After careful consideration by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the trouble left behind by Golden Lion Shiki was not made public through the news.
After all, what would announcing it accomplish? It would only leave the public in fear, without solving any practical problems. It was only when Marines cleared out those unruly fierce beasts that the people could truly feel at ease.
As the sea-calming force of the One Piece World, Marines had always adhered to a practical doctrine. That’s why they left the impression in the minds of ordinary citizens that “Marines are their protector.”
However, just because ordinary people were unaware, it didn’t mean that the major powers were in the dark.
Especially those perceptive Great Characters, who had long received notices through government officials. They quietly moved away from cities closer to the forest. Until the government provided a concrete solution, they would avoid areas with too many wild beasts.
In Rowen’s eyes, the Blue crystals scattered by Golden Lion Shiki were like a plague, a colossal Natural Disaster that challenged the established order, even if it ultimately failed!
In this respect, Rowen admired him.
Because Rowen couldn’t be as carefree as Golden Lion Shiki. He aimed to seize the world for a sense of greater peace.
New World, the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates.
On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard’s gaze was vacant as he raised a wine glass, lost in his thoughts.
Marco stood at a distance, sighing in distress, but in the end, he didn’t disturb Whitebeard’s drinking.
Golden Lion Shiki’s death solidified Rowen’s reputation. Combined with his previous war against Kaido, the name “Soryu (Azure Dragon)” now resonated nearly as strongly as an Admiral’s, evoking fear from all directions.
It was said that even the typically reclusive Totoland, Yonko “Big Mom,” had issued orders to her children to avoid provoking the Soryu (Azure Dragon) unless absolutely necessary.
Charlotte Linlin hadn’t become so arrogant that her subordinates could challenge the Soryu (Azure Dragon). In this era of powerful pirates and a strong Marine, nobody’s days were easy.
But Marco knew that Whitebeard wasn’t fearing Rowen; he was only reminiscing.
“Do you know, Ace, eighteen years ago, before Golden Lion Shiki went to Marine Headquarters, he came to find me.”
“Hmm?”
Since Whitebeard’s mood was clearly not good, everyone on the deck moved carefully, afraid of disturbing him. Ace sat quietly on the side, eating his meal, and when he heard this, he looked up, his face blank, unsure of what to say.
But it seemed that Whitebeard wasn’t really prepared to listen to what he had to say. He continued on his own.
“Do you believe that man would be captured by the Marines?”
“That’s what Golden Lion Shiki told me at the time.”
“The execution of Roger in the weakest East Blue was the final insult to that man!”
“That was an opponent even someone as proud as Golden Lion Shiki acknowledged! The Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!!”
Ace couldn’t help but stop his movements, his expression somber.
When he came to Whitebeard’s side, he had already heard plenty of rumors about Roger and his birth father. He couldn’t believe that the man who had brought him nothing but pain and darkness, the man who had left him with this “wicked bloodline,” could be such a towering figure.
This was probably what they called “human nature.”
As long as Roger’s image wasn’t one of righteousness, it was only natural for Ace to hate him.
But obviously, the reality was different…
Roger had awed many people throughout his life, including his companions and adversaries, and even included Marine.
His grandfather, the “Marine Hero” Garp, was willing to hide his own wicked bloodline from the World Government for him. Golden Lion Shiki, a pirate who had been in opposition for decades, paid the price of losing both legs for venturing alone into Marine Headquarters because he didn’t believe he would be captured.
Even “Red Hair” Shanks, who was also a Yonko like his “Old Man,” managed to save him from Marine because of Roger’s legacy.
All of these were things Ace had never dared to imagine before.
The person he hated was the kind of true hero he admired, not the vile scoundrel he had imagined.
“Is it worth it?”
“Hmm? What are you saying?”
Whitebeard was drawn to attention by this soft call, and he turned to look at Ace.
“I mean, is it worth it?”
