One Piece theory: Roger promised wealth, fame, and power, but at what cost?

From the start of One Piece, we have a big clue about what to expect from the story. The narrator's opening might reveal that all of this was not about treasure but actually about promises, as the line was “Wealth, fame, power... Gold Roger, the King of the Pirates, attained this and everything else the world had to offer.”

This brings us to a theory that what if this opening statement is not the foundation of Luffy's dream? It could very well be a reflection of a curse that is being passed down through history. Additionally, the story of One Piece has always shown us that promises in this world were made and broken, the very promises that shaped the world.

In this article, we will take a deeper dive into the details of this theory, that Imu, Joyboy, and Davy Jones were bound by ancient promises that still define the present age.

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The first promise: Imu and the founding of the World Government in One Piece

In One Piece, we know that during the Void Century, which took place 800 years ago in the current timeline, the world we knew was actually torn apart by the war. But know that we know through Vegapunk's revelation and the mural, there was an alliance between twenty nations to overthrow the Great Kingdom.

Now we need to think about why these nations would want to join forces against what appeared to be a peaceful and technologically advanced world. The answer could lie in Imu’s manipulation. Imagine Imu offering these kings a deal: “Join me, and I will give you all the world has to offer, wealth, fame, and power.”

It mirrors what Celestial Dragons in One Piece enjoy today: divine status, infinite riches, and unchecked authority. The promise was kept, but with a twist: Imu became the secret ruler, and the kings were only figureheads serving the true devil behind the curtain. The symbolism fits perfectly.

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The second promise: Davy Jones and the betrayal of Joyboy

Then comes the most mysterious character in the series, whose name keeps cropping up, but we still do not know anything about this character; Davy Jones has been a pirate myth and an important part of the One Piece lore.

With speculation going on that he could be part of the D clan and a rival of Joyboy, a character known to represent liberation. If Davy wanted power, Imu could have easily exploited this trait of his and given big promises if he had helped Imu out.

The second promise by Imu could have been to Davy Jones. If he agreed to work as a team and defeat Joyboy, then in return, he could have the world. And after getting such a tempting offer, Davy gave Imu access to the Mother Flame, the power source behind the Ancient Weapons.

Now that Imu had access to a power source of that magnitude, it was able to destroy the Ancient Kingdom, erasing Joyboy and his legacy. But just as the devil never keeps his deals, Imu betrayed Davy Jones, exterminating his clan and forcing the survivors into hiding.

This betrayal explains Rocks D. Xebec’s fury in One Piece centuries later. His confrontation with Imu, calling them the “King of Rats,” mirrors the resentment of an ancient bloodline still carrying the scars of betrayal.

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The third promise: Joyboy’s crew and the fall of a king

Finally, there’s Joyboy himself, who was most probably betrayed by his own people. The third promise wasn’t made to Imu, but through him. This mirrors the betrayal we saw at the Marineford arc in One Piece, where Whitebeard was stabbed by his own man under Akainu’s manipulation.

It’s Oda’s favorite storytelling rhythm: history repeating itself in subtle echoes. Joyboy’s defeat wasn’t just a tragedy; it was the consequence of humanity’s oldest weakness.

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Final thoughts

So what does this all mean for One Piece? If the world were built on false promises of wealth, fame, and power, then the journey of Luffy and his crew isn’t just about finding treasure.

Maybe the real treasure was never gold or weapons, but the truth that can finally set the world free from Imu’s lies. When the One Piece is found, it won’t just end the pirate era; it will end the era of false promises that began 800 years ago.