NOVEL NEXT Chapter 320: Conversation with Roger
At Daren's casually spoken remark, the corners of the Roger Pirates' mouths twitched despite themselves.
His talent and strength needed no explanation.
In less than two years, he had skyrocketed from a rookie just stepping into the Grand Line to a top-tier powerhouse—strong enough to go head-to-head with Roger or Whitebeard without being at a disadvantage.
But that wasn't what made him truly terrifying.
Alongside his monstrous strength was a sharp, calculating mind and frightening strategic talent.
And with the way he acted—ruthless, uncompromising...
Anyone or any organization that found themselves targeted by someone like him would probably be left sleepless, riddled with anxiety.
So, for a brief moment, they silently mourned the World Government in their hearts.
Then, they couldn't help but smile.
Just then, Crocus walked over, wiping his hands with a clean towel.
"Zephyr-san's condition has stabilized."
"Dr. Kureha's skills are just as impressive as I remembered. Her surgery completely excised the infected and decayed tissue."
"The situation isn't too severe. With the special medicine I've prepared, the spore toxin in his body has been mostly suppressed."
"From here on out, it's just a matter of rest and letting his immune system do the work."
"But that part's out of a doctor's hands."
He took a seat beside Rayleigh. As soon as he reached out, someone passed him a bottle of wine.
"Thanks for your help, Crocus-san," Daren said sincerely.
Crocus gave him a quick glance, smiled, and accepted the bottle.
After taking a swig, he shook his head and said,
"To be honest, I would've treated him even if Captain Roger hadn't said a word."
"If Dr. Kureha sent you to find me, I wasn't going to turn her down…"
"Besides—"
He looked over at the peacefully resting former Admiral not far away and smiled.
"'Black Arm' Zephyr has always been a hero worth respecting."
Surprisingly, no one from Roger's crew objected.
Unlike with most Marines, it was hard to truly dislike someone like Zephyr.
No matter the enemy, he had always stood firm in his ideals.
Even when facing the vilest of pirates, he adhered to his "no-kill" principle, wholeheartedly believing that anyone could change for the better.
Someone like that—enemy or not—was worthy of respect.
Especially to the Roger Pirates, a crew known for their free-spirited, passionate, and romantic nature.
Daren parted his lips, as if to speak, but Crocus cut him off with a wave of the hand and a chuckle.
"No need for thanks. I didn't do it for you."
"It's just a shame about his arm. I couldn't do anything there… Compared to monsters like you with your 'Indestructible Body,' the human body is just too fragile."
He lifted the wine in his hand, then stood and walked toward the Oro Jackson by the shore.
Daren sat in silence for a moment, then raised his own bottle and downed it in one go.
The others quietly took their leave, one after another.
...
Before the crackling bonfire, only the two most dangerous criminals in the world remained, sitting face to face.
"So, you really went after those five old bastards, huh?"
Roger suddenly smirked and casually tossed a bottle of wine over to Daren as he spoke.
His eyes now were clear and profound—none of the goofy, rough-edged aura he'd shown earlier remained.
The disheveled hair and beard, the dirt-stained red captain's coat... they only added to his wild, heroic charm.
"Yeah, definitely not easy to deal with."
Daren took the bottle, flicked his finger, and the cork shot out like a bullet, embedding itself into the ground with a splash of dirt.
He lowered his gaze, quietly staring into the amber-colored liquid, brows furrowed in thought.
"No matter how bad the injury, that eerie black flame cloud could just regenerate it. Practically an immortal body... Was that what you were up against at God Valley?"
Roger let out a hearty laugh.
"Not exactly. Things at God Valley were... complicated."
"I originally just wanted to challenge Rocks, but then Garp barged in, and somehow, I ended up teaming up with him."
"Back then, Rocks had a bunch of tough bastards under his command."
"As for the Five Elders, I remember only one of them showed up to watch the so-called God Valley Hunt."
Daren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Saint Jaygarcia Saturn."
"Yeah," Roger nodded. "Honestly, I was shocked. I didn't think such a Devil Fruit power could exist—no matter the attack, nothing worked. Total immortality. Or maybe... it wasn't even a Devil Fruit ability at all."
"Of course, I didn't fight him. Just saw him from a distance," he added with a sheepish scratch of his head.
"I still don't really understand what that power was."
"My focus back then was entirely on Rocks."
Just hearing that name, Daren could clearly see the blaze of fighting spirit rise in Roger's eyes—burning, intense, untamed.
Rocks D. Xebec. The legendary pirate who once ruled the New World, with ambitions grand enough to claim the title "King of the World."
Even Admiral Sengoku once said, "He might have been the first—and possibly the strongest—enemy Roger ever faced."
Still, knowing Sengoku's habit of exaggerating the power of his enemies, Daren had his doubts.
"It wasn't Rocks who destroyed God Valley, was it?" he asked suddenly.
Roger blinked, caught off guard.
"What makes you say that?"
Daren looked up, locking eyes with the Pirate King, his voice low and steady.
"I've researched it. A lot."
"God Valley was massive—several times the size of Philseque Island, which they now call the Island of the Fallen Gods."
"And yet that entire island vanished after that battle, wiped clean off the world map."
"That kind of destruction... even I think it's excessive."
He raised his hand, pointing at Roger, then at himself.
"We can split the earth, shatter islands—sure. But not to that scale."
"I don't buy that Rocks was that strong, strong enough to erase an entire island."
"If he really had that kind of power, not even you and Garp together could've stopped him."
"So, Roger—what really happened at God Valley?"
"Or more importantly... what is the World Government hiding up its sleeve?"