Chapter 1: The Great Pirate Rabbit-Digging Prisoner, Before the CP9 Special Forces
Marine Headquarters, the Fleet Admiral's office.
At this moment, the office had gathered almost all of the Navy's top combat power.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the Hero of the Marines Garp, former Admiral Zephyr, and the Navy's three current Admirals, among others.
Seated at the head, Sengoku swept his gaze over the Marine high command present and slowly said:
"The great pirate Rozi encountered the Germa 66 army in the North Blue."
"The two sides clashed. The result was Germa 66's defeat. Their leader, Vinsmoke Judge, was injured and fell unconscious, and Judge's eldest daughter, Vinsmoke Reiju, went missing."
"Tsuru, who was responsible for capturing Rozi, received word and searched the waters near where the battle took place, and found Rozi as well as Reiju, who had been captured by Rozi and was made to serve as a temporary navigator."
"However, that crafty Rozi ultimately escaped, and took advantage of the moment when Gion was alone to defeat her and capture her."
"After that, he used Gion as a hostage to threaten Tsuru, destroyed Tsuru's warship, and escaped."
"Because of this, I ordered the North Blue Marines to conduct a full manhunt for that man."
"But now half a month has passed, and that man seems to have completely vanished from the North Blue."
"My people have no way to find his trail."
Here, Sengoku paused slightly.
The Marines in the meeting room immediately began discussing.
Among them, Garp and Zephyr looked especially grim.
Both were from the same generation of Marines as Tsuru, and after learning that Tsuru's younger sister Gion had been captured by pirates, the two naturally felt awful.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku felt the same—he also shared a deep friendship with Tsuru.
"He's truly a terrifying guy. Even Advisor Tsuru couldn't capture him."
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, where did that man come from? Why did the World Government put a bounty on him from the very start?"
"All at once, \(500,000,000\) Berries."
Admiral Kizaru crossed his hands and looked curiously at Sengoku up front.
Hearing that, Sengoku fell into a heavy silence.
Only after quite a while did he speak:
"About that, I only learned it later from the Five Elders."
"This matter is simply too shocking—something that cannot be allowed to become known to the outside world."
At those words, everyone—including Kizaru—straightened up, waiting with curiosity for Sengoku's answer.
"The great pirate Rozi was previously an elite CP9 agent and completed countless dangerous missions."
"He far surpassed even CP9's other elite agent, Rob Lucci."
"Because of that, the World Government planned to absorb Rozi into CP0."
"And they did."
"However, on his very first day as a CP0 agent, while assigned to escort a Celestial Dragon on a voyage…"
"That man suddenly turned violent and killed everyone on the warship except the slaves."
"Not even that Celestial Dragon was spared."
"That is precisely why the World Government issued a bounty on him."
Sengoku said.
"He killed a Celestial Dragon?"
"No wonder they had to send Tsuru to arrest him."
"But still, is that man really so strong that he could capture Gion?"
"Sengoku, is there truly not even a shred of news now?"
Garp asked, arms folded and brows furrowed.
"In fact, there isn't."
"I received one underworld tip I can't confirm, saying that man used some method to go to the East Blue."
"Garp, the East Blue is your hometown. Search there once—you should go to the East Blue."
"If you really find that man, with your strength you'll definitely be able to capture Rozi and rescue Gion."
"Also, since that man is strong enough to contend with Germa 66, and even to abduct Gion…"
"I've adjusted his bounty as well."
As Sengoku spoke, he took out a bounty poster.
At the center of the poster was a young man with messy black hair and a handsome face.
Below it was a long string of numbers.
"\(800,000,000\) Berries… The East Blue can't possibly have a pirate with a bounty like that."
"Even though I'm curious about why that guy defected from CP0, it's better to capture him as soon as possible."
"Sengoku, I'm leaving for the East Blue now."
"If there's any news, contact me directly with a Den Den Mushi."
Garp rose from his seat, turned, and walked toward the meeting room doors.
At the same time, elsewhere.
East Blue, Shells Town.
A ship pulled by a gigantic snail slowly docked, drawing the curious gazes of the townspeople.
At this moment, inside the cabin.
"Mr. Rozi, we've arrived at the agreed location. Do you need to go ashore now?"
A mature woman in a pale pink dress, with the character "6" written on her legs, stood before the man called Rozi.
She was Germa 66's eldest daughter, Vinsmoke Reiju.
"Thanks for your hard work, Reiju. Since the agreement has been fulfilled, you can leave now."
Rozi sheathed the long sword he had been idly playing with, Kinpira, then turned back and gave Reiju a faint smile.