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The legendary sword, Ace—one of the Supreme Grade Blades. Yes, this was another transaction.
But Arashi knew that the trade wasn't just about the sword this time.
On the Marine ship, Bullet, Crocodile, T-Bone, Rosinante, Ivan, and the others were collectively speechless, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
Everyone in Arashi's squad had known what their superior was up to for nearly a year.
They were all amazed and envious, as not just anyone could have the chance to be personally trained by a figure as powerful as the Pirate King.
At the same time, they knew that this was a high-level secret that could never be revealed.
Everyone had kept it hidden for Arashi and had never leaked any information about Roger.
They even believed that their commander had developed a close relationship with Roger over the past year, and despite being Marines, they thought he might not arrest him.
But now, the scene before them shattered all those assumptions.
"Roger!" Bullet was the first to react, gritting his teeth.
"Yo, Bullet! Long time no see, huh?" Roger greeted him with a smile, showing no signs of being a prisoner.
"What exactly are you trying to do?" Bullet shouted angrily.
Crocodile, quietly smoking a cigar, narrowed his eyes, just as curious.
His gaze shifted back and forth between Roger and Arashi, and he could not figure out what the two were plotting.
"Can't you see?" Roger grinned and raised the shackles on his wrists. "I've turned myself in. I've been captured!"
Bullet was momentarily stunned, then his face darkened.
He knew Roger well enough to understand that although Roger seemed to be joking, the truth behind his words was undeniable, making the situation all the more serious.
It was then that Arashi spoke.
"Set sail, everyone!"
"Head for Marine Headquarters!" After a pause, his voice turned cold.
"We have captured the fugitive Pirate King—Gol D. Roger!"
The weight of those words shocked everyone to their core. The capture of the Pirate King!
If this news got out, it would shake all of Marineford to its foundations.
The entire world would be thrown into an uproar. Roger, however, only smiled, sat cross-legged on the deck, and relaxed. He was tired.
The ship immediately set sail, but under Arashi's orders, the news of this monumental event was not immediately reported to headquarters.
He had promised Roger that he could bid farewell to his old friends first.
Even with full-speed sailing from Baterilla Island, reaching the Calm Belt would take five days.
So, by the time they crossed the Calm Belt and reached the Sabaody Archipelago for supplies, it was already 2 p.m. five days later.
"I can only give you an hour," Arashi said softly as he unlocked Roger's shackles.
"Haha, that's plenty! Parting words between men don't take long!" Roger laughed.
With that, he leapt off the Marine ship and quickly disappeared into the bustling crowd of Sabaody.
Arashi stood at the bow, quietly watching the scene unfold. Behind him, Rosinante and the others were shocked by their commander's bold move.
"That's the Pirate King Roger! And you're just letting him go like this without any precautions? What if he escapes?" one of them asked nervously.
Before anyone could respond, Bullet, standing at the front, coldly interrupted, "Shut up, Rosinante! Roger isn't that kind of man!"
Arashi then spoke, though he didn't directly address their concerns. Instead, he contacted Crocodile.
"Give me a cigar."
Crocodile paused, then handed him one, understanding his superior's complex emotions.
Over the past year, even if both sides recognized this as a transaction, there was more to it than that.
Just as Roger acknowledged Arashi and taught him swordsmanship, Arashi also came to respect Roger.
Crocodile had often silently watched from the background, listening to their conversations about the world, dreams, and Roger's unique ideals.
He had heard Roger speak of a world of equality without nobles and advanced technology.
He had also heard Roger excitedly recount the difficulties and thrilling adventures he had experienced during his journey:
The battle at God Valley, his first meeting with Garp, the child he found in a crate, the Skypiea island 10,000 meters in the sky, the giant Zunesha, and the powerful swordsmen of Wano.
With a "flick," the flame ignited Arashi's cigar.
He took a deep drag and then coughed violently.
"This cigar is no good. Too harsh," he said.
Crocodile chuckled, "Well, Marine pay isn't that high."
