"Roy, long time no see!!"

Usopp waved excitedly.

"Long time no see, Usopp!" Roy replied as he carried his daughter toward them. Rein reached out her hand, trying to grab something. Roy set her down, and in the next second, she suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Usopp's nose.

"Gyahaha!!"

Usopp's nose was firmly pinched.

"Ow ow ow, let go of me!" Usopp cried, struggling.

Roy quickly picked up his daughter. Despite his coaxing, she refused to let go, happily trying to pull Usopp's nose off.

In the end, it was Robin who stepped in, her charm distracting little Rein.

Seeing the little girl's eyes light up and drool dripping from her mouth, Roy couldn't help but think: 'If she weren't a girl, I'd swear she was turning into Momonosuke…'

Probably just hungry. Though given Robin's proportions, Rei was clearly expecting something that wasn't there.

"So, what brings you here?" Roy looked at Law and Zoro.

"It's not me who's looking for you, it's him," Zoro said, pointing to Law.

"We're heading to Wano," Law stated.

"To Wano, huh? Then your target must be Kaido." Roy smiled.

"Yes. We're planning to team up and take Kaido down," Law nodded.

"You need my permission?"

"Yes."

"Nekomamushi actually arrived a day before you. If you want to go after Kaido, go for it. It's fine with me." Roy grinned.

"Nekomamushi was here?" Usopp exclaimed.

"You went to Zou, right? Saw the cat and dog?" Roy asked.

"Yes."

"The cat and dog, along with their master, were once members of the Whitebeard Pirates."

Roy found it a bit funny, thinking back to Zou, Kin'emon had even needed to flash a symbol just to be recognized by the Cat and Dog.

Back then, the Scabbards somehow didn't even recognize each other.

Nekomamushi had arrived earlier to ask for help from the former comrades of the Whitebeard Pirates to help Momonosuke return to Wano.

Soon after, Kin'emon, Momonosuke, and Kanjuro disembarked.

"Wait, Nekomamushi and Inuarashi were once part of the Whitebeard Pirates?" Franky was shocked.

"Surprised? You're here to find Izo, right?" Roy turned to the three samurai.

"Yes, Lord Roy!" the three bowed. Roy stared at Kanjuro a little longer, making him visibly nervous.

"Lord Roy, long time no see," Momonosuke said, stepping forward.

"Still as annoying as ever. Didn't inherit anything useful, just your dad's perviness," Roy said, giving him a cold look.

Momonosuke's eyes welled up with tears.

"Lord Roy, please show respect to our youn-" Kin'emon started to say,

WHAM!

Before he could finish, he was sent flying, slamming into the ground, unable to move.

"Show respect, my ass. His father, Kozuki Oden, was indeed the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd division commander, but he chose to leave. Once he left and never returned, he was no longer our family." Roy said flatly.

"Momo's father was once a commander in the Whitebeard Pirates?!!" Zoro and the others were stunned. Even Law was shocked.

"Izo already left the crew. He'll probably head to Wano to support you, he was once your comrade. If nothing's happened to Nekomamushi, he should bring strong reinforcements with him."

"In that case, we're ready to head to Wano," Law said.

"Wait, who are these reinforcements?" Zoro asked.

"You'll know when you see them."

Roy reached out to take Rein back from Robin. Rein realized Robin didn't have what she wanted. She raised her small hand and gave Robin's chest two pats as if to say: How can you not have it? What's the point of being so big?

"You brat, no manners at all." Roy grabbed her hand and gave it a couple of slaps.

It was the first time Roy had hit her. The little girl was so aggrieved that she burst into tears. But Roy didn't give in. She was getting spoiled and a bit wild. Better to deal with it early.

After sending Law and the others off, they left Moby Dick Island and continued toward Wano.

"Kin'emon, are you okay?!" Usopp asked.

"I'm fine," Kin'emon replied, holding his face.

"That guy's way too rough; he hit you twice," Franky muttered.

"Lord Roy has never liked Lord Oden," Kin'emon said. "Back then, Lord Oden wanted to mend things with him, but they were never able to reconcile."

"Actually, Lord Roy once wanted to help my father," Momonosuke added, clenching his fists. "But my father didn't do what Lord Roy advised. That's why Lord Roy held a grudge."

"Your father used to be the 2nd Division Commander before Ace? Then why did he leave the Whitebeard Pirates? And why does Roy dislike him?" Zoro asked curiously.

"Because my father left the Whitebeard Pirates… to join Roger's crew," Momonosuke replied.

"Your father betrayed the Whitebeard Pirates?!" Usopp shouted. Law's eyes widened.

"No, not exactly. I don't know the full details. My father's journal probably explains it. I only remember that my sister was just born when we boarded Roger's ship. My mother stayed behind in Wano due to poor health.

My father sailed with Roger's crew to the final island. He had promised to return to Whitebeard's crew after one year.

But back in Wano, Orochi and Kaido had taken over. For Wano's sake, my father chose to stay and fight them," Momonosuke explained.

"Then technically, your father was still a Whitebeard Pirate. All he had to do was ask Whitebeard for help. Twenty years ago, Whitebeard's crew was strong enough to wipe out the Beasts Pirates," Law said.

"Yes, but… my father believed that Wano's problems had to be solved by Wano's people. He refused outside help. He chose to stay and sever ties with the Whitebeard Pirates."

"That's why Lord Roy asked him once, if he asked for help, he would still be considered a member of the crew, and they would help drive out Kaido. The cost was that my father would have to return to the crew."

"But my father felt he had achieved his dream of sailing the world, reaching the final island, and now had to give back to Wano. So, he refused. Apparently, he and Lord Roy had a big fight over the transponder snail, and after that, they never spoke again. From that point on, my father was no longer a Whitebeard Pirate."

...

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

[email protected]/DaoistJinzu