Rogge Town, Port, and Post-War Ruins
As the sun sets, its fiery red rays shine on the devastated streets and broken harbor, making half of the sea appear as crimson as blood.
Three figures stood facing each other in the center of the ruins——
A man wearing a torn military robe, with short hair slightly raised, is as imposing as a mountain pressing down on a city.
One person stood still like an ancient tree, his fist still carrying the power of the remaining force;
There was another person surrounded by golden light, standing in mid-air, seemingly relaxed but unable to hide his fear.
—Rogge, Garp, and Kizaru.
The air seemed stagnant, even the sea breeze dared not raise its voice.
Kizaru glanced at the collapsed streets around him and sighed softly:
"Oh my, Rogge Vice Admiral... your fight with old man Garp was even more brutal than the last time I encountered Kaido in New World."
"If you throw two more punches, this place will be wiped off the world map."
His tone was as cynical as usual, but lacked a hint of smile.
Rogge remained silent, just looking at the ruined street in front of him.
His eyes slowly swept over——
The broken Roger execution platform, the overturned remains of vendors on the ground, a glance at the messy streets, and then at the shocked civilians and the grassroots marines who were still in shock under the high pressure.
Rogge's eyes changed slightly.
At that moment, he no longer stared at Garp, nor did he respond to Kizaru. He just quietly put away the murderous aura that could break the wind and split the sky.
He slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were as sharp as blades, but lacked the brutality of the battlefield.
Taking a deep breath, Rogge turned around and walked towards the end of the harbor. His voice sounded calmly but firmly:
"Smoker."
"Here!" Smoker responded immediately.
"The cost of repairing Rogge Town will be fully borne by G-5."
Rogge said calmly, "You are responsible for contacting the construction fleet, coordinating resource supplies, and ensuring the safety of the people."
"Yes!" Smoker stood at attention and saluted, his eyes full of admiration.
Kizaru raised his eyebrows, squinted his eyes at the scene, and couldn't help smacking his lips:
"He doesn't look like a Purifier from Impel Down... He looks more like a port mayor sent by the World Government."
Just as Rogge turned to leave, he paused, slowly turned sideways, looked at Garp, who still hadn't spoken, and said in a stern tone:
"I'm stopping today for the safety of the people."
"But you'd better remember—"
His eyes were as cold as stars:
"If another Marine were to harm his comrades to protect the Pirates—"
"Even if he is a marshal."
"I, Rogge."
"And make the decision personally."
As soon as the words fell, the air shook, as if the pressure of a thousand-meter-deep sea was crushing the whole area.
Garp remained silent and didn't answer a word, but the marines on the dog-headed warship behind him all looked terrified and no one dared to step forward.
Ian had recovered, but he never spoke. He just glanced coldly at Garp before leaving.
That glance was not a conversation, nor a question.
It was the cold gaze of a soldier looking at a traitor.
The next second, Rogge helped Ian up and turned into a sonic boom wind trail, flying straight into the sky.
Kizaru looked at the two people's backs as they left, narrowed his eyes, and remained silent for a long time.
He couldn't help but glance sideways at Garp, and for the first time, a hint of seriousness appeared in his eyes.
He sighed softly:
"Tsk... This is a bit of a big deal."
After saying that, Kizaru's figure flashed, light particles scattered, and disappeared in the golden clouds in the sky.
At the port, the wind picks up again.
In the afterglow, only Garp was left standing alone in the ruins where the flames of war had not yet dissipated.
The setting sun shines on his old back, like a broken bronze statue standing silently.
Marineford Naval Headquarters Command Hall
"What did you say?!"
Sengoku suddenly stood up, his snow-white cape seemed to roll up angry waves, and the marshal's chair let out a low groan.
The Den Den Mushi in his hand trembled and twisted due to the excessive force, as if it also sensed the coming emotional collapse.
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Kizaru, unusually quiet, dropped his usual lazy tone and spoke sternly:
"Yes, Marshal... The incident occurred in the town of Rogge. Vice Admiral Garp attacked and injured G-5 Commodore Ion."
"The reason is to cover the evacuation of the Straw Hat Pirates."
In an instant, the command hall fell into silence.
What lay before Sengoku was a blatant institutional tearing apart.
Vice Admiral Crane stood up, gently closing the intelligence in his hand, his eyes deep. "Rogge is right. The G-5 now represents the direction of the new generation of Marines."
