Chapter 1630 Resurrection and Non-Resurrection
For children who grew up listening to the legend of Roger and dreaming of adventures on the sea, the name Gol D. Roger almost always becomes a shining idol in their hearts at some point in their innocent childhood.
The ultimate romance of conquering the Grand Line, finding the legendary treasure, and becoming the Pirate King is the spark that ignites the dreams of countless young people to set sail.
Luffy is no exception.
Only as people grow older and mature, will their evaluation of Roger's character, actions, and the epochal impact of his choices become more complex and multifaceted.
Luffy's current obsession with becoming the Pirate King is largely thanks to Shanks, the one who put the straw hat on his head, cut off his arm for him, and told him about the new era.
Garp always criticizes Shanks for corrupting his grandson, and in some ways, he's not entirely wrong.
It was Shanks who planted the dream of becoming the Pirate King deep in young Luffy's heart in a free, romantic, and camaraderie-filled way.
Under the intense, expectant gazes of everyone, Luffy, despite being offered such an incredible bait by the shopkeeper, did not show the eager elation that many had anticipated.
Luffy tilted his head and looked at the shopkeeper. "So you've been to the final island too? Are you a member of Roger's crew?"
This thought process is truly extraordinary!
While everyone else was tempted by the prospect of reaching the end and uncovering the truth, his first thought was about the shop owner's identity and background.
He was trying to understand the essence of this existence that could provide such convenience in his own simple and direct way.
The shop owner fell silent for a moment, which was uncharacteristic of him.
He couldn't predict all of Luffy's reactions with 100% certainty. This straw hat boy's thinking, like his rubber body, was sometimes full of unexpected twists and turns.
The shop owner slowly shook his head, giving a negative answer.
Regarding the legendary ONE PIECE and its so-called great treasure, he glanced around this ancient shop, which contained countless things beyond common sense, and thought, "How could it possibly be more valuable than my shop?"
The shopkeeper, no longer fixated on the issue of identity, once again precisely presented the tempting bait to Luffy: "Don't you want to know the whole truth all at once?"
"I can tell you everything about that island, but only to you, if you pay the price!"
Everyone's hearts were in their throats again.
The truth that leads straight to the end is something that countless ambitious people, explorers, and historians dream of but can never obtain. Will Luffy waver?
Luffy's response this time was unusually decisive.
He raised his hand and waved it forcefully, his face showing undisguised rejection.
His voice was loud and firm, “No, whether it’s the truth of the world or anything else, I will find it with my own two legs!”
He clenched his fist, his eyes clear and burning with passion. "I care a lot about the adventure itself, sailing with my companions and weathering the storms together. That's what I want."
Looking at Luffy's determined expression and clear, genuine eyes, it's clear that Luffy isn't stupid; sometimes he can be quite adorable.
The shop owner certainly didn't want this boy, who displayed amazing intelligence and charisma in the early adventure chapters, to become some kind of purely comedic character who had lost that precious childlike innocence in the future.
That would be too boring.
The shop owner readily changed the question, "So, don't you have anything else you'd like to change?"
Upon hearing this, Luffy pinched his chin, feigning a profound and inscrutable expression, his eyes darting around.
He doesn't need to exchange power here. The incredible abilities he gained after awakening the Nika Fruit, combined with the profound martial arts aura he cultivated through hard work, make him incredibly resilient and difficult to kill.
Trading fruit? He hadn't even considered it.
As for money, he has no concept of it and no obsession with it.
Even if he had Berries in his pocket, he would often give them away to those in need within a few days, or spend them all on lavish parties. Most important people wouldn't be as generous as him.
His mind flashed quickly through the images of his companions on the ship: Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin—everyone was getting stronger every day in their own fields.
The last figure clearly appeared in his mind.
It was that good older brother who always led him astray and caused trouble, who would grill meat for him, pat his head and laugh heartily with a smile as bright as the sun, yet who also carried a heavy burden of his past—Portgas D. Ace.
Thinking of Ace, Luffy's relaxed and thoughtful expression vanished instantly, replaced by an unprecedentedly serious one, even tinged with a heavy shadow.
He looked up at the shop owner, his voice no longer as carefree as usual, "Let's make the worst-case scenario: if Ace died at Marine Headquarters, could you resurrect him completely?"
To the surprise of the onlookers, after struggling with the question for so long, Luffy finally asked such a question.
He wasn't seeking power for himself, nor was he seeking the truth through shortcuts; rather, he was inquiring about the possibility of resurrection for his brother, whose fate remained unknown.
At this moment, everyone realized once again that Luffy was definitely not that silly, carefree rubber idiot who was always laughing.
He possesses an extremely precious childlike heart, and he has an unimaginable sense of importance and protectiveness towards those he cherishes. It's just that he rarely shows it so obviously in everyday life.
The shopkeeper quietly looked at Luffy, whose eyes were now filled with hope, and gave an answer that surprised everyone: "Yes."
"But there's a prerequisite: his soul hasn't entered the River Styx. There are some established rules that are hard to break," the shopkeeper said, his tone carrying an indescribable depth.
This answer surprised Luffy and sent a chill down the spines of everyone else.
Resurrection is possible, but the conditions are extremely stringent; the state and whereabouts of the soul are key!
Moreover, it seems to involve some higher-level rules, which even the shop owner described as difficult to break.
The possibility of reviving Ace is a superposition—whether it is possible or not depends on many complicated and uncontrollable conditions.
At the same time, the price required to achieve such a miracle must be unimaginably huge.
Moreover, it's a price Luffy absolutely cannot afford to pay for the time being.
Silence fell over the shop again, with only Luffy's slightly heavy breathing and the intense emotions churning in his eyes.
After a series of battles, Luffy was no longer 100% certain that he could rescue Ace from Marineford. There were just too many powerful figures in that area, each one a formidable hero.
Furthermore, the appearance of Blackbeard has made the outcome of the battle at Marineford unpredictable; no one can guarantee that anyone will leave alive.
