Chapter 35: Terrible Information!
Roger's crew was truly sothing else.
So were scattered across their hotowns, others remained at the starting point of the Grand Line, and a few were in special places like the Sabaody Archipelago. So had risen to beco the Four Emperors—those shining titans ruling over the New World. And then, there were those who had simply vanished, leaving no trace behind.
But what really caught Lu Yu's attention was the information Erwin had just shared.
Before Roger entered that mysterious sea, his health had been perfectly fine—by all dical standards, he was in great shape.
But once he stepped into that final, unknown sea?
That's when everything changed.
Only Roger was affected. None of his crewmates suffered any physical issues. Not one.
Realizing sothing was wrong, Erwin—who was the ship's doctor at the ti—imdiately began treating him. But no matter what thods he tried, Roger's condition kept getting worse.
By the ti they reached Raftel, Roger's body had already deteriorated significantly.
That's when they invited Crocus to join them. And thanks to the combined efforts of both doctors, Roger's condition was stabilized—just enough to delay his inevitable decline for five more years.
And then... Roger made the world-shaking decision everyone knew today.
He sparked the Golden Age of Pirates.
If Roger had lived, the sheer weight of the treasure he carried would've made his pirate crew the world's number one target. That, combined with certain other mysterious factors—even Erwin didn't know what those were—led Roger to make his final choice.
To die. Publicly.
And pass the torch to a new generation.
---
"So," Lu Yu asked, his voice serious, "what exactly did you guys encounter in the seas around Raftel?"
He had to ask. Whatever hard Roger had to have appeared there. But then... why was Roger the only one affected?
That didn't make sense.
Lu Yu still had hopes—no, expectations—for that final island. If he reached it, the world would recognize him as the Pirate King.
And the reputation boost alone? Worth it.
Erwin smiled.
"I don't know," he said simply. "Maybe only the next person who makes it there will be able to bring back answers."
He leaned back, eyes locked onto Lu Yu.
"If you really do make it there, I hope you co back and tell what you find."
So that was his condition.
The reason Erwin was willing to tell all this to so random young pirate? Just that simple: he wanted the truth, soday, from soone who'd been there.
Lu Yu narrowed his eyes. "Why ? Why do you think I'll co back and tell you?"
Erwin chuckled.
"Hahahaha... interesting question. But I think you already know the answer."
The old man gave him a knowing smile, full of that unshakable wisdom you only find in the legends of the last era.
They were built different.
Their judgnt, their decisiveness, their aura—all scread that they'd lived lives far beyond ordinary.
Lu Yu smiled back.
"If I make it there, I'll definitely co back and tell you everything."
"But you better live a few more years, Mr. Erwin. I don't want to end up talking to a gravestone when I do."
Erwin burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! I was the ship's doctor on the Pirate King's crew! I've got a lot of faith in my body, kid. A few more years? I can handle that."
Then he stood up, heading over to a wooden locker in the corner of the room.
"By the way," he added, "I've got sothing for you. Might be useful on your journey."
From the locker, Erwin pulled out a weathered old box, worn and scratched by ti. The marks on it made it clear—this thing had survived decades.
"What is this?" Lu Yu asked, eyes lighting up with curiosity.
Erwin opened the box slowly.
Inside were two tightly rolled scrolls, preserved with extre care.
"Treasure maps," Erwin said with a grin.
"One is a map to the treasure of the Rocks Pirates—the very sa treasure from the Valley of the Gods battle. The other is a map to an Eternal Pose pointing to a mysterious island."
He handed the maps over without hesitation.
"If you really plan on reaching Raftel, you'll need your own strong pirate crew. That island could be the perfect base for them."
Lu Yu's eyes glead.
Whether it was the Rocks Pirates' treasure or the island base, both were massive opportunities. If he could secure them, the Dragon Hunter Pirates would see a huge jump in power.
"Thank you, Mr. Erwin," Lu Yu said with a respectful bow. "I promise, I'll be back with the answers you want."
These old legends weren't just strong—they were full of charm, wisdom, and stories deeper than any sea.
They weren't like the young upstarts nowadays.
Ti had carved depth into them. And no amount of talent could match that.
---
"Oh, right—do you know anything about the Rumbar Pirates?" Lu Yu suddenly asked.
"The Rumbar Pirates?" Erwin looked puzzled, then said, "You an the crew Laboon's waiting for?"
Lu Yu nodded.
"Yeah. There's a guy on that crew—goes by the na Brook."
Erwin's expression shifted.
"The Rumbar Pirates... disappeared a long, long ti ago," he said softly. "Do you know how old Laboon is?"
Lu Yu raised an eyebrow. "How old?"
"Almost nine hundred years."
That made Lu Yu freeze.
Wait, what?
That didn't add up.
According to Brook's own stories, he wasn't that far removed from the current era. Maybe a few decades, sure—but not centuries.
And yet, Erwin seed so certain.
"Incredible, isn't it?" Erwin said, seeing Lu Yu's reaction. "The Rumbar Pirates must've existed hundreds of years ago. There's no way we'd run into them now."
He paused, then added with a sigh, "But Crocus and I—we never told Laboon the truth. Because the only thing keeping that whale alive... is hope. The belief that soone will return for him."
There was a long silence.
Lu Yu clenched his fists.
"...Do you know Brook?" he asked again, this ti more carefully. "Ever heard of him?"
Erwin shook his head.
"No. If soone like that was active in our ti, and had any connection to Roger's crew, I'd definitely know."
Lu Yu frowned.
So Brook's identity was even more mysterious than he thought.
And right now, there was no way to find out the truth.
---
"Sorry for bothering you," Lu Yu said as he stood up. "Thank you for everything, Mr. Erwin."
He took the box, bowed once more, and turned to leave.
Erwin watched him go, his expression calm but thoughtful.
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