Winter turns to spring.
In time, we step into the Sea Circle Calendar 1511.
Sabaody Archipelago.
In an open space, tablecloths were laid out with all kinds of food and drinks, and the crew of the Red Hair Pirates ate and drank.
There were bursts of laughter.
Shanks and Rayleigh sat facing each other, alone.
"I haven't seen you for many years, and you have your own crew!" Rayleigh said with a smile, holding a wine glass.
"Ah, great guys!" Shanks laughed.
Each of his crewmates was handpicked by him after careful inspection, and he personally invited them to join the ship.
After going through the ups and downs from East Blue to Paradise, they formed deep bonds with each other.
Rayleigh took a sip of his drink.
He could sense that Shanks was imitating Roger, as the team he formed and the routes he traveled were very similar.
This reminded him of the past years.
"By the way, what about the red-nosed one who often fought with you?"
"You mean Buggy?"
"Oh yes, Buggy!"
"I don't know, we couldn't convince each other. After the captain's death, we parted ways, and I have no news of him."
Shanks thought of Buggy, couldn't help but say, "However, he has always been lucky, so he must be fine."
"Maybe, somewhere, he's building his own crew!"
"Yeah!"
East Blue!
On an island.
In a circus, Buggy, who played the clown, sneezed hard.
"Damn it, who is cursing me?"
Buggy wiped his nose.
"Hey, Buggy, it's your turn."
"I know!"
"Hurry up!"
Buggy grumbled, "What's the rush, you damn guy, if you don't pay me, I won't do it!"
That's right.
Buggy was working in the circus.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Rayleigh put down his glass and asked, "So, you came to see me, what's the matter?"
Shanks said, "There are two things!"
"First, the fruit was not delivered to the captain's child, but another child named Monkey D. Luffy ate it."
Shanks won the Gomu Gomu no Mi, ran to East Blue Foosha Village, and stayed for a full year, with a purpose.
He had been wandering all over the world these years, searching for Captain Roger's child.
There were clues.
On his deathbed, Roger left the orphan in Garp's care, who had taken a liking to him.
That fruit was a gift Shanks intended to give to Roger's child.
Because, Roger had a prophecy.
And said, they went too early.
"Oh?"
Rayleigh squinted slightly.
He had been to the Last Land and knew the truth.
A real big secret treasure.
Only when certain characteristics are met and specific conditions fulfilled, will they appear.
That fruit was one of those conditions.
"He is the grandson of Garp, the son of the Revolutionary Army Dragon, who possesses the will of [D]!"
"I bet my future on him."
Rayleigh smiled and said, "I have some expectations for someone who can make you bet your future! So, what about the second thing?"
Although the fruit was not given to Roger's child, Rayleigh didn't mind.
Roger's will.
Is free will.
If it was not delivered, it meant that fate had made new arrangements.
Rayleigh and the others naturally knew that Roger had a child.
Marine searched South Blue for so long and killed a group of people of the same age. There were also South Blue crew members on Roger's ship.
"The second thing..."
Shanks looked at his crewmates and said, "They are already strong, but they aren't enough to gain a foothold in the New World."
"I would like to ask you, during the refurbishment and coating of our ship, to conduct special training, especially Haki."
Rayleigh smiled slightly and said, "Is your goal the Four Emperors?"
"Yes!"
"Which one?"
"Of course, it's him. The New World can't let all the Rocks take over." Shanks said.
Rayleigh felt a different spirit from Shanks.
"Have you awakened Conqueror's Haki?"
Shanks nodded slightly.
"The Elegia incident?"
Shanks said, "Before that, I just hadn't practiced much, and I'm about to face the monsters from the New World, so please help me."
In order to avoid the World Government's pursuit of the remnants of One Piece, Shanks had been wandering around the world, and the opponents he met weren't very strong.
What really made his worth soar was the "Nation Destruction Incident."
"Conqueror's Haki is the aptitude of a king. The stronger the courage and the higher the ambition, the stronger it becomes. Do you have that awareness?" Rayleigh asked.
That's right, Conqueror's Haki is related to one's will. If there is no fighting spirit, it will abandon you.
In other words, even if you once had an SSS-level Conqueror's, when you are defeated and decayed, it will weaken and disappear.
For example, the defeated ones like Golden Lion and Moria.
"I will change the pattern of the New World and become the mediator of the war, the freest person on this sea!"
Shanks' eyes were filled with high-spirited fighting spirit and fearless determination.
"Help me pay off my gambling debt, not much, 50 million Belly!"
Rayleigh said, "Also, remember to pay for my drinks."
Shanks wiped his sweat.
"Can I get a discount? Our money is only enough for ship repairs and coating."
...
East Blue, in May!
The warm sea breeze blew.
A merchant ship was sailing on the sea.
A few seagulls were combing their feathers on the mast.
On the deck, Kuina sat by the mast, holding the Wado Ichimonji, meditating with her eyes closed, practicing Observation Haki.
Under the parasol.
Leno leaned on a recliner, reading the latest periodical newspaper brought by Newsbird.
"Iron Wall Pirates! Shanks breaks into the New World!!!"
"The Great Pirate Shanks, the bounty is 1.58 billion Belly!!!"
"Can the Red Hair Pirates continue the Paradise legend?"
The Red Hair Pirates had been making waves since entering the Grand Line last year.
Gradually attracting the attention of all forces in the world.
From newspaper scraps to headlines.
The adventures and experiences of Shanks were also remarkable, and they continued to defeat stronger enemies, growing in momentum.
There were already underground companies offering odds on whether Shanks could become the new Emperor, and many were optimistic about him.
Leno flipped through other news.
"Tesoro Raids the Donquixote Family Auction and Takes the Golden Fruit!"
"Fish-man Jinbei becomes the new captain of the Sun Pirates and announces joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"The Sun Pirates are in conflict! The fish-man Arlong is leaving!!!"
Leno's butterfly effect had not yet spread too deeply.
These events happened as expected.
"The breath of the times!"
Leno put down the newspaper.
Some big figures ten years later were emerging, stepping onto the stage of history and writing their own chapters.
How to get enough benefits and capital from it to participate in that gluttonous feast that changes the direction of the world?
"History seems to be reincarnated, [Uranus], [Poseidon], [Pluton] will appear at the same time at some point?"
Leno believed that behind this, there was an invisible hand driving everything.
"Joy Boy?"
"A blank hundred years?"
"D's will?"
The many coincidences of history, put together, became a kind of necessity.
This is the general trend!
Roger could only lament that he was born at the wrong time, his age was too early.
When he was brilliant.
[Poseidon] Shirahoshi had not yet been born.
Therefore, he could only pin his hopes on the next generation, and would not hesitate to use his own life to make the sea even more chaotic.
Boo boo boo...
The voice of the phone bug rang, and Leno picked up the receiver.
"Dear Leno, miss me?"
A woman's voice came out, floating out lazily with charm.
--------------------
For each review, upload +1 additional chapter
+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
Unlock exclusive access to more fanfic chapters and support my work by joining me on Patreon! Your support helps bring your favorite stories to life!