” Shakky helped Dæmon explain the effects of the Elixir of Immortality.
Roger’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Wine like that actually exists in this world?!” “There’s no need to be so surprised,” Dæmon replied, gently swirling the wine in his glass.
“The Perennial Youth Surgery of the Op-Op Fruit can produce a similar result.” His words carried a deeper meaning.
Dæmon did not know whether Imu was truly a demon, but someone in history must have undergone the surgery.
Otherwise, knowledge of its existence could never have survived into the present era.
“Immortality…” Roger rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“It’s a shame I don’t have any Devil Fruits right now.
Otherwise, I’d certainly want to try your wine.” Roger was also a heavy drinker and had little resistance to fine alcohol, especially wine that offered such extraordinary benefits.
Aging and death were fates that no living person could escape.
Countless powerful figures had appeared throughout history.
Each had dominated their era for several decades, yet when their time finally came, they had all turned to dust.
Now that Roger had discovered a way to overcome the limits of the human lifespan, it would have been a lie to say that he felt no desire for it.
However, he was still relatively young.
There was no reason for him to rush.
“Once you obtain a Devil Fruit, you’re welcome to visit my tavern anytime.” Dæmon smiled before changing the subject.
“By the way, I heard the Roger Pirates are searching for the end of the Grand Line.” “You mean Lodestar Island?” Roger nodded.
He was indeed searching for the island located at the end of the route followed by the Log Pose.
Few people in history had ever reached Lodestar Island.
If the Roger Pirates could conquer the entire Grand Line and arrive there, they would stand at the pinnacle of all pirate crews.
They might even surpass the Rocks Pirates.
“No.” Dæmon shook his head.
“The fact that Lodestar Island already has a name means someone must have reached it before.
Otherwise, how could its name have been passed down?” Knowing the future, Dæmon naturally understood that Lodestar Island was not the true final island.
Before becoming the Pirate King, Roger would successfully reach Lodestar.
However, the unusual magnetic field surrounding the island would cause the Log Pose to behave abnormally, revealing that another unknown island existed beyond it.
That hidden island was the true end of the Grand Line.
It would eventually become known as Laugh Tale—a name Roger himself had yet to give it.
“Based on my investigations over the years, reaching the true final island requires a special method,” Dæmon continued.
Investigations over the years?
Roger’s heart skipped a beat.
He studied Dæmon more carefully.
Dæmon appeared to be a young man in his early twenties, but he possessed the secret of immortality.
Who could possibly know his real age?
Someone capable of brewing the Elixir of Immortality might be an ancient monster who had survived since a distant era.
As that possibility crossed Roger’s mind, his expression became increasingly awkward.
During their earlier battle, Roger had deliberately held back because he believed Dæmon was merely a promising young rookie.
Perhaps this “ancient monster” had been holding back even more than Roger had.
“Ahem!” Roger coughed, attempting to hide his embarrassment.
“Dæmon, what is this special method you mentioned?” Dæmon had no idea what kind of nonsense was running through Roger’s mind.
He raised one finger.
“I’ll tell you under one condition.
I also want to visit the final island, so when the time comes, you must take me with you.” “No problem!” Roger agreed without hesitation.
“We’re already friends!” Shakky quietly chuckled as she listened to them.
Men’s friendships were truly peculiar.
They could beat each other nearly to death and become close friends immediately afterward.
“Poneglyphs are nearly indestructible stone monuments shaped like large cubes,” Dæmon explained.
“Roughly thirty of them are scattered throughout the world.” Roger nodded in surprise.
“I believe I’ve seen one before, but I couldn’t understand the writing carved into it.” “Don’t interrupt.
I haven’t finished yet.” Dæmon took another sip of wine before continuing.
“Among those Poneglyphs are four red stones known as Road Poneglyphs.
Each one contains a set of coordinates.” “You must locate all four Road Poneglyphs and combine the coordinates recorded on them.
The point where those four locations intersect will reveal the position of the true final island.” “There’s actually a method like that?” Shakky looked astonished.
“These stones couldn’t have appeared naturally.
Someone must have deliberately created them and scattered them throughout the world.” She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
“Why would anyone leave directions to the final island?
What exactly is hidden there?” “I don’t know.” Dæmon calmly shook his head and offered no further explanation.
Roger abruptly rose from his seat.
