Luffy was silent after hearing what Dragon had just said, he couldn't believe that Dragon knew about Nika all along. But maybe that is why he didn't do anything in the entire Manga, there were already many theories going on reddit but now as he heard it from his own mouth, everything started to place together. But still he shouldn't just sit at the edge of the island and gaze at East….man whatever!!
Then Dragon looked at Luffy, "Tell me one thing Luffy….how did you even know about this when there was no evidence left to find!??" Luffy started to contemplate as to what he should say, then it comes to him….a very absurd but maybe working idea, "As I said every zoan type devil fruit has the will of his own…." Dragon nodded at that, "But mine has the properties of God's will in it. My Devil fruit choose me to complete the task which the previous user died trying….so when I ate the devil fruit, I thought it was by an accident but after that day I started to have weird dreams about a man in full white laughing and smiling. I didn't understand anything at that time but an accident happened and I lost someone precious to me…" Luffy said while took the photo frame of him and his two sworn brothers and traced his thumb over Sabo's photo intentionally showing it to Dragon.
Dragon looked at his son looking at the picture of a child who very much looks like someone he knows from his work, but he didn't pry about it yet. Then Luffy looked at Dragon, "That night of incident, I couldn't sleep because of all crying but when soon enough I was asleep….while I was asleep, I was opened my eyes to a strange white and foggy place. I didn't know what was happening but soon a very tall and I mean very tall figured stepped infront of me from the fog, wearing a giant Strawhat just like mine. I can practically the aura the person was emanating, it was of mischief, playfulness and more importantly of joy. Then that person told me that I the somekind of chosen one or something and that I have to finish the task that he failed to do but, he also told me the true properties of my devil fruit and that I must not tell anyone about it. At the end of my dream, he then told me to live my life freely and to not bind myself in anykind of shelf shackles and to also cherish the bond I make throughout my life…." Dragon was listening to Luffy's every words while also noticing the expression of his face which is of soft smile, "But before completely disappearing, he told me his name…." at this, Dragon bend forward slightly to hear it clearly, "His name was JOYBOY."
Hearing the familiar name which he heard from Vegapunk, Dragon leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes in contemplation, today is a really surprising day….first his son declare widely about his dream of becoming the PIRATE KING, then he find out that his son knows about him, then the revelation of that his second in command of Revolutionary Army, Chief of Staff Sabo's past is somehow connected with his son and finally finding out that his very own son is fated to fight against the whole WorldGovernment and to liberate the world and to bring a new Era. This was just too much even for him. The after some minutes of silence he stood up, "Well then Luffy, I think that I should depart now…and the information you just gave me is really valuable and I promise to keep your secret with me and also to help with Zeff's situation." He then looked at the photo frame, "If you don't mind, I want you to ask you something!!??"
Luffy hearing this nodded at Dragon to continue, "Who are these boys in the photo with you!!??" Dragon asked this as to not show his direct curiosity that he wants to know about Sabo's past too. "Well….these two are my sworn brothers." Luffy said with a gentle smile, "This one is Ace…" he said while pointing at the black haired kid with freckles on his face, "And this is Sabo…." He said pointing at the blond haired kid with top-hat. Hearing the name Sabo, Dragon is now hundred percent sure that this Sabo is the same Sabo he also knew, then Luffy continued, "We three had made the an oath to set sail when we will seventeen years old…but Sabo came from a noble family, when though he had everything in his life…he still ran away from his home to live with…but something happened and to save me and Ace from his family he set sail early….but" Lufy started to grit his teeth his anger and frustration, "That day a Celestial Dragon was coming to Goa Kingdom but and because Sabo's small boat came infront of them….they shoot him down and killed our brother."
