Chapter 34: The North Sea! And the Angry Boy

"Really now, Lord Roa," Stussy said on the island's shore, her expression deeply resentful. "You make a total mess of my place and are just going to turn around and leave like that?"

Roa looked back at the aggrieved woman and put on a stern face. "Why are you being so serious with a child like me? I’m still young and was just playing around."

The "illegal" femme fatale Stussy remained unfazed. "Big Brother Roa, I am even younger than you."

"You’re different."

Roa reached out and stroked her stunning, truly magnificent face. It had to be said, Uncle Whitebeard’s control was certainly top-notch. "Just looking at this face, Little Sister Stussy, you could be my mother!"

It wasn't just her beauty; the tenderness and tolerance Stussy displayed in front of Roa were practically overflowing with maternal instinct. The younger students were truly blessed.

"That wouldn't be impossible," Stussy said with a smile. "Lord Roa is an orphan, isn't he? Do you need a mother's warm embrace?"

"Trying to make me no longer invincible? You, Stussy!" Roa wore an expression of smug triumph, as if he had seen through everything. "That is absolutely impossible! Ever since I was born into this world, I have been an invincible being!"

*Invincible, is it?* Stussy couldn't help but sigh inwardly. *How terrifying, Brother Roa.*

"Anyway, if I don't contact you, just act like this never happened." Roa patted Stussy on the shoulder. "Take good care of yourself, Little Sister Stussy. It would be such a pity if such a magnificent face were to have any flaws, wouldn't it?"

"I will protect this face well for you, Brother Roa," Stussy replied demurely.

"Good girl."

After giving her head one last ruffle, Roa boarded his ship and departed. His next destination was the North Blue.

Stussy stood on the shore, watching the ship sail away. The stunning woman kept a smile on her face the entire time, waving goodbye every now and then. It wasn't until the ship completely disappeared over the horizon that she finally let out a long breath, her body swaying as she nearly collapsed to the ground.

Her fair, flawless skin was now covered in cold sweat, and her back was drenched through. Dealing with a monster like him, she had felt countless times as if he were about to crush her skull!

"Doctor, what... what should I do?"

***

On the ship moving further and further away, Roa had learned a lesson this time. He had snatched some heinous pirates from Stussy's island, which could be considered a contribution to world peace. Of course, he could also use them for a quick snack.

"Lord Roa, is that woman enough on her own?" Dylan asked calmly.

Roa knew he was referring to the intelligence network. Since he had decided to establish a war corporation, an intelligence system was essential; otherwise, how could he accurately grasp the dynamics of war across the world?

"For now, that will do," Roa said casually. "After all, we’re short on hands."

Although their combat power was absolutely sufficient, one couldn't exactly expect mindless ghosts to handle intelligence gathering, could it?

"My apologies, Lord Roa," Dylan said, blaming himself. "I have been too negligent over the past six years and never considered this aspect."

Looking back, in the six years spent in the Land of Endless War, he had done almost nothing. Most of his time was spent handling trivial matters for Lord Roa, or experimenting with the advanced Haki training methods Roa had described.

"No need to rush." Roa yawned lazily. "Isn't now just the beginning?"

Once he found Judge, everything would fall into place.

The North Blue was adjacent to the New World, separated only by a narrow Calm Belt, so they only needed to head north to arrive successfully. After six years, Roa was crossing the Calm Belt once again. It had been quite a hassle traveling from the West Blue to the New World six years ago, with Sea Kings attacking incessantly like they were having a seizure, giving Hu Po a feast.

This time, however, it was much easier. Roa released his Observation Haki, and whenever he sensed a Sea King approaching, he would unleash his Conqueror's Haki, scaring these giant beasts—who possessed the intelligence of humans—away from a great distance.

They reached the North Blue without a hitch. But what Roa hadn't expected was that, while the New World and the Calm Belt hadn't given him any trouble, the much calmer North Blue would give him a rude awakening.

"So," Roa stood by the ship's rail, gazing at the calm, flat sea. Unlike the New World, where the weather could change at any moment, the weather in the North Blue was excessively orderly. The young Roa looked back, somewhat bewildered. "Are we lost?"

They had been sailing in the North Blue for days. They should have reached an island long ago, but all that stretched before them was an endless sea.

Dylan, whose face was usually as still as a stagnant well, turned slightly flushed. "My apologies, Lord Roa. I forgot that I had never been to the Four Blues before; I am not very skilled at navigating with a compass and sea charts."

He had become a navigator mid-career, and having been born on the Grand Line, the Four Blues were far too unfamiliar to him.

"Don't let it happen again, Dylan," Roa said.

"Yes! Lord Roa! It will never happen again!" Dylan felt a sense of incomparable shame. The only reason he could follow Lord Roa was his ability to handle all sorts of matters for him. This blunder was agonizing.

"Well then, let me take a look." Roa transformed into a tiger and soared into the sky. Looking down from high above, he finally spotted an island nearby.

Not long after, the ship docked at the island's shore. Dylan took some men to hurry off and find a navigator and replenish supplies. Taking this opportunity, Roa brought Barrett ashore as well. Since they were here, there was no harm in looking around.

Walking along the city's reasonably tidy streets, Roa took a deep breath. "Non-allied nations really are better."

Even in a non-allied nation that seemed to be developing well, there was still plenty of black mist drifting about. Barrett followed silently behind Roa, his sharp eyes scanning anyone who dared to approach.

Suddenly, at a crossroads, Roa stopped. He turned his head with a look of surprise, peering toward the end of a side street.

"Lord Roa?" Barrett asked, puzzled. "Is there something over there?"

"I see it—anger like a volcano! Hatred like a tsunami!" Roa curled his lips. This looked like it might be interesting.

At the end of the street was a pile of trash. Two small figures, wrapped tightly in tattered cloaks, were hunched over, rummaging through the refuse.

"Brother, is... is it really okay? If we get caught..." the smaller figure's voice was filled with terror.

"Rosinante! Do you want to starve to death?" The slightly larger figure turned back. From beneath the cloak, a bruised and swollen face was revealed, with a small pair of glasses perched on his nose. His tiny face was twisted with a ferocity like a demon's. "Mother is already dead. Do you want to die too?"

"...Brother!" The younger brother was frightened by his sibling's appearance and slumped into the trash pile.

The older brother ignored his brother's reaction, clenching his fists. "I want to live! I have to live! Sooner or later, I will destroy everything!"

"A fine dream. I heard it clearly."

A voice filled with interest drifted over from the side.

The two brothers turned instinctively. When they saw the elegantly dressed young man standing before them, expressions of horror simultaneously appeared on their faces—even the boy who had just been making bold declarations was no exception.

Roa looked at the two wretched brothers, focusing primarily on the kid in the sunglasses. "Nice to meet you, Angry Boy. Perhaps fate guided me to your side."

"Are you ready to face your destiny?"