As for the Marines, Admiral Kizaru had been killed by Roy more than ten years ago, while Aokiji had been effortlessly defeated by Roy today.
Across the entire world, the only person who could still stir even a trace of Roy's interest was Imu-sama.
Even though Roy had never set foot on Laugh Tale, plenty of people in this era had already begun calling him the Pirate King.
This was Roy's era!
Although Roy had never acknowledged the title and had shown no interest in Laugh Tale, there was no doubt that the pinnacle of piracy in this era belonged to him!
"Back then, I simply couldn't stand those Celestial Dragons."
Roy shook his head.
"Besides, without overwhelming strength, doing something like that can only be called impulsive."
Hearing Roy's words, Rayleigh couldn't help but laugh.
"How old were you back then? Isn't impulsiveness part of being young?"
"That's true."
Roy thought about it before nodding.
"If you don't act impulsively at least once while you're young, how could you possibly still have the energy for it once you're old?"
He had only just turned twenty back then, hadn't he?
Roy's words caused Rayleigh to recall the distant past.
"You're Rayleigh, right? My name is Roger. Want to come with me and turn the entire world upside down?"
Swept up by Roger's burning passion, Rayleigh had boarded his little boat with him, and the two of them had sailed directly out to sea.
As Rayleigh remembered those days, he couldn't help feeling a sense of melancholy and loss. Before he realized it, his eyes had grown slightly moist.
He was already old.
Roger had also been dead for twenty-two years.
Those days would never return.
"Whitebeard has grown old as well."
Returning to his senses, Rayleigh sighed again.
"Back in the day, the Marines and the World Government would never have dared make a decision like this."
If Whitebeard had still been in his prime, Garp and Sengoku might have been able to suppress him by joining forces, but they would have been unable to stop him from causing destruction.
The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was enough to destroy Marine Headquarters.
Even if the Marines won, it would be a devastating victory. They would never have chosen to pay such an enormous price merely to fight Whitebeard to the death.
"The times are moving forward."
Roy's gaze became profound.
"A new era is about to arrive."
"Yes."
Silvers Rayleigh nodded slowly.
"I wonder whether these old bones of mine will live long enough to see that new era arrive."
Not every era was the same.
After Pirate King Roger died twenty-two years ago, the world entered the Great Pirate Era. At the same time, however, that Great Pirate Era was also widely regarded as Whitebeard's era.
After losing both legs, the Golden Lion disappeared without a trace. It was said that his corpse had been discovered not long ago.
Patrick Redfield was captured and sent to Impel Down, while the two youngsters who had sailed with the Rocks Pirates had yet to mature into major powers.
Roger had been executed, and no one remained who could contend with Whitebeard.
Whitebeard stood at the very pinnacle of the sea, so the era belonged to him.
Then, more than ten years ago, Roy defeated Whitebeard.
From the moment that happened, it could be said that the era had begun to belong to Roy.
However, the era belonging to Roy was still called the Great Pirate Era. Its name had never changed.
It remained an age in which the World Government ruled the world while pirates ran rampant across the seas.
The new era Roy and Rayleigh were discussing now was a truly unprecedented era—one that would no longer be named after "great pirates."
Although the World Government's authority remained vast and seemingly stable, the emergence of the Thunder God Pirates and the continued development of the Revolutionary Army had already begun threatening the World Government's very existence.
Rayleigh understood this perfectly well.
The era belonging to the World Government might soon come to an end!
"So, I assume you didn't come looking for me merely to chat. What exactly do you want, Thunder Emperor Roy?"
Rayleigh straightened the hair that had been thrown into disarray by the earlier blast of air and wiped the corners of his eyes.
Roy sat leisurely across from Rayleigh and slowly asked:
"How much do you know about Fire Fist Ace, Rayleigh-san?"
"Know him? Back then, he was quite an impressive young man. He was composed, powerful, and possessed astonishing potential. Unfortunately, whenever someone touches one of his sore points, he becomes easily provoked."
Through Shakky's intelligence network, Rayleigh already knew exactly what had triggered the current incident and why it had happened.
"Is that so? In that case, would Rayleigh-san be interested in saving such an impressive young man?"
Rayleigh stared at Roy with an exceedingly strange expression before replying speechlessly:
"I'm only an old man who makes a little money by coating ships, drinks a few cups from time to time, and occasionally places a few bets at the casino. Fire Fist Ace has absolutely nothing to do with me, and I have no interest in getting involved in any of that.
"Besides, I'm already a remnant of the old era. At my age, it would be quite unfortunate if I died on the battlefield. I still intend to live long enough to see the new era arrive."
"Is that so?"
Roy looked at Rayleigh meaningfully.
"Then what if Fire Fist Ace is Roger's child?"
"Even if he were Roger's son, that would still have nothing to do with me—wait!"
Rayleigh had spoken instinctively, but halfway through his sentence, his eyes suddenly widened.
"What did you just say? Roger's son? Fire Fist Ace is Roger's son?!"
"Nothing."
Roy stood up and waved his hand, a teasing smile that was not quite a smile appearing on his face.
"Since you said he has nothing to do with you, what difference does it make whether or not he is Roger's child?"
As he spoke, Roy slapped his forehead.
"That's right. Rayleigh-san is nothing more than a washed-up old man now. Why am I telling you any of this? I must be getting confused as well. Never mind, Rayleigh-san. Just keep coating ships, drinking, and gambling. I'll be leaving now."
Rayleigh fell silent.
"Wait! No, this absolutely has something to do with me! Give me a moment to get my soul back!"
...
After finishing his conversation with Rayleigh and revealing that Fire Fist Ace was Roger's son, Roy began wandering around the Sabaody Archipelago.
His plan was only supposed to be set in motion on the day Fire Fist Ace was executed. There was still plenty of time, so there was no need for him to hurry.
As for whether Rayleigh intended to contact Scopper Gaban, Shanks, and the other veterans of the Roger Pirates, or whether he planned to do something else entirely, that had nothing to do with Roy.
Because of the earlier incident involving the Celestial Dragons, there were hardly any people on the streets.
Roy therefore did not have to worry about causing a commotion.
It was rare for him to come out like this, especially to the Sabaody Archipelago. Revisiting a place from his past made him feel somewhat nostalgic.
However...
"Ah! It's that incredibly powerful pirate!"
The moment Roy heard that distinctive way of calling out to someone, he knew who had arrived.
"What a coincidence."
Without revealing anything on his face, Roy turned toward the Straw Hat Pirates, who had suddenly emerged from one of the nearby streets.
(End of Chapter)
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