"Bang."
The office door closed.
The smile on Nomi's face faded as he looked out at the sea beyond the window, his expression turning solemn.
The days of the training camp...
If it had not been for Instructor Zephyr, and Kuzan who stopped him, he might have died back then.
But had he died that day, he would have been at his strongest.
Facing his inner fears and acting without hesitation in accordance with his convictions, the Haki he unleashed in that moment had been truly formidable.
Rowan... what exactly are you planning?
In a world like this, even becoming an Admiral or Fleet Admiral would still leave one powerless against the parasites of Mariejois.
"Knock, knock."
"Come in."
Holliday glanced at Nomi. "There's still no news from Reverse Mountain. No sign of the refugee ships."
Nomi frowned. "There are also blockades at the Grand Line entrance beyond Reverse Mountain. That area isn't under our jurisdiction. If they crossed over, they would have been caught immediately."
Holliday replied, "Perhaps they're hiding on an island somewhere in the West Blue?"
Nomi nodded. "We can only hope so. The West Blue is vast, and Marine Headquarters has long faced a shortage of manpower. They won't conduct a large-scale search indefinitely. As for the World Government's agents, we can interfere behind the scenes."
Holliday remained silent for a moment before nodding. That was all they could do for now.
An island like Ohara had been destroyed. Whether any scholars had survived remained unknown.
And no one knew where the people aboard those refugee ships had gone.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan's visit this time..."
"A test," Nomi replied calmly. "We've been friends for years. He understands my personality well. He has already begun to suspect Rowan's stance. This time it was easy to conceal, but next time may not be."
"I heard that Vice Admiral Kuzan was reprimanded for refusing to attack the refugee ships?"
"It will be nothing more than a reprimand," Nomi said dismissively. "The monsters of the training camp are candidates for the Navy's highest combat power. Including Rowan, there have only been four in all these years."
A trace of disdain crossed his face. "Those people have never considered themselves human. To them, the Marines are nothing more than dogs. But once someone reaches that level of power, placing a leash on them is the most effective way to control them."
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
From Colonel to Rear Admiral, Rowan's latest promotion finally brought him face to face with the supreme commander of the Marines, Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
From the moment he entered the office, he could tell that Sengoku was displeased with him.
After all, during the Ohara Incident, he had been the only Marine to testify that Spandine had activated the Buster Call.
As for why the Marines had not immediately opened fire?
"I wasn't aboard the warship. I don't know. I only saw the CP9 commander activate the Buster Call. Then a scholar tried to seize the Golden Den Den Mushi, and it accidentally broke."
Such statements gave Sengoku a splitting headache. The man standing before him was clearly aligned with the World Government's sense of justice.
The promotion order had come directly from the World Government. Rowan possessed both merit and strength. Sengoku neither could nor dared to suppress him, especially with Kuzan's situation already complicating matters.
It was evident that the World Government now believed the Marines were becoming disobedient. They needed an obedient dog to set an example.
"Rowan, you have no surname, correct?" Sengoku asked.
"That is correct, Fleet Admiral. Is there a problem?"
"No. Life without a surname must have been difficult during your childhood."
Rowan looked directly at him. "Are you asking why I turned out this way? Because of the South Blue Incident and the Ohara Incident a week ago?"
"Precisely."
"Because I've experienced suffering," Rowan replied calmly, "I have no desire to return to such days. What do the lives of others have to do with me? What matters most is obtaining what I want. Isn't that so?"
Their gazes locked.
After a long silence, Sengoku finally spoke.
"I hope you will one day find your own justice. With the rank of Rear Admiral, you are now authorized to command your own warship and carry out independent missions. From here on, you may proceed."
"Understood, Fleet Admiral."
"Bang."
The office door closed once more.
Now promoted to Rear Admiral, Rowan would be assigned a warship and subordinates before heading to the first half of the Grand Line to carry out his duties.
Thus, the youngest Rear Admiral in Marine Headquarters history was born.
Although he was still under Kuzan's command, there was no longer any need to follow him directly.
With manpower in short supply, a combatant as exceptional as Rowan had to be deployed independently.
With greater freedom came greater opportunities. During this period, his merits would also accumulate rapidly.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku, overwhelmed with work, fed documents to his pet goat.
There were far too many files to destroy these days, and the goat was proving far too slow.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
Sengoku glanced up briefly before lowering his head again to continue feeding the goat.
Seconds passed.
