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Chapter 136 the Beast of the New Era
The next day, the aroma of tea filled the air in the minister's office at the G5 base.
A pot of freshly brewed tea slowly wafts its fragrance, and the clear amber tea soup ripples slightly in the porcelain cup.
Zephyr slowly took off his sunglasses, and his eyes, which had experienced many vicissitudes of life, now revealed a rare sharpness and clarity.
He stared at Rogge opposite him, his voice deep and steady:
"I heard... you're planning to subdue Bullet?"
The veteran's voice was much deeper than before, his healed lungs making his breathing exceptionally steady.
Rogge picked up the teacup, gently blew away the steam rising from the tea, and said calmly: "Don't you object?"
Zephyr smiled, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart. The wrinkles around the old man's eyes smoothed out. "In the past, I might have beaten you up and even broken Sakazuki's nose for not teaching you well."
At this point, he cast his gaze out the window at the naval harbor filled with warships. The G5 battle flag fluttered in the sunlight. "But now, I've gradually come to understand... the world you and your nephew desire may not be so different from what I envisioned back then."
The faint cries of seagulls could be heard outside the window. Zephyr looked out at the warship. "Although I still have some instinctive resistance... I won't object."
He was silent for a moment, then sighed, "It's just... you're walking on a colder and harder path."
Rogge smiled slightly and gently put down his teacup: "Weakness cannot maintain peace. Only true power can uphold absolute justice."
Zephyr was silent for a long time, then finally nodded: "This era... does need some 'different power'."
...
Heavy footsteps echoed through the enclosed metal corridor. The heavy alloy door slowly opened, and a cold light illuminated the special cell.
Bullet sat alone on the iron chair in the middle, his muscles like a carved stone, not even wearing seastone shackles.
His arms were casually draped over his knees, with an unruly sneer on his face.
The cold light from the surveillance screen reflected on his resolute face, and the scar looked particularly hideous.
Zephyr stood in front of the guardrail and knocked on the explosion-proof glass. "You're so careless! You didn't even take any precautions. Aren't you afraid he'll tear down the entire G5?"
Rogge stood by with his hands in his pockets, his eyes indifferent: "He is not the kind of person who would vent meaninglessly."
As if to confirm his words, Bullet suddenly raised his head, a glimmer of fighting spirit burning in his eyes, and grinned over the guardrail: "Rogge, you are indeed stronger than I thought."
His deep voice cut through the speaker, "Even your men are a bit overwhelmed."
Rogge walked into the cell step by step, his footsteps tapping loudly and clearly on the metal floor.
He stood three meters away from Bullet, staring directly at this monster from an old era.
"I've seen your file."
Rogge said calmly, "You only challenge the strong and never kill innocent civilians. That's why I'm willing to give you a chance."
Bullet chuckled, revealing his white teeth. "Marine...how interesting. Do you think I'm so easy to follow?"
"What if I refuse?"
The atmosphere froze instantly.
Rogge's gaze made Zephyr unconsciously tense his back: "Crush the Pirates' heads—"
His voice was eerily calm. "That's my usual style."
Zephyr was standing outside and was shocked when he heard it: "Can you speak less scary..."
After a long silence, Bullet's smile gradually faded. After a long time, he looked down at his hands. The veins on the back of his hands were like iron chains.
"This sea is sick."
His voice was unusually tired. "It wasn't like this before."
The light from the cell cast shadows of varying shades on his face. "Roger died of illness. Whitebeard and Golden Lion also died at your hands..."
He raised his head, his eyes burning with resentment. "There aren't many strong people in this world worth challenging."
Hearing this, Rogge suddenly chuckled, his tone tinged with sarcasm:
"Who told you that?"
He raised his hand and pointed to the ceiling, his voice filled with arrogance and confidence: "How many old monsters are still alive in the sky!"
"and--"
Rogge turned around, his coat drawing a sharp arc. "I can't even say for sure that one of them will win."
Bullet's expression froze, his brows furrowed, and for the first time, a long-lost fiery light appeared in his eyes.
Ignoring Bullet and Zephyr, who were stunned by what he said, Rogge strode towards the door without looking back. "If you want to continue to break through, follow me! Otherwise, you will be abandoned by this New World!"
Zephyr sighed and followed Rogge's pace. When he reached the end of the corridor, he suddenly heard heavy footsteps behind him.
"Hahaha--!!"
Bullet's wild laughter seemed to shatter the air in the entire corridor!
The guards clenched their weapons in fear. They saw Bullet had already torn his prison uniform to shreds, revealing a body covered in battle scars. Like an unruly beast, he strode after Rogge, grinning widely:
"Interesting… so interesting!!!"
"Rogge, you're even crazier than that lunatic Roger!!!"
Zephyr turned his head and looked at Rogge's profile with complicated eyes, only to find that there was a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
Bullet's hoarse roar echoed in the metal corridor: "But don't expect me to have any childish ideas about 'companions'!"
His fists clenched and crackled. "You'd better stay strong forever, otherwise when I surpass you—"
Rogge walked on without looking back, the hem of his white coat waving like a flag. "As you wish."
The voice was eerily calm. "You can even kill me when the time comes."
He suddenly stopped. "But before that..."
The automatic door at the end of the corridor opened with a swish, and in the dazzling sunlight stood Rhett, who had been waiting for a long time.
This steely man was crossing his arms, his bronzed muscles glistening metallically in the sun.
"Let's defeat this guy first."
Lei Te's teeth flashed across his face, his fighting spirit materializing into a wave of air that swept across the corridor. "Ha, I've been waiting for you for a long time, Devil's Descendant!"
Bullet's pupils suddenly contracted, and his beast-like instinct made his muscles tense.
The air between the two giants began to distort, and the Haki collision before the battle caused the lights in the corridor to explode one after another.
"Just what I want!"
Bullet laughed wildly and tore off the remaining prison uniform, revealing his scarred body. "The outcome of the last battle is still not—"
"We're going to the training ground."
Rogge's voice drifted from afar. Though it wasn't loud, it made both of them pause. "If we tear down this base, we'll throw you into the sea and feed you to the fish."
Zephyr shook his head and smiled bitterly, then followed Rogge to the command room. Behind him, he heard the roaring footsteps of two battle fanatics rushing towards the training ground impatiently.
...
The projected Den Den Mushi in the command room opened its eyes, and Sakazuki's resolute face appeared in the smoke.
When he heard the news of Bullet's surrender, the corner of his mouth, which was holding a cigar, twitched noticeably.
"How dare you harbor such a dangerous person?"
Sakazuki's voice was as deep as magma, "But..."
He suddenly chuckled, "Since it's the one you like..."
The Marshal in the projection took up his seal and stamped it heavily on the transfer order. "Approved. Bullet is temporarily assigned as a G5 special combatant. You are fully responsible."
Cigar smoke blurred his expression. "You can handle it anyway."
Rogge nodded slightly: "Uncle, don't worry!"
A deafening roar came from the direction of the training ground, and the entire building was shaking slightly.
Zephyr looked out the window at the rising dust and suddenly asked, "Are you really not worried that they'll demolish the base?"
Rogge walked to the window and saw Bullet being knocked into the ground by Rhett's heavy punch, and then violently breaking out of the ground.
The corners of his mouth rose slightly:
"A beast from the old days..."
On the distant horizon, newly launched warships were sailing in formation, and the Marine soldiers on the deck were curiously looking at the unusual situation on the training ground.
"...It should be tamed using the modern way!"