Night fell, and the sea churned. A dark warship slowly sailed through the Gates of Justice. Behind the gates was a deep, swirling sea area and the silent, imposing entrance to hell.
"Clank—clank—"
The sound of Seastone chains echoed on the deck, like footsteps from hell. The members of the Donquixote Family were all under heavy guard, wearing prison clothes, their faces filled with panic. There was only one exception.
Even with his hands bound by Seastone, Doflamingo still had an arrogant smile on his lips. "Fufufu... Impel Down."
"Roy, do you think this is the end?"
"The tide of the new era will not stop, Roy."
Roy stood at the bow of the ship, his expression cold, and did not respond. Beside him, Gion's eyes were slightly narrowed, her hand on her Konpira, her tone ice-cold. "Impel Down will 'welcome' you properly."
"Take them away."
With Gion's order, a large number of soldiers came forward and led the members of the Donquixote Family away from the warship one by one, into the cold, imposing gates of Impel Down.
When a Marine tried to lead Baby-5 away, Roy suddenly reached out and stopped him. The 14-year-old girl had her head down, her hands in Seastone cuffs, her whole body curled up like a toy that had lost its owner. Her eyes no longer held the expectation of following orders but were completely lost.
Roy slowly approached and stood in front of her, his tone gentle but firm. "Baby-5, your ability does not exist to obey orders."
The girl trembled all over and slowly looked up, her eyes bewildered. "...Me?"
Roy looked at her, his voice low and powerful. "It can become a power to protect others. I need you."
"Use this power to protect those who truly need help."
Baby-5 was suddenly stunned. A light gradually appeared in her eyes. The phrase "I need you" was like a ray of light that shone into her dark heart. "Can... can I really?"
Roy nodded lightly. "The Marines need you, the people need you. Are you willing to become a Marine of justice?"
"I am willing!!" the girl's firm voice shouted out almost without hesitation.
The next moment, Gion walked over, took the key from the Marine's hand, and smiled faintly. "From today on, you are no longer a weapon to be used."
"Welcome to the Marines."
With tears in her eyes, Baby-5 nodded vigorously. The sound of the Seastone cuffs falling to the ground was like her past fate being completely severed.
At the same time, in the most secret level of Impel Down, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was standing in front of a projection monitor, his expression grave. On the large screen, Sugar was being escorted into a special deep-level prison, wearing a custom-made Seastone inhibitor that precisely regulated even her breathing.
"The Hobby-Hobby Fruit..." Sengoku said in a low voice, thinking of Roy's description of its danger. "Once this ability falls into the wrong hands, the entire world will be in chaos."
Magellan clearly knew the importance of the matter and nodded slowly. "I will imprison her permanently, in solitary confinement in Level 6."
Sengoku glanced at the several branch officers beside him, his gaze finally landing on the intelligence file sent by Roy. "Lock down the intelligence. The information about Sugar's imprisonment must not be made public."
"Understood."
Before the warship returned, Baby-5 had changed into a clean Marine uniform. She stood at the stern, looking at the dark outline of Impel Down, her heart filled with mixed emotions. The night was as dark as ink, and the sea surface flickered with a faint light.
Gion, wearing her cape, stood at the edge of the deck, her Konpira quietly leaning against the ship's rail, looking at the distant stars and the rising and falling waves. The sound of footsteps, and Roy walked over, standing beside her. The sea breeze blew their clothes, and they were silent for a long time.
Gion suddenly spoke, her voice low. "...Thank you, Roy."
Roy turned his head to look at her, his tone calm. "Thank me for what?"
Gion smiled lightly and did not answer immediately. Instead, she looked at the endless sea and slowly spoke. "All these years, I've chased Doflamingo many times with Sister Tsuru. I know a little about that girl."
"A child who was abandoned by her mother since she was young, Doflamingo took advantage of the psychological weakness of her 'need to be needed' and turned her into a tool, a weapon." She gripped the hilt of her sword, then relaxed, a hint of a sigh in her voice. "Luckily... she is still young, and she hasn't had a chance to make some mistakes. Many things can still be stopped."
