"Oh? I didn't expect those five old geezers to move so fast..."

Hearing Stussy's words, Daren raised an eyebrow and sat up on the large bed with a smile.

But with that simple motion, searing pain surged from every corner of his body, crashing through him like a wave.

Every muscle, every cell felt completely drained and hollowed out, while his insides twisted as if flipped upside down, forcing a frown to his face.

Only then did he notice that his external injuries had already been cleaned, treated with medicine, and carefully bandaged.

"Don't worry. No one else knows you're here."

Stussy leaned back slightly, elegantly holding a lady's cigarette between her long fingers. She took a slow drag, lips curving into a faint smile.

"I'm not a professional doctor, but the CP organization's training includes emergency medical treatment."

"Still, with wounds like yours, even with that monstrous body of yours, there's no way you'll recover in just a day or two."

"Or rather... after going head-to-head with the Five Elders and the Marine monsters, the fact that you're still alive is a miracle."

Daren nodded in agreement. His eyes were serious as he exhaled deeply and muttered,

"They really are terrifying."

Stussy let out a wry, amused chuckle.

"Getting cold feet now? Tsk, tsk... Charging into Marineford all by yourself—makes me wonder what kind of woman could be worth that kind of madness."

Daren smiled.

"She's my wife. And she's carrying my son."

Stussy: "..."

She bit her lip hard, then added,

"Even the Zoan awakened agents in CP0 couldn't survive injuries like these."

Only after cleaning and dressing him did Stussy fully realize how horrifying Daren's wounds really were.

Massive internal trauma. Displaced organs.

Over 40% of his skin and muscle tissues damaged or necrotized—some even scorched into crystalline burns. Blood vessels in his legs had been frozen into brittle ice.

Injuries that would kill a dinosaur, let alone a human.

"Yes... this is the worst damage I've ever taken."

Daren rubbed his temples with a grimace.

"In my current state... I'll need at least a week to fully recover, right?"

Stussy: "..."

She rubbed at her chest lightly, her once-elegant posture while smoking now visibly shaken.

He might be telling the truth.

But damn it—why did it sound so irritating when he said it?

"You still haven't answered my question!"

She shot Daren a sharp glare.

"What exactly did you do to make even the arrogant Five Elders back down?"

Daren smiled.

"It's actually quite simple. You'll find out soon enough—this kind of news never stays hidden. Those five old relics wanted to attack the North Blue, right? So I decided to strike their territory instead."

"Their territory..."

Stussy frowned slightly, murmuring to herself. Then her eyes suddenly widened in disbelief as she stared at the infamous Marine in front of her.

"You sent a fleet to attack the World Government's Member Nations!?"

Daren shrugged.

"Just as a show of force. Sure, I'm now the world's most wanted man with the highest bounty, labeled as the 'most dangerous criminal'... but I'm still not a real pirate."

"But they couldn't afford to take that gamble. The political and public pressure was just too much."

Realization dawned on Stussy.

"No wonder. According to CP intel, royal families from dozens of Member Nations have experienced various levels of unrest and are now putting pressure on the government."

"And with Morgans' reports, the secret of your fleet is close to getting out. Rumors are already spreading that you're in possession of 'weapons of mass destruction.'"

"Under pressure from so many Member Nations, even the Five Elders have no choice but to back down—at least for now."

"But Daren, from what I know of them, they'll never let you off the hook that easily."

Daren let out a careless laugh.

"And who says I'm letting them off?"

Stussy was caught off guard.

Daren paid no mind to her reaction and continued,

"You said I've won? No—I haven't won yet."

"Have you contacted that birdbrain Morgans?"

Stussy nodded.

"Yes, but he has one condition for the meeting."

"What condition?"

"He wants full control over the time and location."

"Fair enough."

Daren narrowed his eyes with a grin.

"In times like these, trust is a rare commodity."

Stussy eyed Daren's rebellious face with suspicion.

"Morgans' stance isn't exactly clear. Are you sure about meeting him?"

"Of course. I need access to his information network."

"I've been silent for too long, ever since Philseque Island... Everything's been a mess. Somehow, I went from a promising Marine hero with a bright future to the world's most infamous criminal overnight. Do you have any idea how much that stings?"

Stussy rolled her eyes.

"You didn't have much of a reputation to begin with. No one ever saw you as some shining Marine hero."

Daren sighed.

"I've told you, haven't I? Sure, I'm greedy, womanizing, power-hungry... but I'm still a good Marine."

He lifted the newspaper beside him, displaying a wanted poster with a 5 billion Belly bounty.

"The World Government has made their move. Now it's my turn to respond."

A dragon-like puff of smoke escaped his lips as he laughed wildly.

"The world's waiting for my answer."

...

At the same time.

In the New World.

Beyond a hellish storm, sunlight bathed a tranquil island.

Members of the Roger Pirates stood amidst an ancient jungle, golden rays spilling over them like dust, casting a brilliant glow across their bodies.

Staring at the scene before them, none of them moved.

"This... this is the 'great treasure' left behind by Joy Boy..."

Rayleigh sat down heavily, a helpless smile on his face as he shook his head.

"Roger..."

He turned toward Roger, ready to offer a few words of comfort—but the sight before him stopped him cold.

Under the stunned gazes of every crew member, their captain—the strongest, greatest, and freest pirate to ever sail the seas, Gol D. Roger—tilted his head back and roared with laughter.

Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.

"Wahahahaha!"

"We were too early... Joy Boy, I wish I could've lived in the same era as you!"

On this day, the legendary pirate Gol D. Roger reached the end of the Grand Line—and named the island...

"Laugh Tale."

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