Bege disembarked from the divine carriage, his expression unreadable as he gazed out at the vast expanse of the White-White Sea.
"Bege, what happened? Why did you call for a full island mobilization?" Modi asked, his voice echoing the curiosity of the others gathered around.
"Gol D. Roger is coming," Bege said gravely.
"The man you said was most likely to become Pirate King?"
Modi and the others exchanged uneasy glances. Bege had previously analyzed the state of the Grand Line for them, detailing the famous overlords of the sea. He'd even made 'predictions' about the New World's most powerful pirates, singling out Gol D. Roger as the one with the greatest potential to claim the title of Pirate King.
"Bege, will there be a fight?" Modi and the others were visibly tense; the pressure emanating from the prospect of facing the New World's strongest pirate crew was almost suffocating.
"Probably not. Roger isn't a battle-hungry man. They're likely here searching for a Poneglyph," Bege replied with a faint smile.
His relaxed tone eased the tension, and a collective sigh of relief swept through the group.
They didn't have to wait long. Two Super Express Shrimp pulled a pirate ship, the Roger Pirates' Golden Jackson, swiftly approaching from the distance. It slowed and docked at the port.
On the Golden Jackson's figurehead stood dozens of people. The man at the forefront wore a gentle smile, and his signature mustache left no doubt: this was the future Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
Flanking Roger were two imposing men, the legendary powerhouses known as his right and left hands.
To Roger's right stood Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King!
And to his left, Scopper Gaban!
Bege also spotted Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, the rulers of Zou.
"So this is Skypiea? It's amazing," a young voice exclaimed. Two youngsters leaned over the railing of the Golden Jackson. One wore a straw hat – the future Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks. The other had a distinctive red nose: Buggy the Clown.
All celebrities!, Bege though inwardly.
A gangplank was lowered from the Golden Jackson, and Roger, along with a dozen others, descended. They approached Bege.
"Captain Roger, what a pleasure to meet you," Bege greeted him, a cigar clamped between his teeth, a hearty laugh rumbling in his chest.
Roger returned the smile, his laughter equally boisterous. "I never expected the God of Skypiea to be the Demon Dragon, Capone Bege."
"Lord Bege, we've come to Skypiea seeking something. We hope you'll allow us to stay on the island for a while," Roger said.
"You're after the Poneglyph, aren't you?" Bege stated bluntly.
Roger raised an eyebrow, studying Bege intently. "It seems Skypiea does indeed possess a Poneglyph. I presume it's in your possession."
"Indeed, it is. Captain Roger must be eager to see it. Please, follow me," Bege said with a welcoming smile.
Roger and his crew were surprised by Bege's willingness to show them the Poneglyph. Rayleigh's brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly relaxed. After all, they were the Roger Pirates; they feared no trap.
"Hahahaha, thank you, Lord Bege." Roger laughed heartily. He turned to Gaban. "The Jackson has taken some damage. Stay behind and help with the repairs."
Gaban nodded calmly.
Roger, along with Rayleigh and others, followed Bege onto the divine carriage. Bege also invited the rest of the Roger Pirates to ride cloud vehicles to the shrine.
"Lord Bege, your soldiers are quite impressive. Each one is a seasoned warrior, capable of taking on ten men," Rayleigh observed, watching the God's Guard and Imperial Guard escorting the carriage.
"They're still far from it. In the New World, they'd just be cannon fodder. Give them another five or six years, and they'll be a force to be reckoned with," Bege replied, shaking his head.
Roger and the others were taken aback. Roger chuckled. "Lord Bege has great ambitions."
Bege waved his hand dismissively. "It's all just talk for now. In this cruel world, we don't even have the right to stand firm yet."
"Just from those words, I'm certain you'll become a great figure in the future," Rayleigh said, looking at Bege seriously.
Two years ago, Capone Bege had made a name for himself, his reputation surpassing that of the current Supernovas. But then he'd vanished, seemingly disappearing into thin air.
No one had expected Capone Bege to be hiding in Skypiea, 10,000 meters above sea level, slowly building his power. With his already formidable strength and his ability to lie low and develop in secret, Rayleigh believed Bege had what it took to become a major player.
Roger, after a few moments of reflection, nodded in agreement.
"If Lord Rayleigh says so, then I certainly won't disappoint you. Hahaha..." Bege burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, Lord Bege is a generous man," Roger and the others said, smiles appearing on their faces.
The divine carriage quickly reached the shrine. Bege retrieved the Poneglyph from his Castle-Castle Fruit and placed it in the shrine's main hall.
"It truly is a Poneglyph," Roger said, hurrying over. His expression turned solemn as he gazed at the strange characters on the stone.
Bege took a drag from his cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "This Poneglyph only records information about the Sea King, Poseidon."
Roger turned to Bege, surprised. "Lord Bege, you understand this script?"
Bege shook his head, improvising a story. "I don't. I previously invited historians from Ohara to study this Poneglyph, which is how I learned its contents."
"Ohara... they are indeed researching Poneglyphs," Roger nodded, then continued to study the stone intently.
"Roger's study of the Poneglyph might take some time," Rayleigh said quietly.
Bege nodded indifferently. Suddenly, his eyes flashed, and he approached Rayleigh, speaking softly. "I have a small request, Lord Rayleigh. I hope you'll agree."
"Tell me," Rayleigh replied with a slight smile.
"I'd like to spar with you, Lord Rayleigh. I want to see the gap between myself and the strongest fighters on the sea," Bege stated, his voice serious.
Rayleigh looked at Bege, sensing the earnestness and intense fighting spirit in his eyes.
"You generously allowed the captain to see the Poneglyph, doing us a great service. I accept your request," Rayleigh agreed without hesitation.
Bege's face lit up with excitement. He gestured for Rayleigh to follow him outside for the battle.
"This kid doesn't know the meaning of fear, daring to challenge the Vice-Captain," Buggy scoffed, watching Bege's retreating figure.
"This Capone Bege is no simple character. Two years ago, his bounty reached 350 million. His current strength is likely even greater. Their fight should be interesting. I'm going to watch," Shanks said excitedly, following them out.
"I'll go see how he gets crushed," Buggy muttered, following along.
"Interesting, I'll go too," Nekomamushi said, striding out. Some of the Roger Pirates who had accompanied them also went to watch the spectacle.
Bege gathered all his elite disciples to witness the battle, wanting them to see the power of the sea's top fighters and to prevent them from becoming complacent.
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