I know it's probably crazy, but I'm predicting Shakuyaku Rox
I know it has been speculated that Shakky was a part of Rox. It was the first thing I thought when Rox was mentioned. I had stopped at 811, but recently decided to catch up. I re-read the entire series this summer, then read everything from 811 - 949 in like 2 days. As soon as Rox was mentioned, I thought about Shakky who was said to be a pirate 40 years ago.
I was reading the Viz translation, so I'd like to know if this is all accurate:
-Hina says the Rox pirates are growing stronger even though their captain was lost and that they could potentially re-emerge
-Garp became 'The Hero' for dealing with Rox
It is implied that both Linlin and Kaido were formerly associated with Rox
What is interesting to note:
The captain wasn't said to be dead or captured. It was said that they 'lost' their captain and that former members of the crew, presumably other than Linlin and Kaido, are getting back together and growing in strength.
The gender of the captain was not indicated in the dialogue
Which leads me to two other points:
Shakky is introduced as having been a pirate 40 years ago. Garp was said to have pursued her in the past. What is interesting is that Nami specifically remarks upon her age because of her youthful appearance. Nami asks Shakky her age, but is only returned a demure smile.
EDIT: Lots of crazy speculation follows. I went well beyond the scope of my original statement. I only intended to supply evidence that Shakky might be Rox. The rest is just craziness. Read at your own risk…
My speculation - and this is just that - is that Rox is setup for Kaido and Linlin's role in the final war. I feel like Wano could end with Kaido and / or Linlin possibly captured and placed in Impel Down, setting up the second big escape. We already know Bon and Doffy are in the prison, and I can't imagine them sitting out the grand finale of the series. I'm not sure about Linlin as she may still have some importance to Elbaf, but I think it's very possible for Kaido. There are a few remarkable things about his introduction. First, Oda makes a point to specifically note that Kaido has been defeated. Second, he is stated to be un-killable. Oda tends to introduce concepts, ideas, and characters together which have some sort of connection to be later revealed. It makes sense - if you think things up at the same time, there would be a natural tendency to introduce them together. Case in point, Thriller Bark was the first real setup for the current saga. Lola, Ryuma, Moria's grudge against Kaido, the first mention of Wano, the first image of the Four Emperors were all introduced around the same time. Kaido was introduced into the series around the same time Doffy was being taken to Impel down, not long after Law's flashback. Drake has had some kind of mission, whether it's for revenge or something else, which has lead him to Kaido going all the way back to chapter 590 something. Rocinante stole the Op Op fruit from Drake's father, a pirate, 14 years ago. I dig the theory that Kaido is a recipient of the immortality operation from the previous user of the Op Op fruit. The timeline fits; Kaido took over Wano 20 years ago. Six years later, Rocinante steals the Op Op fruit from Barrels, who got it from an unknown place. Kaido has been beaten many times, but cannot be killed. Which means, even if he were to be captured, the Marines couldn't execute him. The best they could do is lock him down in the lowest level of Impel Down. Added speculation: I think perhaps Kaido's drinking is related to the immortality operation. Law stated that the person who performs the operation gives their life in the process, which introduces a sort of Chekhov's gun. Is Law going to perform the operation on someone, giving his life in the process? Surely Oda wouldn't introduce the idea without an intended payoff.
So far, in Wano, Kaido really hasn't been given much development, especially when compared to Linlin in Whole Cake Island. That's partially due to the difference in tone and structure of the arc, but I think it's also evidence that more story remains to be told, particularly about Kaido's backstory and motivation. I feel like someone important to Kaido may have performed the immortality operation on him, saving his life, but dying in the process (giant scar in Kaido's abdomen). Kaido, grieved and despondent, sought to commit suicide, but found the attempt proved unsuccessful. He engaged in battle after battle, but couldn't be killed, even when he was defeated. He drowns his sorrow in alcohol and seeks out someone capable of killing him. He captured Wano as the location to assemble a massive army because of its isolation from the rest of the world. He let's Orochi rule because he doesn't care about Wano itself, only the natural resources it provides his endeavor. Kaido's goal is to start a global war - because he believes it will finally allow him to die. Also, I think Kaido has some bloodline connection to Oars, also introduced during Thriller Bark at the same time as all the previously mentioned characters and plot points which would later come together during this current Big Mom / Kaido saga. I would extend that to say that Oars has some connection to Wano. Onigashima looks just like Oars' head and Kaido bears the same horns. Further speculation, when Kaido and Linlin were on the same crew 40+ years ago, he fathered the triplets Katakuri, Oven, & Daifuku (48 years old). Katakuri's teeth are resultant from the Oars genes inherited from his father.
