Sabo and the others didn't interfere further with the Marines' pursuit of Rosen. They could stop the immediate conflict but couldn't alter the decisions Marine Headquarters would make from now on.
Besides, there was a high chance they could escape. After all, this was a power capable of killing Admiral Akainu—it wasn't fragile.
"Is this the final breaking news?" The reporters realized the war was over.
"Should we go see Luffy?"
"Not yet." The Red-Haired Pirates had already left Marine Headquarters, heading to the New World to monitor Kaido and Big Mom. The competition there was fierce; a careless moment could lead to their homeland being attacked.
The Whitebeard Pirates rested briefly on a nearby deserted island. They weren't afraid of the Marines—the headquarters was busy rescuing the wounded, unable to bother with them.
Sabo, Ace, and Luffy, the three brothers, enjoyed their reunion.
"Luffy, you have to keep going. I won't lose to you, and I won't let the Whitebeard Pirates vanish. One day, I'll become a great man like Father." At their parting, Fire Fist Ace declared his future path.
The Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't disappear just because Whitebeard died. Portgas D. Ace would carry on their legacy, ensuring everyone remembered that the Whitebeard Pirates still existed—and would grow even stronger.
"Ace~" Luffy whimpered.
"I'm leaving too. See you in the New World," Sabo waved goodbye, for Koala had come for him, and he knew Dragon was nearby.
But Sabo wondered why Dragon didn't visit Luffy. Had he not figured out how to face him yet, or was he avoiding contact to prevent Luffy from being targeted by the World Government? Either seemed possible.
"Sabo~" Luffy whimpered again, looking pitifully at his departing brothers.
"Alright, stop crying. You're the captain now—what's with all this crying?"
…
"Let's return to headquarters." Dragon spoke calmly as he watched Sabo arrive.
"You're not mad at me?" Sabo asked. This time, he hadn't considered the Revolutionary Army's position too much.
The Revolutionary Army wasn't strong enough yet to confront the World Government head-on. If he were captured, even if he revealed nothing, he would become bait to draw Dragon out.
"A man should do what he believes is right. But you'll clean up the mess. Head to the North Blue immediately. The new king there, mimicking the Celestial Dragons, is making life miserable for the people." Dragon gazed toward the distance—the direction of Luffy.
"Understood." Sabo nodded.
"Captain, what should we do now?" The Blackbeard Pirates had seized a warship and were swaggering back to the New World.
"Of course, we hunt for Devil Fruit users! Hahaha… what powers do you all want?" Blackbeard wasn't entirely satisfied with this trip, but he didn't dwell on it. Occasionally, thoughts of Crocodile stirred a fire in him.
"I want the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, but that sand guy and the swordsman are tough to deal with."
"If possible, I want the Invisibility Fruit. With it, I can kill unseen; the bewilderment on my enemy's face before death would be… interesting."
"Hey, Shiryu, don't get any perverted ideas."
…
"Crocodile… that bastard… even an old man can shine like this." After the war, several Supernovas paused at a distance to watch. Kid spoke first.
"Akainu is dead." Bonney was taken aback. Though she hated Akainu and had escaped his control, his death felt unreal—this mountain blocking her path had crumbled.
She had been controlled by Akainu for her abilities.
Akainu once said her escape had made him sweat, proving her importance.
But Bonney didn't care. No matter what plans the Marines devised, it was irrelevant to her. She wouldn't help them. Yet Kuma… had changed like that. Was he completely stripped of emotion?
"Damn it!" Bonney remembered Kuma's care and gentleness toward her in the Marine research department. Anger surged, but she lacked the strength to save him.
She didn't know that Kuma's tragic life had only just begun.
The Shichibukai withdrew from Marine Headquarters. News of the battle spread like a storm, reaching every corner of the world.
At Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Kong left, leaving Admiral Sengoku waiting for updates on Kizaru and Aokiji, while arranging various matters. It was then that the bad news about Impel Down arrived.
Comparing the sixth level's casualties and the defeated with the Blackbeard crew present on the battlefield, many dangerous criminals were missing. Some were even at Admiral-level strength—some that Garp and Sengoku had struggled together to capture.
Now these criminals were back at sea. Many were old, but no one knew the chaos they could cause. The Marines' strength was suddenly stretched thin—they had to deal with this quickly, or even basic order would collapse.
"Damn Blackbeard." Sengoku felt the winds of change rising uncontrollably. He sensed that a war feared by the World Government might ignite in this era.
…
"Any signs yet?" Kizaru stayed in constant contact via Den Den Mushi. Over a dozen top warships had been deployed, plus more than twenty standard search ships.
Half an hour passed, yet the sea showed no movement. This was abnormal. According to patrols, vision setup, and island landing restrictions, nothing was detected within tens of miles.
"Did they escape?" Aokiji frowned. Normally, even in the sea, air limits a Devil Fruit user's endurance. Crocodile should have reached his limit.
Even if attacked by Sea Beasts, humans have limited strength underwater. There should have been commotion, or at least corpses floating to give a clue—but none appeared.
"Could we have missed something?" Aokiji pondered. Had they truly escaped?
"Crocodile shouldn't survive underwater; he's a Devil Fruit user. So the problem must lie with Crimsom Queen, Hathaway. She's from Lantis, and considering her past actions toward the Celestial Dragons, she likely underwent bloodline enhancement…" Kizaru speculated.
If they couldn't be found, perhaps they had already escaped, or died by Sea Beasts?
Possible, but unlikely—unless some creature swallowed them whole. Struggles before death should have killed a few Sea Beasts, and bodies would surface.
None appeared. This suggested they had likely escaped. The variable was Hathaway.
Underwater, Hathaway swam like a mermaid, weaving through schools of fish. Some aggressive Sea Beasts sensed something pass by but couldn't see clearly.
She rarely retaliated, sustaining injuries mostly from the Sea Beasts.
She couldn't stop. She had to escape the Marines' search range, moving as far as possible.
Rosen, unfortunately, had exhausted his air supply. His body reached its limit, and his ability couldn't produce more elements.
Hathaway held Rosen in one arm. In the water, he saw her clothes cling to her figure, revealing a breathtaking form.
If he weren't nearly suffocating, he could admire her fully. Reaching his limit, Rosen poked her arm.
Hathaway looked back. Rosen pointed up and then to his throat, signaling he was at his limit.
Hathaway shook her head—still unsafe. Surfacing could expose them.
Rosen panicked. Hathaway wouldn't drown him just to escape and become captain, right? Though he knew it impossible, his mind wandered.
Suddenly, Hathaway pulled him close. She seemed slightly embarrassed, pinched his nose, and pressed her soft, warm lips to his.
Rosen was stunned. What was this? This was bolder than Nico Robin. She even touched his tongue, prying his teeth slightly.
Wait—was she transferring her air to him? But she wasn't much stronger than him—where would so much air come from?
(End of chapter)
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