch at the black palm.
His fist was wrapped in powerful Armament Haki, and an invisible ripple radiated from it.
Internal destruction Armament Haki!
Coupled with the immense physical strength of the Buccaneer race, this punch should—
It had absolutely no effect.
There was only a loud boom, and the resulting shockwave blew a few unlucky pirates into the sea.
The black Haki hand remained completely unaffected, still gripping Bonney tightly.
"What!"
Kuma's face changed drastically.
Although his strength was no longer a match for the current Bonney, within the Charlotte Family, he should only be inferior to Katakuri, Charlotte Linlin, and Bonney.
Yet, his full-power strike had no effect at all?
"What in the world is going on?"
Perospero's face was also filled with astonishment.
This black arm must be condensed Haki!
But how can it be this hard? Even that Wang Zhi couldn't do this!
Sweat began to pour from the man's forehead.
He was suddenly afraid to turn around.
Who exactly is this enemy?
"Seriously, Perospero, are you going to pretend you didn't see me too?"
A slightly complaining youthful voice came from behind him. "If you do that again, I'm really going to get mad."
Hmm?
Perospero paused.
That voice sounds familiar.
But he couldn't quite place where he had heard it before.
With a hint of caution, Perospero turned his head.
Then, he saw a handsome young man leaning lazily against the railing, looking at him with an expression that was already tinged with impatience.
Eh?
In the first moment, Perospero instinctively rubbed his eyes.
I must have seen wrong, right?
He blinked hard, then looked again.
Eh!
No way! Is this really not an illusion?
Fine beads of sweat visibly seeped from his face. His body began to tremble.
"Roa!!!"
His eyes and tongue almost flew out of his head. His body tumbled backward like a wheel, only stopping when he crashed headfirst into the ship's cabin.
"…!"
Kuma, who instinctively turned his head, froze instantly. "R-Roa!"
"Yo, Kuma," Roa said, greeting him with a smile. "As for us, the last time we met should have been at God Valley, right? For you, that must have been over thirty years ago."
"..."
Kuma instinctively took two steps back, his eyes filled with terror. "You... you've actually returned!!"
"Oh?" Roa raised an eyebrow. "You said, returned?"
That's good news.
"Dad—"
Even the still-restrained Bonney realized something was wrong, no matter how slow she was. She spoke incredulously.
"Dad, is this guy really the Roa that my brother Katakuri talked about?"
"Yes!"
Kuma stood in front of his most beloved daughter, silently clenching his fists. "Twenty-five years ago, the pirate with the highest bounty in the world! Known as the Most Evil Man in History, the commander of the Calamity Corporation, a monster who plunged the entire world into despair countless times! Because he was too dangerous, the World Government erased all information about him after he vanished! He is..."
"Roa the Calamity!"
And it is because of this man that I am here, and that Bonney exists.
And Ginny...
"Eh!!"
Bonney was dumbfounded. She looked at her father's back. My father certainly wouldn't be mistaken!
Is this really the Roa that Brother Katakuri spoke of?
She then looked up at Roa's young, handsome face. "How do you maintain yourself like that? What's the secret?"
Even a fiery little tiger was still a girl who cared about her looks.
Saladin and his crew, who had also heard Kuma's words, were utterly speechless.
His background is that immense?
"Roa!"
Perospero, who had tumbled away moments before, flipped back up. "You've actually returned!"
He was slightly incoherent. "Though Katakuri and Mama both said you'd definitely come back, but—"
Roa looked at him curiously. "But you thought I must be dead?"
"Haha—" Perospero let out two dry laughs.
"Anyway, take me to see Katakuri," Roa said. "There's a lot I want to talk to him about."
"Alright!" Perospero immediately nodded.
Roa has truly returned!
Undoubtedly, this ocean is about to face another storm.
This man will definitely remind the world of the terror of the Calamity Corporation.
However—
Roa is Katakuri's best friend. With him back, won't Katakuri's position become even more unshakable?
"Kuma, I'm counting on you!" Perospero sighed internally and turned to Kuma.
"I'm counting on you, Kuma," Roa smiled softly. To him, taking Ginny was only a short time ago.
Time is truly a marvelous thing.
Then, he casually waved his hand. The Haki restraining Bonney dissipated, and the massive woman dropped onto the deck with a thud.
Bonney wasn't angry. She even scooted toward Roa on her own. "You're super strong! How did you train your Haki to that level?"
"That's enough, Bonney. Let's go back first," Kuma quickly interrupted, stopping his daughter from getting too close to Roa.
Even if he's Katakuri's best friend, this man is far too dangerous.
With that, Kuma activated his ability. After a few paffs, the group instantly vanished from the pirate ship's deck.
"Eh?" Saladin looked bewildered.
"Eh!! Lord Roa! You left us behind!!"
Whole Cake Island.
Katakuri, having just received the news, hurried to the port.
Several family executives followed behind him.
Although he was now the supreme ruler of the country and held the title of Pirate Emperor, Katakuri was still restless.
Bonney was captured!
If the enemy was that powerful, even the rescue party—Brother Perospero and Kuma—might be in danger!
More alarmingly, a pirate of that strength invading Totto Land could cause immense destruction to the country at any moment!
Damn it, where did another group of people like this spring up from!
Katakuri's pace quickened until he was practically sprinting.
But in that instant, Katakuri abruptly stopped.
Because in the sky, several Paw-Paw Bubbles were rapidly approaching.
Are they back?
Did they succeed?
As if noticing his presence, the Paw-Paw Bubble flying closest suddenly burst, and two figures plummeted toward him like meteors.
"Hmm?" Katakuri paused slightly. It's neither Bonney nor Brother Perospero or Kuma—
"Hahahaha! Katakuri! You've done well!"
Laughter descended suddenly from the sky. "You even overthrew Aunt Linlin! Pirate Emperor? That title sounds far more impressive than my Seven Sovereigns title from back then!"
"..."
Katakuri's body trembled abruptly.
In that moment, his mind went blank.
Then.
His eyes instantly welled up, and hot tears streamed out uncontrollably.
The man now called the Pirate Emperor leaped into the air.
"You bastard, are you finally deciding to come back?"
He was going to give the little brat a long-awaited reunion hug.
Even if it hadn't been long for the brat, it had been a very long time for him.
"Welcome back, my friend!"
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