One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

Waiting for Blackbeard to reveal his fangs, waiting for the moment he kills Thatch and takes the Dark-Dark Fruit.

Only then will he leave the Whitebeard Pirates and become a lone wolf.

That would be the best time to make the arrest.

Before that...

Roy's gaze fell on the first one.

Pure gold.

By carrying it with you, you can slow down aging and achieve a near-immortal lifespan.

Now, that piece of pure gold has been swallowed by a giant lanternfish.

If you find that fish, you can find pure gold.

Roy closed his notebook, leaned back in his chair, and looked out the window at the sky.

As the sun sets, it paints the sky a golden-red hue.

The outline of Beehive Island looked particularly magnificent in the afterglow.

Roy's eyes reflected that golden-red landscape, but his mind was contemplating the future.

With Wano Country conquered, the Seastone resource is now secured.

Construction of Beehive Island is in full swing, and the sea train has already connected the five major strongholds.

Blood transplantation technology has matured, and the capabilities of rank-and-file soldiers are rapidly improving.

The collection of Devil Fruits is growing richer, and the pool of talent is also expanding.

The next step is to find pure gold.

Then, they used pure gold as bait to lure in real great pirates.

such as--

The Red Earl, Baron Ryderfield.

That legendary lone red, the king of lone wolves.

If we can get him to join us, Beehive Island's combat strength will be elevated to another level.

Roy smiled.

That old guy should be here soon.

We parted ways in Mary Geoise last time.

She also told him about the vampire fruit.

Given his personality, if he can't find that fruit, he'll come looking for him sooner or later.

At that time...

Roy snapped out of his thoughts, stood up, and walked to the window.

The sun gradually sank below the horizon, and night fell.

The port lights up, workers are still busy, merchant ships are still loading and unloading, and everything is in good order.

This is his territory.

That's his power.

This is his home.

Roy took a deep breath, his eyes blazing with intense light.

--------

Leaving the office, Roy turned and walked towards the medical area.

Tenzuki Toki, the widow of Kozuki Oden, the user of the Time-Time Fruit, the woman who traveled from eight hundred years ago.

According to Vera's medical skills, she should be awake by now.

Roy walked through the long corridor to a private ward deep inside the medical area.

At the entrance, two guards were on duty. Upon seeing Roy, they immediately saluted.

Roy waved his hand and pushed the door open to enter.

The ward wasn't large, but it was decorated very warmly.

Soft sunlight streamed through the window, and a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air.

Tian Yueshi lay quietly on the hospital bed.

Those gentle eyes were open, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Hearing the door open, she turned her head slightly to look at the person who came in.

When she saw Roy's face clearly, her eyes instantly became complicated.

There was hatred, vigilance, confusion, and also a trace of... indescribable emotion.

Roy ignored her gaze, walked to the bedside, and sat down in the chair.

I just watched her quietly.

The two looked at each other and remained silent.

An eerie sense of oppression permeated the air.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Finally, Tengetsu couldn't hold on any longer, looked away, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Captain Roy...you saved me...but why?"

Her voice was soft, yet it carried an uncontrollable hatred.

Why would the man who caused Oden's death save himself?

Roy looked at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Madam Shi, why look at me like that?"

"Oden's death was simply due to a clash of ideologies between the two sides."

"and--"

"Didn't I already try to persuade him before the war started?"

"I advised him to give up and told him that with his strength, he couldn't stop me and Kaido from joining forces."

But he wouldn't listen.

"He insisted on opening the country and fighting for Wano Country."

Roy's gaze was calm as still water.

"Mrs. Shi, you should know your husband better than I do."

"That person is single-minded; once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it."

"His death was no one's fault."

"It was just his own choice."

Tian Yueshi lowered his head and fell silent.

Tears fell silently.

She certainly knows her husband.

That foolish prince, that man who would do anything for his beliefs.

He would indeed make that choice.

"But……"

Tian Yue choked up as she spoke.

"But...he's dead...Momonosuke and Hiyori...they were so young..."

Roy didn't speak, he just watched her quietly.

After a long while, Tian Yueshi raised her head and wiped away her tears.

Those gentle eyes now became incredibly firm.

She looked at Roy and said, word by word.

"Captain Roy, tell me, what exactly do you want?"

"You saved me not out of pity, and certainly not out of compassion."

"What exactly do you want?"

Roy looked at her, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

She is a smart woman.

"I want to know—"

Roy spoke slowly,

What exactly happened eight hundred years ago?

Amatsuki was stunned.

Eight hundred years ago?

She stared at Roy, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"You know... I came from eight hundred years ago?"

Roy nodded.

"Lady Shi's ability is to allow people to travel through time."

"And you yourself came to this era from eight hundred years ago."

Tian Yue Shi was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"Captain Roy, what you want to know, I cannot tell you."

Why?

"Because I don't know either."

Tianyue's gaze became distant.

"When I was born, the world government had already been established."

"There was indeed a war that swept the entire world before I was born."

"But my parents didn't tell me the specific details of that war."

"They only said that my mission was to find Wano Country."

"Then……"

"Waiting for a prophecy."

"prophecy?"

Roy frowned slightly.

"What prophecy?"

Tian Yue looked at him, a complex light flashing in her eyes.

"Twenty years later, on the night of the full moon, nine shadows fell from the sky—"

"The land of harmony will surely open its doors."

Roy fell silent.

He had already heard this prophecy that night in Jiuli.

I thought this was just a lie that Kozuki made up to give people hope.

But now it seems...

"Did you really see the future?"

Roy asked.

Tian Yue shook his head.

"It's not about seeing, it's about perceiving."

"The power of the Time-Time Fruit allows me to vaguely perceive certain fragments of the future."

"Those fragments are blurry, but they definitely exist."

"Twenty years later, the Nine Red Scabbards and Momonosuke will return."

"The land of Wano will usher in its true opening day."

"This is... the trajectory of fate."

Roy stared at her, remaining silent for a long time.

Then he smiled.

That smile carried a hint of something indescribable.

"destiny?"

I don't believe in fate.

Tian Yue looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

"Captain Roy, you don't believe in fate, but what do you believe in?"

Roy stood up and walked to the window.

Sunlight shone on him, casting a long shadow on the ground.

"I believe it—"

He spoke slowly.

"It is power."

"They are partners."

"It's about enabling those who follow me to survive and thrive."

"As for fate..."

He turned around and looked at Tianyue.

"If fate truly exists, then I will rewrite it with my own hands."

Amatsuki was stunned.

Looking at the young man before her, she felt a surge of indescribable emotions.

This man is different from Oden.

Oden believed in fate, prophecy, and those ethereal and unreal things.

And the man before me—

He only trusts himself.