You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395
This immediately deepened the world's impression of Kojin.
Almost everyone now knew that a Marine named Kojin had successively captured two legendary figures among the Three Great Pirates.
...
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The solid ice melted under the sunlight, transforming into seawater that flowed back into the Inner Bay.
At that moment, The headquarters was already bustling with activity.
Yesterday's surprise attack by Golden Lion Shiki seemed to have been forgotten. Compared to the captured Shiki, they had more pressing matters to attend to today.
"Kojin, you're in charge of the fleet's northwest flank. Maintain strict surveillance of all surrounding movements and prevent anything from approaching."
"Further deployment arrangements will be made upon arrival at Loguetown."
Sengoku commanded in a deep voice.
Early that morning, Headquarters had already begun arranging matters related to escorting Roger to Loguetown.
"Yes!" Kojin nodded.
Despite the absence of a powerful enemy, the atmosphere at Headquarters remained tense and solemn.
Fifteen minutes later, as Kojin stood waiting on the Battleship, he spotted three figures approaching.
"Kojin!" Kuzan called out from the harbor, his face beaming with a smile.
Borsalino stood beside him, waving with a lecherous grin.
The third figure was Sakazuki, his face dark as he stood with his Marine cap pulled low, arms crossed, and a cold, piercing gaze fixed ahead.
"So, for the Loguetown operation, the three of you have been assigned as my subordinates?" Kojin asked curiously after the trio boarded the Battleship.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Kojin," Kuzan replied with a smile.
"Working under a powerhouse like Vice Admiral Kojin should save us a lot of trouble." Borsalino sighed.
Then he glanced at the others on the ship.
When he spotted Crocodile and Bullet, the smile on his face froze for a moment before he sighed again.
"Vice Admiral Kojin's subordinates are monsters, too, huh?"
Sakazuki spoke up in a cold voice: "I don't understand the purpose of this arrangement, but I will obey all orders from my superiors."
Kojin shot him a glance but didn't respond.
The awkward tension between the two was obvious to everyone on board.
"Did you eat the Thunder Thunder Fruit?" Kuzan asked casually, trying to break the tension.
Meanwhile, Borsalino deliberately turned his gaze elsewhere, acting as if he neither saw nor heard anything happening around him.
...
At the same time, on the sixth level of Impel Down...
"Shiki!"
Under the dim candlelight, Roger, sitting cross-legged inside his cell, saw Golden Lion Shiki being thrown into Impel Down in prison garb. His expression changed slightly.
"Vice-Admiral Kojin is incredible! He not only captured Roger but also personally defeated the Golden Lion Shiki!"
"Two legends, both brought down by a single man!"
"And the most astonishing thing is, he's still so young!"
The jailers' murmured conversation reached Roger's ears, causing his eyes to narrow slightly.
After staring at the unconscious Golden Lion Shiki for a moment, he slowly exhaled.
"Kojin, huh..."
Roger then fell silent.
Having personally trained the young man for a year, he knew better than anyone the terrifying strength and boundless potential hidden within that youth.
That bizarre, near-immortal bloodline granted him an innate advantage against any formidable foe, a truth that would become increasingly apparent as he approached the pinnacle of power.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from ahead, prompting Roger to lift his head.
Two figures appeared, both familiar faces.
"Garp!"
"Sengoku!"
Roger greeted them with a smile.
"It's time to set off, Roger," Sengoku said in a deep voice.
Roger's expression remained calm, and a faint smile remained on his lips.
"You'll be escorted to Loguetown in the East Blue for a public execution," Garp announced.
"Loguetown?" Roger murmured, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
"Beginning and end in the same place."
Suddenly, he burst into a wide grin.
"The town of beginnings and endings!"
"It's a good place. I like it!"
Sengoku froze slightly. He hadn't expected this man to react to the place of his death with such enthusiasm.
Soon after, a jailer opened Roger's cell door and escorted him out.
After walking up a long flight of steps and continuing upward until sunlight finally shone upon his face, Roger emerged from Impel Down under heavy guard.
He squinted slightly, finding the sunlight a bit harsh.
After boarding the Battleship with Garp and Sengoku, Roger settled into a comfortable cross-legged position.
"Golden Lion Shiki launched a surprise attack on Marineford yesterday, demanding we hand you over," Garp suddenly announced.
"Oh?" Roger smiled and looked up.
"He doesn't believe we captured you," Garp added.
"Heh, that sounds like him," Roger chuckled.
"Actually, I don't quite understand why you're doing this," Garp said after a moment of silence.
"Don't understand?" Roger chuckled softly, slowly lifting his gaze to the azure sky.
"Time..."
There was never a good time."
After saying this, he fell silent once more.
He hadn't been born in the right era, and he didn't have enough time to change the world.
Fortunately, though, a remarkable individual would be born, someone who would inherit everything.
'What would the future look like?'
Sadly, he wouldn't live to see it. But that didn't matter. After all, predecessors exist to create better starting points for their successors, right?
That's the essence of legacy!
—
An hour later, the Battleship escorting Roger arrived at the Gates of Justice.
Kojin's battleship merged with the fleet ahead. On deck, the future Three Admirals struck distinct poses: Kuzan snored on a sun lounger, Borsalino stared blankly into space, and Sakazuki stood with his arms crossed, lost in thought.
He hadn't expected these three to be under his command during this operation.
But upon reflection, it made sense. He currently held the rank of Vice-Admiral, while they were Rear Admirals.
His domain spread outward, and in an instant, he had a firm grasp of the entire fleet's situation.
The flagship escorting the Pirate King Roger was naturally surrounded at the center of the fleet formation, with veteran Vice Admirals leading the vanguard.
Kojin and his group were responsible for the northwest flank.
Sailing west through the Grand Line and crossing the Calm Belt would lead them to the East Blue.
The Marines' ability to navigate the Calm Belt without incident was proof of their advanced maritime technology. The journey passed without major danger. By evening, the fleet had arrived in Loguetown in the East Blue.
The massive armada of battleships and the arrival of top Navy officials instantly turned the once-quiet town lively yet filled with suffocating tension.
Standing at the bow of the ship, Kojin gazed toward the town ahead.
He knew in his heart that from this day forward, Loguetown would never again be an obscure backwater place.
Half an hour later, Kojin and his subordinates received their orders:
"For the next few days, you and your subordinate squad will be responsible for Roger's guard duty."
Hearing this, Kojin froze briefly, then nodded.
That night, the squad settled in, lodging in civilian houses only dozens of meters away from where Roger was being held.
(End of Chapter)