"They co onto our turf, wreak havoc, and think they can just run away? Since when does it work like that?!"
"Chase them! Don't let those damn Marines leave alive!"
The pirates had completely lost themselves in the bloodshed. Many rushed toward the pirate ships at the docks, ready to pursue.
But Roldy simply watched as the Marine warships sailed away. Then he raised a single hand, suppressing the riotous crowd behind him.
"Vice Captain?"
One of the officers looked confused, yet none dared defy Roldy's command. Their losses had been heavy—but to pirates, slaughter brought exhilaration, and high morale could easily fuel a pursuit against the Marines.
"It's not worth it," Roldy said coldly. "Our target is the Roger Pirates. Those disgraceful pirates took advantage of the chaos and slipped into our territory. All hands, listen up! Chase down the Roger Pirates and sink those disgraces of the pirate world into the sea!"
His gaze then shifted upward—to Golden Lion Shiki.
The battle between Shiki and Sengoku had just ended. Blood trickled from the corner of Shiki's mouth, yet his expression was exhilarated. His twin blades, drenched in enemy blood, glead even sharper beneath the sunlight.
"Jihahaha! Run like beaten dogs! The faster you flee, the better!"
Ambition burned in Shiki's eyes. With him and Roldy fighting side by side, who in this world could possibly stand in their way? Not even the Marines were worth fearing!
"Shiki-san!"
Roldy's voice rose from below. Only then did Shiki tear his gaze away from the distant Marine fleet. He looked down at his most capable, most loyal, and most reliable right-hand man.
Suddenly, a thought surfaced in his mind.
The ti he and Roldy had agreed upon… was running out.
A sharp pain stabbed at his chest.
"The Roger Pirates have fled deeper into our territory. We cannot let them escape! Shiki-san? Shiki-san!"
Roldy's second call pulled him back to the present. Just thinking about the Roger Pirates filled him with anger. Setting aside their past grudges, the fact that they had fled without hesitation while pirates and Marines clashed was enough to ignite fury. Such conduct—despised throughout the pirate world—was sothing only they could pull off.
"Chase them! Sink those bastards into the sea!"
"Yes, sir!"
…
anwhile…
Guided by their Log Pose, the Roger Pirates had reached the edge of the Edd War Sea.
In the hearts of the crew, their decision had been absolutely correct.
The ship bustled with activity. The helmsman steered toward their designated course. The navigator studied the charts carefully. Combatants sat on deck, bodies wrapped in bandages as they recovered their strength. Inside the infirmary, Scopper Gaban—gravely injured—was undergoing surgery.
"We finally got out of there… That scared the hell outta ! The Golden Lion Pirates are completely insane! Still, the Marines showed up at just the right ti."
Buggy lay sprawled on the deck in a starfish position, joy written all over his face at surviving the ordeal. Shanks sat beside him, gazing at the sky, lost in thought.
Both boys were covered in thick bandages. For two apprentice pirates, being dragged into a war of that scale had been far too dangerous.
"Buggy… how strong do you think 'Rampaging' Roldy really is?"
The mont Shanks brought it up, Buggy exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"You idiot! I finally managed to forget about that bastard! Why would you bring up that freak again?!"
Whenever Buggy thought of Roldy, he rembered those eyes—the killing intent within them. Even recalling it made his blood run cold. Why had soone that terrifying singled out the two of them? Was it because Shanks had awakened Conqueror's Haki?
Right! That had to be it!
It probably had nothing to do with him.
With that utterly shaless thought, Buggy relaxed slightly.
"But seriously… that guy's monstrously strong! Even Rayleigh and Gaban teaming up couldn't beat him. On this ship, the only one who could possibly match him is Captain Roger, right? No wonder he's Zephyr's prized disciple—forr Marine Admiral Zephyr, at that! His reputation isn't undeserved."
Buggy sighed in amazent.
Beside him, Shanks' eyes dimd slightly.
A monster like that… how many years would it take before he could fight him? Ten? Twenty? Or even longer?
Just imagining it was overwhelming.
"Heh, whatever. What's the point of thinking about that? Sounds terrifying anyway. I'm never becoming that guy's enemy! Better yet, I won't even appear in front of him! When I start my own pirate crew soday, I'll just sail around the world happily searching for treasure!"
"You really are…"
Shanks smiled, not mocking his friend's simple dream.
"Hey, Shanks! The weather's great!"
"Yeah."
"So how about becoming my right-hand man in the future? I'll give you ten percent of the treasure!"
"Your offer is generous, but… sorry. I refuse."
"Eh?! Why's that?!"
The earlier battle already seed like a distant mory to the Roger Pirates. For now, they focused only on their next voyage.
They docked at a naless island.
The reason was simple: tending to the wounded had nearly exhausted their freshwater reserves. What remained wouldn't last until their next destination. Since an island had appeared, resupplying was necessary. Besides, they didn't believe the Marines were incompetent enough to fail at delaying their pursuers for at least a short while.
However—
During the ti they were ashore, far out at sea, a small vessel appeared.
It was entirely made of tal.
No flag flew from it.
And aboard it stood only one person.
A man in a military uniform.
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