"Garp..."
She said slowly, "He crossed the line..."
Sengoku didn't respond immediately.
He walked to the front of the platform and watched the setting sun sink into the horizon. The golden light was stained with blood, like the whimpering of the sea.
He exhaled slowly, as if for himself, but also for the entire Marine—
"Kizaru, return to headquarters immediately."
"Garp...must come back and explain."
The sadness that had not been seen in his eyes for a long time now reappeared.
"This incident cannot be treated as if it never happened."
He lowered his head and replied, "This day... has finally come."
Sengoku's voice was as deep as a bell: "The bell of the watershed has rung."
"Things are going to change."
New World · G-5 Flagship · Return Route
The night was dark, and the warships swept across the waves like cloaks, cutting through the silence like a blade.
At the bow of the flagship, Rogge stood with his hands behind his back, his windbreaker fluttering and his long hair billowing in the wind.
His eyes were calm, yet so deep that they seemed to see through the stars, gazing at a future that no one knew.
Ian stood half a step to his side, his expression complicated.
"...Lord Rogge, are you really alright with your injuries?"
She looked at the barely detectable bloodstain on his sleeve, her voice soft but concerned.
Rogge paused for a moment, then waved his hand calmly: "Just flesh and blood, it can't affect me."
"… Then, Vice Admiral Garp…"
"If he still remembers that he is a Marine, I will still call him a 'hero'."
"If you don't remember—I will end him myself."
The words fell like a knife, and Ian took a deep breath, but said no more.
Rogge looked at the distant sky. Under the stars was the sea in his heart that was about to stir up a storm.
"free?"
He smiled coldly.
"In this ocean, no one has known the price of 'freedom' for a long time."
The Suzheng Fleet broke through the waves, its murderous intent lingering.
The sea at this moment is no longer what it was a year ago.
[Two days later, G-5 branch, Tactical Council Room]
The night is like a tide, and the Suzheng Army emblem shines brightly under the lights.
Rogge stood on the conference platform, his eyes stern and his tone unquestionable:
"…Vice Admiral Garp personally injured one of my subordinates just to protect a group of low-level Pirates who had just left East Blue."
"This isn't a matter of 'personal grudge', it's a matter of 'military discipline'."
Below, high-ranking officers such as Leiter, Enel, Luo, Shiryu, and Binz stood in silence with solemn expressions.
Ian sat on the left, his arm bandaged. Although his face was pale, his eyes were as firm as ever.
Rogge looked around and said slowly:
"G-5, the army is not built on personal relationships."
"If anyone touches one of us, we will overturn the entire sea behind him."
"Leite, Enel, restart Impel Down training; Smoker, lead the team to complete the restoration of Rogge Town and then rejoin G5; Ein, mobilize the intelligence network to monitor the Straw Hat Pirates' movements - I want to know who led them to become Pirates step by step."
"yes!"
The order was as firm as iron, and everyone withdrew and received their orders.
Rogge was left alone, sitting in front of the screen projecting a sea chart and the World Government logo, muttering coldly:
"Since there are still people in this world who believe that 'justice' can give way to 'bloodline' and 'fantasy'..."
He clenched his fist, and the air hummed and echoed—
"Then I will settle accounts with this world all over again."
[Two days later, Marineford, Naval Headquarters, early morning]
The sea breeze blew in the early morning, and Garp walked into the headquarters conference building in military uniform.
In the hall, Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru were already waiting at the head, with Kizaru reclining on the side.
The atmosphere was oppressive and heavy as iron.
"Garp."
Sengoku spoke calmly, holding Ein's injury report and the Straw Hat Pirates' wanted document in his hands, "You injured Rogge's men...and your reason was to protect your grandson?"
Garp was silent for a moment, then finally spoke:
"I have no regrets."
"But I admit that punch... did cross the line."
"I didn't expect that boy... would be so cruel."
Crane sighed, "Did you know that the entire G-5 has designated you as a 'Level 1 Rebellion Risk Target'?"
"If something like this happens again, even if you're a Marine hero, they'll personally enforce the 'rectification order'."
Sengoku said gravely, "You should be thankful that Rogge put up with you."
"But I won't clean up your mess a second time."
"You...must choose between Marine and family."
"Before your grandson gets too deeply involved, there's still a chance to pull him back!"
Garp was silent for a long time, looking at the rising sun outside the window.
"I know."