Chapter 422: The Pirate King
"Roger Pirates spotted in the East Blue!"
"Roger Pirates have completed the first full circumnavigation of the Grand Line!"
"Roger Pirates have reached Raftel!"
"Gol D. Roger crowned the Pirate King!"
These shocking headlines spread like a pebble tossed into a calm sea—causing tidal waves across the world.
The news raced through all four seas and the Grand Line with lightning speed.
And when people saw it—they panicked.
The Pirate King has appeared.
But what does that truly mean?
No one could say.
And it is often the unknown that causes the deepest fear.
---
Flying Pirates
"Pirate King? Hah! I couldn't care less!"
"Roger, just wait. Sooner or later, I'll make you kneel at my feet! Jihahahahaha!"
Golden Lion Shiki laughed wildly as he crumpled the newspaper in his hands.
The other Flying Pirates scoffed just as loudly.
Pirate King? Like we'd acknowledge that!
---
Whitebeard Pirates
"Dad! Roger's become the Pirate King! It should've been you!"
Several crew members grumbled as they read the headlines.
"Gurararara! Pirate King? I don't care about that title."
Whitebeard laughed loudly from his chair, chugging wine and glancing at his sons.
"I'm telling you, Dad should be the Pirate King!"
That remark was instantly echoed by countless others.
Whitebeard's eyes dimmed for a brief second…
But then a firm light replaced the moment of hesitation.
---
Kame Island
"Dad, Roger's the Pirate King now. Aren't we going to do something?"
Caesar asked, glancing up from the newspaper at Charlotte.
"Pirate King? Do you care that much?"
Charlotte sipped red wine and calmly asked Caesar, his gaze sweeping across everyone present.
Not just Caesar, but Barrett, Esdeath, Tesla, Robert, and Deidara—all their expressions were caught by Charlotte's sharp eyes.
Barrett, stone-faced.
Esdeath, full of disdain.
Tesla, curious.
Robert and Deidara, visibly unwilling.
"Dad! Why don't we just take Roger's title for ourselves and become Pirate King?"
Robert stood up excitedly.
Charlotte rolled his eyes.
What, was he supposed to turn himself in like Roger, then use his death to ignite the Great Pirate Era?
Such a "filial" suggestion…
Charlotte waved a hand dismissively.
"No need to bother. He can be the Pirate King all he wants—as long as he doesn't mess with us. I don't care for that title."
With those words, the once-enthusiastic crew quickly quieted down.
---
Whole Cake Island, Totto Land
"Mama! Roger, you damned thief!!"
Charlotte Linlin's jealous fury made her eyes bloodshot as she crushed the newspaper.
Everyone inside the hall trembled with fear.
---
Just like that, the news that Roger had become the Pirate King spread across the entire New World.
Not a single great pirate stepped up to challenge the Roger Pirates' legitimacy.
Except for Charlotte, no one took the news to heart.
---
Meanwhile, in a remote sea of the East Blue—
"I hereby declare—the Roger Pirates are disbanded!"
Roger stood among his crewmates, putting down a bottle of liquor with a relaxed smile.
The rowdy celebration instantly froze.
Everyone turned, stunned, staring at Roger with their cups mid-air.
"Roger, have you lost your mind?"
Rayleigh immediately shot to his feet, shouting.
"Wahahaha! My brother, I'm quite sober. Our journey ends here. It's time for me to disembark."
Roger looked at the crew he had spent years with—Oden, Jaba, Crocus, and the rest.
Rayleigh's eyes reddened.
"Why?!"
"You know why… I don't have much time left. I want my final moments to burn with brilliance."
Roger patted Rayleigh's shoulder with a calm expression.
Rayleigh clenched his eyes shut, holding back tears.
Shanks and Buggy, still young, were bawling their eyes out.
"Captain! Don't leave!"
Roger smiled, ruffling their hair.
"Wahahaha! My adventure's over. Now it's your era."
He glanced at the straw hat on Shanks' head.
"It's time for me to step down."
Roger shouldered his bag, waved without turning back, and became the first captain to walk away from his ship.
Everyone stared at his back until it vanished into the horizon.
---
"Vice Captain… What now?"
Jaba approached Rayleigh quietly.
"There is no vice captain anymore. The Roger Pirates… are disbanded."
Rayleigh's voice carried a heavy sense of finality—and exhaustion.
The crew fell silent.
After a long moment—
Kozuki Oden was the first to step off the ship.
"See you all again, someday!"
He smiled brightly, waving as he left with his retainers.
"Take care, Rayleigh."
Jaba followed next.
One by one, the crew disembarked.
Soon, only Rayleigh, Shanks, and Buggy remained.
"You two take care of yourselves. Stop crying like babies."
Rayleigh gave them a gentle smile and looked at Shanks' straw hat.
The sight triggered memories—
The day he met Roger.
All their adventures together…
"Take care, Vice Captain!"
Shanks and Buggy bowed deeply and left the ship together.
Rayleigh was alone.
"Old friend… You've carried us for so long. You deserve rest now."
He patted the ship gently.
It swayed as if responding.
---
Days later—
Rayleigh arrived at a small port, wearing the straw hat.
"Silvers Rayleigh. Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates."
A cold voice suddenly pierced the air.
Rayleigh's pupils shrank.
A man appeared before him—
Long red hair.
A blade at his hip.
His aura screamed danger.
"Mind telling me where Roger is? All this ruckus you caused has really pissed off a certain someone."
The red-haired man drew his sword and stepped forward.
The air itself seemed to freeze.
Run.
That was Rayleigh's only thought.
In the next instant—he bolted toward the port.
"Trying to escape?"
The red-haired swordsman sneered and gave chase.
Rayleigh jumped onto a boat and sped into the sea.
A battleship followed close behind.
Blades of energy sliced through the ocean, aimed at Rayleigh.
His boat was shattered instantly.
Rayleigh was forced to dive into the water, swimming toward the Calm Belt.
SLASH—
A sword strike parted the sea in two.
---
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