“Even if the Edd War naval battle was lost, after Roger’s death, Golden Lion Shiki was still the strongest pirate at sea, right? At that time, you didn’t care about becoming the Pirate King. He clearly had the chance to replace Roger and become the new Pirate King…”
“But in the end, he was defeated at Marine Headquarters, wasted eighteen years, and now he’s been killed by the Soryu (Azure Dragon)… Am I right?” Whitebeard chuckled lightly and asked in return before Ace could finish his sentance.
Ace fell silent.
“Gūrarararara!! That’s Golden Lion Shiki, Ace!!” Whitebeard burst into hearty laughter as he spoke. “He regarded Roger as his lifelong rival. Unable to surpass Roger, even if he became the new Pirate King, he wouldn’t be happy!”
“If pirates can’t do what they want, what’s the point of becoming a pirate?”
This was what Roger said to Golden Lion Shiki before the Edd War naval battle. A year before he turned himself in, Roger talked to Whitebeard about Golden Lion Shiki.
However, at that time, no one, including Whitebeard, had expected that Golden Lion Shiki would later venture into Marine Headquarters to do what he wanted.
“You’re still young, Ace. But I can tell you, if we really want to find a reason for Golden Lion Shiki, I can only say…”
“This was the nature of the pirate, ‘Golden Lion Shiki’!!!”
Hua La La!!
Whitebeard turned his wine glass upside down, letting the clear liquid spill onto the deck.
Golden Lion Shiki, rest in peace.
…
As the old pirates mourned the passing of a legend, the new pirates looked up to that legendary status. However, the wheels of history rolled on, crushing everything in its path, never stopping.
Compared to Whitebeard’s sentimentality, Rowen was now left feeling frustrated.
On the Calm Belt, a fleet led by the flagship Qilin set out towards East Blue. On the deck of the Qilin, Rowen held the documents handed to him by Vice Admiral Momonga, looking bewildered.
“A prosecutor? Me?”
“Yes, that’s what Fleet Admiral wants.”
Vice Admiral Momonga looked at him with a slight smile as he spoke. “This time the mission won’t take us to an uninhabited island. In most places we pass by, there are Marine branches stationed there. In order to avoid causing chaos, we need to come up with a suitable excuse.”
Notifying the Four Seas branches was like broadcasting it to the world!
Never underestimate the level of corruption and collusion between officials and merchants in the Four Seas branches.
So, to avoid leaking information and causing a wide-scale disturbance, the formidable fleet led by the Admiral Candidate Soryu (Azure Dragon), commanding ten War Behemoths, needed a proper reason to appear in East Blue.
And becoming the Prosecutor was the identity that Sengoku came up with for him. But this identity was not for show!
Not for the show!
Not for the show!
Important matters must be emphasized three times.
Every time he arrived at a branch base, Rowen really needed to inspect them! How to deal with those guilty of severe corruption was his concern. In any case, when he returned, Sengoku wanted to see a detailed investigative report on all the branches in East Blue!
This was a military order!
“Why didn’t you give it to me before we set off?”
Rowen widened his eyes.
“Fleet Admiral was afraid you’d find it… well, too troublesome to accept.”
Vice Admiral Momonga almost let the big truth slip, and then tactfully added, “Rowen, if you deviate from the mission midway, it’s not only a violation of orders, but also a serious crime disregarding a direct order. You can end up on a judicial island, so think it through!”
“Damn it!!”
Complaining to Sengoku at headquarters and now going back to argue with Sengoku were two different things! The old fox truly lived up to his reputation, even these word games were in line with his straightforward arrangements.
But Rowen still had a question.
“As a Prosecutor, Vice Admiral Momonga, wouldn’t you be more suitable for this role? After all, you’re a seasoned veteran and quite popular within Marine.”
To this, Vice Admiral Momonga showed no envy, only deep admiration.
“That’s why I’m partnering with you!”
“You’re the Admiral Candidate. Even though our ranks are the same, our positions are different now. I wouldn’t dare overstep my bounds.”
So, from the very beginning, I was set up like this?!
And I thought it was just about balancing combat power!!
Rowen was dumbfounded.
(End of this chapter)
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