Roger was a flag, a pirate flag.
And the consequence of this flag was the ruin of countless ordinary people.
No matter how much the world changed in the future, this guy could never be erased from history.
Zeff was also a pirate in the past, though he had retired. Now, he essentially lived off pirates, so he couldn't really blame Roger. Yet, he knew, he knew the world was on the verge of suffocation.
At this time, Kouta's appearance was like a beam of light, a beam of hope shining into a world on the brink of collapse, thus he became a hero.
There were many powerful individuals in this world, but few had the courage to overthrow the corrupt rulers.
Of course, there were even more with ideals, but still very few took action for them.
Although Kouta never explicitly stated he would overthrow the World Government, his actions made the outside world recognize him as the person they imagined him to be.
Taking the cigarette butt out of his mouth, Zeff placed the newspaper in his hand on the bar to his right. He glanced at Sanji and Paddy and said calmly, "What are you still standing here for? Can't you see a customer has arrived?"
Outside their line of sight, a large two-masted sailing ship was rapidly approaching them, cutting through the waves.
"Silver hair, silver hair, silver hair..."
As soon as Zeff finished speaking, everyone inside saw the ship.
At this point in time, there was no one in this world who didn't know who the ship with the giant windmill on its sails, and the flag fluttering on its mast, belonged to.
At least to those among them who paid a little attention to world news, Kouta's crew were no longer veiled beauties, but the sun in the sky.
Moreover, they had even seen Silver Hair himself.
The noise instantly filled the formerly quiet restaurant.
Watching everyone quickly drop what they were doing and swarm out, Zeff shook his head.
He tossed the cigarette butt, picked up his prosthetic leg nearby, and slowly put it on his right foot. Then, he took the chef's hat from the bar and slowly placed it on his head. Standing up, he tidied his clothes and silently walked into the kitchen.
The hero had arrived, how could the East Blue's strongest chef's cooking be absent?
He wanted to make a magnificent breakfast for the heroes, a breakfast imbued with his blessings.
...
Isshin Dojo.
*Pa—!*
*Pa—!*
*Pa—!*
...
The sound of bamboo swords striking straw targets echoed as it did every day in the early morning.
This crisp impact sound was like the switch of an alarm clock to the townspeople, reminding them that it was time to get up and work.
On the steps at the entrance of the dojo.
A middle-aged man wearing round glasses, a grey robe, and with black hair tied into a ponytail behind him, sat on a straw mat, holding a cup of tea. He quietly watched the children practicing sword fighting in front of the dojo.
He squinted, a gentle smile perpetually on his face.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps drew the man's attention. He turned his head towards the corridor, where an old man was approaching rapidly.
"Ikkaku, what's the rush?"
The old man's urgency was evident, which was why the man asked.
Isshin Dojo in the East Blue was very peaceful, so there was no reason for the old man to be this anxious. If there was, it must be...
"Young Master, this is news about Kuina and Kouta."
Koshiro's eyes showed an expression of 'as expected.' He slowly put down his teacup, took the newspaper from Ikkaku, and when he saw the headline, even with his usual composure, Koshiro's eyes widened, no longer his usual slits.
After all, the people in the newspaper were his own daughter, and someone who was not his son but was even better than a son.
Reading the contents of the newspaper, he gripped it tighter, the smile on his face slowly disappearing. He then straightened his body, becoming serious.
"What do they intend to do?"
"Are they really planning to go to Mary Geoise?"
This question was directed at Ikkaku, at himself, and even more so at Kouta, who was somewhere unknown.
Although he had known from a very young age that no one in this world could harm Kouta, and even though he knew that Kouta was currently the strongest in the world, the worry for his family who were about to go into battle was real.
After all, the World Government was not comparable to the pirates who lived in the Grand Line.
It was a colossal organization that had ruled the world for over eight hundred years. The Marines alone, who were just the visible part, could contend with countless pirates and suppress pirates in the four seas.
No one would believe the World Government only had the Marines. Even the most foolish person should know that an organization that could rule the world for so long must have hidden immense power that allowed it to dominate the world and prevent so many countries from rebelling.
Kouta was strong, but this time his opponent was the world!
"Young Master, should we contact Kouta and the others?"
Ikkaku looked up, his gaze sweeping over the children still practicing sword fighting, not lingering. His eyes moved outward, landing on the sea beyond. "For something this big, if they need it, I want to do my part."
Like Koshiro, he had watched Kouta grow up. They understood Kouta's personality quite well. They couldn't stop Kouta's decisions, even them.
Since they couldn't stop him, they would offer their support as family!
"Never mind, the news says they disappeared after leaving Impel Down."
Koshiro put down the newspaper, pushed his glasses up, and also looked up at the sea. "From what I know of him, they should be heading back to the East Blue by now!"
Shaking his head, Koshiro's usual calm expression returned.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip. He continued, "Let's wait for them to return and ask them directly!"
"Besides, I want to see if he has reached that level this past year, which gives him the courage to face the World Government."
As he said this, a trace of fighting spirit, and a terrifying sharpness, flashed in Koshiro's narrowed eyes.
"If he cannot gain my approval, I won't let them go to their deaths, even if I have to tie them up."
Ikkaku withdrew his gaze, looked at Koshiro, and shook his head with a smile. "Young Master, I think you should stop pretending. Kouta can defeat monsters like Kaido and Charlotte Linlin. He's a monster among monsters!"
"So what if he's a monster? He's still my disciple."
Koshiro pouted, glanced at Ikkaku, and stopped talking.
...
East Blue.
Kingdom of Goa.
Foosha Village, back mountain.
"I'm really unlucky to have even considered going out to sea with you guys."
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting a dappled golden light on the path.
The girl with short orange hair looked at the straw hat boy walking in front of her with a speechless expression. "A reckless fool who only knows how to charge forward."
Then she looked at the green-haired boy on the other side, who wore three swords at his waist. "A lost soul."
Then, covering her forehead with her right hand, she threw her head back and shouted, "Such an obvious trap, and you still fell for it! Fine, you fell for it! But to get lost even inside the ship!"
"I really, really..."
"Ah..."