After leaving Kuzan waiting for a while, Sengoku finally looked up. The sight before him nearly made him explode with anger.
Kuzan was sprawled across the sofa, his sleep mask pulled down, looking as if he were moments away from snoring.
"Kuzan!"
Startled by the shout, Kuzan lazily lifted his sleep mask and stood up.
"Fleet Admiral, have you finished your work?"
Veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead. "I'm very busy. Busy cleaning up the mess you've caused!"
Kuzan understood immediately and could only respond helplessly.
"It's true that we never received the order to initiate the Buster Call. But Sakazuki ordered me to attack the refugee ships. I couldn't do it."
Sengoku paused.
After a long silence, he replied, "I couldn't have done it either. But in my view, Sakazuki's decision was not wrong."
Kuzan looked at Sengoku, their eyes locking.
"I don't know whether the Ancient Weapons can truly destroy the world," Sengoku continued. "But if such things were to appear, they would inevitably ignite the ambitions of countless power seekers. The seas would descend into even greater chaos."
He stood up.
"There were many civilians aboard those refugee ships, and the scholars of Ohara were weak. Precisely because of that, their existence would attract the attention of dangerous individuals."
"We cannot change everything. So we can only do our best to maintain order, can't we?"
Kuzan exhaled slowly.
Maintain order?
Wait for this great tree to be dragged down by its rotten roots?
If that were the case, how many more would have to die?
"I understand."
After leaving Sengoku's office, Kuzan visited the training camp.
Zephyr, who had already finished the day's instruction, frowned at the sight of his distracted student.
"Were you reprimanded?"
"I was. And I was also persuaded."
Zephyr sighed. "You came back a few days late. Did you go to Lasgap?"
Kuzan nodded. "I met Nomi, but I didn't get the answers I was looking for."
He raised his head slightly.
"Teacher… do you regret it?"
The atmosphere turned cold.
But Zephyr did not become angry. He understood exactly what Kuzan meant.
"I regret it."
"So do I," Kuzan replied. "If I hadn't become a Marine back then, perhaps I would have taken a different path. Or stayed in one of the Four Seas like Nomi. Then I wouldn't have to think about so much."
Zephyr smiled faintly. "A Logia user with the power of a natural disaster could never remain in the Four Seas."
Kuzan nodded.
"Teacher… if one becomes an Admiral, will one learn more?"
West Blue, Ohara
Ohara, destroyed by the Buster Call, had become nothing but ruins. Even the Tree of Knowledge at the island's center had been partially obliterated.
At this moment, a cloaked Dragon had been waiting there for several days.
The reason was simple. Rowan had asked him to remain here until Vegapunk arrived.
"Will he really come?"
Dragon's gaze remained fixed on the horizon.
He still remembered his first meeting with Rowan in Loguetown. The so-called stance of the future that Rowan spoke of back then was the same as his prediction that Vegapunk would arrive today.
But possessing so many abilities was almost unbelievable.
"Hm?"
Dragon lifted his head. A vessel was approaching across the sea.
No. It wasn't a Marine warship.
It was a ship from Punk Hazard.
Vegapunk had truly come.
Two hours later, before the ruins of the Tree of Knowledge, the scientist with the enormous head collapsed to the ground.
The most important objective of his journey, the knowledge of Ohara, had already been burned to ashes. The remains lay before him.
A gentle breeze swept through, scattering black dust into the air.
"These… these were priceless treasures of knowledge!"
Vegapunk stretched out his hand, but as the ashes settled, they left behind only stains.
The Tree of Knowledge of Ohara in the West Blue had once housed the majority of the world's literature and records. It was a treasure left behind by history for future generations.
But now… it was all gone.
"Dr. Vegapunk, shall we leave? There is nothing left here worth staying for."
Behind him, a World Government agent frowned and waved his hand, attempting to disperse the drifting dust.
With his back to the agent, Vegapunk slowly rose to his feet.
"Do you know? Compared to gold or jewels, knowledge is humanity's greatest treasure. Yet very few people in this world understand that."
"The strength of an individual is ultimately limited. Only the strength of civilization as a whole can truly resolve conflict and end war."
At that moment, a figure appeared behind the World Government agent.
"Pfft."
Blood sprayed from the man's throat. The agent who had just expressed disdain for the ruins collapsed, clutching his neck. He pointed weakly at his attacker, attempting to speak, but only bubbling sounds escaped his lips.
