In the year 1498 of the Sea Calendar, one month had passed since Roger became the Pirate King.
During this month, the world was in turmoil. Across the Four Blues and the Grand Line, messenger seagulls soared high, carrying new messages to the people.
At this moment, Roger's name resounded throughout the vast sea. This man who had become the Pirate King would leave a significant mark on history. Countless factions across the seas were actively searching for information on Roger's pirate crew. Even Capturing just one member of Roger's crew could provide a ticket to reach Laugh Tale, the Final Island.
Some sensed that a new era was on the horizon. The emergence of the Pirate King meant that the World Government would face significant challenges.
For centuries, the World Government had controlled the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line. However, the New World had always been a place beyond their reach.
A person who could circumnavigate the world and nearly conquer the entire sea held immense significance for the world. With a single call, countless ambitious individuals, dreamers, and opportunists would heed, spreading like a virus across the seas.
After Roger became the Pirate King, the World Government was furious. Rumors even spread that the five apex figures in Pangaea Castle held an emergency meeting overnight. The leaders of various branches of the World Government attended.
Soon after the meeting, the Navy Headquarters initiated unprecedented frequent mobilizations. The CP and other clandestine departments under the World Government also became active, vigorously searching for Roger and his crew.
The World Government's actions created an atmosphere of impending storm throughout the world.
All keen observers on the seas could sense that with Roger becoming the Pirate King, a massive storm that would affect the entire world was imminent.
Across the nations, naval bases on the seas were on high alert. Especially in East Blue, Roger's hometown, the Navy tightened security. If Roger were to appear in East Blue, he would immediately face the destructive might of the World Government and the Navy.
Surprisingly, at the pinnacle of achieving the highest status as the Pirate King, the man who should have reached a new peak disappeared before everyone's eyes.
Even the members of Roger's pirate crew seemed to vanish entirely, thwarting the spies the World Government had embedded in West Blue, Fish-Man Island, Reverse Mountain, and the Grand Line.
With the disappearance of Roger's crew, the World Government's vigilant stance and the heightened readiness of the Navy across the seas became futile efforts.
"What does he want to do?"
Inside Pangaea Castle, the five elders observed the firsthand intelligence gathered from across the seas, pondering.
"If Roger truly reached Laugh Tale, he should know many of the world's truths. But why hasn't he made any moves? It's quite puzzling," remarked an elderly man with a flat hat and a scar on his left cheek.
"Perhaps he has a bigger plan," said another elder with a long beard.
"Regardless, we must prepare to eradicate Roger's pirate crew!" declared a bald man in a white kimono, holding a longsword indifferently. It seemed as if wiping out Roger's crew was just a routine task for them.
At the Navy Headquarters and the Naval Academy, Zephyr furrowed his brows as he read the newspaper, contemplating Roger's whereabouts.
Undoubtedly, Roger's disappearance, along with his crew, was a matter of concern for everyone on the seas. After reaching Laugh Tale, the legendary pirate who had been crowned as the Pirate King vanished without a trace, without revealing what he had discovered on the Final Island.
The only thing known was the World Government's claim that Roger had gained wealth, fame, and power.
"Zephyr, you're as boring as Sengoku. What can you discern from reading the newspaper? Maybe Roger is busy having a child. He might show up on his own after some time," Garp lamented as he entered Zephyr's office and lounged on the sofa, munching on senbei.
"He has become the Pirate King, the highest honor a pirate can achieve. He shouldn't be so low-key now," Zephyr continued to ponder the question.
Garp felt helpless. Despite Zephyr's withdrawal from active service due to his unstable mental state after the incident, he was still deeply concerned about the events on the seas.
If it weren't for Zephyr's encounter with that incident, Garp wouldn't have bothered to come see him.
Fortunately, Zephyr quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, is there still no news about Dragon?"
Upon hearing Dragon's name, Garp paused for a moment while stuffing senbei into his mouth. But he quickly resumed eating.
"That brat Dragon has gone wild somewhere. If I catch him, I'll make him taste my loving fist," Dragon crunched loudly on the senbei, indicating that Dragon's actions were almost indistinguishable from desertion from the Navy. If not for Garp's extensive connections, Dragon might have already been on a wanted list.
"Dragon has always been independent since he was young. If he's just disappointed with the Navy, it's better. I'm afraid he might make the wrong choices. Remember, the World Government represents more than just high status and immense symbolic significance," it was a friend's warning, but it made Garp sit up straight.
"I'll keep an eye on him."
...
"Hehehe, this is really interesting! After Roger became the Pirate King, he chose to disappear. Is he scared stiff? Or is he brewing a world-shaking event? And the famous Golden Lion also disappeared. During our time in the Antarctic, the world has changed a lot. This era is becoming more and more interesting, hehehe..."
On the pirate ship of the Donquixote Family, Doflamingo, who had just emerged from the Antarctic, looked at the newspaper and burst into strange laughter.
"Hehehe, I say, Doflamingo, we found a Marine warship in the distance. What should we do?" Trebol's voice came with concern, instantly halting Doflamingo's laughter.
Taking the binoculars handed over by Trebol and looking at the distant warship with the sail bearing the words "Marine," and the figure standing at the bow with a cane sword, Doflamingo's veins bulged, and he even crushed the binoculars.
"Attention everyone! Head to the New World! I don't believe he can chase me there!" Doflamingo said fiercely, clearly annoyed by the relentless pursuit by the Marine Vice Admiral. His various plans would not proceed smoothly if he continued to be chased.
"All hands on deck!" Doflamingo's order spread throughout the ship. It was evident that being pursued by someone like the Marine Admiral was disrupting all of his plans.