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

"Twenty-one years old."

"Yes! Twenty-one years old!"

The Red Earl glanced at Roy with a sigh.

"Roy, you're still young."

"In his early twenties, he already possessed the ability to contend with the older generation of powerful figures."

"Looking across the entire ocean, how many can do that?"

"Whitebeard? Kaido? Big Mom? Golden Lion?"

Were they as strong as you are now when they were your age?

Roy fell silent.

He thought of those legendary figures.

Yes, he's only twenty-one years old, with a bounty of 25 billion, a pirate emperor, controlling a region of the sea, and having countless powerful followers.

"Mr. Ryder..."

"I see."

"Good that you understand."

"Awakening cannot be achieved by simply fighting desperately."

"It requires accumulation, an opportunity, and a bit of luck."

"You now have accumulated enough experience."

"What's missing is just the right opportunity."

"It will come when it comes."

"You can't rush it."

Roy took a deep breath, and the anxiety in his eyes gradually dissipated.

Instead, there is composure and calmness.

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Ryder."

He said earnestly.

The Red Earl waved his hand.

"Don't mention it."

"Now that I've joined your pirate crew, we're family."

"We're all family, so let's not speak like strangers."

Roy smiled.

That smile came from the heart.

…………

From that day on, Roy's life gradually returned to normal.

Every morning, he still goes to the gravity field to train, but no longer as frantically as before, instead maintaining a more balanced approach.

In the morning, he went to challenge the eagle to a sword duel.

Amidst the flashing swords, he focused on the way of the sword itself, no longer thinking about any awakening.

In the afternoon, he went to Barrett to spar with him in physical combat.

With each punch landing squarely, he enjoyed the thrill of the fight itself and no longer focused on breaking through defenses.

In the evening, he went to visit Tianyue.

The widow of Kozuki Oden has lived on Beehive Island for over a year and has gradually adapted to life there.

She would occasionally chat with Roy about events from eight hundred years ago. Although these didn't involve any secrets, they helped Roy gain a deeper understanding of the world.

The days passed by.

Roy's state of mind became more and more peaceful.

That anxiety, that persistence, that obsession, gradually dissipated.

but--

The desire for awakening has not disappeared.

It's just in a different way, settling deep in my heart.

…………

It was late at night.

Roy arrived at the gravity field alone.

Moonlight streamed through the skylight, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Roy stood quietly in the center of the field, his eyes closed.

Countless images flashed through my mind.

Doflamingo's awakening, with its overwhelming white threads.

And the words of the Red Earl.

"What's missing is just the right opportunity."

"It will come when it comes."

Roy opened his eyes and looked up at the night sky.

The moonlight was bright, and the stars twinkled.

His gaze pierced through the night sky, as if he could see into the distance.

That's Whitebeard's territory.

There, lives the world's strongest man.

If I were to challenge him to a fight...

A life-or-death struggle...

A glint of light flashed in Roy's eyes.

Perhaps, it's worth a try.

…………

That afternoon, Roy had just come out of the kendo dojo, covered in sweat, and was about to take a shower.

A communications soldier came running quickly.

"Captain Roy! Urgent communication!"

"Mr. Long from the Revolutionary Army has called in person!"

Roy raised an eyebrow.

dragon?

Why did that guy call himself?

He took the Den Den Mushi and pressed the answer button.

"Dragon, what's wrong?"

On the other end of the phone came Monkey D. Dragon's deep and powerful voice.

"Roy, it's been a long time."

"The revolutionary army has been making good progress recently and needs to increase its arms orders."

Roy frowned slightly.

"For such a small matter, just have your men contact Tesoro."

"Why did you call personally?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Then, a deep, resonant laugh came from the dragon.

"Hehehe..."

"Roy, there's something I think I should tell you."

Roy's heart skipped a beat.

"What is it?"

The dragon's voice carried a hint of barely concealed joy.

My son has been born.

Roy was stunned.

son……

Luffy?

He suddenly realized what was happening.

Yes, the year 1500 of the Sea Calendar is the year Luffy was born!

During this time, I was so focused on the awakening of the fruit that I completely forgot about such an important matter!

"Congratulations, dragon."

Roy suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said calmly,

"What's your son's name?"

"Monkey D. Luffy".

The dragon's voice carried a hint of pride.

"It's a healthy boy, and his cries are deafening."

Roy's lips curled into a faint smile.

The crying was deafening?

Where is he now?

"Is he/she beside you?"

The dragon paused for a moment,

"no."

"The revolutionary army is too dangerous, so I sent him to the East China Sea."

"I'll leave it to my elderly father to raise."

Roy immediately pictured Garp's old face in his mind.

That old man is probably holding his grandson right now, grinning from ear to ear, isn't he?

"Your father?"

Roy asked the question knowing the answer already.

"Naval hero Garp?"

"Um."

The dragon's voice was complex.

"That old guy may be unreliable, but at least he's safe."

"Donghai Fenche Village is a remote little village, far from the ravages of war."

"He will grow up safely there."

Roy nodded.

"That's good."

He looked at the Den Den Mushi, and the face reflected on it had a slipper print clearly imprinted on it.

The slipper print was clearly visible, as if it had just been made recently.

Roy's lips twitched.

Could it be that Dragon got slapped by Garp with a slipper?

"Dragon, your face..."

He asked tentatively.

On the other end of the phone, Long was silent for two seconds.

Then, a bitter laugh was heard.

"He was beaten up by that old guy."

"He said that I was just making trouble for him by throwing Luffy to him."

"And then... he swung a slipper."

Roy couldn't help but laugh.

Sure enough.

"Okay, I understand."

"Have your men contact Tezzolo regarding the arms deal."

"He will arrange it."

The dragon nodded.

"it is good."

"Roy, thank you."

The phone hangs up.

Roy put away the Den Den Mushi, stood by the window, and gazed at the distant sea.

Luffy...

The chosen one from the original story, the man destined to stir up the world, has now been born.

It's right in the East China Sea, right in Fenche Village.

A complex light flashed in Roy's eyes.

Would you like to take a look?

Look at that future Pirate King, what does he look like now?

and……

Rouge and Ace were there too.

The woman I rescued on Bateriola Island two years ago, and the child who is yet to be born.

Ace should be two years old now.

A surge of impulse welled up inside Roy.

Go see them.

Go see what the future "Fire Fist" Ace looks like now.

And what's so special about Luffy, the future "Pirate King"?

Roy took a deep breath, turned and walked out of the office.

…………