At Mary Geoise, in the Pangea Castle, within the office of the Five Elders—the Chamber of Authority—the five individuals holding the world's highest power all wore grim expressions.
"That kind of dangerous data was actually still stored in the Tree of All-Knowledge?"
"And of all people, Roa got his hands on it!"
"We shouldn't have given Judge any breathing room back then. Even if we didn't execute him directly, he should have been imprisoned in the science unit!"
"What's the use of saying all this now? Let's think of remedial measures. Roa is becoming increasingly dangerous!"
"Exactly. He was already close to reviving the Rocks Pirates, and now he's got access to that forbidden knowledge..."
"This time isn't a joint operation with Kaido. Perhaps it's an opportunity? Should we send Garp too?"
"I'm afraid it's too late, and even if Garp goes, killing Roa won't be easy. He'll escape."
"If we can't eliminate Roa, then eliminate Judge! Have Sengoku pursue him. Roa can be ignored for now, but Judge must die!"
"Indeed, killing Roa and killing Judge are two completely different levels of difficulty!"
"Have CP fully cooperate with the Marines to track down Roa's group. Zephyr has always wanted revenge, hasn't he? Send him to the West Blue as well!"
"Agreed!"
"Then, what about Ohara? I believe we can no longer indulge them."
Inside the Tree of All-Knowledge, the atmosphere had completely solidified. All the scholars hung their heads, their anxiety indescribable. Thankfully, the professor had foreseen the Marines' arrival. Otherwise, they would have been finished by now. All forbidden data and research findings had been transferred in advance, and the empty shelves could be easily explained away as having been stolen by Roa's group. In that case, everything should be fine, right?
As the scholars thought this, Sengoku, who had just finished his call, strode back in. His gaze swept over the scholars. Although he felt a tinge of regret, his tone was utterly calm.
"Roa has never been to the West Blue, yet he knew that ancient technological data was stored here. This indicates that someone among you must have colluded with him."
Professor Clover looked up in astonishment at the Marine Admiral. A premonition of ill omen had already begun to form in his heart.
"Therefore, I announce that all scholars will return with us to assist in the investigation." Sengoku stated.
"Assisting in the investigation" was merely a superficial statement. In reality, upon reaching the next Marine base, these scholars would be sent to a prison ship, directly to Impel Down. The Five Elders' intention was that no one could guarantee whether these scholars had truly accessed the forbidden knowledge, so they couldn't be allowed to remain here. Not to mention those who might have genuinely colluded with Roa. As for the books stored in this library, they would be selectively confiscated after proper vetting.
"Wait! Admiral!" Professor Clover immediately spoke urgently. "You can't do this! There's no evidence. On what grounds are you arresting us?"
"This isn't an arrest; we're merely inviting you back to assist in the investigation." Sengoku's tone was rigid. Though somewhat regretful, orders were orders. Justice, after all, had its stance.
Professor Clover could only let out a helpless sigh in the end. Thankfully. Thankfully, all the data has been transferred in advance. Thankfully, there are still a few scholars left to guard it. Thankfully, there's still Olivia.
The rest is up to you.
On the snail grand fleet, heading back towards the New World, Roa was enjoying Donquixote Doflamingo and Capone Bege's combined ultimate technique.
Bege stood with a grim face at the edge of the platform on the snail's back, facing the sea and sticking out a belly that was somewhat ill-suited for a young man.
"Fufufufu! Come on, my good friend!" Doflamingo's high-pitched voice came from inside him.
Who the hell is your good friend?! Bege cursed silently but didn't dare to say more. That bastard Doflamingo was like a suppressed violent tendency suddenly unleashed. The slightest displeasure from him meant an iron fist. Bege had suffered a lot these past two days. Although he wanted to resist, he couldn't win. That bastard kid, a year younger than him, was terrifyingly strong. Both his physical combat and his Devil Fruit ability were far superior to his. He could only endure! He would wait until the day he could turn the tables, then return everything!
