Chapter 196

Karp glanced toward Kizaru.

"It's already too late to worry now; that kid has grown to a point where no one can ignore him. All I can do is take a gamble."

Kizaru crossed his arms beneath his chin.

"I agree."

Admiral Tsuru folded her arms and said: "From the situation in Dressrosa, it's no surprise Zeff recognized him. Combined with his actions across the Four Seas, though he stands against us, he hasn't allied with pirates—he still holds his own sense of justice. If we don't provoke him, he won't come after us."

Karp nodded deeply in agreement.

"That kid really is that kind of person—don't touch me, I won't touch you; but if you do, he'll hold a grudge for a long time. Back when I drank with him, I just took off his pants while he was drunk. Damn, later, every time we drank, he went out of his way to get me drunk and made me shout 'Big Brother' in front of everyone in the tavern… Wahahaha, so embarrassing."

"Karp, shut up!"

Kizaru's face darkened.

How can you even say something so humiliating? How thick-skinned are you? You're a Navy hero!

…

That day, Kizaru and Kuzan received orders from Navy Headquarters to cancel the arrest warrant for Luo En and return to Marineford.

…

Soon.

A month passed.

No news whatsoever came from the New World about the Traveler Luo En or the Sky Calamity Travelers.

This made many people begin to murmur.

They started doubting whether the Traveler Luo En was even still alive.

Those with bounty rewards in the hundreds of millions who had claimed they'd join Luo En's crew gradually stopped mentioning it.

The Beasts Pirates, fallen into decline, saw Kaido recover and face Big Mom in a battle on an island—resulting in a draw.

In this battle, under Quinn and Jack's leadership, the Beasts Pirates reclaimed most of the territory seized by the Big Mom Pirates from the Three Supreme Commanders.

This battle announced to the world that the Beasts Pirates remained one of the Four Emperors ruling the New World!

Their position was as solid as a mountain, unshakable by anyone.

…

On Zou.

Galot and Xiao Qi were sparring—one agile and swift, the other heavy-handed and defensively strong; without using Armament Haki, they traded blows evenly.

On the other side.

Guina wielded two green bamboo swords, fighting four members of the Bandit Gang alone, blades crisscrossing.

Luo Bin and Bonney teamed up against Konis.

High in the forest, atop a grassy hill, Luo En sat drinking with Nekomamushi.

"Your ship's been repaired. Are you planning to leave soon?"

Nekomamushi turned to look at Luo En, who lay on the grass with his head propped on his hands, gazing upward.

During this time, they had become close drinking companions.

"No, they seem to want to stay a while longer to strengthen themselves. I think that's fine."

Nekomamushi stared, startled.

"Strengthen yourselves? You're already strong enough—especially you."

"Not enough."

"Not enough… then just who exactly are your enemies?"

"The Four Emperors, Admirals, the Five Elders of the World Government, that sort of thing."

Nekomamushi's sake cup tilted, spilling his beloved liquor unnoticed, his expression frozen as he stared at him.

"How did you end up as enemies with all these people? Do you want to destroy the world?"

"Haha, it's not that exaggerated."

The black-haired youth, with clear, clean features and closed eyes, smiled lightly, picked up the massive sake gourd beside him, and took a deep swallow: "I'm just a traveler who loves fine food and drink, and wishes for peace in the world."

"I merely promised a companion of mine to take her to Laugh Tale. To achieve that goal, the Four Emperors, Admirals, and Five Elders are all enemies. So not just them—I myself must keep growing stronger."

…

【ps: Happy New Year! May all your wishes come true! That's about it for today—forgive me, I'll update again tomorrow. The original plot will begin two years later…】

173, two years later, the blind old man named Yi Xiao

No one expected that two years after the massive event that shook the New World, the Sky Calamity Travelers and their floating ship vanished completely from the seas of the New World and never reappeared.

During these two years, the Traveler Luo En—who had repeatedly sparked earth-shattering events, was widely believed to be the most likely candidate to become the Fifth Emperor, and stood at the center of the storm—had not shown himself on the seas since his battle with Kaido. Many even began to doubt whether he was still alive…

One big news after another swept across the seas.

Powerful new pirates emerged one after another.

The name Traveler Luo En gradually disappeared from public view.

His astonishing deeds became nothing more than legends told over drinks and tea…

…

In the year 1520 of the Grand Line calendar, May.

"Well, I'm off!"

Luffy, just past his 17th birthday, bid farewell to Machino and the bandit Dandan in Windmill Village, and eagerly set off on his sea adventure.

Just as in the original plot.

In the East Blue's Sherrie Town, Luffy rescued Zoro, who at the time was a bounty hunter about to be executed by Bellamy, and Zoro became Luffy's first crewmate, setting sail with him as a pirate.

The Straw Hat Pirates were officially formed.

……

This day.

The small boat the two were riding drifted across the surface of the East Sea, aimlessly floating toward the next island.

Bored, Luffy spotted Zoro sitting there holding a piece of paper and reading it, and curiosity welled up in him.

"Zoro, what are you looking at?"

Luffy scooted over to his side, his gaze falling on that piece of paper.

"A… bounty… poster?"

Zoro paid no attention to Luffy beside him, his eyes fixed tightly on the bounty poster in his hand, and on the photograph on the bounty poster.

The photograph showed the side profile of a black-haired youth, his features handsome and clean, utterly harmless-looking, save for a pair of eyes cast sidelong — sharp, cold, and chilling enough to make one's heart skip.

Anyone looking at this photograph would feel as though he were staring coldly at them.

This guy really is just like he always was…

Handsome enough to be annoying…

Zoro stared at the black-haired youth in the photograph and curled his lips.

Luo En, and… Kuina.

You two wait for me.

I've already set out to sea too. I'll appear before you very soon.

I haven't forgotten that promise, and you two shouldn't have forgotten it either.

I'm going to defeat you both and become the world's strongest swordsman!

"Ah! Isn't that Luo En?!"

Luffy's delighted voice rang out beside Zoro's ear, startling him.

Zoro turned his head in surprise to look at Luffy: "You know him?"

"Know him? Of course I know him. No — it's not just 'knowing,' I should say we're acquainted. We became friends a long time ago, about seven or eight years back. Ace, Sabo, and I all trained together with him and lived together."

"He was already really strong back then. He even took down the mountain's overlord with a single punch. Ace, Sabo, and I took plenty of his fists ourselves."

Luffy crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and recalled those days, a bright, cheerful smile on his face: "Ah… I really miss those times."

Luffy opened his eyes, looked at Zoro, and asked curiously: "Zoro, do you know Luo En too?"

Zoro nodded: "I used to learn swordsmanship at the same dojo as him."

"Eh?! Then aren't you two like senior and junior disciples?"

Luffy said in surprise.

"Yeah, pretty much."