The battleship did not stay long at the G-5 fortress. Once it had replenished its supplies, it set sail again toward the Marine Headquarters at Marineford.
Kōjin learned that the primary objective this time for entering the second half of the Grand Line was to monitor the movements of the two major pirate crews in real time to prevent unexpected situations.
He naturally understood what was meant by "unexpected situations."
It was nothing more than the possibility of the Golden Fang Pirates and the Stormweave Pirates joining forces. Such a development would be a tremendous destabilizing factor for pirates and the world.
What happened later, Garp leading them in chasing Roger, which eventually resulted in a massive battle was simply the personal willfulness and romanticism of Marine Vice Admiral Garp.
Sengoku and Zephyr, the two Admirals, had long since left the area, and the G-5 fortress was now guarded by a Vice Admiral whom Kōjin did not know.
Standing at the bow of the battleship beside Garp, the sea breeze blew across Kōjin's face, making him squint slightly.
"Your Rear Admiral rank will be personally awarded to you by Commander Kong at Marineford," Garp said with a laugh.
"Mm." Kōjin nodded.
Although he had initially been resistant to the Marines after being saved by them, that feeling gradually faded as he became familiar with and understood the people around him. Slowly, he began to accept it.
At the very least, the Marines had a well-developed training system and excellent growth opportunities.
Before he matured into a world-class powerhouse with the strength to grasp his own freedom, this was a good harbor.
"To be able to fight Pluton Rayleigh evenly for seven whole days..."
Your body must be hiding some very big secrets."
Garp suddenly laughed, casually tossing a doughnut into his mouth and crunching down with a ka-cha.
Kōjin remained silent and did not answer.
"Hahaha! You brat!"
"I'm not interested in your secrets. I just hope that one day, after you've truly grown up and there are no longer any enemies left in this world who can match you..."
Garp paused and let out a soft sigh.
"...you'll be able to clearly understand what you really want."
"People... yesterday is already gone. It becomes history. Living in the present is what matters most."
Hearing this, Kōjin was stunned for a moment, then nodded lightly. Garp truly regarded him as family. He not only taught him how to be strong, but also shared his life experiences.
Though this man was, overall, extremely rough and thick-skinned, he still had a surprisingly delicate side.
The voyage back to Headquarters was peaceful and trouble-free.
Sitting on the deck, Kōjin quietly reviewed what he had gained from the recent battle.
"Haoshoku — LV99 (MAX)."
"Tekkai — LV50."
"Rankyaku — LV35."
"Soru — LV60."
"Geppo — LV20."
"Shigan — LV45."
The clear and easy-to-understand status panel gave him an accurate grasp of his current strength. Besides his max-level Haoshoku, he had also trained the Rokushiki considerably.
"The balanced attribute allocation has strengthened my power evenly." Kōjin sighed.
Now, even without relying on his Haoshoku Haki Infusion and using only Rokushiki, his strength alone was formidable.
After his battle with Rayleigh, one could say that his strength had undergone a transformation, allowing him to finally join the ranks of the world's true powerhouses.
...
Meanwhile, the Oro Jackson rushed across the sea.
"Hahahaha! What an exhilarating battle!"
"Only Garp can make my blood boil like that!"
Roger laughed loudly, his entire body wrapped in bandages covered in Haoshoku Haki residue.
Rayleigh smiled slightly, his own body covered in white cloth.
Crocus frowned beside them. "Roger, avoid battles like that in the future. Your body can't hold out much longer!"
The seven-day, seven-night battle was an enormous burden for Roger, whose body was already weakened by disease.
"Hahaha! When you meet a worthy opponent like that, your hands get itchy. As for my body..." Roger paused, smiling lightly.
"People die sooner or later."
Before Crocus could reply, Roger turned back toward Rayleigh with an amused expression and said,
"I heard that Marine brat fought you to a draw. Rayleigh, are you serious?"
Upon hearing his name mentioned, Rayleigh's expression also became solemn. Nearby, Shanks and Buggy, who had been messing around, and Bullet, who had his head lowered, all abruptly looked over.
"I fought with my full strength! But that kid is strange, he's almost undefeatable. And what's even more frightening is his unbelievably fast growth speed."
Rayleigh took a deep breath and said gravely,
"When I first fought him, his attack power was strong but had clear limits. But by the seventh day, his overall physical qualities—strength and reaction speed—were already equal to my own."
"I've never seen someone so terrifying."
In the future, he may very well grow into an opponent we won't be able to ignore."
Everyone fell silent. Buggy looked like he wanted to speak but ultimately lowered his head in frustration. Bullet clenched his fists so tightly that his teeth ground together audibly.
"Is that so?"
A moment later, Roger's laughter echoed.
"In this world, there will always be incomprehensibly gifted geniuses.
"Every era has them. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, they always push something forward."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his head and gazed at the clear blue sky.
"Since he's walking with Garp, I doubt he'll become a man who makes the world tremble in fear!"
"If possible, I wish I could live a bit longer... just to see what the world becomes after that kid grows up."
"Hahahaha!"
Laughing heartily, Roger turned his head toward Rayleigh again.
"What do you think? Will he obediently stay within the Marines like Garp?"
"After he witnesses the darkness hidden within this world?"
Rayleigh froze, then smiled and shook his head.
"The future… who can say?"
Laughter echoed across the deck of the Oro Jackson. Though everyone was wrapped in bandages, the atmosphere remained lively.
Suddenly, a deep voice rang out.
"Roger."
Roger turned his head and saw Bullet's gloomy expression. "What is it?"
"I've wanted the answer to this question for a long time."
"Do you… still possess the power to dominate the world, to stand as the strongest in this world?"
Douglas Bullet spoke each word with firmness.
Roger's smile faded. After thinking for a moment, he smiled wryly and shook his head. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Bullet."
After being ravaged by illness and then personally battling Garp again, he now had a clear understanding of his current body and strength. Upon hearing the answer, Bullet's entire body trembled, his fists tightening until they cracked.
"I want to challenge you again! And then decide whether I will continue staying on this ship!"
The moment his words fell, the expressions of every crew member changed and they erupted angrily.
"Bullet, are you joking?!"
"Damn it, you're actually thinking of leaving!?"
But Roger raised his hand. His expression still held a smile, but in his eyes a trace of authority appeared.
He stared at Bullet for a long moment before suddenly drawing the longblade at his waist, pointing it at him.
"Come!"
"Go freely and do the things you want to do, that is the very ideal you have always upheld!"
Hearing these words, spoken with laughter yet filled with resolve, Bullet's body trembled. Then he suddenly lifted his head.
"No matter the outcome… you are the man I respect most in my entire life, Roger!"
Roger burst into loud laughter.
A battle within the pirate crew began and ended quickly.
That day, Douglas Bullet turned away and left the Roger Pirates, his whereabouts unknown.
And on that same day, the dog-head battleship carrying Shalor arrived at the coast of the Sabaody Archipelago.
Gazing at this familiar island, his eyes gradually turned icy cold.
(End of Chapter)
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