"Long time no see, you brat, Roldy !"
"Shiki… sir."
One was the Second Division Commander of the most ferocious pirate crew in the world.
The other was the brightest rising star of Marine Headquarters.
Their meeting should have reeked of gunpowder and hostility—
Yet to everyone's shock, they greeted one another like old acquaintances.
Roldy even addressed the Golden Lion as "sir."
The surrounding Marines erupted in murmurs.
Behind layers of agents, Saint Nalmari stared in disbelief before rage surged through her.
"Has he forgotten whose food he eats?! I will have him executed!"
The suffocating aura of death had filled the Celestial Dragon with terror. She naturally despised the one responsible for that fear.
Though, after a brief reconsideration of Roldy 's physique…
Perhaps she would spare him.
As her slave.
"Jihahaha! Your reputation's grown loud these past few years!" Shiki roared. "Hope of the Marines! Strongest monster! Clashed with Silvers Rayleigh and walked away undefeated!"
"As long as you nod your head and join me, everything I have is yours!"
"You hate slave traders, don't you?"
"Under me, you won't need to care about political status or powerful backers."
"Kill them as you please! I'll back you!"
The conditions stunned everyone present.
Dragon discreetly pinched his own thigh.
Since when did pirates start offering benefits packages?
Ten insurances? Six pensions? Thirty-six months of salary a year?
Even Marine Headquarters only offered six insurances and three pensions at his rank.
Which side was the official institution here?
…Why did that almost sound tempting?
Roldy slowly shook his head.
The offer was generous.
But only one part tempted him—
The freedom to kill slave traders without restriction.
Shiki had once shown him kindness.
But in Roldy 's heart, that could never outweigh Marine Headquarters—
His teachers.
"SHIKI!!!"
A thunderous roar split the air.
Garp exploded upward, smashing through the ship's roof and launching himself skyward like a meteor.
"You bastard! What are you trying to do with my finest disciple?!"
Though he used Geppo, his speed was monstrous—his mastery of Rokushiki was on a completely different level from Roldy 's.
"Fist of Love — Impact!"
Garp's fist shot upward.
Shiki grinned.
With a flick of his fingers, two small floating islands hurled themselves toward Garp.
They were nothing.
Garp smashed them apart with consecutive punches, rock and debris cascading into the sea like waterfalls.
"Garp! I found that kid first!" Shiki snarled. "I was the one who showed him favor!"
He drew his twin swords.
Conqueror's Haki surged and coated the blades.
Crossing them—
He struck.
The strongest dual-sword style in the seas was no empty boast.
The fist and blades never physically met.
Between them formed a vacuum of absolute pressure.
Black-and-red lightning exploded across the sky.
The clouds above were torn apart by their clashing will alone.
Two top-tier monsters had begun their war.
With the power of the Float-Float Fruit, Shiki's fleet became demons of the sky.
Cannons roared.
Shells rained down upon the ships below.
Marine artillery could not reach such heights.
Roldy and Dragon prepared to assist—
But before they could move, a small floating island descended.
Its aim was imprecise.
Or perhaps—
It was never meant to hit.
Blurs streaked across the battlefield.
A sharp whistle cut through the air to Roldy 's left.
He raised his arm without hesitation.
His thick forearm, coated in powerful Armament Haki, blocked the strike cleanly.
When he turned—
A tall, gaunt pirate stood before him.
A long scar stretched across his chin.
"An honor to meet you, Vice Admiral Roldy ," the man said with a skeletal grin. "I am Damian, 'Demon Blade,' Rear Captain of the Rocks Pirates' Second Division."
He wielded a double-edged sword.
With his hollow cheeks and bony frame, his smile resembled that of a skull.
Children would cry at the sight of him.
"I know you," Roldy replied calmly. "Bounty: 476 million Berries."
"I've spent quite a bit lately. Your head will refill my savings nicely."
The provocation was deliberate.
Damian did not underestimate him.
He knew Roldy 's reputation.
Even the Rear captain of the Roger Pirates had suffered under this Marine's fists.
Still—
Shiki's blatant favoritism toward Roldy left a sour taste in his mouth.
So I'm just a backup option?
Nearby, Dragon had engaged another of Shiki's officers.
Meanwhile, several pirates shot straight toward the Celestial Dragon's ship.
Their objective was obvious—
Capture her alive.
If a Celestial Dragon were publicly executed before the world…
The shock would shake the seas.
The clash here could not remain secret.
Especially not with a Celestial Dragon in danger.
Signals had already been sent to Marine Headquarters.
Within hours—
Six large warships were en route to the West Blue.
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