If Dæmon’s information was accurate, then the mysterious final island was no longer an unreachable dream.
“Is everything you said true, Dæmon?” “Reach Lodestar Island first,” Dæmon replied.
“Once you arrive, you’ll realize that it isn’t the true end of the Grand Line.” “All right!” Roger nodded firmly before patting Dæmon on the shoulder.
“Once I find those red stones, I’ll return for you.
That’s our promise!” He laughed loudly.
“Goodbye, my friend!
I’ll see you again too, Shakky!” After saying his farewells, Roger hurried out of the tavern with his crew following close behind.
Dæmon watched them leave with mild admiration.
Roger was certainly decisive.
The moment he discovered a path toward his goal, he took action without hesitation.
Should I have reminded him that he’ll also need someone capable of deciphering the ancient writing?
After considering it briefly, Dæmon dismissed the thought.
Roger could solve that problem himself.
“Why didn’t you give this information to Rocks?” Stussy asked, blinking curiously.
“What if the Roger Pirates reach the final island before us?” Dæmon rolled his eyes.
“Rocks has greater ambitions.
He wants to overthrow the Celestial Dragons and become king of the entire world.” That was precisely why Rocks had traveled to Elbaf and attempted to recruit King Harald.
Dæmon shook his head, finished his wine, and rose from his seat.
He placed one hundred thousand Berries on the bar.
“I have something else to take care of.
Thank you for the wine, Shakky.” With that, he left the tavern.
Dæmon had not forgotten his original objective.
He still needed to find a suitable target to devour.
Once Dæmon was gone, Gloriosa finally found an opportunity to speak.
She turned toward Shakky.
“Why don’t you visit the harbor and see Rayleigh before the Roger Pirates leave?” “There’s no need for that anymore.” Shakky smiled calmly.
“My lovesickness has already been cured.” Gloriosa stared at her in disbelief.
Shakky’s lovesickness had been cured as well?
“It was the Elixir of Immortality,” Stussy explained.
“Apparently, it can even cure Amazon Lily’s lovesickness.” “Just as I suspected!” Gloriosa finally understood why she had suddenly become indifferent toward Roger.
Everything had been caused by the Elixir of Immortality.
The miraculous wine granted eternal youth and freedom from death.
It could even protect its drinker from fatal diseases.
Linlin looked at the two former Kuja captains and immediately began mocking them.
“Amazon Lily’s lovesickness is truly ridiculous!” “When you fall ill, you become completely obsessed with someone.
During an attack, you can even die if you’re separated from the person you love.” “Yet the moment you recover, all those feelings disappear!” Linlin placed her hands on her hips and laughed.
“And you still dare call that true love?
What cold and heartless women!” Gloriosa opened her mouth but found herself unable to argue.
Shakky gently tapped her fair cheek with one finger, her expression thoughtful.
Were all those feelings merely symptoms of an illness?
…
[Devil Fruit consumed.] [You have obtained 100 Demon Points.] [Demon Points: 100 → 200] After leaving Shakky’s tavern, Dæmon casually devoured the Devil Fruit he had received.
Unfortunately, it yielded only one hundred Demon Points.
“It was probably an ordinary Zoan-type Devil Fruit.” Dæmon sighed.
“What a worthless fruit.” Still, every point counted.
“Now I need to find a suitable target and strengthen my Haki.” His battle with Roger had given him a clear understanding of his current combat ability.
While in human form, he was nowhere near capable of fighting an opponent at Roger’s level.
A serious attack could kill him instantly.
After activating his Demon Form, however, he could endure several exchanges and barely fight back.
His flight and immortality made him extremely difficult to defeat.
Even against someone at Roger’s level, Dæmon remained confident that he could escape.
Defeating Roger, however, was impossible.
Dæmon’s offensive power was still far too weak.
For the next several days, he continued absorbing the power gained from devouring the Sea Kings while searching Hachinosu for a suitable target.
He wanted a pirate with a bounty exceeding one hundred million Berries who had mastered both Armament and Observation Haki.
Pirates meeting those requirements were not uncommon on Hachinosu.
However, before Dæmon could choose his target, Rocks and the others returned from Elbaf.
Shiki brought him an astonishing piece of news.
Rocks and King Harald had fought a fierce battle that ended in a draw.
Their friendship had been completely severed!