Starting as a Roger Pirates Apprentice-Chapter 440: The World King’s Ambition

"Bru-buru-buru..."

"Bru-buru-buru..."

Just as the two of them broke out in cold sweat, wondering how to open their mouths, the Den Den Mushi in their arms rang at that moment.

"This is bad!!!"

"It has to be Mom calling. I just reported that we had already arrived at Fish-Man Island!!!"

The two nervously took out the Den Den Mushi, four eyes staring at it, yet neither dared to pick it up.

After all, Fish-Man Island was a sensitive place to begin with, and now it was also entangled with someone Mom valued highly—the giants.

Everyone knew that Big Mom had always hoped that [The Land of Giants]Elbaf would join the embrace of Totto Land, and she had even once considered marrying off her daughter for that purpose.

If she found out that giants wanted to seize the other half of Fish-Man Island, then no matter what the final outcome was, they would be seen as having failed their task.

"Pekoms!!!"

Baron Tamago wiped the cold sweat from his head and urged Pekoms.

"You go answer it. I refuse to get involved in this kind of trouble!!!"

In the end, it was Sadgeo who walked over. Under the terrified gazes of the surrounding fish-men and mermaids, he pulled the Den Den Mushi into his hand. The receiver dropped at that moment.

"Hello!!!"

...

At Totto Land,

Big Mom looked at the face on the Den Den Mushi and listened to the unfamiliar voice, a trace of doubt appearing on her face. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Who are you?!"

"I am Sadgeo, the man who will become the World King!!!"

Hearing that name, Big Mom froze for a moment, then a glint of light burst out in her eyes.

"So it’s you!!!"

"The giant who suddenly appeared recently, a rookie whose first bounty already reached 1.1 billion Belly."

"[Dark Sun]Sadgeo!!!"

Big Mom’s irritation at being disturbed vanished completely, leaving only delight.

Not just because of Sadgeo’s giant bloodline.

But also because of his mysterious origins.

Any major power with decent intelligence basically realized it after Orin released Sadgeo from the laboratory—albeit belatedly—that Orin had fallen out with the World Government because of a man-made biological weapon.

And the fact that the other party could make a huge scene at the Sabaody Archipelago and then retreat unscathed—anyone with eyes knew what that meant.

How intriguing~

A man the World Government would spare no cost to erase, the result Orin—the monster—had produced after lying low for so many years... just how much impact would it bring to this world?

"Hey!!! Big Mom!!!"

Sadgeo didn’t care about any of that. Staring at that face on the Den Den Mushi, he said,

"The remaining half of Fish-Man Island is mine now, including the factories on Fish-Man Island."

"Your flag is not allowed to exist!!!"

"Eh?!?!"

Baron Tamago and Pekoms felt their souls nearly leave their bodies, mouths hanging wide open.

The nearby fish-men also retreated in terror.

Sadgeo actually dared to do this—even to a Yonko...

But strangely enough, Big Mom on the other end of the line did not seem particularly enraged.

Whether it was Orin’s massive background, or the giant bloodline Sadgeo possessed, both were enough for her to temporarily set everything aside.

Especially that one sentence of Sadgeo’s—

His declaration of becoming the World King!!!

Even for an old-era powerhouse who had weathered countless storms, her heart could not help but stir.

That was the ambition and dream once held by her former captain, Rocks.

At some point, with her own vision, she had been able to firmly conclude that Orin would become another monster who would dominate the seas with overwhelming power after Rocks.

This was already proven by the broadcast footage of the Summit War.

Her judgment back then had not been wrong.

And now, Sadgeo’s words made her heart move again.

Could it be...

That this would be the next era’s Captain Rocks?

"Well then, brat, I’m quite interested in you~"

Big Mom looked down at the Den Den Mushi, her gaze pressing closer as a terrifying smile spread across her face.

"I once owed Orin a favor. Speaking of it, we do have some ties. Come to Totto Land—I’ll be waiting for you!!!"

"Mama~ mama~"

"Oh! I’ll come."

Sadgeo agreed without the slightest hesitation.

After all, his goal was to become the World King. A mere Yonko was nothing more than that...

If possible, he could even absorb her into his ranks, making her a part of the force that would attack the World Government—

Just like the Rocks Pirates.

Orin, listening in secretly from the shadows, frowned slightly.

Owed a favor?

When did that happen?

Thinking carefully, Orin relaxed his brow again.

It seemed like it was decades ago—

When he, Mihawk, and Crocodile went to Totto Land together, and Kaido stirred up trouble halfway through, only for him to bite back.

He hadn’t expected her to still remember.

Orin sighed with some emotion.

When he had time, he might as well go to Totto Land again. It had been a long time since he last visited that archipelago made of sweets.

...

The Fish-Man Island incident thus came to an end.

With Sadgeo’s absolute strength determining the outcome, the other half of Fish-Man Island now had an official owner.

The Straw Hat Pirates made their first appearance and suffered defeat once more, barely escaping with their lives under the protection of Orin’s flag on Fish-Man Island.

Flying at the highest point over the other half of Fish-Man Island was a flag shaped like a ring, wreathed in black flames—like a sun, and also like a straw hat.

Countless reporters scrambled to take photos and report.

Formally announcing Sadgeo’s arrival to the New World.

That face wearing a straw hat, grinning with bared teeth, appeared once again before countless big figures.

The World Government, the Chamber of Authority.

Looking at the smiling face on the newspaper, along with the headlines—

"Crushes the Straw Hat Pirates, the Strongest Giant!!!"

"Whitebeard’s Territory Officially Changes Hands, a Man Who Even Yonkos Must Give Way To!!!"

"Shocking!!! The Man Who Declares He Will Become the World King!!!"

"What World King?!"

Amid the terrifying surge of Haki, the newspaper in his hand instantly turned to flying ash and vanished.

An oppressively low atmosphere spread through the Chamber of Authority. Lightning-like flashes of Conqueror’s Haki faintly crossed the air, making even the guards tremble slightly.

"Notify the Marines’ Sakazuki... and CP0 as well!!!"

The shadows of the Elder stretched long under the dim yellow light. The silhouettes cast on the wall faintly resembled monstrous mythical beasts.

"Since the terrain makes it inconvenient on Fish-Man Island, then once [Dark Sun]leaves Fish-Man Island, launch the Buster Call immediately!!!"

"Dispatch a Marine Admiral and strangle him completely at the starting point of the New World!!!"

"Yes!!!"

Orders were issued swiftly. The Marines convened an emergency meeting overnight, laying a dragnet at the threshold of the New World, with Sakazuki making the decisions.

"Fujitora, you will lead this Buster Call."

"Coordinate with CP0’s Rob Lucci!!!"