The earth-shaking event of Roger becoming the Pirate King soon sent ripples spreading across the entire world.
Even Kojin, far from the center of the storm, quickly felt its impact.
The first sign came in the form of orders issued by Marine Headquarters.
"Maintain maximum alert. We must decisively prevent certain pirates from launching reckless counterattacks under Roger's influence."
"For this purpose, Headquarters authorizes you, Rear Admiral Kojin, to act with greater severity and ruthlessness!"
This order was different from those of the past, causing Kojin to narrow his eyes slightly.
Under normal circumstances, aside from a few Marines like himself and Sakazuki, who were known for their brutal methods, most anti-pirate operations focused on capture rather than annihilation.
"So the goal is to intimidate the pirates as quickly as possible to prevent even greater upheaval across the world?"
Secondly, Kojin and T. Penn had clearly felt the pirates' growing frenzy in recent days in the second half of the Grand Line.
In just half a month, they had encountered ten powerful pirate crews.
And every single encounter turned into a fierce battle.
Roger's ascension as Pirate King could be said to have greatly ignited the enthusiasm of other pirates, making their blood boil. Across the world, countless pirates, even those who had yet to become pirates, now regarded Roger as their role model.
While Kojin was busy roaming everywhere and suppressing pirates, on an unnamed island, beneath a great tree in full bloom with cherry blossoms, two figures sat cross-legged facing each other.
"Gurararara! Roger, you actually dared to come see me all by yourself." A tall man with blond hair and a crescent-shaped mustache laughed loudly as he spoke.
"Hahahaha! Newgate, you and I have fought countless times. Though we're rivals, we can still be considered friends." Roger laughed just as heartily.
The towering man sitting opposite him was none other than Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, one of the Three Great Legends of the world.
"Speak. What business do you have coming here to see me? A man like you, the newly crowned Pirate King, wouldn't appear before me for no reason." Newgate raised his drink, drained it in one gulp, and said calmly.
Hearing this, Roger's eyes grew more serious. He stared at Newgate and suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"I reached the final island and obtained the great treasure... ONE PIECE."
"I came here to ask you one thing."
After a brief pause, Roger's mustache twitched, and he laughed again.
"Newgate! Do you want to know the location of the final island?"
Whitebeard froze, his pupils shrinking.
As his long-time rival, someone who had clashed with him for years, Whitebeard naturally understood how difficult it was to obtain the location of the final island. Yet today, Roger was offering to tell him directly.
In the next moment, though, Whitebeard burst into laughter and shook his head.
"I don't want to know!"
Roger was stunned for a moment, then laughed just as loudly.
"That's exactly who you are, Newgate."
The two raised their bowls once more and smashed them together.
"I'll be retiring soon. Before that, aside from this matter, there's one more thing I want to remind you of." Roger suddenly seemed to recall something and said with a smile.
"Oh?" Newgate listened with a grin.
"Among the younger generation in the Marines, there's a guy named Kojin. If you ever come to rule these seas in the future... You should be careful of him." Roger's expression grew serious as he spoke solemnly.
"Kojin?!" Newgate was puzzled. He searched his memory for a powerful Marine with that name, but he couldn't find one. Then he snorted with a laugh.
"He's just a small fry. Not worth worrying about!"
Roger shook his head with a wry smile and said nothing more.
Moments later, Whitebeard was the only one left in the forest. As for Roger, the man who had already become Pirate King, his whereabouts were unknown.
After silently finishing the drink in his bowl, Whitebeard's expression became complex and filled with emotion.
"There are fewer and fewer old friends left on these seas, after all."
From Roger's visit, Whitebeard had vaguely sensed something.
He had taken step after step, spending decades climbing to the peak and reaching a height no ordinary person could ever attain. Yet, upon reaching the summit, he chose to turn around and leave.
"Go well. Gol D. Roger."
A murmured whisper drifted through the air.
A gust of wind swept past. Cherry blossoms spiraled and scattered, falling into the wine jar. Within the grove, Whitebeard's figure had already vanished without a trace.
At the same time, in the Edd War Sea, Kojin's battleship linked up with Kuzan's, and they received a new mission from Marine Headquarters.
"What is it, Kojin? Did this guy give you some trouble?" Kuzan asked with a smile, his eyes drifting toward the bounty notice in Kojin's hand.
The notice showed a young man with slicked-back hair and a cigar hanging from his mouth. Beneath the portrait were his name and bounty amount:
Sand Crocodile... Crocodile?
"Not really. I was just reminded of a few things." Kojin smiled faintly.
He was indeed a little surprised. He hadn't expected to receive news about Crocodile here. Moreover, the mission details showed that three previous waves of Marines who had clashed with Crocodile had failed.
And his current position just happened to be not far from the target.
"It's been more than two years. You've been promoted, too."
Kojin glanced at Kuzan's shoulder. There it was: the unmistakable insignia of a Rear Admiral.
"Hahaha! Kojin, the three of us have made a lot of progress these past two years. Right now, I might not necessarily lose to you."
Kuzan laughed.
"Is that so?" Kojin chuckled softly. "But I don't have time to spar with you."
As he spoke, he lifted the bounty notice in his hand.
"I'm in a hurry to catch this rookie."
Kuzan nodded in understanding.
"Then we'll meet again at Headquarters."
The two battleships soon passed by one another. As he watched Kuzan depart, Kojin felt a trace of emotion stir in his heart.
Time was flowing onward, and everything was changing.
It wasn't just him who was growing; others were advancing rapidly as well. From the moment they first met today, Kojin could clearly feel the oppressive power radiating from Kuzan.
Obviously, over the past two years, Kuzan's strength had increased tremendously with the Hie Hie no Mi (Ice-Ice Fruit).
Kojin lowered his head and looked once more at the bounty notice in his hand.
"A rookie... Crocodile?"
A faint smile curved the corners of Kojin's lips as a new idea formed in his mind.
His memories of Crocodile told him that this man was more than just powerful. Aside from losing to Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist, he was a famous "fifty-fifty" fighter whenever he faced other opponents, regardless of strength.
He was also sharp-minded and highly skilled at planning. In the future Cross Guild, he would play the role of strategist and steward.
One could say he was an excellent support-type helper.
With a bit of training, he could reach the level of a Vice Admiral.
"Senior Officer, Headquarters has sent word: The pirate crew led by Crocodile is currently on Rien Island, ten nautical miles to our northwest."
After contacting Headquarters, Mina quickly reported the location.
Kojin nodded.
"Set course for Rien Island!"
(End of chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395
PS-"For every 100 power stones, I'll release one bonus chapter! (Resets Every Week on Monday)"