Dragon listening to Luffy's words connected every dot, from finding Sabo drowning in the sea to his scars to his memory loss and to him always dream about two kids playing with him. He then sighed and looked at Luffy, "What if tell you that Sabo is alive!!!" he saw Luffy's eyes widening in shock and then suddenly he was infront of him with eagerness in his eyes, "Really…he is really alive!!??" Dragon smiled a little and patted Luffy's shoulder, "Yes he is and he is right now work under me as my Second in cammond…" Luffy's eyes shine with tears and happiness, "I want to meet him….please!!!" Dragon shook his head, "Right now it is impossible as because of the cannon shot that day he lost his memories…." Luffy then deflated at that, "Oh…." Dragon then chuckled at that, "Maybe some past mementos can help gain his memories back…." Hearing this Luffy beamed and immediately rushed towards his bookshelf and took out a picture album and gave it to Dragon, "Please can you show it to him….maybe this can help him!!!"
Dragon took the photo album and tucked it into his cloak and then was about to leave but Luffy stopped him for last time, "Hey dad…." Dragon looked at his son with curious gaze, "Hmmm…" Luffy then said something which shocked him to his core, "The empty throne was never empty from the very beginning!!" Dragon's eyes widen at that, "What…" "Nerona Imu the ruler of the World…one who defeated the JOYBOY and caused the twenty Kingdoms to untie together, the one who is still somehow alive to this day!!" Dragon listened this with seriousness and waited for more to listen but Luffy didn't say anything else. Understanding that he will only get this much information, he ups his hood and nodded at Luffy for final time and left the Captain's quarter. Outside Zoro was guarding the door so no one enters in, when he heard the door opened at saw Luffy's dad come out, he nodded at him and received nod in return. Dragon then walks towards the railing of the ship while still thinking about what Luffy had said in the last, if it is true then he needs to change his plans immediately, then he stepped on the railing and suddenly a gust of wind came and with that he vanished with the wind.
Then Luffy walked out of his room and looked at Nami and Ussop who were looking at him with confusion, "Who was that Luffy!!??" Nami asked while walking towards him followed by Ussop, "That….was my Dad." They both momentary stopped hearing that, "Y.Your Dad was here!!!!" Ussop asked in shock, "And you didn't even try to introduce me to him…." She cried out in anger. At this the trio Luffy, Zoro and Ussop looked at her with surprise, "What!??" Nami asked, "I mean…you said that in such a manner as if you want to ask for his blessing." Ussop teased Nami making her blush at what she said previously, she looked at Luffy and covered her face with her hands, "Kyaa…I.I.I d.don't know what are you talking!!??"
Luffy's lips twitch as what are Ussop is trying to do, 'Well, I don't mind her…." On Eligia, Uta who was writing new love song for Luffy suddenly stopped as if she sense some disturbance in her 'Love Force', "Why do I feel like murdering someone!!??" she asked with a sweet smile on her face, Gordon who is watching her from the distance, shivered at seeing her smile, "Oh god…."
Back with Luffy and his group, "So, where are we!!?" Luffy asked Nami who looked at her map and then compass, "We had already left the waters of Louge town, so we are currently heading towards the Redline. In a week or two we will be near it!!" Luffy nodded at that, "Is there any island or any kind of stop between our destination….you see, I really wanted Sanji to be with us when we enter Grandline!!" Nami hummed in thought and looked at her map, "Yes there are two or three small islands."
Luffy nodded at that, "Good, then see to it that we stop at those islands…." She nodded and went back to do her work, then he looked at Ussop, "Hey Ussop, why don't you see any new modifications for Merry!!" Ussop hearing this immediately brighten up, "Yosh…I shall see to it." He then ran towards his gadgets leaving both Luffy and Zoro alone. There was a silence between them, then Luffy spoke up, "Did you heard anything!!??" Zoro was quite for few seconds then he responded, "Nothing…Nothing at all!!" Luffy nodded at Zoro's response, "Good..."
"Do you really think, it's a good idea to not tell them anything!??" Zoro asked while looking at the horizon, "It's a gamble Zoro, unless I confirm it that this can bring me even a percent of result…then I will tell them everything!!" Zoro just sighed at that, "Do whatever you wants….I choose to follow you on my own accord and they did the same!!" with that he went back to take a nap. Luffy saw Zoro leave with a straight face, 'I am no Aizen or Johan, but I always think out of the boundary…..and this time, let's play a game of chess with the being know as Imu.'