Even if Rono hadn't killed those CP0 agents, they would have taken their own lives.
Better death—
Than falling into the hands of the Celestial Dragons after failure.
"Hahaha! Fight's over!"
Roger slung an arm around Rono's shoulders.
"Let's go see what treasures Heavenly Tribute holds!"
With the obstacles gone, he dragged Rono toward the interior of the ship.
Observation Haki clearly indicated—
The Heavenly Tribute was stored below deck.
Rono felt anticipation rising.
Heavenly Tribute wasn't just gold and jewels.
What if there were rare Devil Fruits?
Or other powerful relics?
Roger had never eaten a Devil Fruit.
He had zero interest in them.
If one appeared—
It would undoubtedly belong to Rono.
"Think there's some legendary aged sake in there?" Roger mused dreamily.
Rono nearly tripped.
"…What is wrong with your brain?"
Wine could be bought anywhere with enough money.
The Celestial Dragons would never lack alcohol.
The Pirate King's thought process truly defied logic.
"St– Stop!"
A trembling voice interrupted.
"Oh?"
Roger and Rono turned.
A young Marine stood shakily, gripping a standard-issue short blade.
He looked newly enlisted.
And yet—
He had regained consciousness first.
That meant something.
Both Rono and Roger possessed Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
Recovering this quickly meant an exceptional will.
A talent like this… could he be one of the future Admirals?
No.
The timeline didn't match.
Sengoku? Garp? Zephyr?
Impossible.
They were already famous Vice Admirals at headquarters.
Still—
Rono felt a strange familiarity.
"I saw everything you did."
"I won't let you take the Heavenly Tribute."
"I am a Marine who represents justice!"
The young man declared, full of passionate righteousness.
"Justice?" Rono sneered.
"CP0 can ride over your heads and slaughter your comrades. That's justice?"
"It's temporary!" the young Marine retorted.
"When I grow stronger, I will change the Marines!"
"Oh? You'll change the Marines?"
Rono's interest deepened.
Dreams were not to be mocked.
A man who aimed to reform the Navy would never be mediocre.
But who was he?
Not Akainu.
Not Kizaru.
Not Aokiji.
Not Garp. Not Sengoku. Not Zephyr.
Who are you?
Suddenly—
BOOM.
A powerful aura burst from the young Marine.
Invisible shockwaves spread outward.
The air trembled.
The sky seemed to dim.
Conqueror's Haki.
Unmistakable.
But—
Still at an early stage.
Rono effortlessly neutralized it with his own.
"Conqueror's Haki?"
"State your name."
Very few Marines possessed this ability.
In Rono's memory—
Only Sengoku had it.
The young Marine stood tall.
"My name is Monkey D. Dragon!"
"I swear to cut down injustice with the blade of my heart!"
Rono froze.
"…Dragon."
Monkey D. Dragon.
The future leader of the Revolutionary Army.
The most wanted criminal in the world.
Of course.
That overwhelming sense of righteous intensity—
He was Luffy's father.
Rono hadn't expected this.
Dragon—
Had once been a Marine.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
From Marine—
To revolutionary who sought to overthrow the World Government.
Something must have broken his faith.
Roger laughed loudly.
"Monkey D. Dragon, huh? I'll remember that! I'll wait to see the day you change the Marines!"
Idealism recognized idealism.
Rono looked at him seriously.
"Dragon. If one day you lose faith in the Marines—"
"Come find me."
"Our goals may align."
The future Revolutionary Army would rival even a Yonko crew.
And Dragon himself—
Would undoubtedly be Emperor-tier.
Planting a seed today—
Could grow into a forest tomorrow.
Dragon's expression was resolute.
"Don't misunderstand. I am a Marine."
"I will never join pirates."
Rono laughed.
"Then prove it. Try changing the Marines."
If he actually succeeds, this entire story wouldn't exist.