The golden rose docked in front of a secluded port in the New World. Nero held up her hand, on which she wore a golden ring.
"Hmm, the legendary 100% pure gold. The glow of pure gold is truly beautiful."
Nero rubbed the ring against her cheek. It had taken her a lot of effort to get it back then, and some brat kept saying pure gold could prolong life or something.
Hmm, small places always have a lot of absurd rumors. A while ago, she even heard that Jabba married a woman from the Giant Race, and that Rayleigh also became a coating craftsman.
Really, there have been quite a few fake news stories on the sea lately.
It had been over a year since the Roger Pirates disbanded. In that year, Nero was less of a pirate and more accurately, a treasure hunter.
Due to her constant back-and-forth between the first half of the Grand Line and the New World, her relationship with Fish-Man Island had become much closer.
The biggest gain from her travels this year should be a Devil Fruit, a Mythical Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit, Vermilion Dragon Model. If auctioned, it could fetch over a billion berries.
And now, Nero had heard that the fruit she had always dreamed of had appeared in a small mafia family in the West Blue. She was preparing to go see if it was true.
Walking through the small town, Nero's steps were light and free. With her sunglasses and straw hat, she looked very much like a traveler.
"Extra! Extra! The legendary Pirate King Gol D. Roger has been arrested by Marine Hero Iron Fist Garp and will be executed in Loguetown in one week!"
A child ran through the street, shouting, but the content made Nero laugh.
As the most popular figure of this era, rumors about Roger could be heard almost everywhere.
Some said he had returned to Raftel, guarding his treasure and living in complete seclusion. Others said Roger was accumulating strength to overthrow the World Government. Still others claimed Roger had achieved everything in life and returned home to marry.
In short, Nero was already used to all sorts of rumors, but this talk of execution was quite rare.
Nero didn't take it seriously, just smiled and intended to continue shopping.
Until countless white papers fluttered down from the sky. Nero looked up and realized they were Morgans News Coo?
These stingy little guys were having such a generous day? Even for Nero, a great pirate with a bounty of 3 billion, they always charged.
And today they just threw them away? Could it be that the world was ending? The town became increasingly lively, and the word "Roger" was appearing too frequently.
Feeling a little uneasy, Nero picked up a newspaper and started reading.
"Pirate King Gol D. Roger was arrested by Marine Hero Iron Fist Garp one month ago."
Below it was a picture of Roger, handcuffed, with a somewhat hunched figure.
"Muhahaha! He got caught! Idiot! I knew you, you idiotic bastard, were unreliable."
Nero suddenly burst out laughing, tears streaming down her face. Her exaggerated behavior caused some passersby to stop and watch.
"Garp? How could that idiot arrest you? What kind of underhanded tactics did they use? Marine!!!"
As she spoke the last word, Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted. On Nero's somber face, crimson demonic patterns appeared, more vivid than ever before.
The Haki encompassed the entire island, even affecting the distant ocean, where a group of unconscious fish floated on the surface.
The town was like a disaster zone, almost everyone had fallen unconscious, and many nearby people were blown away.
"Hmm, time is a bit short! It seems there's no other way." Nero looked at the Devil Fruit in her hand. She hadn't originally planned to eat it, but given the current situation, she couldn't care less.
Without peeling it, Nero bit into the crimson fruit, enduring the disgusting taste, and swallowed the entire fruit in a few bites.
Her gaze turned to the distant sky. This way, she should be able to make it… And one other person made the same decision as Nero. It wasn't Rayleigh, nor Jabba, but Golden Lion Shiki, who had been waiting for Roger's move all year!
Upon receiving the news of Roger's arrest, he immediately made the same judgment as Nero: the Marine must have used some underhanded tactics.
Perhaps with a ship's rudder stuck in his head, his brain wasn't working too well. The enraged Shiki immediately prepared to storm Marineford.
And the Nicuss Empire also received the news. Hathaway finished reading the last part of the newspaper.
Livord leaned on his cane, his brow furrowed into a knot. Listening to Hathaway's words, his grip on the cane tightened.
"Still no news of His Majesty Nero?"
"Alas, His Majesty Nero's whereabouts are quite secretive. Our people always receive news much later." Hathaway's expression was equally grim.
She vaguely knew why Roger chose to do this, but at this moment, she still felt sad. After all, she was once a member of the Roger Pirates.
"Then send more people to search!"
Livord seemed to be speaking too quickly, and couldn't help but cough twice: "Cough, cough, the letter left by those pirates, no matter what, must be delivered to His Majesty Nero's hands immediately."
"This matter has already been arranged!"
"Send the order again! Offer official titles and ranks; this must be completed as quickly as possible, no matter what."
Livord struck his cane sharply: "Those pirate bastards, wouldn't it have been better for them to just die quietly in a corner?"
Hathaway did not respond, standing in place, her hands clutching her skirt even tighter.
After a while, Livord sat on the sofa, his body suddenly relaxing: "Well, Hathaway, do you think we still have time?"
"Alas, His Majesty Nero, with strong fortune protecting her, will surely be fine!" Hathaway's eyes were downcast, her words a bit halting and stuttering.
"Jiejiejie! Is that so? Ah, His Majesty Nero will definitely be fine!" Livord laughed, as if convinced by Hathaway's words.
Leaning on his cane, Livord walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked at the clear blue sky. A strong wind blew through, making the curtains rustle loudly.
"Hmm, it seems the wind has picked up?"
...Above the Red Line, a Sky Island was flying rapidly.
Sitting on it was Golden Lion Shiki. Only his ability could make an island fly freely in the sky like an airship.
He had brought no subordinates. In his anger, he decided to go to Marineford alone to demand an explanation. The Float-Float Fruit's ability allowed him to reach his destination the fastest.
But today, above the Red Line, he saw a red giant dragon flying alongside him.
After sensing his presence, the giant dragon flew over without any hesitation, finally landing on his 'ship,' its figure gradually transforming into Nero's appearance.
"Hmm, going to Marineford? Shiki, let me hitch a ride."
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!