He then watched as his young commander silently puffed on the cigar, exhaling white smoke that concealed his expression, leaving everyone guessing what he might be thinking.
Time passed, and Bullet leaned against the ship's railing, frustrated as he watched people enter the port. Ivan and the others waited quietly.
"Commander, should we report this to headquarters?" T-Bone asked hesitantly.
He felt that capturing Roger was too significant an event to keep quiet. It seemed too big for a small squad led by a Rear Admiral.
He also worried that hiding this information could lead to consequences later when headquarters would undoubtedly demand an explanation.
Arashi remained silent for a moment before exhaling a cloud of smoke. He then turned and gestured to Crocodile's cigar box, taking another one.
His eyes fixed on a figure emerging from the port.
"Report it to headquarters," he said after a pause, taking another drag of his cigar.
"Tell them... we've captured Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King!"
T-Bone froze in shock, only coming to his senses moments later, shouting in response, "Yes, sir!"
Just as Arashi stood up, a figure burst from the crowd and leapt back onto the Marine ship. It was Roger!
After cuffing Roger again, the Pirate King suddenly smiled and said, "Arashi, you know, my name isn't Gol D. Roger."
"Even though the world calls me that," Roger grinned.
Arashi smiled and nodded. "I know. Your real name is Gol D. Roger."
Roger was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing. "Of course! You probably know more than I do!" After a brief pause, Roger lowered his voice.
"So, do you want to know where the final island is? Do you want to know what ONE PIECE is?"
Though he spoke quietly, everyone on the ship could hear him.
Bullet, Crocodile, Ivan, and the others were all visibly shaken. The truth about the legendary treasure?!
"Wait, who did you say you captured?" A shocked voice came through the Den Den Mushi held by T Bone.
"The Pirate King, Gold Roger!" T Bone replied earnestly.
"Officer, that's not something to joke about. State your unit and commanding officer," the Marine on the other end didn't believe him.
"My commanding officer is Rear Admiral Arashi, and I am Lieutenant T Bone under his command," T Bone said.
The conversation carried away on the sea breeze while the others remained stunned by Roger's earlier words.
"One Piece, huh?" Arashi chuckled, a hint of wistfulness in his eyes.
So many people had sacrificed their lives, chasing that elusive legend, setting it up as their dream.
Reaching Raftel would make someone the Pirate King, and now, the truth behind that mystery was right in front of him.
He could say this was the closest he had ever been to becoming the Pirate King. But...
"I'm not interested," Arashi said with a faint smile.
Roger paused for a moment, then seriously asked, "Really?"
"Yeah!" Arashi responded casually. "A treasure won't save a world gone mad."
Hearing this, Roger fell silent. Just then, the Den Den Mushi spoke again.
"Arashi? Rear Admiral Arashi?"
"You... you captured Roger?" T Bone nodded to the Den Den Mushi.
"We're at the Sabaody Archipelago port, preparing to head to Marine Headquarters."
The voice on the other end, filled with shock and tension, replied, "Understood! I'll report this to my superiors immediately."
The warship set sail again, and its next destination was Marineford, which was not too far away. An eerie silence fell over the ship.
Arashi extinguished the cigar in his mouth and flicked it into the sea, where it bore a deep hole in the water.
Rosinante was restless, a mix of excitement, nervousness, and fear gnawing at him. Everyone knew the significance of capturing the Pirate King, Roger.
The world, which had been thrown into chaos by Roger, would finally calm down—at least, that's what everyone thought.
At the same time, their commanding officer, the one who led this capture, would receive unimaginable glory.
Arashi's name would spread across the entire world in an instant. Rosinante looked at the figure standing at the bow of the ship.
Arashi showed no signs of joy; his demeanour was unusually heavy.
Meanwhile, at Marineford, the Marine Headquarters: "What did you just say?"
Fleet Admiral Kong shot up from his seat, eyes wide as he shouted at the officer before him.
"Rear Admiral Arashi has captured the Pirate King, Roger. They are currently sailing from Sabaody Archipelago to Marine Headquarters, Marineford."
