"Hah! Mister, you're not cut out for this."
Loxus stood triumphantly over Dalton, grinning.
Despite using his Bison-Bison Fruit powers, Dalton had still lost to the sixteen-year-old. A kid raised in the cutthroat world of the New World was no match for someone like him.
"Not bad, brat," said Kureha, glancing over. She wasn't surprised at the outcome at all. The Whitebeard Pirates were full of monsters—naturally, a monster's child would be a monster too.
Dalton lay on the ground, panting, stunned that he'd been defeated by a teenager.
"Loxus, come here," Roy called.
Loxus, still holding his sword, glared at Kureha.
"Let me introduce you. This is my teacher, Dr. Kureha," Roy said.
Loxus said nothing, his prideful gaze locked onto Kureha. He wouldn't accept anyone insulting his mother.
"Just like his mother's temper," Kureha chuckled.
"Yeah, he grew up with her," Roy replied with a smile.
"A child's nature is innate. It's through learning and experience that they change. At his age, just having some filial piety is already a win," Kureha mused.
"Most of the Whitebeard Pirates are loyal to family. Though, of course, there are exceptions. I can't stay long—I still have to chase after someone," Roy said.
"Leaving already?" Kureha sounded reluctant.
While Chopper was her prized student, her very first pupil was Roy. She'd genuinely liked that well-mannered young man back then.
"Yes, Teacher. I'm glad I got to see you again. Next time, I'll bring some wine," Roy said, bowing to her just as he had thirty years ago before setting sail once more.
"Go on, then. The sea is where men like you belong. You damn brats are all the same," Kureha laughed.
"Loxus, let's go. Stop staring," Roy said, not forcing his son to do anything.
'Human nature is inherently wicked.'
Roy never assumed children were clueless. They understood. But they were born with a natural inclination toward mischief.
It was only through growth, learning, and the constraints of morality and law that they changed.
Without laws, without humanity, this world would be full of beasts.
People like Saint Saturn? There were countless others like him.
His son would learn in time. Teenagers always thought they knew better.
To them, a million berries was just a number. But once they stepped into the real world and had to earn their own way, life would teach them its lessons.
There was plenty of time to educate Loxus, to make him understand the vastness of this world.
Descending the ropeway, they returned to their ship. Roy glanced back at Kureha one last time. Even from a distance, he could still see her face clearly. He waved, then pressed down on the Jet Dial, leaving Drum Kingdom behind.
Next stop—Alabasta. From icy tundras to scorching deserts.
Roy didn't remember the exact plot anymore, but following the Vivre Card's direction, Ace was somewhere on the island.
"He's here," Roy said.
"I'm going to find the Captain!"
Loxus, clutching the Vivre Card, dashed off before Roy could stop him.
A day later, Roy found Loxus lost in the desert, hiding under a rock and panting like a dog. "Dad… water…"
"This is a desert. Here." Roy, riding a camel, tossed him a canteen.
"Where's the Vivre Card?" Roy asked.
"It's… uh…"
Loxus began patting himself down. Roy had a sinking feeling.
The legendary pig teammate had finally arrived.
"Dad… I… I lost Captain's Vivre Card," Loxus admitted, his face pale.
"Recklessness has consequences. Do you realize your mistake now?" Roy took a deep breath. Instead of scolding him, he found it kind of amusing.
A small mistake that would help his son mature was more valuable than any lecture. Letting him experience it himself was the best teacher.
"Dad… what do we do now?"
Loxus knew he'd messed up badly. Now, he had to rely on the father he'd once looked down on.
"Let me think… There's still a way. Follow me."
Roy remembered, Luffy had a piece of Ace's Vivre Card. They just needed to find him and take a fragment.
"Yes, sir."
Loxus was much more obedient now. He followed Roy on foot while his father rode the camel—both a punishment and a way to ease his guilt.
The two made their way to Alubarna, Alabasta's capital, where Luffy would eventually arrive.
Without the Vivre Card, finding Ace would be near impossible, unless they went straight to Marineford.
But after so many years, Roy couldn't recall the original plot clearly.
After two days of trekking through the desert, they finally reached Alubarna. They nearly lost their way in the desert, but luckily ran into a "helpful" group of sand bandits—basically pirates in the sand.
They "kindly" gave Roy a ride to the capital.
"Dad, this country is a mess," Loxus muttered, seeing battles erupting everywhere.
"The world has never been peaceful. As long as people have desires, there will be war," Roy said, riding the camel forward while Loxus led it through the gates.
Fighting was everywhere. As they walked through the main street, both the royal army and the rebel army led by Kohza noticed them.
"Hey, get out of the way!" Most rebels weren't Crocodile's plant, they were just regular people. Initially, they didn't want to fight—after all, they were all countrymen.
"We're just passing through. Looking for someone," Roy said.
"Get lost!"
One rebel suddenly lashed out. The royal soldiers, seeing civilians being attacked, intervened.
The battle reignited. Some still held back, but with Crocodile's spies among them, the war wouldn't stop.
Loxus guided the camel through the skirmish, heading toward the palace.
Roy looked up at the giant clock tower just as a cannonball soared into the sky, then exploded violently.
Yet the fighting didn't stop.
A desperate voice cried out, begging for the battle to end. But the war raged on.
'The heir of the Nefertari family… Why does Imu care so much about her?'
Vivi must have held some secret. Otherwise, Imu wouldn't have placed her on the same level as Poseidon, the ancient weapon, maybe even more importantly.
"It's the royal tomb of Alabasta!"
Roy vanished from the camel's back. In the next moment, he appeared in the underground crypt.
There, Luffy was locked in battle with Crocodile. Cobra and Robin were also present, battered but alive.
"Who are you?" Cobra gasped, clutching his chest.
Robin weakly lifted her head, staring at the sudden intruder. Luffy, too focused on fighting, barely noticed. Crocodile, however, paused—just long enough for Luffy to land a solid hit, sending him flying.
"The Poneglyph that records Pluton's location… Though I already know where Pluton is."
Roy placed a hand on the ancient stone, feeling its resonance. Since mastering Observation Haki, he could hear things others couldn't.
In all of Alabasta, only two voices stood out—Vivi's…
And the one emanating from this stone was the strongest.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
p@treon.com/DaoistJinzu