Flames roared atop the funeral pyre as ghostly blue Rebirth Fire devoured Roger's remains.
Ash scattered with the pounding rain, like the grand finale of a spectacular performance.
(Yes, just like this…)
Old Reed, still playing the role of a corpse, exhaled quietly in relief.
(Just a little longer… once the flames die down, I can leave…)
Within the fire, Roger's body gradually turned to ash, but in an almost imperceptible instant, a faint wisp of blood mist quietly merged with the flames, seeping into the ground with the rainwater.
At the harbor, the younger Reed watched the old Reed's "body" burn.
Why did it feel so… eerie?
(Captain…)
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, mixing blood with rain.
At that moment, young Reed had no idea that old Reed, lying in the fire, had already clumsily hollowed out a space equivalent to a three-room apartment with a living room. He could even carve a statue for himself if he wanted.
Roger's remains vanished completely.
In a corner of the harbor, where ash had settled, blood mist seeped from the ground, slowly forming into a human shape.
Reed shook the wet strands from his hair, muttering as he walked into a dark alley. "Finally… it's over. But ahhh…"
Just the thought of returning to hug Sister Logue and bawl his eyes out made mischievous Reed laugh. Mourning himself felt absurdly ridiculous. Hahaha!
A person can be so shameless that even they themselves become a shameless person.
In the depths of the alley, a man sat on a wooden crate, nibbling an apple.
Seeing Reed approach, he immediately put on a comical expression. "Hahaha! Little Reed, you cried worse than Buggy!"
(Oh no, I forgot about this old rascal.)
The awkward tension hit suddenly.
Reed stopped in his tracks. "Who's crying?! That's rain! Rain, you understand me, right?! You stupid captain! What are you even focused on?"
Roger jumped down from the crate, his nose almost touching Reed's face. "I saw it clearly "
"Enough!"
Reed slapped his face away. "It's all for show! For show, understand?! Besides, the rain got in my eyes it's really uncomfortable."
"Alright, alright, let's not say things that harm morale."
We should leave.
Roger suddenly reached out and ruffled Reed's hair. "Good job!"
Reed was about to explode. "Today, I'll tell you exactly what flowers "
Before he could finish, a low chuckle echoed from above. "Thank you, child."
The sea breeze carried unburned ashes across the alley.
Reed stayed silent for a moment. "Let's go! I'll get you out of here!"
"Hahaha! Wait for me "
Roger hopped along behind him. "What are we doing next?!"
"Of course, we're going back to my time!"
Since you're already dead, you won't affect anything anymore.
Two shadows, one ahead, one behind, disappeared into the rain, while Loguetown slowly returned to its bustling rhythm behind them.
"Hey, kid,"
Roger leaned closer. "You're not going to sell me to the Marines for my bounty, are you? Hahaha!"
Reed rolled his eyes. "Shut up. Your head is worth 5 billion berries now. I'm half tempted to do it myself."
Besides, I'm worth 5 billion now you probably won't be more expensive than me.
"What?"
"You're worth 5 billion too?"
Roger's jaw dropped at that.
"Of course! There are only two Emperors at sea: me and Newgate."
"What kind of level is that? I won't explain it's up to you to imagine, Captain."
Let's go, let's go. Don't keep Shikou waiting.
Turning the last corner, behind the rocks by the coast, Shikou waited quietly.
She widened her eyes slightly as she saw the two of them appear. "Mr. Reed… you really did it. Do you feel any discomfort?"
Reed shook his head. Even the minor cracking of his body didn't appear, which proved he had used the loophole effectively.
Come to think of it, Roger's death was mainly to usher in the Great Pirate Era.
After the dawn of the era, Roger's death had little real impact. Reed hadn't disrupted the story at all it was a very convenient loophole.
Reed suddenly remembered something and tossed a piece of pure gold to Roger. Cracks began to appear on his own body.
Reed: ???
Did I miscalculate?
This shouldn't happen!
He decided to try again later. Perhaps Roger had to be mortally ill at the time, as he was about to trigger the Great Pirate Era, which hadn't started yet. That might explain it.
Reed wiped the rain from his face, blood mist condensing in his palm into a sphere of light. "Kozuki Stone, prepare for return."
Roger curiously poked the light sphere. "Oh~ so this is the thing that can travel through time "
"Do not touch!"
Reed swatted his hand away. "Do you really believe this could burn ten years off your life?"
Shikou covered her mouth and chuckled softly, hands clasped.
A faint blue ripple of time spread from her feet, intertwining with Reed's blood mist to form a dazzling portal of light.
The sea breeze stopped abruptly. Raindrops froze midair.
"Hold tight, old man."
Reed grabbed Roger's collar. "If you fall into the time rift, I'm not responsible."
Roger laughed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Hahaha! You're here, huh!"
The moment the light portal closed, Shikou heard Reed shout, "Let go! Your snot's on my cloak!!!"
Blood mist exploded, and the three staggered out of the portal.
"Lord Reed!"
Perona's ghost descended, flying into the man's arms. But when she looked up
"You're finally back " She froze, dropping her stuffed bear. "Ro… Ro… Ro…"
Moria's scissor hand clicked and jammed. "…ger?"
Reed patted his robe and stood up, a look of disgust on his face. "Authentic as ever."
Roger leapt like a koi fish, arms wide. "Hahaha! Surprise! I've seen you two before. Little Laboon missed me, huh? Oh~ this is Oden. Long time no see, Oden "
Bang!
Perona's negative hollows pierced straight through him.
Roger immediately knelt. "I'm sorry for being human…"
Reed crossed his arms and sneered. "Serves you right."
Shikou leaned wearily against the ship's railing.
Reed immediately went to steady her. "Rest first. I'll help you regain your strength "
"No need."
She shook her head gently, scanning the chaotic deck, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "It seems… time has been kind to you, Mr. Reed."
"Roger! Aaahhh !!"
Oden charged like a tiger, smearing Roger with snot and tears. "Long time no see!!"
Roger laughed. "Hahaha! You've aged a lot!"
Laboon barreled forward like a whale, knocking both of them to the ground. "Waa!!" (rubbing his face frantically)
Reed grinned at the three of them. "Three idiots."
Tesoro's gold dust quietly condensed into a computer, frantically calculating. "If I kidnap the Pirate King now and hand him to the Marines, plus the captain's bounty… that totals 10 billion berries, minus the handling fee "
Stella gently twisted his ear. "Darling, what dangerous thoughts are you having now?"