Rowan, wearing a white mask, did not spare him a glance. Instead, he spoke directly to Vegapunk.
"You want to create an inexhaustible source of energy to resolve conflict and war, don't you?"
Vegapunk turned around. "If energy is abundant, everyone in this world will be able to survive."
Rowan replied, "Survive how? As slaves of the Celestial Dragons, living like crawling insects?"
Behind him, more than thirty agents in black suits lay dead.
Yet Vegapunk showed no sign of panic. Lowering his head slightly, he replied, "No matter what, being able to live is better than the present."
"Long time no see, Vegapunk."
Dragon stepped forward and greeted him. "Simply surviving is not enough. This world has been oppressed for far too long. I invited you before, but you refused."
Upon seeing Dragon, Vegapunk finally confirmed Rowan's identity.
"At that time, your Freedom Fighters were so poor you could barely afford food. What use would it have been for me to join? You couldn't provide me with any support."
Dragon looked embarrassed.
The poverty of the Freedom Fighters had been widely known. Even during his first meeting with Rowan in Loguetown, he had been mocked for it.
But now…
After obtaining the gold from the City of Gold, the Revolutionary Army had never been so well-funded. With abundant resources, they finally had the confidence to speak.
"The Revolutionary Army is no longer what the Freedom Fighters once were. Will you help us, Vegapunk?"
With his enormous brain towering skyward, Vegapunk still shook his head.
"Scientific research requires more than money, Dragon. Many essential resources are controlled by those people. My research depends on them."
Rowan, who had been waiting, spoke calmly.
"We have allies within the World Government as well. Those people in Mary Geoise consider themselves too superior to concern themselves with such matters."
"Besides money, I also possess the records preserved by Ohara. Among them are translations concerning the great kingdom from eight hundred years ago. A great many of them."
The great kingdom from eight hundred years ago?
And the knowledge of Ohara?
Vegapunk froze in shock.
Rowan continued, "You guessed correctly. Before the Buster Call and the World Government's investigation began, I transferred Ohara's books and a portion of its scholars."
"I also saved two civilian refugee ships along the way. By now, the news has likely spread throughout the Marines."
Refugee ships?
The mention made Vegapunk frown. However, he was well aware of the World Government's methods.
Shaking his head slightly, he replied, "A large portion of the Marines uphold justice. I believe…"
Before he could finish, Rowan appeared before him in an instant, locking eyes with him.
"What are you planning? Persuading them to stand against Mary Geoise? Do you really think that's possible?"
Rowan continued, "You desire Ohara's knowledge to recreate the technology of the ancient kingdom from eight hundred years ago. But you should know exactly how your research will ultimately be used."
"Perhaps you are the only one on this sea to have eaten the Brain-Brain Fruit. But it does not take a brilliant mind to guard against your betrayal."
Silence fell over the ruins.
Rowan and Dragon waited for Vegapunk's answer, while Vegapunk weighed Rowan's words.
Funding and a solid foundation were essential. The Revolutionary Army lacked such infrastructure, and there was no guarantee they could sustain the necessary resources.
"I wish to obtain Ohara's knowledge," Vegapunk said at last. "But I must remain within the World Government."
"Heh."
Rowan let out a cold laugh.
"That is impossible. Your very existence is the greatest variable of the future. Anyone else could make such a choice. If they became our enemy, we would simply eliminate them. But you…"
"If this is your final answer, then I will be forced to take the action I deem necessary."
Dragon's eyes narrowed.
Wiping the sweat from his enormous forehead, Vegapunk asked, "What action?"
Rowan's voice grew cold.
"The Brain-Brain Fruit may have reached its peak because of you. But if that peak becomes an asset to our enemies, then forcibly taking you away here is the best option."
"MADS had more than one scientist. You may be the smartest and the one most aligned with our ideals. But if there is no alternative, extracting the Brain-Brain Fruit's ability and transferring it to someone we can control would be the optimal solution."
"Extracting it?"
Vegapunk's attention immediately shifted from his own survival to the implications of the research.
"You have already mastered the technology to extract Devil Fruit abilities? How is that possible?!"
Rowan did not answer. Instead, he sighed.
"It seems you have made your decision."
Just as he was about to act and take Vegapunk away by force, Dragon, who had been frowning in silence, spoke urgently.
"…Mr. Ember!"
"Hm?"
Dragon looked at Vegapunk and said firmly,
"I will not allow you to do this."
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