Once, Rojen didn't understand what it meant to have a dream. He had no concept of what it took to chase one.
In his past life, survival was the only goal. Who had the luxury of dreaming when every day was a struggle just to get by? When rent loomed like a constant shadow, when meals were a choice between one steamed bun or two, when a full day of toil ended with nothing but a supervisor's scolding— where was the room for dreams?
Dreams, more often than not, were just fleeting thoughts.
Reality was about enduring, about making it through another day.
But then he came to this world— raised by 'that' man, growing strong under his guidance— and slowly, he began to understand. He saw what it meant to have a dream. He saw what a person could accomplish in pursuit of one.
"Rojen, tell your elder brother— what is your dream?"
That night, under the flickering candlelight, Roger's expression was unusually solemn. He gazed at Rojen with an intensity the boy had never seen before.
At not even ten years old, Rojen was caught off guard. He had never seen Roger so serious.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"I want to save the world. No— unify it. I want there to be one single landmass, surrounded by an endless ocean. And in that ocean, fishmen will swim freely."
He still remembered Roger's reaction to those words.
Pure confusion. Absolute bewilderment.
Maybe he truly didn't understand what Rojen was saying.
"…It's good to have a dream. Work hard for it."
That was all Roger said in the end. Perhaps his younger brother's dream had simply left him speechless.
After all, the World Government ruled over more than three hundred nations, controlling the entire world. Who would dare to dream of uniting them all? Compared to that, conquering the Grand Line, uncovering the secrets of history, or even becoming the Pirate King seemed almost trivial.
A faint smile tugged at Rojen's lips as he returned from his memories.
The slow hum of music filled the bar. Old Rays was still caught up in an argument with a group of civilians, while his pirate crewmates lingered nearby.
"If you have a dream, go chase it. What if you actually make it happen?"
"Set sail, breathe in the salt of the sea, sing pirate songs, drink spiced rum, dance like a fool— do whatever the hell you want."
"The sea carries the scent of freedom. The path we walk is the path of dreams."
"Pirates are the very symbol of freedom!"
As Rojen murmured those words, the bar suddenly fell silent.
Old Rays and the civilians stopped arguing. The entire room turned its attention to the 16- or 17-year-old boy standing there, watching him carefully.
"Kid, are you a pirate too?" Old Rays suddenly asked, taking a deep swig of his drink.
"A pirate?" Rojen smiled, letting the question linger before answering. "Maybe."
"You 'must' be a pirate." Old Rays took another gulp and declared with certainty.
"Oh? And what makes you think that?" Rojen asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"You have the scent of freedom, the scent of the sea! You're different from those pirate hunters and Marines!" Old Rays said.
Rojen's lips curled into a smile as he nodded slightly.
That man had instilled everything about pirates in him from a young age. His own experiences had only reinforced those lessons.
Freedom? Whether he wanted it or not, it had been thrust upon him.
"But I don't recognize you!" Old Rays frowned, puzzled. "I've been drifting through South Blue for five years, living as a pirate all that time, and I still can't figure out which crew you belong to."
He scrutinized Rojen and Jason carefully—even the cat perched on the young man's shoulder—but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't place them.
"Tell me your name, kid!"
Rojen hesitated for a moment before smiling.
"Well, they've recently given me a nickname."
"Oh? And what is it?" Old Rays asked.
The people around them leaned in, eager to hear his answer.
This boy spoke of pirates with a depth of understanding that resonated with them. It was as if the sea, dreams, and freedom had fused into his very being. A person like that had to be a pirate— a natural-born pirate. If he wasn't one yet, he soon would be—and a great one at that.
"They call me Battōsai."
"You can call me Battōsai, Himura Kenshin."
With a faint smile, Rojen's words drifted through the bar, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
Even Old Rays froze, his expression one of shock.
It wasn't until Rojen and Jason had left the bar that everyone finally reacted.
"So it was him," Old Rays murmured.
Battōsai— a name that had recently been spreading through South Blue like wildfire, a name that struck fear into countless pirates. He had slaughtered and dismantled no fewer than ten pirate crews! To most, he was a ruthless, cold, and merciless demon, leaving no survivors in his wake. But what no one had expected was that he was also a pirate himself.
"Now I understand. Now it all makes sense!"
Old Rays came to a realization.
"The pirates Battōsai killed were all scum— the dregs of the seas, the ones the Marines loathed, and the disgrace of real pirates!"
"How could someone who holds the dreams of pirates and freedom as his creed allow those bastards to live?"
"This guy… he's the real deal. A true pirate!"
Pirates are souls drifting across the sea, embodying freedom, dreams, and the spirit of the ocean. They are not mindless killers who revel in senseless slaughter. True pirates have beliefs, a code they follow! Those lowlifes weren't pirates; at best, they were corsairs—marauders without honor.
Rojen and Jason strode through the streets, making their way toward the port.
"Prepare to board. Time is tight, and we don't have much left," Rojen said, his gaze sharp with determination.
The information he had gathered at the bar only made him more serious. The Marines had already arrived— they had likely pinpointed Rouge's general location somewhere in South Blue. But for now, they had neither seen her nor confirmed exactly where she was.
For the moment, she was still safe.
However, the child within her couldn't wait much longer.
A ten-month pregnancy was normal, but Rouge had defied all norms for Ace's birth, prolonging it for nearly two years.
By then, she herself would be completely spent.
"Yes, Captain!" Jason shouted.
"Wait a moment, you two! Our captain, Old Rays, wants to give you something!"
Suddenly, a voice called out.
(End of Chapter)
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