Chapter 3: Shiki Becomes the Pirate King?
Golden Lion Shiki: "Heh~"
Shiki let out a sneering chuckle, shaking his head. Even in death, Roger was as foolish as ever.
Pirate King Roger: "As far as I remember, Shiki always saw Linlin and Kaido as juniors. He even tried to recruit them as his subordinates, though they both refused."
Roger paused for a moment before confidently continuing.
Pirate King Roger: "So for Shiki, being placed on the same level as Kaido and Linlin by the world must have been a huge insult. That's why he despises the title of the Four Emperors!"
Roger was certain he had figured it all out.
Golden Lion Shiki: " Shihahaha ~ Your analysis makes sense, Roger. But I regret to inform you… you're completely wrong!"
Pirate King Roger: "Nani?! Impossible! Whitebeard, is Shiki lying to me?"
Whitebeard: "Unfortunately, Shiki isn't a Yonko."
Pirate King Roger: "..."
A heavy silence filled the chat.
Pirate King Roger: "Wait a minute… If Shiki isn't a Yonko, then that can only mean one thing… DAMN IT! Shiki is the Pirate King?! No way! I never expected my successor to be a lunatic like him! The world must be in complete ruin!"
Golden Lion Shiki: "???"
Whitebeard: "Why would you jump to that conclusion?"
Pirate King Roger: "Think about it! If even Kaido and Linlin were strong enough to be part of the Four Emperors, then how could Shiki not be one? The only logical explanation is that he's the Pirate King!"
Roger's excitement grew as he explained his reasoning.
Pirate King Roger: "Shiki has the strength for it! The only thing he lacked compared to me was reaching Raftel. If he finally found it, becoming the Pirate King would be the natural next step!"
Whitebeard: "Although your reasoning is quite logical, I regret to inform you… you're wrong again!"
Pirate King Roger: "Wrong?! Oh, thank the sea! As long as the Pirate King isn't this crazy bastard, I don't care who it is!"
Golden Lion Shiki: "Roger~"
Shiki ground his teeth. Even after death, this damn fool still managed to get on his nerves.
Pirate King Roger: "Alright then, Whitebeard, tell me—who's the Pirate King now? He must be a true hero to have made you, Kaido, and Linlin bow down to him, right?"
Whitebeard: "Roger, don't be stupid."
Pirate King Roger: "What do you mean?"
Whitebeard: "Kaido, Linlin, and I didn't surrender to anyone."
Pirate King Roger: "But… wasn't it said that the Four Emperors are the greatest pirates after the Pirate King?"
Whitebeard: "That's exactly the point—the Four Emperors exist because there isn't a Pirate King."
Pirate King Roger: "Wait, what?! You're telling me I've been dead for over 20 years, and no one has become the Pirate King yet? That's not how I imagined things at all!"
Roger was stunned. He had expected the seas to be teeming with new legends, great pirates rising one after another to claim the throne he had left behind.
Fisher Tiger: "I'm not sure how many pirates are on the seas right now, but I do know that for the ten years following your death, the world was overflowing with pirates chasing the dream you left behind."
Fire Fist Ace: "Which brings us back to the real question—why the hell did you start this damn pirate era in the first place?"
Pirate King Roger: "Well, that's…"
Roger hesitated.
Lucas: "I'd advise you to answer carefully. Because this Fire Fist Ace? His full name is Portgas D. Ace. Does that name ring a bell, Roger?"
Pirate King Roger: "Wait… Ace… could it be that you're—?!"
Roger's voice trembled with excitement.
Lucas had already hinted at the truth. How could he not figure it out? He wasn't an idiot—just a bit careless!
Fire Fist Ace: "I only have one father. And that's Whitebeard!"
Pirate King Roger: "..."
A deep silence followed Ace's words.
Roger felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning.
What do I do when I finally meet my biological son… only for him to reject me completely and acknowledge someone else as his father?!
Golden Lion Shiki: " Shihahaha "
Shiki, meanwhile, was thoroughly entertained.
Roger's biological son refuses to acknowledge him?
How ridiculous! How absurd! How… utterly hilarious!
This was even better than he could've imagined!
Golden Lion Shiki: " Shihahaha! This is the funniest thing I've heard in years!"
Whitebeard: "Gurarara! Roger, you've really been caught off guard, huh?"
Meanwhile, Shiki was still in disbelief.
Back when the Straw Hat Pirates had defeated Gekko Moriah, they had also taken down Shiki before reaching the Sabaody Archipelago.
Later, due to a relapse of an old illness, Shiki had died in Impel Down before he could escape. That was why he never showed up during Blackbeard's attack on the prison.
Since he had spent years focused on biological weapons and technological research on his Sky Island, he hadn't kept up with the new generation.
This was his first time learning about Ace's true identity.
Fisher Tiger: "The Pirate King actually had a son? That's unbelievable!"
Pirate King Roger: "Whitebeard, I challenge you to a duel! How the hell did you brainwash my son?"
Fire Fist Ace: "Shut up! This has nothing to do with Dad! I hated you even before I met him!"
Pirate King Roger: "You ungrateful brat…!"
Roger was furious. This was not how he had imagined a father-son reunion going!
Whitebeard: "Gurarara! Roger, if you want a fight, I'd be happy to oblige. You may be the Pirate King, but I was the Strongest Man in the World!"
Fire Fist Ace: "Dad never became the Pirate King because he didn't want to be. If he had, no one could've stopped him!"
Golden Lion Shiki: " Shihahaha! Roger, you poor bastard! Your own son doesn't even acknowledge you and instead calls Whitebeard his father! If it were me, I wouldn't stand for that. I'd have to teach him a lesson!"
Whitebeard: "Who dares?!"
Whitebeard's voice boomed like an earthquake.
Whitebeard: "If anyone even thinks about laying a hand on my son… they'll have to get through me first!"
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