The young officer replied, trying to maintain his composure. After taking a deep breath, he continued,
"This information was relayed just two minutes ago by Lieutenant T Bone, who is under Rear Admiral Arashi's command!"
"We verified the Den Den Mushi frequency and confirmed the report's authenticity."
"We've also contacted Rear Admiral Arashi directly and confirmed that the Pirate King, Roger, is aboard his warship!"
Kong felt like he was in a dream when he heard these words. Arashi had captured Roger? That sounded like a wild fantasy.
Even if the name were changed to Garp, it would still be hard to believe. But quickly, Kong snapped back to reality and issued orders.
"Immediately place all officers in the Headquarters on high alert!"
"From this moment on, Marineford is in wartime readiness. Not a single mistake is allowed!"
The officer saluted swiftly. "Yes, sir!"
Within seconds, the piercing sound of alarms echoed through Marineford.
Teams of Marines swiftly moved into formation, and a heavy, solemn atmosphere blanketed the world's greatest fortress.
The marching boots echoed through the halls as soldiers gathered around the bay, where a large force was assembled in perfect ranks.
High-ranking officers received the news in an instant and quickly gathered.
"What? Rear Admiral Arashi captured Roger?"
"Roger's been caught?"
"That's impossible!"
All the officers were stunned at first, but soon, their expressions shifted to grave realization.
At that moment, they all understood that a massive storm that would sweep across the world was about to unfold.
Outside the Marine Headquarters building, numerous figures rushed to gather.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
The Marines lining the path saluted respectfully as they saw the man approaching.
At the front, Garp wore a heavy, serious expression full of shock. "That brat... Is it true?"
But seeing Fleet Admiral Kong standing with his arms crossed, a grave look on his face, and sensing the tense atmosphere within the Headquarters, Garp couldn't help but believe it.
"Roger... caught by that brat, Arashi!" Garp was stunned. Even as Arashi's mentor, Garp found it hard to believe.
Marineford had entered wartime readiness. Cannon turrets adjusted their angles swiftly, and elite Marines took up their combat positions.
Countless warships spread out in formation, all aimed at the gates of justice.
Outside the gates, more warships patrolled, each one manned by officers of high rank.
The pressure Roger's name put on the Marines was immense.
It would be a difficult fight if a world-class powerhouse like Roger wanted to wreak havoc at Marine Headquarters.
About half an hour later, aboard a patrolling warship beyond the gates of justice, a high-ranking officer raised his binoculars and spotted a small black dot emerging on the horizon.
"Target sighted!"
"Based on the ship's number, it's Rear Admiral Arashi's warship!"
"Report immediately—Rear Admiral Arashi's warship is within visible range!"
The message was quickly relayed to Marineford, and Fleet Admiral Kong and the others were informed immediately.
Their eyes sharpened with intensity as the wind swept through their cloaks, and they prepared for what was to come.
Moments later, Arashi's warship was visible.
"We've confirmed it—Gol D. Roger is aboard Rear Admiral Arashi's ship, and his hands are bound in shackles."
"Roger is confirmed to be captured!"
"Rear Admiral Arashi's entire crew is present, and there are no injuries."
The news reverberated throughout Marineford, sending a wave of shock through everyone. Even Garp seemed restless, muttering, "Too slow!"
Meanwhile, as they sailed toward the gates of justice, Arashi and his crew could see the fleet ahead, arranged in an orderly yet imposing formation.
The officers leading the ships were battle-hardened veterans.
As Arashi's warship passed the first vessel, the officer aboard it saluted him from a distance.
Arashi returned the gesture, watching as the ship joined his in a protective formation. Then came a second ship, a third…
By the time they reached the gates of justice, over forty warships had gathered around them in a massive formation.
The sheer scale of the escort stunned everyone aboard Arashi's ship.
Even Arashi couldn't help but glance at Roger, who sat cross-legged on the deck, unmoved by the grand escort surrounding him.
This display made it clear how much importance the Marines placed on Roger, far beyond anything they had shown before.
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