I'm the Great Pirate, and I'm waging the Holy Grail War!

Chapter 21 Straw Hats' Target: Loguetown! The Shadow Is Approaching

East China Sea, on the shipping route to Rogge Town.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy smell, caressed the people aboard the Going Merry.

After the roar of Garp and the golden light of Kizaru were gone, the sea seemed to have returned to calm, but the atmosphere on the ship was unusually complicated.

After all, they had all seen the newspapers this morning. Every word in them pierced Usopp and Nami's hearts.

Luffy sat cross-legged at the bow of the ship, his straw hat pulled low, occasionally stealing a glance at Roger standing at the bow.

That used to be his spot, but now it's occupied by the man whose red vest is flapping loudly.

Excitement, curiosity, and a sense of unreality at the sight of a legendary figure were intertwined on his face.

"Feed... Pirate King..." Luffy finally couldn't help but speak, his voice carrying the straightforwardness unique to a young boy.

"Are you really Roger? The Roger who found ONE PIECE?"

Roger didn't turn around, but just stared at the horizon ahead, a hint of nostalgia on his lips.

"ONE PIECE... of course it's real. But that thing isn't under my control anymore."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone on the ship before finally settling on Luffy. A bright smile spread across his face. "What? Kid, you want to go find him too?"

"Of course!" Luffy jumped up instantly, his fists clenched, his eyes burning with fire.

"I'm going to be the Pirate King!"

"Hahaha! You've got guts!" Roger laughed, slapping Luffy's shoulder hard, almost sending him tumbling into the sea. "Looks like I didn't give that hat to the wrong person!"

Zoro leaned against the ship's railing, his chest wrapped in thick bandages.

His eyes were fixed sharply on the sword at Roger's waist.

The image of that simple, unadorned "Divine Evasion" cleaving through the impact of Garp's meteor was deeply etched in his mind.

"One Piece...your sword..." he couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

Roger looked at Zoro, and for some reason, the kid looked a lot like one of his old buddies.

Perhaps for this reason, Roger's eyes held a hint of admiration, and his words carried a touch of guidance.

"A sword? It's just a tool. What matters is the will to wield it, brat."

"The scar on your chest... is it a medal left from pursuing the summit? Don't die, there's still a long future ahead."

His words startled Zoro, who silently tightened his grip on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji.

Sanji lit a cigarette, looked at Roger, then at Luffy, and finally his gaze fell on Nami, who was examining Zoro's wounds, as if deep in thought.

This resurrected Pirate King is ridiculously powerful, but he seems... quite different from the majestic "King" we imagined.

More like an overly magnanimous elder...

Usopp huddled in a corner, hugging his knees, still trembling.

"One Piece... Arbitration... Marine Hero... Marine Admiral... What terrifying incident have we gotten ourselves into?! We'll be hunted down by the whole world! We definitely will!!"

Roger burst into laughter again at his pessimistic prediction.

After treating Zoro's wounds, Nami walked over to Roger's side, her orange hair fluttering in the sea breeze.

She looked at Roger with a complex expression, a mixture of gratitude, awe, and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

"Mr. Roger, thank you for saving everyone and for saving Cocoyasi Village."

"But...where are we supposed to go to 'lay low' now? The Navy is definitely hunting us down with all their might."

Roger stood with his hands on his hips, facing the sea breeze, pointing towards the huge island and port that were gradually emerging in the distance.

His eyes became deep and complex, carrying a hint of reminiscence and emotion.

"Where to?" Roger's voice was deep and powerful.

"Of course I'm going to my hometown, Rogge! So many years have passed, I wonder if it's changed at all. Hahahaha!"

"Roggetown?!" Everyone was shocked.

That's where Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, was executed! It's the place where the "Great Pirate Era" began!

Go there to avoid the storm? That's practically walking into a trap!

"That's right!" Roger grinned, his eyes gleaming with pride.

"The most dangerous place is often the safest place! And..."

He stroked his chin. "I have some things I want to go back and check on. I also want to replenish your supplies, you brats. Zoro's injuries also need better treatment."

Nami and Usopp hugged each other, letting out one wail after another.

"I will definitely die! Absolutely!!!"

Roger looked at Luffy, his eyes filled with encouragement: "Straw Hat Boy, don't you want to see... where I fell, see... the starting point of this Great Pirate Era?"

Luffy's eyes lit up instantly: "I really want to go!!!"

Luffy seemed to have thought of something and let out a puzzled sound.

"By the way, Uncle Roger."

Roger turned around: "What's wrong, kid?"

Luffy counted on his fingers: "Dilth said the Holy Grail War would start soon, but it's been several days already. When is it going to start?"

Roger laughed heartily: "He said soon? Then the contestants probably aren't even all here yet."

As he spoke, he glanced back towards Cocoyasi Village: "I've known that bastard longer than you're even older..."

Luffy nodded thoughtfully: "It seems that's really the case. The only other participants I know of are me and Uncle Mihawk, oh right, and Ace!"

Roger's eyes flickered slightly when he heard the name, and he touched the curved sword at his waist.

"Ace? Who's that?"

Luffy adjusted his straw hat, a smirk playing on his lips: "Oh, that's my brother!"

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, his body stiffened as if he had been electrocuted, and his face was full of surprise.

"Oh right! He said he's your son!!!"

Instantly, everyone was stunned, just as expected.

"well???!!!!!!!!"

Sanji covered his head: "Wait a minute, let me sort this out. You're the grandson of the Marine hero Garp, and your brother Ace was Roger's son. So Roger was Garp's..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was punched to the ground, and a huge bump appeared on his head.

"That's not how it is!!! You brat!"

Roger blew on his still-smoking fist and loudly greeted Garp.

"That old bastard! He actually adopted my son as his grandson?! He's more like a nephew, okay?!"

Only Luffy was still smiling blankly: "After all, Ace isn't that much older than me."

Roger sat quietly beside Luffy: "I didn't expect Ace to join the battle too...."

Luffy looked at Roger, whose face held an unprecedentedly gentle expression tinged with a hint of guilt.

This expression is the complete opposite of the arrogant pirate king from before.

"Hey kid... what kind of person is Ace...?"

Luffy first looked up at the sky: "Ah... Ace." Then he gave a bright smile.

"Ace is a kind person, he's like an older brother to me! He's very good to his comrades!"

Roger was stunned for a good two or three seconds by Luffy's smile.

His stiff face slowly returned to the bold expression he had just displayed.

"Really... That's good, that's good..."

The New World, Moby Dick.

While talking to Karna, Ace couldn't help but look towards the East Sea.

He felt as if someone, someone very close to him, was thinking of him.

"Master, Master! Are you listening?"

Ace snapped out of his daze: "Oh, I'm listening. What's wrong?"

Karna sighed. "I mentioned before that there was a strange aura on this ship. Now, that aura is even stronger."

Ace waved his hand: "You're just being too sensitive."

Karna's eyes flickered slightly: "I hope so."

He looked at the large pregnant woman in the distance who was diligently mopping the floor.

Sensing Karna's gaze, Blackbeard also cast a friendly look his way.

Why does such a vicious ambition lurk beneath your gaze...?