Gion turned back to look at Roy, her eyes serious. "Thank you for giving her a chance, and also for giving her a choice."
Roy didn't speak but just looked at the sea horizon under the starlight. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "Not everyone can choose who they are. But if they can, I hope she chooses to be a 'person,' not a 'weapon'."
Gion nodded lightly, a rare, gentle smile on her lips. "Then she will also remember that she was truly 'needed' by someone."
The two of them were silent. Only the sound of the waves lapping against the hull, as if sinking this quiet understanding into the deeper sea.
The next day, Marineford, Port
The morning sun fell, and the sea surface glittered with a golden light. When the warship slowly sailed into Marineford's military port, the entire Marineford erupted.
"Rear Admiral Roy!!!"
"Vice Admiral Gion!!!"
The Marine soldiers raised their weapons, and a tsunami of cheers instantly exploded. Countless Marine soldiers waved their military caps and cheered. Even the soldiers on the shore cannons put down their weapons and saluted the port.
At the very front of the pier, Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood in his formal attire, his expression solemn. Garp grinned widely, and Zephyr and Vice Admiral Tsuru stood side-by-side. Behind them were Ace, Luffy, Zoro, Kuina, Law, and the other new-generation elites of the Marines.
Garp grinned widely and was the first to come forward. "You brat! Well done!!"
"That's my disciple!"
Roy had just stepped off the gangplank and had not yet spoken when he was punched on the shoulder by Garp. His body swayed, but he still stood straight.
Sengoku also walked forward slowly and said in a low voice, "Rear Admiral Roy, your merits have spread throughout the world."
"Successfully preventing Kaido from rescuing a prisoner, and foiling Doflamingo's coup plot... you are not only a top-tier combatant of the Marines but also a symbol of the Marines' justice." He spread out a letter of appointment and announced loudly, "By the decision of Headquarters, from this day forward, you are promoted to—Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral!"
"WOOHOO—!!!"
A boiling cheer like thunder swept across the entire port.
Ace grinned. "That guy Roy... he's getting stronger and stronger."
Luffy's eyes widened, and he waved his fists excitedly. "I want to be a Marine Admiral too!!!"
Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword and looked at Roy's back, saying softly, "I will definitely catch up to you."
Kuina tucked her hair back, a bright light in her eyes. "It seems I'm still far from enough..."
Law smiled slightly, pulled down the brim of his hat, a slight smile on his lips. "Mr. Roy... I look forward to fighting alongside you in the New World."
A few hours later, Marineford, Fleet Admiral's Office
In the spacious and solemn Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru sat around a table. Roy had just finished his routine medical examination and, after a brief tidying up, walked in.
Sengoku looked at him with a grave yet gentle expression and said, "Roy, the Five Elders just finished a Transponder Snail call." He paused, his tone slow and heavy. "They have agreed to grant you 'freedom of action'."
"You don't need to be stationed at a branch for a long time. You can execute missions flexibly according to your own judgment. When necessary, you can also independently launch 'counter-offensive actions against pirate forces'."
Roy raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze darkening. "Freedom of action? Are they that kind?" After a moment of thought, he chuckled lightly, his tone low. "Heh... are they also afraid?"
Garp grinned and leaned back on the sofa, yawning. "They're not completely afraid, but for them to be on alert shows that you brat have indeed shown a combat power that surprised them."
Zephyr said in a low voice, "To have the operational authority of an Admiral with the rank of Vice Admiral, this is an exception among exceptions."
Tsuru, on the other hand, her tone was deep. "This freedom is both a trust and a test... but you did very well, Roy."
Sengoku stood up and looked at the vast sea outside the window, his voice steady. "This world is brewing a change."
"Your existence is not just a special combat force of the Marines... but also the seed of a future 'reform'."
"We old folks may not be able to walk with you to that step, but..." Zephyr took over, his expression firm. "You must walk with them, together."
Garp suddenly laughed loudly. "Ahahaha! You brat, don't let me down!"
Roy looked at these four pillars of the Marines, his expression as calm as ever, but he bowed deeply. "I understand."
The four of them exchanged a look, their eyes full of approval and expectation. The new era's Navy was quietly taking shape.
-------
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