Nearly twenty thousand meters in the air, Caesar and Roger were discussing some of the world's secrets.
Though they stood on opposing sides, at that moment, they were like old friends reunited after many years, with much to say.
After Roger finished speaking, Caesar shared what he had seen in the Holy Land 55 years ago and the information he had recently obtained from the ancient sea kings.
"You said the abilities of the Devil Fruits were brought to this world by the Celestial Beings.
But according to those sea kings who have survived since eight hundred years ago, a thousand years ago, a giant whale ate the Kunpeng Fruit.
The timeline doesn't seem to match up, does it?"
Caesar voiced his doubts.
Roger frowned, deep in thought, but ultimately shook his head:
"I don't know either. After all, we didn't live in that era. Who knows what truly happened in the past?"
He added, "Moreover, based on what you said, the Elephant Lord has its own kind. It evolved long legs to walk into the sea because it wanted to eat the flesh of the giant whale."
"But in the history of Wano Country, it's recorded that 1,500 years ago, the Elephant Lord was punished to walk in the sea. These things are all messy, whatever."
Roger said, pointing at the sky above where no stars could be seen.
"What I'm curious about is where those Celestial Dragons went.
Are there really other life forms besides us elsewhere in the universe?
I really want to see those magical places. Like that mysterious room you saw in the Holy Land - besides our planet, there are other planets existing."
Caesar nodded, also showing a hint of yearning expression.
The sea of stars - who doesn't yearn for it?
He thought again about the light that had shone through the cracks when he clashed with Roger earlier.
"I heard Rayleigh say something about not shattering this world. Roger, what exactly did he mean by that? Could it be that he meant to say our world is fake?"
Caesar recalled what Rayleigh had said back on Whole Cake Island in Tottoland.
And in Wano Country, Dragon's hesitant words about things beyond the sky.
Now combined with Roger's narration, Caesar vaguely touched the edge of some truth.
Roger smiled mysteriously and shook his head:
"Of course it's not fake. But the starry sky above us might be fake. Haven't you noticed? We rarely see stars shining above us. Even when we do, they only appear for very short periods."
Caesar couldn't help but be astonished.
Looking at the boundless, vast sky, anyone standing here would feel from the bottom of their heart how insignificant they are!
If even this vast starry sky could be fabricated, what level of power would that require?
"Shocking, isn't it? Hahaha, when we traveled around the world and reached Laugh Tale back then, we were also shocked by this strange conclusion we reached."
Roger laughed heartily, then pinched his chin in contemplation:
"38 years ago, before Rocks died, I seemed to hear him say something about a celestial ladder, ascending to heaven. I think it might be related to this."
The two talked for a while longer before moving on to other topics.
Having slept for many years within Buggy's Dismantle Fruit, Roger was unaware of many events in the world.
"Garp died by your hand? I never expected that!"
"Whitebeard died two years ago, to save my son Ace? I really burdened him!"
"Ah, so many things have happened over the years, completely beyond my expectations."
As Caesar spoke, Roger sighed with emotion.
In the end, both fell silent.
After a long while, Caesar suddenly asked.
"Roger, do you regret it? Because of your few words, you stirred up countless storms of bloodshed in this world.
Even in the great battle that just passed beneath our feet, nearly four hundred thousand people died.
And all this is because of you - you started the Great Pirate Era, making countless people rush to the sea, just to reveal this so-called Void Century history?"
Roger fell into deep contemplation because of Caesar's question.
"Because of D."
After a long silence, Roger slowly uttered these words.
Caesar seemed to understand.
Roger was a descendant of Clan D. After witnessing the tragic fate of Clan D during the Void Century.
He reached Laugh Tale and saw unprecedented technological achievements.
But the inner light barrier of Laugh Tale blocked his path, preventing him from fully mastering the power capable of opposing the Celestial Dragons.
Thus, he needed time, he needed to wait.
The time had not yet come, the moment was not yet ripe.
Just as Toki continuously traveled into the future, Roger could only temporarily lay down his arms after becoming the Pirate King, allowing his pirate crew to conceal their identities.
They were all waiting, waiting for a certain moment to arrive.
Waiting for someone, a child of destiny, a child of fate, to emerge from the long river of history.
Roger initially placed his hopes on Shanks, but that didn't mean he believed Shanks was Joy Boy.
On the contrary, Shanks could never be Joy Boy.
Because he is a Celestial Dragon, the surviving infant of the Firgarland family from the God Valley battle 38 years ago.
He is the opposite of Clan D.
But Shanks could help him find Joy Boy.
Therefore, over a decade ago, Shanks located the CP transporting the Rubber Fruit, defeated Who's Who and others, and stole the Rubber Nika Fruit.
He thought Ace, Roger's son, would be the Joy Boy Roger was waiting for.
But by a twist of fate, Luffy ate the Rubber Fruit.
Shanks was always a man who acted on impulse.
So, he passed the Straw Hat to Luffy.
Even if Luffy wasn't the person Roger was waiting for, it didn't matter.
Because after Luffy, there would be endless pirates emerging.
If Luffy failed, the Straw Hat would be passed on to the next person.
To stimulate Luffy's growth, Shanks even went so far as to sacrifice his own body.
It was quite the investment.
Even during the battle in Wano Country when Luffy fought Kaido, the CP0 members who appeared had Shanks' influence behind them.
Because he learned from Roger that the awakening of the Sun God required genuine death.
Luffy died, Nika emerged.
Luffy revived, and the Sun God was born.
"So, the Straw Hat Kid is Joy Boy? The person you've been waiting for all these years?"
Caesar looked at Roger in confusion.
Roger nodded. "That should be correct. With his appearance, the Sea King, Pluton and other things related to Clan D have all emerged. This is fate.
Joy Boy is the leader. Only he can unravel the central light barrier on Laugh Tale, retrieve what's inside, and defeat the dark rule of the Celestial Dragons.
To restore the world to great harmony, where all races coexist, and everyone lives happily with smiles."
"But he's already dead? Killed by me." Caesar was puzzled.
Could it be that Roger wanted Luffy's corpse?
Unexpectedly, Roger's words left Caesar astonished.
"He's not dead yet. No, Luffy might be dead, but the Sun God isn't. Joy Boy, Nika, is still alive."
"He is still brewing, in the process of revival."
"But this is also the most dangerous, because..."
"That god is watching this place!"