Thinking this, Bege activated his ability, "Castle Blast!" His body transformed into a small castle, and windows opened one by one. Behind the windows, tiny, adorable cannons pushed out.
Pop, pop, pop, pop.
The crisp sounds were like firecrackers. Pea-sized cannonballs immediately flew out. However, these peas suddenly enlarged after leaving Bege's body for a certain distance, turning into huge cannonballs that tore through the air and bombarded the sea ahead.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
Violent explosions instantly made the entire sea boil, sending up huge columns of water.
"Fufufufu! Our abilities are truly a perfect match, aren't they, Bege!" Doflamingo laughed from within Bege's body.
Hearing his "good friend" say this, Bege pouted unhappily. But he had to admit, it was indeed as Doflamingo said. Not only could he carry various equipment for Doflamingo, but Doflamingo, who could control a large number of weapons by virtue of his ability, could also provide him with overwhelming firepower output while hidden inside his body.
"Next, this!" Inside the castle, Doflamingo's composite ability activated further. All the weapons, along with the red stone he had placed inside Bege, were swallowed, allowing him to put on heavy weapon armor. The purple armored giant moved its heavy steps and came to stand before the main gate.
"Bege, turn around!" he commanded.
Do you really think I'm your transport ship?! Bege gritted his teeth but still obediently turned to face the inside of the platform.
"Then!" Doflamingo grinned. "Come!"
The ground beneath his feet suddenly distorted, trapping the armored giant's legs, then instantly exerted force, propelling the colossal figure forward. The next moment, a small purple figure flew out from the door on Bege's stomach, and after passing through an invisible boundary, it suddenly transformed into a giant shooting forward. The colossal purple figure crashed to the ground. Doflamingo couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Fufufufu! How interesting!"
Roa watched with interest. Is this a Gundam sortie? Doflamingo, shouldn't you be shouting 'Doflamingo, launching!'?
Just then.
"Boss, this guy woke up." King dragged a large individual, not much shorter than Doflamingo's combined giant form, over. It was Gecko Moria. He was beaten black and blue, his limbs somewhat twisted, like a dead dog, as King dragged him by the leg.
"Oh, isn't this Moria?" Roa said with interest. "King, what happened? How did he end up like this?"
King replied, "He suddenly appeared in front of me, seemingly trying to take me hostage."
"Oh, what a tragedy," Roa said regretfully. "Was I next after King? That would have been quite the experience. Is Bullet next? Moria, I suggest you don't. He'll really kill you."
"Roa..." Moria's voice was very weak. After all, his internal organs had already been pierced by Roa's shockwave, and he was severely injured. He hadn't even fully recovered before being severely beaten by King again. The fact that he could still speak now showed how resilient his life force was.
"Where are my comrades?" Roa said with a smile, "Don't worry, just for the camaraderie they showed earlier, I won't do anything to them."
"But I don't keep idlers here. I sent them to work in the factory." Pirates? I think they need labor reform.
Moria's tense expression visibly relaxed. It's fine, it's fine.
"But Moria, are you truly worthy of their sacrifice?" Roa said with interest. "They did everything to keep you alive, yet you completely disregarded the agreement they made with me earlier."
"What, by actively breaching the contract, do you simply not care about their lives? Fine, it doesn't matter to me whether they live or die anyway."
"No!" Moria's voice suddenly became shrill. "Don't hurt them! I was wrong! I will, of course, follow the agreement! From now on, I'll definitely work hard for you!"
Ah, what can I say? Why is Version T0 Version T0?
"Very good. It's a good kid who corrects mistakes," Roa nodded with satisfaction. "Then don't play this kind of joke with your colleagues again."
I'm not an idiot! Moria secretly glanced at King's back with lingering fear. This guy was also an absolute monster. He was almost instantly defeated, let alone resisting; he couldn't even react to the opponent's attacks. This world was truly vast! If even the cadres were so untouchable, let alone Roa!
