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"You really are just like him," Garp said with a sigh, his expression a mix of surprise and resignation upon hearing Rojen's decision.
"I've always disagreed with that. I'm not him, so we're different!" Rojen countered with a laugh.
He knew exactly who Garp was referring to and understood the implication.
"I'll be waiting for you below. I trust you'll make the right choice," Garp said, glancing at Rojen before vanishing in a flash.
"Stay here and wait for my orders. No matter what happens, don't act rashly," Rojen said sternly to Jason and the others.
"Captain, are they trying to threaten you?"
"Don't give in to the Marines' demands! We'll fight them to the bitter end if we have to!"
"Exactly! They may be strong, but we have leverage too!" Jason and the others shouted.
"Don't worry, I have a plan," Rojen said with a smile, offering no further explanation.
Yes, the Marines intended to threaten him, but he had already held a trump card in his hand. Even if his strength paled in comparison to theirs, he wasn't entirely without means of resistance.
Taking a step forward, Rojen strode through the void. He manipulated the Jasper Gourd to place Jason and his group in a safe location, then retracted the gourd and soared back into the air.
Hovering above, he looked down to see Garp and Sengoku standing before Kong, the Marines Fleet Admiral. After a brief exchange, Kong glanced at him, and an oppressive pressure instantly descended, weighing heavily on Rojen's heart.
At this moment, their situation was undeniably perilous. The opposing forces weren't limited to Garp and Sengoku; they also had time on their side, and Sakazuki stood nearby, watching with cold indifference.
Behind them lay countless elite Marines.
Pitting a pirate crew against such overwhelming force was undoubtedly a fool's errand. Resolving this conflict through violence was no longer the optimal solution.
Rojen understood perfectly that the Marines' desire to negotiate stemmed from their attempt to find a mutually satisfactory compromise, a point of equilibrium that would prevent further escalation.
After all, Rojen was no pushover.
At this moment, the Marines and Rojen were locked in a precarious standoff, each holding leverage over the other, each wary of making the first move.
In this stalemate, negotiation was the only viable path forward. They needed to talk.
"Senior Zephyr," Rojen murmured, "I never thought I'd need your help."
"Hmph, boy," Zephyr roared, "don't even think about using me to threaten the Marines. If you do, I'll end myself right here!"
Zephyr had dedicated his entire life to the Marines and could never tolerate becoming a pawn in the hands of pirates. This was the greatest blow he could suffer.
In response to Zephyr's voice, Rojen simply tapped his gourd, immediately severing Zephyr's connection to the outside world and activating the gourd's internal array to bind him securely. Suicide? That would be difficult under Rojen's control.
After exchanging a few words with Sengoku, Kong turned and departed, quickly leading a group of Vice Admiral-level combatants toward Mary Geoise.
Rojen's eyes flickered as he surmised that the Marines had also realized the gravity of the situation unfolding in Mary Geoise.
The annihilation of the Ilinulay clan was no small matter. If mishandled, it could plunge the world into chaos and trigger massive upheaval.
"The Celestial Dragons are in crisis, and the Marines Headquarters is facing a major headache," Rojen mused.
As Rojen approached, Sengoku's brow furrowed deeply.
"Admiral Sengoku, you look like you're in quite a bind," Rojen said with a grin, stopping ten meters away from Sengoku and Garp.
"Boy, you're largely responsible for this mess!" Sengoku snapped coldly. Unlike Garp, his temper was short, and his tone was harsh.
"Don't get angry! I came here in good faith," Rojen replied, patting the gourd at his waist. "Admiral Zephyr is still here, after all. You wouldn't want anything to happen to him, would you?"
With a flash of green light, Rojen deactivated the barrier. At that moment, Zephyr's voice rang out, perfectly timed:
"Rojen, you little brat! Don't think you can threaten the Marines with me!"
The voice cut off abruptly as Rojen regained control of Zephyr.
"Admiral Zephyr seems as vigorous as ever," Rojen said with a sly smile. "Admiral Sengoku can rest assured."
Rojen's calm and unhurried demeanor immediately infuriated Sengoku.
"Boy, you're playing with your life!"
"Those words have no effect on me. You should know by now that if I want to leave, you might not be able to stop me."
His expression suddenly turned cold as he locked eyes with Sengoku.
"My only concern is for my comrades!"
Sengoku glared back, his gaze equally icy.
A domineering aura rapidly intensified, and a whirlwind erupted from the two men, spreading outward.
The atmosphere instantly became confrontational, each man poised for conflict.
"Hey, hey, hey, weren't we supposed to talk? Then let's talk! I'll watch and be your witness, how about that?"
"Let's talk properly now."
Seeing the two were about to come to blows, Garp, picking his nose, stepped between them.
"Garp, don't forget your position! You're a Marine!" Sengoku immediately recognized the blatant favoritism and roared in anger.
"He's the descendant of an old friend, Sengoku. Don't get so worked up," Garp said nonchalantly. "To be honest, we can't really do anything about him."
Sengoku took a deep breath, knowing Garp was right. He glared at Rojen again.
"You, Crocodile, Jason, and Trens, the four main culprits, stay behind! The rest can leave!"
"You've plunged the world into chaos, reduced Marine Headquarters to this ruin, and left two Admirals critically injured, their fates uncertain. You can't possibly think you'll get away with this so easily!"
"I trust you understand! As for the remaining crew members, we'll ignore them. No Wanted Posters will be issued."
Sengoku's voice boomed as he spoke.
He demanded that Rojen and the other three stay behind, their fates obvious: either death or a lifetime in Impel Down.
"Admiral Sengoku, your sincerity is severely lacking!"
Rojen's expression turned cold as the Seven Stars sword behind him let out a sharp, piercing cry and shot forth.
With a swift step forward and a firm grip, Rojen was instantly before Sengoku, his sword already descending.
"Audacious!" Sengoku roared, raising his fist to meet the descending blade.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
In mid-air, Rojen rapidly shifted his sword stance and struck again.
Whoosh!
A crescent-shaped slash erupted from the sword's tip, hurtling downward to collide with Sengoku's right arm.
Bang!
A dull thud echoed through the air. Sengoku's face flickered with surprise as he staggered back three steps.
Garp, who had remained silent on the sidelines, narrowed his eyes slightly but said nothing.
"If you don't want to talk, then let's fight!"
"If you do want to talk, then come with genuine sincerity!"
(End Of This Chapter)