Chapter 462: So You

Redland, Holy City in the Sky.

After the Demon King Ace lost for the hundredth first time to the first gatekeeper Jinbe, he sat slumped on the ground, sighing heavily.

Perhaps due to his profound desolation, Ace noticed nothing of Jinbe’s shock and disbelief.

“You… you… are you Mr. Roger?”

Jinbe rubbed his eyes, confirmed again and again that the man behind Ace was none other than the deceased Pirate King Roger, and suddenly felt his world collapse.

“Mr. Roger, I didn’t mean to crush Ace’s confidence—it was the captain’s order.”

Good heavens!

Could it be that defeating Ace so many times made the long-dead Roger unable to bear it, so he appeared in broad daylight to defend him?

But… this kind of bullying? The blame lies with the captain—he’s the one who ordered it all.

Jinbe was about to explain further when Roger clapped him on the shoulder and gestured with his eyes for Jinbe to look behind.

When Jinbe saw Barzab Seven smiling nearby, he nearly burst into tears.

“Captain… I…”

It’s over, completely over—because he was so terrified by seeing the long-dead Roger that he spoke without thinking and accidentally angered the captain. Would Jinbe ever have a good day again?

“Well done, Jinbe.”

Barzab Seven seemed unconcerned; he not only praised Jinbe for his duty as gatekeeper but also invited him.

“Come, let’s have a drink together?”

Barzab Seven pulled Jinbe away, actually hiding nearby to watch the show.

Not long ago, Barzab Seven had revived Roger and reunited him with Lulu, after which Roger insisted on meeting his beloved son Ace.

That’s why this unexpected scene unfolded.

When Ace saw a strange uncle with a mustache staring at him with deep emotion, he blurted out:

“Uncle, who are you?”

“I’m your dad.”

Hearing this, Ace froze for two seconds, then his shock instantly turned to rage.

“I’m your dad!”

Who in this sea doesn’t know his father Roger died years ago? Ace was raised by his mother, Saint Brother Barzab, and Grandpa Karp.

“Sweetheart, I really am your dad!”

Ace gritted his teeth: “Long-nose-hair, get lost before I slap you.”

Even if this man looked exactly like his dead father, Ace wasn’t stupid—how could someone dead for years suddenly reappear?

Resurrection? That’s a trick to fool three-year-olds.

“Don’t think just because you look like my dad you can come here to deceive people. Get as far away as you can, or I’ll kill you.”

Roger’s face fell with sorrow, and only now did he finally understand: why Barzab Seven had gone back in time to revive him.

This rebellious brat was truly infuriating!

But they hadn’t seen each other in years, and his son had never known a father—could he really beat him the moment he returned?

At that moment, the young Straw Hat Pirates, just released from school, passed by and saw Ace arguing with a strange uncle. They hurried over.

“Ace, who is this uncle?”

Roger lifted his chin proudly, ready to receive the stunned, reverent gazes of the Straw Hat Pirates upon seeing the Pirate King.

But nothing happened—except Ace muttering a couple of curses.

Luffy even stepped up to Roger.

“Uncle, you’re called Roger? But Roger uncle died many years ago.”

Though he didn’t know who this kid was, Roger faintly sensed a familiar presence in him.

“Kid, who is Karp to you?”

Luffy answered without hesitation.

“He’s my grandpa, and also Ace’s grandpa.”

“Nani?!” Roger’s face turned red with fury: “Damn Karp.”

Entrusting Lulu and her son to Karp’s care had been Roger’s last resort—even though he’d already picked up Barzab from East Sea’s Housha Village years ago.

But back then, Barzab had no ability to care for pregnant Lulu, and Roger’s crew had already disbanded—he had no choice but to beg Karp for help.

But Roger never imagined Karp, that bastard, had become Ace’s grandpa.

Then what was he?

Naturally one generation lower than Karp?

“Huh?” Luffy scratched his head: “Uncle, do you know my grandpa?”

“Good boy,” Roger forced a sincere smile: “Take me… Grandpa… to see your grandpa.”

Back then, when he was already terminally ill, it was understandable.

Now that he was resurrected and cured of his illness by Barzab, Roger vowed to fight Karp for ten days and ten nights to settle who was superior.

Whoever lost would automatically be one generation lower.

Soon after, when Luffy’s group brought Roger before Karp, Karp showed no surprise—only an expression of “I knew it.”

“Saxi bili dana, Roger.”

“Saxi bili dana, Karp.”

As two streaks of red-black Haki emerged, a far stronger Conqueror’s Haki surged forth, drenching Roger and Karp in cold sweat.

Luffy and the others remained completely unaffected.

“Hey, you two old men, over a hundred years combined—go fight outside.”

Roger’s wish for a duel was dashed, for Buggy, Shanks, Lei Li, Jia Ba, and others had already surrounded him upon hearing the news.

Buggy and Shanks threw themselves into Roger’s arms, weeping uncontrollably.

“Captain! I missed you so much!”

To Buggy and Shanks, Roger was like a father; after enduring separation by death, they cherished this bond even more.

Seeing this, Barzab silently pulled out a Den Den Mushi and recorded this long-awaited reunion.

Lei Li and the others felt a quiet sadness, yet smiled with relief—as if they had returned to the days aboard the Olo Jackson.

Back then, Barzab often secretly photographed Buggy and Shanks crying.

Who would have thought that after all these years, even now as the undisputed King of the World, Barzab remained the same boy, unchanged in the slightest.

Perhaps for them, this was the best ending possible.

Roger’s resurrection was not publicly announced, but it sent the United Kingdom’s elite into a frenzy of frantic competition.

Especially the Morning Star members, who already knew: Barzab Saint possessed countless treasures, like pure gold granting immortality.

Now, Roger’s resurrection once again shattered their perception of Barzab Saint: Good heavens—what can’t the captain do?

Immortality, resurrection…

Is the captain truly a god fallen to the mortal realm?

What are we waiting for? We must show the captain our loyalty!

Given the captain’s deep sense of loyalty and emotion, if he can revive Roger after so many years, then when we inevitably die, we’ll rely entirely on him.

With a boss like this, loyalty is mandatory!

The Morning Star members’ frantic competition acted like falling dominoes—once it started, it pulled the entire United Kingdom elite into the frenzy.

The chain reaction spread layer by layer, drawing in every department: Navy, Army, Air Force, Impel Down, Enies Lobby—all joined the race.

With his subordinates in a frenzy of competition, Barzab gained more time to cultivate.

Meanwhile, he waited for Yimu, eight years hence.