Moria suddenly remembered his previous battle with Roa—no, it couldn't even be called a battle; Roa was just toying with him. Even though it was toying, had he failed to make Roa move even an inch after giving his all? Thinking this, Moria's heart was already covered in a thick shadow.
But soon. It won't end like this! Moria vowed inwardly. Once I become stronger, once I can rescue my comrades, once I surpass you, then I'll show you! You spared my life, so I'll spare yours, and only take your shadow!
Seeing the slight change in Moria's expression, Roa knew this guy was planning something bad again. But it didn't matter, what kind of waves could he make?
And so, Bege was thoroughly disciplined by Doflamingo, and Moria recognized reality and compromised. These two young generals officially joined the Calamity Company, albeit as interns.
The snail grand fleet continued its return journey towards the New World. However, a phone call from his good sister Stussy disrupted Roa's original plan of ignoring Admiral Sengoku and returning directly to the New World.
"Brother Roa, there's some bad news." Stussy's voice was as affected as ever, but Roa quite liked listening to it. A beauty like this, gentle and considerate only to him, wasn't that good?
"Don't tell me Hero Garp is also here in the West Blue to intercept me?" Roa said casually.
"No, it's not that bad yet." Stussy said sweetly, "But Brother Roa, even if you were to face Hero Garp and Buddha Sengoku simultaneously, you'd definitely be able to retreat unharmed, right?"
"Are you wishing I'd hurry up and get thrown into Impel Down?" Roa said darkly. Currently, no one in the world could withstand the combined efforts of two high-level opponents of equal standing. Captain Rocks was like that, and the future Uncle Shiki would be the same. Presumably, even Im couldn't withstand two Joy Boys, let alone Garp and Sengoku, who were both much stronger than him.
"How could that be? No one in the world cares more about Brother Roa than I do." Roa actually believed this. After all, if he were caught, Stussy and the Vegapunk behind her would be finished.
"However, you still need to be careful, Brother Roa. Although it's not Hero Garp, the government has indeed sent more people. It's your old opponent, Black Arm—oh no, now he should be called Black Leg Zephyr." Stussy said, "They told me to keep a close eye on the New World's movements, just in case your old friends go to support you."
"It seems that what I got in Ohara stimulated them." Roa chuckled.
"I don't know their route of action," Stussy's tone became slightly more serious. "Brother Roa, please be very careful."
The call with Stussy ended. Roa thought for a moment, then called his cadres and explained the current situation. After a few days of recovery, Moria, whose injuries were mostly healed, suddenly had his pupils constrict. Straight into a joint attack by a former Admiral and a current Admiral? That's intense! Having understood how vast the world truly was, Moria now had a slight grasp of how terrifying those figures, who were once so distant to him, actually were. Roa was already so unreasonably strong; the Marine Admirals surely wouldn't be far behind.
"Sengoku plus Zephyr, that is indeed very dangerous!" Dylan's expression was serious. "This power, across the entire sea, probably only the Roger Pirates can contend with it."
"Boss, what should we do? Should we avoid them and return to the New World?" Returning to the New World would mean safety.
"No rush. Let's play around with them!" Roa said with a smile. "They've set up such a grand formation; it would be rude not to respond properly. They are indeed terrifying once they merge, so why not start the battle before they merge?"
"I understand." Dylan nodded slightly.
"Then Boss!" Bullet's voice was excited. "Where do we start?"
"Hmm, Zephyr is an old acquaintance. Although I'd really like to see what Zephyr is like now," this was true. Over the past year, Zephyr had caused quite a few disturbances and was completely different from his former self, the Admiral who didn't kill. Roa was certain that his ability had indeed caused an irreversible personality reshape in Zephyr.
"However, it's probably better to start with Admiral Sengoku, whom I haven't fought before, right?" Roa said with a smile. "Anyway, first, let's determine their whereabouts." He hadn't expected to need bege and the others so soon. As local bigwigs of the West Blue, confirming the positions of two Marine fleets that wouldn't conceal their movements shouldn't be difficult, right?