Inside the Zoldyck Estate—Maha's Cabin
Maha Zoldyck cast a sideways glance at Zeno.
Zeno's gray beard twitched. What's gotten into the old man today? Did he eat gunpowder for breakfast?
He instinctively shrank back, despite the intimidating "One Kill a Day" inscription on his own robe. In front of Maha, though, even he was no more than a cub in the shadow of a lion. Maha was the true trump card of the Zoldyck family.
"Speak. What is it?" Maha growled, his voice like stone grinding against steel.
He rarely showed his face in family affairs. So Zeno visiting in person? That meant something big.
Zeno steadied his voice. "The family has received a mission. It concerns… the Dark Continent."
Maha raised an eyebrow. "Hmph."
"Same rule. We don't take those." He waved dismissively.
Zeno paused. "The deposit's already been received."
Maha's eyes sharpened. "Heh… Can't you understand plain words?"
"I understand." Zeno sighed heavily. "So we kill the client."
The Zoldycks never canceled a contract. But if the client died, the mission naturally voided itself.
Zeno turned to leave. "Then I'll take my leave—"
"Wait."
Zeno halted. Maha's voice was now tinged with something deeper.
"If your eyes are failing you, dig them out and sell them."
Zeno's eyes narrowed. What is he getting at?
"The Zoldyck legacy doesn't need to be passed down with gray hair alone."
Zeno blinked. "Is Killua not doing well enough?"
Maha scoffed. "Did I say that?"
He recalled the courtyard sparring match from earlier in the day, sighing faintly. "Killua's talent… even greater than yours or Silva's."
"But," Maha added, his voice taking on a rare softness, "besides him, you have another good grandson."
Another…? Zeno's heart stirred.
Ilumi? Milluki? Kalluto? Alluka?
"…Roy?"
Before he could speak, the door slammed shut in his face.
Zeno stared at the closed door, silent and deep in thought.
Courtyard, Later That Day
After Maja Zoldyck left, Roy bathed in the cool spring, returned to his room, changed clothes, and sat down.
He picked up his pen.
The manga chapter continued.
One Piece had already reached Loguetown. The Straw Hats were preparing to enter the Grand Line. Roy quietly recalled the sequence of events, using the drawing process to simultaneously temper his Observation Haki and farm experience points.
Daytime: sword training.
Nighttime: manga drawing.
Three days flew by.
With seven experience points gained and the latest chapter completed, he reached the moment where Dragon saved Luffy from Smoker.
And just as Roy put down his pen…
Rustle.
A hand snatched the manuscript before the ink dried.
Maha Zoldyck appeared beside him out of nowhere, flipping through the manga like an old addict.
The old man's nose was sharper than a hound. Roy didn't even need to call him.
Roy yawned, stretched, and shuffled into the kitchen. He opened the fridge, grabbed a cold bottle of Coke, and took a long drink.
Without looking up, Maha said, "Give me a sip."
Roy rolled his eyes and tossed him a fresh one.
Maha took a swig, let out a satisfied sigh, and muttered, "This Garp guy… what a failure of a grandpa."
"His grandson's a pirate, his son's a revolutionary… Hilarious."
"The Monkey family's parenting is truly spectacular…"
He paused. Narrowed his eyes.
Then turned toward Roy suspiciously.
"…Oi, brat. You're not making fun of me, are you?"
Roy blinked.
"Luffy as you, Garp as me or Zeno? Hah?! You comparing us to that mess?"
Maha's face darkened.
Roy didn't say a word. He just stared at him—those pale, blind eyes steady as a still lake.
And yet Maha felt deeply… watched.
Creepy kid.
"Humph!"
He turned and left with his hands behind his back, muttering curses under his breath.
Roy chuckled to himself.
The original One Piece plot was solid. He was just copying it.
If someone thought too much… that was their problem.
After draining the bottle, he heard a mechanical chime in his mind.
[You've gained 1 experience point.]
Content, Roy organized the drafts and texted the JUMP editor.
Elsewhere, at a Bookstore in a City
"Boss, give me a copy."
A girl in black-rimmed glasses stepped into the store, eyeing the new chapter on display: one piece – New releases! A Major Character Appears!
The shopkeeper beamed. "Coming right up!"
He handed her the manga.
The girl flipped through it with a blank expression and turned to leave.
"Hey! Miss! You haven't paid yet!"
She blinked, confused. "…You have to pay to read comics?"
Boom!
A fist smashed down like a meteor.
"Of course not!" Uvogin roared, knocking the boss out cold.