The grand Four Seas investigation finally came to an end. As news of the prosecutors gradually returning to Marineford reached the various branch offices, a collective sigh of relief swept through the Marines.
They exchanged knowing smiles as they gazed at the rapidly constructed Independent Commission Against Corruption building, their hearts filled with emotion.
Who would have believed that Marines would go to such lengths to address corruption? It wasn't just an internal matter for Marine; it was intertwined with various forces and factions from all over, pulling on one strand and affecting the entire web.
Now, under the approval of the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars), this extraordinary department stood before them, and the changes it brought in the blink of an eye exceeded what some people would experience in a lifetime.
In the years to come— ten, twenty, fifty, a hundred— so long as the government stood, the Independent Commission Against Corruption would remain a Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of all Marine branches.
The senior officials in the branches who had set an example during this extensive investigation were moved to tears.
The future of the Marine was becoming brighter and more promising. As long as they persisted, they would completely rewrite the era of the Pirates!
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
After a four-month-long mission, Rowen returned to Marineford. As expected, he received a stern reprimand from Sengoku. The resounding roar could be heard clearly even from the other end of the training ground.
A few months ago, Vice Admiral Soryu, known for his cunning and resourcefulness, had astonished everyone by defeating Golden Lion Shiki. Now, once again, he flew through the fortress's top floor, breaking through the walls, with countless soldiers staring, jaws dropping.
However, this time, it wasn't a voluntary flight…
Amid the dumbfounded stares of the onlookers, Rowen arched through the sky and plunged his head into the hard blue stone ground, creating winding cracks in the earth.
Crack! Stones scattered.
Rowen exerted force, pulling his head back out.
"Wow… That punch was brutal!"
He could have dodged it, but there was no need. Sengoku needed to vent his anger to confirm that the matter had been resolved. Otherwise, the "Resourceful General" Sengoku, known for his slyness and cunning, wouldn't reveal this side of him that didn't fit his usual persona.
"Vice Admiral Soryu… Are you okay?" A young soldier approached him, asking in a hushed tone.
It was only then that Rowen realized he had been punched by Sengoku all the way out of the recruit mess hall. It was lunchtime, and the recruits were staring at him wide-eyed, their mouths full of food. Rowen's face turned red with embarrassment.
"Cough, Cough… I'm fine, what could possibly happen to me!"
"Do you recruits have plenty of time for meals? Get back to it!"
"Uh… Yes!"
The soldier was at a loss for words, saluted, and hurried back, wolfing down their food like starving dogs. The recruits' training at the mess hall was no easy feat, and mealtimes were strictly regulated.
Rowen paid a visit to Zephyr's office as usual. Zephyr assessed him with an indifferent look, then reminded him.
"Vegapunk has finished crafting your weapon. Since you're back, you should go take a look."
Speaking of which, Zephyr looked curious. "The last time I saw the same weapon was decades ago when we were fighting with Chinjao and the others. Weren't you always using a sword? Why the switch to a longer weapon?"
Long weapons had their advantages, and in the world of One Piece, a sword was synonymous with a samurai's blade. Under the unreasonable Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) and even more unreasonable sword intent, the most significant weakness of an ordinary samurai sword—light, thin, and fragile—was nullified.
The scenes in anti-Japanese television dramas where a big dao sliced through enemies and their weapons weren't exaggerated at all.
Weighing a dozen or even twenty or thirty jin, these thick-backed large chopping blades, perfectly coordinated with gravity acceleration and blade curvature, could easily break through even thin samurai swords, let alone the iron-skinned shields used by ancient armies.
If it were a long weapon like Guan Yu's Crescent Blade, the inertia alone could shatter bones!
In the hands of a fierce general, it was unstoppable, a must-have for any fierce general.
The shield's primary function was to defend against arrows and missiles. It wasn't that leaders didn't want to use them, but there was simply no need.
However, similarly, long weapons weren't without their drawbacks. In fact, their disadvantages were even greater! Due to their excessive weight, their control was several times more difficult than a samurai sword, placing significant restrictions on the user. Unless one had exceptional strength, they simply couldn't handle it.
Moreover, the length of the weapon further restricted its maneuverability. Often, before you could make an attack, the enemy would already be up close, nullifying any advantages.
