Chapter 141: Dreams and Warnings on the Deserted Island

“Hey, Newgate.”

“How about joining us?”

After the battle, Roger’s crew and Newgate kicked off a feast on the deserted island.

Hearing this, Newgate just shook his head with a wry smile.

“You? Better not.”

“Gura ra ra ra!”

“I’ll admit, I’m tired of the atmosphere around the Rocks Pirates.”

“But it’s still too soon for you to say that.”

Roger frowned a little. He’d long known about the Rocks Pirates and always thought Newgate wasn’t the type to belong there.

They simply didn’t fit.

“Is Rocks really that strong?”

Noticing Roger’s skepticism, Newgate let out a sigh and explained.

“Captain Rocks beat me in just ten minutes back then.”

“Even though I’ve gotten stronger over the years, I can still tell I’m no match for him.”

Rayleigh and the others weren’t fazed. However powerful the Rocks Pirates were, it had nothing to do with them.

Besides, they’d already made up their minds to face the Rocks Pirates one day—the sea isn’t big enough for both.

But hearing this seemed to amuse Roger. Now things were getting interesting, weren’t they?

“Hahaha!”

“A strong opponent is exactly what I want. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

Roger didn’t seem bothered at all. The stronger the challenge, the faster he grew.

He just wondered when he’d finally get the chance to battle Rocks himself.

Suddenly Roger’s expression shifted as he turned to Newgate.

“Do you have a wish?”

That question made Newgate fall quiet, lost in thought.

When had he first started longing for something like that? It had been so long he couldn’t remember.

He put down his cup and, after a moment, finally spoke.

“I want a true family. People who share joys and hardships together.”

“I just wonder when that wish will ever come true.”

“Pa!”

Roger clapped a hand onto Newgate’s shoulder.

“As long as you have dreams, they’ll come true one day. Trust me! Hahaha!”

Rayleigh and Jabba watched their carefree captain and couldn’t help but cover their faces with helpless smiles.

Their captain was amazing in every way—until he got drunk. Then, anything might happen.

But oddly enough, it was Roger’s bold, open nature that brought all of them together.

Newgate eyed the drunken Roger. After spending a short time together, he really did like the way the Roger Pirates operated.

He didn’t want Roger to die for nothing, so he kindly gave him a warning.

“Captain Rocks intends to recruit you. If you refuse, the Rocks Pirates might start hunting you down.”

“Most of your crew will probably be fine, and with your strength, you might escape.”

“Just make sure you never run into Karl.”

Newgate had fought Roger before. He knew exactly how strong Roger was.

He figured as long as Rocks himself didn’t step in, Roger could hold his own against anyone in the crew.

Except, of course, for Karl.

Karl was tremendously powerful, and even his subordinates weren’t much weaker.

If the Roger Pirates really clashed with them, only Roger, Rayleigh, and Jabba might make it out. The rest would be lost to the sea.

Roger leaned in close to Newgate and tried to recall what he knew about Karl.

“Karl? The new vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates.”

“Relax, relax.”

Seeing Roger brush it off, Newgate didn’t press the matter. Enough had been said. Anything more would be pushing it.

Rayleigh, though, nodded seriously. Clearly, they didn’t understand Karl well enough.

He knew Newgate wouldn’t say something like this lightly.

After all, Newgate had fought Roger himself and knew what he was capable of.

For him to give such a warning meant Karl and his crew really were much stronger than they’d guessed.

Rayleigh decided he’d try to avoid a direct conflict with the Rocks Pirates in the future if he could help it.

But if it came down to it, they’d have to prepare for the worst.

Cake Island!

After returning to Cake Island, Karl brought Linlin back to her room, had dinner, and then—

—summoned Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Issho to the main hall.

On the way, the three of them had already guessed they were about to join Karl’s crew.

They still weren’t sure whether that was good or bad news. After all, Karl was a pirate.

But in the end, they were just kids, and already stranded on Skypiea.

They had no other options, so they just went along with it.

Looking at Borsalino now, Karl noticed something different about him.

With Karl’s gaze fixed on him, Borsalino felt goosebumps—like he was being hunted by a top predator.

What Karl didn’t realize was that people in power for long enough naturally develop an intimidating presence.

So even if he wasn’t consciously using Haki, that aura still seeped out.

“Oh, you ate a Devil Fruit.”

So, Borsalino had eaten a Devil Fruit at this point?

Now that he thought about it, the original story never said exactly when any of them first ate their fruits.

It seemed Sakazuki also ate the Magma Fruit before joining the Navy, but judging by his face, he hadn’t eaten it yet.

Would the Magma Fruit end up lost now?

Should he send him back to look for it?

Borsalino studied Karl deeply. He never expected Karl to instantly see through his secret.

Since eating the Glint-Glint Fruit, he’d never used its powers in front of outsiders.

No one knew he’d eaten a Devil Fruit; he only practiced in secret in his room.

“Yes. I ate a Devil Fruit—the Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit.”

As soon as he finished, Sakazuki and Issho both stared at him in shock.

They couldn’t believe this unremarkable guy had eaten such a powerful Logia.

After all, Logia Fruits were the most infamous and powerful of them all.

Even without their extra perks, their ability to ignore physical attacks made them priceless.

If he recalled correctly, Logia Fruits here were worth a hundred thousand contribution points.

Karl stroked his chin, surprised Borsalino had eaten the fruit at just fifteen.

He’d already sent people out across the Four Seas to collect Devil Fruits.

He’d even thought about saving the Glint-Glint Fruit for someone more fitting, but in the end Borsalino got it anyway.

“Do you know what my wish is?”

The three glanced at each other, then shook their heads.

There was no way they’d know what Karl wanted.

Karl shifted into a more relaxed posture, crossing his legs and leaning back like he owned the place.

“This world is rotten in a lot of ways.”

“Do you know why?”

Karl tossed the question to the three, wondering if—even at their age—they’d thought about things like this.

People in the One Piece World matured early. Even the youngest, Fujitora, was already eleven.

By now their personalities were already set. Changing that wouldn’t be easy.

“Pirates?”

“The Mafia?”

“…”

They did come up with a few answers, but none were what Karl was hoping for.

Which made sense—they were still young. They probably hadn’t even encountered the Celestial Dragons.

He leaned forward.

“The Celestial Dragons.”