[send some power stones please]
"Excellent… excellent."
"These young soldiers are the Marine 's future."
Watching the recruits drill with sharp discipline, Zephyr nodded in satisfaction. His stern face softened with unmistakable pride.
He adjusted the Justice coat on his shoulders, stepped off the deck, and returned to his cabin office.
"Buru-buru…"
The Den Den Mushi on his desk rang the moment he entered. Its curled "mountain" mustache marked it as a direct line from Kong.
Zephyr picked it up immediately.
"This is Zephyr."
The snail's expression synced with Kong's—grave and tense.
"No time to waste. I'll get straight to it."
"Romu defeated Shiki on Masuri Island."
Zephyr's brows snapped together.
"Shiki? You mean the Rocks officer—Shiki?"
The snail nodded.
"That's right. And he intends to join the Rocks Pirates."
Zephyr's grip tightened. A vein pulsed at his temple.
"Our Hachinosu informant reports that Romu hasn't left for Hachinosu yet. He's still near Masuri."
"Zephyr—you must intercept him before he reaches Hachinosu."
"Otherwise…"
The mustached snail trembled. Even Kong's composure was cracking.
"I understand!"
Zephyr's voice rang like steel.
"Romu won't reach Hachinosu. He'll reach Impel Down."
"Awaiting your report."
The call cut.
"Romu…"
Zephyr murmured, stunned that the young pirate had beaten Shiki—the Marine 's nightmare "Flying Pirate."
"Under twenty…"
He inhaled sharply.
We cannot let him grow unchecked.
And we absolutely cannot let him join Rocks' monster crew.
Zephyr strode to the porthole and stared northeast.
"Too slow. A warship won't make it in time."
He pushed back onto the deck. In front of startled sailors, his figure flashed—
—and he ran straight into the air.
"Moonwalk!"
Meanwhile — Mercury Island
"Big news! Big news! Rookie pirate Romu crushes Shiki—set to become a Rocks captain!"
A man waved a newspaper, shouting.
The headline blazed:
"Madman Romu — New Captain of the 'Terror Organization'!"
Beneath it was an image of Romu standing atop a hundred-meter wooden dragon, glaring down at a pride of lions. How the reporters captured it was anyone's guess.
Within minutes, the story spread across the island.
In a tavern, three imposing figures sat at the counter. Other pirates kept their distance.
Why?
Because they were members of the legendary Roger Pirates.
At the center sat the captain—Gol D. Roger—wearing a wine-red coat and sporting a thick, sweeping mustache that looked like it grew from his nose.
Beside him sat the vice captain, Silvers Rayleigh, golden hair neat, round glasses glinting.
And across from them loomed their powerhouse crewmate, Douglas Bullet, massive frame tense with excitement.
"Romu, huh…"
Roger muttered, scanning the article.
"Beating Shiki… impressive."
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, smirking.
Bullet jabbed a finger at the photo, eyes blazing.
"Someone like that deserves to exist!"
Rayleigh clicked his tongue. He knew Bullet believed in only one truth: strength.
Roger's expression darkened.
"He's joining Rocks… that madman."
"Can't let that happen."
"If nobody intervenes, those monsters will tear the world apart."
Elsewhere…
"Ah-choo!"
On a drifting wooden raft near Masuri Island, a young man in short sleeves and loose trousers sneezed.
He spat out the toothpick in his mouth, rubbed his nose, and grumbled:
"Someone talking about me?"