In addition to the inherent disadvantage of long weapons in close combat, in the One Piece world, where Sword Technique was one of the main combat methods, Zephyr couldn't fathom why Rowen would choose a long weapon.
"Oh? Is it already done?!" Rowen's eyes lit up, standing up excitedly. "I'm heading over right now!"
With that, a faint surge of electricity flowed. As the electric light flickered, Rowen vanished from his original position.
Zephyr: "…"
"I will wait until you return, then I'll deal with you!"
Marine Headquarters, Scientific Force Building.
Kizaru hadn't returned from his mission yet, so the management of the Scientific Force was temporarily entrusted to Vegapunk. As for Caesar… The third-stage Thunder-Lightning Stimulation Device had finally reached its crucial stage. Even if Kizaru had given specific instructions, Caesar had no time for such trivial matters.
Rowen walked to the port area beneath the Scientific Force Building, where Vegapunk's iconic bushy explosion of hair made him stand out among the researchers from the Grand Line. When he saw Rowen enter, he was momentarily surprised, then quickly realized and pointed to a specially wrapped pole leaning against the wall.
Rowen nodded, signaling that Vegapunk didn't need to pay him any mind. He walked over and reached for the pole.
However, in the next moment, an invisible force repelled his palm, and it was as if it were pressing into resilient rubber. The closer he got to the pole, the stronger the force became, until it felt as hard as steel, preventing Rowen from getting his hand in.
"Use electricity!" Vegapunk shouted from a distance. "I've rewritten the circuits in the Thunder Cloud Sword. With the Thunderstone in place, it keeps the barrier active at all times. Only by sending an electric current can it be balanced."
Sending an electric current to maintain balance, rather than breaking the barrier. Rowen smiled satisfactorily, and then a flicker of blue arcs danced on his palm as he reached out again.
The sensation on his palm felt like penetrating an invisible membrane. Then, it easily slid in. Rowen grabbed the middle of the pole, his muscles trembling slightly from the weight. Then, he grinned, and his entire body erupted in electric light!
Zi Zi… Bang! Blue lightning serpents scattered wildly, and the bandages wrapped around the pole "Shī La" sound, disintegrated into pieces of cloth.
In sight, the weapon was covered in gravel-black light, with only the flat-topped "spike" at the very tip retaining its metallic silver-white hue. The Thunderstone was embedded a few centimeters below the "spike," emitting a deep blue light that wound its way down, painting nine divine Dragon patterns on the painted pole, giving a tingling sensation upon touch. On either side below the "spike," the crescent-shaped weapon locks merged with the pole, with Dragon claw motifs grasping the gun barrel, forming a unique shape at the top.
The overall length exceeded three meters, weighing around a hundred kilograms, its shape exuding a fierce Haki, radiating an unparalleled killing aura!
This was a halberd, a heavy halberd, a double-crescent painted halberd, commonly known as the Sky Piercer!
Roar!!
Sensing an unknown connection, at the moment Rowen lifted it, a low and majestic Dragon roar suddenly exploded, causing a group of researchers in the distance, who didn't know what was happening, to collapse to the ground.
The deeply matte-black painted pole flowed with a Sea-like deep blue blood, and the nine Dragon patterns seemed to come alive, slowly dancing. Rowen lightly swung it, and the spike passed over the ground. It felt as if he were cutting through the air, and he couldn't feel the slightest resistance!
"Hāhāhāhā! Sharp enough, heavy enough, and powerful enough!"
Chi!
With a sudden lateral pull at the waist, rows of muscles as sturdy as steel cables burst forth with unmatched monstrous power. Rowen pulled the long halberd forward, and an incredibly condensed blue energy blade burst out.
Chi…!!
The energy blade plunged directly into the wall, disappearing amidst the dirt and stones.
A few seconds later.
Bang!!
A large mouth suddenly exploded open on the wall, and large chunks of rubble fell from it, crashing into the Underground port, and creating a spray of waves.
Alarms began to blare, and panicked researchers fled in all directions. Rowen snapped out of his excitement, looking at Vegapunk evacuating ahead and the Scientific Force defense soldiers pouring in from behind. He pursed his lips.
Pursing his lips again…
(End of this chapter)
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