Outside the main gate of Impel Down, the Gate of Justice slowly opened. Dazzling sunlight poured in. Roger squinted and took a deep breath.
"Ah... the air of freedom."
"Shut up. Get on the ship!" Garp shoved him.
On the deck of the warship, the three Admirals had been waiting for a long time.
Kizaru sat on the railing with his legs crossed, holding a Den Den Mushi in his hand. He glanced lazily at Roger.
"Ooh how scary. The legendary Pirate King looks so pathetic"
Kizaru then put on an expression of regret. He put away a lounge chair that someone had left there, drank a glass of wild juice, and put away a parasol that had come out of nowhere.
"I thought Mr. Garp would talk a little longer. I didn't expect him to be so serious."
Aokiji leaned against the wall nearby, his hands in his pockets, his hat pulled down low so his expression couldn't be seen.
"...Mr. Garp, you worked hard."
Akainu stood at the bow, his arms crossed. "Hmph. You're finally here."
Roger looked around at them. His smile didn't fade. "Oh, so many of the Navy's top fighters came? You're giving me a lot of face."
Akainu's eyes sharpened. "The world's greatest evil will end tomorrow—"
"Enough, enough." Garp interrupted impatiently and pushed Roger to the center of the deck. "I brought him. Now start the ship. I don't want to hear Kong and Sengoku nagging me."
Kizaru shrugged and dialed the Den Den Mushi. "Moshi moshi This is Kizaru. The prisoner has been received. Preparing to return"
Aokiji sighed and turned to walk toward the cabin. "I'll confirm the route."
Akainu stared coldly at Roger for a moment, then finally turned and left.
Only Garp and Roger remained on the deck.
Roger moved his wrists. The chains clanked. "Hey, Garp, can you at least loosen these a little? They're so tight, my blood can't circulate."
Garp glared at him. "In your dreams!"
Roger pouted. "So stingy."
The sea breeze blew, ruffling both of their hair. Garp was silent for a moment. Then he suddenly spoke.
"...Are you really not going to escape?"
Roger smiled. "What, do you want me to?"
Garp didn't answer. He just clenched his fists.
Roger looked up at the sky. White clouds drifted by. Seagulls circled overhead.
"Garp, you know what?" He said softly. "This sea has never belonged to anyone."
Garp frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
Roger turned his head, his smile bright. "So even if I die, there will always be new idiots rushing in to take my place. Kuhahaha! Just thinking about it gets my blood pumping!"
Garp stared at him for a few seconds, then finally laughed. "You're insane."
Roger laughed. "Takes one to know one!"
The warship slowly sailed away from Impel Down. The Gate of Justice closed behind them.
In the distance, on the horizon, the sun slowly sank into the sea, dyeing the entire sky blood-red.
Roger looked at the fading sunset outside his cell, the firelight reflected in his eyes.
"So beautiful..."
Garp followed his gaze. He was silent for a moment. Then he suddenly pulled a pack of rice crackers from his pocket and threw them to Roger.
"Eat. It's your last meal."
Roger caught them and smiled like a child. "Thanks, old friend."
......
Maybe it was reluctance or something else, but Garp stayed on the deck and didn't go back into the cell where Roger was being held.
Night fell. The three Admirals came to relieve Garp. Garp would guard Roger during the day. The three Admirals would guard together at night. Garp needed to rest and prepare for the possibility that Roger's remaining crew might try something tomorrow. After all, the news had been sent out nearly a month ago. The enemy was in the dark. They were in the light.
Kizaru fiddled with his nails, bored. "Really having to work the night shift. What a terrible workload"
Aokiji leaned against the wall. His eyes beneath his hat opened slightly. "Stop complaining. Things will be easier after tomorrow."
Akainu snorted. "Don't let your guard down. Roger's remaining crew could very well—"
None of them noticed the faint blood mist already in the air. It was the "seeds" Rhett had left in their wounds during the Battle of Marineford. Now, the mist was silently seeping into their senses, weaving realistic illusions.
In their eyes, the "Roger" in the cell was still locked in Seastone chains, his head down as if asleep.
But in reality—
Roger was resting with his eyes closed when he heard a soft click from his chains. He opened his eyes.
Rhett couldn't use his blood mist to form a key directly. But he could do something like the Wax-Wax Fruit. He used the blood mist to feel the shape of the lock and carved a wooden key.
"Oh, kid." Roger grinned. "You finally decided to show up?"
The mist condensed. Rhett's figure appeared silently. He knelt on one knee and spoke in a low voice.
"Captain, I've come to take you away."
Roger moved his wrists. His smile didn't fade. "Kuhahaha! I knew you wouldn't just sit around."
Rhett didn't answer. He took out a sea chart from his pocket. "There's an uninhabited island to the southeast. I've already prepared a ship and supplies there. You can stay there..."
Rhett looked at his hands. Cracks were beginning to appear on them.
"You can go directly to Loguetown. You have to be somewhere around Loguetown that day. After all, this counts as rewriting history."
The cracks stopped spreading. Actually, the cracks had started appearing the moment he planted the mist seeds in the three Admirals' bodies. They had been slowly breaking down his body. They just accelerated when he didn't finish that sentence.
Rhett immediately understood. Roger had to be in Loguetown that day.
Roger raised an eyebrow. "What about you?"
Rhett stood up. The blood mist surged around him. His form slowly twisted and changed. In the blink of an eye, he had become Roger's exact double. Even the chains were perfectly copied.
"I'll stay here for you."
Roger stared at him for a few seconds. Then he suddenly burst out laughing and slapped Rhett on the shoulder.
"Good kid! You've got it!"
Rhett's lips curled up. "Go quickly. The illusion won't last much longer."
Roger nodded. He looked back at Rhett. "Thanks, kid."
Roger took the device, then suddenly reached out and ruffled Rhett's hair.
"Thanks, kid."
Rhett slapped his hand away, but the corners of his mouth beneath the mask curled up. "Go quickly. The illusion won't last much longer."
Roger nodded. His figure turned into a dark shadow and silently slipped into the sea.
......
On the deck, the three Admirals were still immersed in the illusion.
Kizaru yawned and stretched lazily. "Ah so boring"
Aokiji rubbed his temples. "...Something doesn't feel right."
Akainu snorted. His magma suddenly exploded. "Break!"
The illusion shattered. The three of them snapped back to reality. But everything around them was normal.
Kizaru tilted his head. "Huh? Did I fall asleep just now?"
Aokiji frowned and walked quickly toward the cell. "I'm going to check on Roger."
Akainu followed close behind, his face dark. "Something's wrong."
Inside the cell, Rhett — now "Roger" — was sitting against the wall, resting with his eyes closed. When he heard the footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes and gave a familiar smile.
"Oh, the three Admirals visiting late at night. What can I do for you?"
Aokiji stared at him for a few seconds. Finally, he turned away. "...Nothing."
Akainu snorted and left.
Kizaru shrugged. "Really a waste of time"
After they left, Rhett let out a quiet breath. His gaze passed through the small window and looked at the distant horizon.
"Captain, now... watch my show."
......
It was worth noting that after Rhett used the mist seeds, he actively dissolved them. His body began to slowly repair itself. It gave him a deeper understanding of the saying: "Those who toy with time will eventually be punished by time."
There were loopholes that could be exploited. During this time period, Roger had to be in his cell. On the day of the Loguetown execution, the real Roger had to be in Loguetown. As long as the timing was right, Rhett could exploit the loophole however he wanted.