Chapter 317: I Knew It Would Be Like This

Seastone is a highly sought-after commodity on the seas, and the nation of Inazuma, which produces seastone and masters its processing, is universally recognized as the wealthiest nation on the ocean.

And as Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, the Thunder General of Inazuma, he is very likely the richest man on the ocean.

Compared to when he first set sail from the East Blue, Shanks' heart grew strangely conflicted as he neared Inazuma and would soon meet his old friend.

Who could blame him? His once-close friend had achieved fame and fortune, while he himself remained obscure—the gap between them was known best only to the man himself.

Just six years ago,

Shank was the most gifted junior among Luo Jie's crew, universally regarded by everyone aboard the Golden Jackson as Luo Jie's heir.

Yet Barzab rose to power in just a few short years, carved out a vast territory, and his prestige on the ocean was unmatched by any other.

And given Shank's understanding of Barzab,

Upon learning that the Red-Haired Pirates were about to arrive at Inazuma, Barzab would undoubtedly invite Buggy over for a gathering.

How could Shank possibly face that?!

Shank remembered very clearly—

On the day Captain Luo Jie was executed, the rain poured heavily; when Buggy invited him to form a pirate crew and become Pirate King, he refused.

Well, less than two years later,

seeing his good friend Barzab achieve fame across the seas, he chose to form the Red-Haired Pirates and set sail, inviting one crew member after another to join him.

What would Buggy think of this?

Do you, Shank, look down on me, Buggy?

Damn it, I knew it would be like this!

The captain himself saw you as his heir, even handed you that straw hat; after he passed, I wanted to follow you and help you ascend to the Wang Zuo.

But what did you do?

Aren't you the next-generation king?

Yet you never wanted to become Pirate King!

If that's the case, then let's go our separate ways.

But then, just a few years later, you set sail again! If you'd had this realization years earlier, I never would have parted ways with you.

Precisely because they grew up together, Shank had already imagined exactly what Buggy would say upon their reunion, and his face grew increasingly despondent.

Noticing Shanks' odd demeanor, the crew, led by Benn Beckman and Jesus Burgess, began teasing him.

"Captain, you're a man like that—and yet you're afraid to meet someone? Is it because the gap between you and your old friend is now so wide?"

"Hahaha～"

Shank's face flushed slightly.

"Don't go spreading false rumors—I've just not seen Barzab in a long time, and thinking back on the past made me nostalgic, that's all."

"Captain," Bockerman chuckled, "so you turn red when you lie?"

Hearing this, even Shank joined his crew in hearty laughter.

"You've figured me out."

Only Shank knew the bitterness in his heart—how should he face Buggy next?

Should he go straight up and apologize, saying he was too heartbroken at the time to think of anything else? Or pretend nothing had happened?

When he recalled the treasure maps he had deliberately collected over the years, Shank already had an idea.

With these treasure maps, Buggy will forgive him…

"Captain, Inazuma is so high up—how are we even going to get our ship up there?"

Shank smiled faintly.

"Besides the Paramecia and Logia fruits, there's a giant carp that can pull our ship upstream against the waterfall."

"Lei Li is waiting for us up ahead."

Thinking that even Roronoa Zoro and Nami were living in Inazuma, Shanks realized once again: his gap with Barzab was growing ever wider.

The achievements Barzab has reached are ones that countless people on the ocean, over hundreds of years, could never accomplish in a lifetime,

yet he and Barzab are the same age.

Will he ever have a chance to catch up?

Even if he does have a chance… Shank knew well what Barzab would do next.

After all, having served six years on Luo Jie's crew, Shank remembered clearly the one phrase Barzab loved to say: This world shouldn't be like this.

Then what should it be like?

Shanks lifted his head and gazed at the waterfall cascading down—perhaps in Inazuma, he would find the answer.

This was also one reason why, despite his reluctance to part from Uta, Shanks insisted on going to Inazuma—he wanted to see what Inazuma was like.

Two flowers bloom, each in its own branch.

At this moment, in the Flower Capital of Inazuma.

After arriving at the General's Mansion through the space gate opened by Barzab, Buggy's smile never faded.

"Barzab, that coward Shank must've hit rock bottom to come crawling to us."

Buggy would never forget that day in Loguetown, when Captain Luo Jie left them.

The cold rain pounded his face; what chilled him more was that Shank, who had promised to sail with him to Laugh Tale, told him he'd changed his mind.

At that time, Barzab was still very weak.

Only Shank could inherit Captain Luo Jie's dream—and yet Shank said he wasn't ready to go yet.

From then on, Buggy and Shank parted on bad terms.

Barzab smiled as he poured Buggy a cup of wine.

"I heard Shank is doing quite well—and Captain Luo Jie told me—Shank hails from the Fijalando family of Mary Geoise."

"His scum father, Figarland Garling, is the Commander-in-Chief of the God Knights."

Buggy blinked his eyes.

"His scum father?"

"Yes," Saint Saint Saiwen sighed. "Shanks also has a twin brother named Shamrock living in Mary Geoise, who looks exactly like Shanks."

"Their mother, Magnolia, was killed by their scum father, Garling."

"The reason was simply that Garling believed Shanks' mother was unworthy of him."

"A pure scumbag."

After hearing this secret, Buggy's face was momentarily woven with anger, sympathy, and worry.

He felt it was unfair for Shanks, yet worried that Shanks would be heartbroken upon learning his true origins.

"Does Shanks... know any of this?"

Saint Saint Saiwen voiced his guess: "He should know part of it. Before Captain Luo Jie turned himself in, he told Shanks about his origins."

"Do you remember? Once, Shanks threw himself into Captain Luo Jie's arms and cried with particular sorrow."

Certain distant memories floated up in Buggy's heart.

Saint Saint Saiwen's words continued.

"The reason Shanks refused your invitation might be because he was quite lost at the time, not knowing where to go next."

Buggy suddenly asked.

"Saint Saint Saiwen, were you there that day too?"

Buggy had cried so sorrowfully back then that he hadn't even noticed Saint Saint Saiwen was also at the execution platform.

"Yeah. At that time, I was being watched by CP agents, and Vice Admiral Garp was in Loguetown, so I had to leave with Mihawk."

"Otherwise, how could I have missed you and Shanks? I would have definitely invited both of you aboard."

"Buggy, let the past be the past; we must look forward."

"Rest assured," Buggy promised.

"I won't make things difficult for Shanks. Should we tell him about his mother's matter?"

Buggy did not want Shanks to be sad over this, yet felt Shanks should have the right to know, leaving him in a dilemma.

Saint Saint Saiwen paused briefly: "Keep it secret for now."

"Although Garling must die, Shanks should not know about it right now. Tell him when Shanks is a bit more mature."

Buggy nodded: "I'll listen to you."