Elbaf.
After just dealing with the traps set by Road from the New Giant Warrior Pirates, Luffy felt a sudden jolt as he landed on Elbaf and instinctively glanced backward.
"What's wrong, Luffy?" Nami asked.
"Nah..."
Luffy stared off for a moment, then shook his head, flashed a big grin, and said:
"I suddenly thought of Shanks; he often comes to Elbaf... I can't wait, we can finally meet this time."
While speaking, he took off his straw hat, gazed at it, and laughed, saying: "He entrusted this to me, and now I can finally return it!"
"Red Hair, huh..."
Sanji walked over, holding a cigarette between his fingers, exhaled smoke, and laughed: "Over two years ago, hearing that name felt so distant, because he's one of the Four Emperors. It's different now; we're not far off."
Although they have yet to achieve 'Four Emperor' status.
But they didn't care about titles as much as they valued actual strength.
Luffy is able to have a fierce battle with the strongest man of the sea, who deemed him 'troublesome,' and he proved himself at Egghead.
They've come a long way, more than a hundred times stronger!
With so much that's happened, it's enough to see everyone in this vast ocean as equals.
"Red Hair, huh..."
Usopp rubbed his long nose, chuckling: "My old man might be there. If I see him, I'll give him a punch first; it's been years without even a letter! I'll show him I've grown into a seafaring man!"
"A seafaring man? Your expression upon seeing a huge creature wasn't like that."
Nami leaned over and jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow, saying: "Next time there's danger, you need to shield me, then you'll be a true seafaring man."
"Enough! I'm a seafaring man, not yet a sea monster!" Usopp shouted.
"Me, me, me!"
Chopper raised his small hoof and jumped, saying, "I want to be a brave seafaring man too, next time I'll protect you all!"
Nami hugged Chopper, giving him a squeeze, "Chopper's the sweetest, I love you the most!"
The timid trio is still the same timid trio.
"Speaking of..."
Nearby, Zoro looked towards Robin, who kept a gentle smile, saying, "That Disaster guy really stirred up the 'Four Emperor War,' the momentum is quite fierce."
Elbaf is slow to receive news because it's not a member nation of the World Government, so news birds don't fly here.
They receive news from the sea by catching occasional drifting newspapers and information, thereby gaining insight into the world.
Some information is also shared when their fellow members return from voyages.
Like Hajrudin and the others.
They brought back new information when arriving at Elbaf, regarding the war initiated by Disaster whom they serve.
This war's scale is massive because it involves three Sea Emperors, known as the 'Four Emperor War' in the sea.
So many people are following this war, and almost daily updates come from the Outer Sea; Hajrudin and others carry Radio Snails to keep up with the progress of the Disaster Pirates.
According to them, Sage allowed their return, but they must be ready at any moment; once summoned, they will set sail from Elbaf.
"Indeed..."
Robin pondered and said, "Blackbeard and Red Hair attacked Sage's stronghold and took copies of the Roadsign, so the newspaper issued by Sage also included information about the Roadsign, granting us an additional piece."
Sage's information hasn't reached Elbaf yet, but Hajrudin and company brought a copy back, initially to inform Elbaf, which they also obtained information from.
Especially regarding the Road Poneglyph; they had copies of only two pieces but here, found an additional piece.
Big Mom and Kaido's Poneglyph copies were made at that time, and among the four Roadsigns, one is with the mysterious burnt man, yet still one is missing.
Robin always suspected Sage had it, but couldn't act due to his strength, so after leaving Egghead, they continued to sail, initially to find the burnt man before dealing with Sage.
But unexpectedly, they obtained it just like that.
"On the path to our dreams, perhaps we should thank him." Robin remarked realistically.
"Eh? Isn't he an enemy?"
Nearby, Lilith intervened, puzzled, "I heard you had a big fight at Wano Country. Despite your relation to Robin, since you're Pirates, none of this should matter, right?"
"It doesn't."
Luffy chuckled, "He is an enemy, but I don't dislike him, I just lost then. As pirates, a loss is a loss, someday we'll defeat him and have a showdown with Sage!"
"That's the grandeur of our captain."
Robin chuckled, "But Lilith, Vegapunk is still alive; aren't you considering going back?"
Lilith shook her head: "I've cut ties with Egghead. The main body offered me a new life choice, so everyone's path choice won't be the same, I decided to sail longer, to see this sea, this world."
"It's good, this world will not disappoint you."
Robin spoke, glanced at Luffy again, saying: "No matter how tragic life is, as long as you persevere, you'll surely see the light."