Roger and Rayleigh had barely gone much farther when the sound of the tide began to fade behind them.
Then footsteps approached from ahead.
A young man came walking toward them in a broad black cloak over a pale shirt, the top two buttons left casually undone to reveal a well-built chest.
Sixteen?
Maybe seventeen.
Either way, he looked barely old enough to have begun making his own way in the world.
His unruly black hair danced in the sea breeze, and there was an easy smile on his face as he approached with light, unhurried steps.
But once he drew closer, Roger’s expression changed slightly.
He could feel it now.
The overwhelming presence surrounding the young man.
A swordsman.
The impression was unmistakable.
Kael felt like a blade that had already left its sheath—sharp enough that his mere presence seemed to carry an edge.
This was the first time Gol D.
Roger and Dracule Kael ever met.
Roger could never have imagined that before long, the name of the young man standing before him would be engraved deeply into his memory.
Had fate given Roger more time…
Perhaps he might even have wondered whether Kael could become the next man to carry the will of Joy Boy.
Kael stopped before them and smiled.
“Welcome, Gol D.
Roger.
Silvers Rayleigh.” “Huh?” Roger and Rayleigh both froze.
Of all the places they expected to be recognized, this isolated island certainly wasn’t one of them.
Apparently Kuraigana wasn’t as cut off from the outside world as it seemed.
More surprising was the fact that the young lord showed absolutely no concern about having two wanted pirates standing in front of him.
Roger pointed at himself.
“You do know we’ve got bounties on our heads, right?” Kael gave him an amused look.
“And what am I supposed to do?
Arrest you and collect them myself?” He gestured casually toward the ruined kingdom around them.
“Kuraigana isn’t affiliated with the World Government.” Non-member nations received none of the protections enjoyed by World Government member states.
The people here could starve.
Civil war could tear the island apart.
The entire kingdom could collapse into chaos.
As long as it didn’t threaten a member nation, neither the World Government nor the Marines had much reason to care.
The same applied in reverse.
No matter what title Kael carried on Kuraigana Island, the World Government had no obligation to recognize his authority or treat him as legitimate royalty.
At least…
That was how things stood for now.
Kael glanced toward the ship anchored offshore.
“Are the rest of your crew staying aboard?” “If it’s your crew, you’re welcome to trade here.
Gold or Berries will get you fresh water, food, and whatever supplies we can spare.” Roger’s eyes widened.
“Seriously?!” This young lord was far easier to deal with than he’d expected.
“We’ve got plenty to trade besides money!” Roger raised a finger and grinned.
“Then thanks for the hospitality!
I’ll have the others bring everything ashore.” “Fine by me.” Kael turned toward the waiting guards.
“Quinn!” “Sir!” A tall, broad-shouldered man in full armor immediately strode forward.
His powerful arms and fierce expression made him look more like a veteran fighter than a castle guard.
He stopped in front of Kael and bowed his head.
“Have some men help them unload their cargo.” Kael glanced toward Roger.
“Then prepare the castle for a banquet.” “Understood.” Quinn had been with Kael for years.
In fact, he had once been an adventurer who came to Kuraigana Island from overseas—and the first outsider Kael had personally defeated after taking control of Black Rose Castle.
Instead of leaving, he had stayed.
Now he served as the loyal captain of the castle guard.
Roger watched him go and chuckled.
“You’re a pretty good lord.” Strong men did not willingly follow someone for years without reason.
It took more than strength.
A leader needed something that made people want to stand beside him.
Roger knew that better than most.
“And if there’s a banquet…” His grin widened.
“The idiots back on the ship are going to love this place.” …
The Roger Pirates had brought plenty of goods that could be traded, and their arrival unexpectedly solved much of Black Rose Castle’s supply problem for the coming autumn.
With the money and provisions Kael saved through the trade, he had no reason to be stingy.
So he threw a proper banquet.
It was there that Kael finally met the famous trio at the heart of Roger’s crew.
Gol D.
Roger.
Silvers Rayleigh.
Scopper Gaban.
Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban—the three men already famous across the seas as the Gold, Silver, and Copper of the crew.
There were plenty of other monsters among them as well.
Douglas Bullet.
Seagull Guns Nozdon.
The giant Fish-Man Sambel.
They were a rowdy bunch.
Loud laughter, huge appetites, and cups that rarely stayed full for long.
Kael liked them almost immediately.
There was only one problem.
Their alcohol was weak.
Most of what the Roger Pirates drank was fermented fruit wine, flavorful but mild.
Kael’s own liquor was another matter entirely.
He brewed it himself, and it was viciously strong.
The first swallow hit the throat like a red-hot blade.
By the time it reached the stomach, warmth had already spread through the entire body.
Halfway through the banquet, Roger was pleasantly buzzed when he finally noticed that Kael had barely touched the wine being served at the tables.
Instead, he kept drinking from the flask hanging at his waist.
Roger’s curiosity was immediately piqued.
“Hey, Lord Kael!” Kael looked over.
“Let me try some of that.” Roger pointed at his flask.
“You’ve been drinking it all night.
I’ve got a feeling you’re hiding the good stuff.” Kael raised an eyebrow.
“This?” He shook the flask lightly.
“You probably won’t like it.
I brewed it myself, and it’s much stronger than what you’re drinking.” A faint grin appeared on his face.
“It burns.” “Is that so?!” Roger exhaled sharply through his nose.
Being warned off a drink by some sixteen-or-seventeen-year-old kid?
Absolutely unacceptable.
“Now I have to try it.” Roger crossed the distance in a few long strides and stopped right in front of Kael, staring shamelessly at the flask.
Kael could only shake his head and laugh.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He handed it over.
Roger immediately tipped his head back and took an enormous gulp.
His eyes bulged.
“PFFFFT—!” “GAH!” The entire table erupted.
“Hahahahahaha!” Rayleigh and the others nearly fell out of their seats.
Watching their captain make a fool of himself was apparently one of the crew’s favorite forms of entertainment.
Roger coughed several times before wiping his mouth.
“Damn!
That really does burn!” Then his face split into another huge grin.
“But it’s got a hell of a kick!” He lifted the flask enthusiastically.
“I like it!” “Hahahaha!
Give me a few bottles before we leave!
I’m going to miss Black Rose Castle’s liquor once we’re back at sea!” Kael hadn’t even answered when raised voices suddenly came from one of the smaller tables at the edge of the banquet hall.
“Hey!
Your brother is not the strongest!” A red-haired boy was on his feet, face flushed as he argued furiously.
“Captain Roger is!” Across from him, seated calmly at the head of the small round table, Mihawk took another sip from his cup.
His expression barely changed.
“No.” He set the cup down.
“My brother is the strongest man in the world.” “No one can beat him.” Shanks’s face turned even redder.
“Fine!” He jabbed a finger toward Mihawk.
“You’re Mihawk, right?!” Mihawk looked at him.
“Then let’s settle it ourselves!” Shanks puffed out his chest.
“We’ll fight for the honor of the men we admire!” His eyes burned with competitive spirit.
“You scared?!” At the moment, Shanks resembled an angry puppy trying desperately to pick a fight.
Mihawk, by contrast, was like a cold, aloof cat that could barely be bothered to react.
He calmly nodded.
“Very well.” Across the banquet hall, Roger and Kael exchanged a glance.
Then both men started smiling.
Kids arguing over whose hero was stronger.
What could be more entertaining than that?
Add to library.
Send some Power Stones.