Also, supporting the theory that there's a fourth calamity, Oda introduced Tama with a connection Luffy's brother Ace. Perhaps it's entirely coincidental that Ace's name bears that of the trump card missing fro Kaido's deck, or perhaps not. We don't know when Ace received his devil fruit. We know he didn't have the flame fruit when he left Windmill Village, 3 years before Luffy, 5 years before the current story. We also know that he visited Wano before joining Whitebeard, that he learned to make the hat for Oars Jr. (another Oars connection) from Amigasa Village, and that at some point in time later, he decided to try and kill Whitebeard. Kaido set out for Marineford when Ace was put up for execution, but Shanks intervened. while this likely directly ties to Kaido's motivation to start a global war, it's also possible that there is some other connection to Ace. Perhaps Kaido wanted to fight Whitebeard, ensuring the traitor Ace, met his intended fate? We really don't know, but there's certainly more to this. Also, Ace's defeat and the announcement of his execution book ended Thriller Bark.
All this leads to: Shakky introduced immediately after Thriller Bark. She could just be a previous member of Rox, same as Linlin and Kaido, but there was an air of mystery surrounding her introduction, and certain questions intentionally asked but never answered. The language used in the conversation between Garp and Hina seems to be carefully chosen so as not to reveal the gender, fate, nor potential current location. We also know that the Government was unaware of Rayleigh's location on Sabaody, so it's certainly possible Shakky would be able to avoid detection.
Sorry, I know that this post is really disorganized and the thoughts are fairly jumbled. Point is, I think it's possible Shakky IS the captain of the Rox Pirates, that the escape of Impel Down Level 6 Prisoners has allowed the crew to begin reuniting and growing in strength. Kaido and Linlin have formed a temporary alliance but Wano could end with one or both captured. It would make a lot of sense for Kaido in particular to end up in Impel Down if he is in fact un-killable. This sets up a future Impel Down break out by the reunited Rox Pirates, potentially heralded by the return of their captain and Linlin, to free Kaido at a point later in the story during the final war. If my reading of the story is correct, basically everything from Punk Hazard through Wano is a singular saga. There are hooks for the next story, but by and large, the focus has been on Kaido and Linlin. When you look back, the earliest story elements of this saga (characters, concepts, places) were introduced together or in close proximity. I think the next saga or set of arcs will be Shanks / Blackbeard focused, culminating in a battle to reach Raftel. The discovery of One Piece then triggers the start of the final war - and Oda has already set up the means by which to draw Kaido and Linlin back into the story at that point through Rox and another massive breakout from Impel Down (Maybe even destruction of the prison itself), presaged by Garp's remark about future events exceeding all expectation. I'm not really sure about Elbaf and Vegapunk and how they'll fit into all of this. I have read the theories about Kaido's horns potentially related to Vegapunk's experiments to recreate the super giants. It's certainly possible his 'Oars genes' are result of experimentation. Vegapunk's silhouette also first appeared during Thriller Bark and Kuma showed up at the tail end. I have a theory that all of the worst generation will play a pivotal role in at least one arc pre-Raftel. As it stands, we really only need Bonney and Urogue to complete the set. Bonney would definitely be tied to a Kuma & Vegapunk story while Urogue would make sense to have some involvement in a story with Eneru's return (Elbaf arc maybe..... Yggdrasil is so massive, it grows into space and has other realms caught in its branches (missing planetoid objects from the globe in the library of Ohara, never seen in the night sky are the 'nine realms'?), meaning Giants + SPACE arc). Morgans also sort of foreshadowed this when he said that 'soon one of the worst generation will rise up to take the mantle of Pirate King' - which leads me to believe all of them will be viewed as contenders. I feel like the last arc / island before Raftel could be Fullalead - where all of the worst generation clash, culminating in a battle between Luffy and Blackbeard to decide which will inherit Roger's will, before the Straw Hats can reach Raftel and discover One Piece.
Also, Thriller Bark is like the key to unraveling the mysteries of One Piece. It set up so many things down the line :ninja: