While Yoriichi was happily chatting with his new subordinate, Sengoku's emotions were anything but calm. Upon hearing news of Bullet's death, Roger's aura turned completely unstable. His Conqueror's Haki flared out uncontrollably, spreading in all directions.

The overwhelming pressure pierced through the cell, across the warship deck, and surged over the surrounding sea. Marines piloting the ship and patrolling the deck all collapsed, their eyes rolled back, unconscious from the sheer force.

In that moment, the entire Marine fleet fell into chaos. Every ship stopped moving, no one was at the helm.

Inside a certain cabin of the 0-Class warship, Garp had just lain down to rest when the blast of Conqueror's Haki jolted him awake. He immediately jumped up and rushed toward Roger's cell.

"Bullet was killed?!"

Roger gripped the iron bars, face darkened, voice trembling as he demanded confirmation from Sengoku. Though he'd heard Yoriichi's report earlier, it was as if he couldn't accept it, he needed Sengoku to say otherwise.

He didn't want to believe it.

"Yes," Sengoku said, walking slowly to the front of the cell. "If the report came from Yoriichi, then there's no mistake. Douglas Bullet, the Demon Heir, was most likely slain."

Roger's hands trembled. "He's really dead... You actually dared..."

His voice cut off. He froze, then held his head and let out a bitter laugh.

"Hahaha... come to think of it, my crew already disbanded. Bullet left long ago."

"I'm already in your hands, facing execution soon. And he... he died because of me..."

He laughed louder and louder, unable to hold back the emotion surging through him.

Sengoku stayed alert, but seeing Roger make no attempt to break free, and sensing his Haki fading, his wariness eased slightly.

Just then, the cell door swung open and Garp walked in quickly. Seeing Roger still locked up, he relaxed and casually grumbled.

"Oi, Roger. What are you doing screaming in the middle of the night?"

"If you're gonna try escaping, then hurry up and do it! It's been ages since we had a real fight, I'm ready to go!"

He cracked his knuckles, making his usual explosive popping sound.

Sengoku turned to Garp and calmly stated, "Yoriichi killed Douglas Bullet."

Garp froze. The name took a second to register. He glanced at Roger's fading grin and suddenly understood.

"Douglas Bullet? That kid who used to be on Roger's crew?"

He turned to Roger again. Now he realized, Roger's laughter wasn't out of joy.

"That's right," Roger answered with a heavy voice. "He was on my ship."

"You've raised quite the Marine."

His eyes were bloodshot, his face pale under the dim glow of the oil lamp. The shadows cast by the bars made him look even more exhausted. Roger's mood was terrible.

The looming shadow of death had already weighed heavily on his heart. Now, to receive news of a fallen comrade, Roger, the Pirate King, couldn't help but feel lost.

It was the first time someone close to him had died.

He thought of many things.

He knew all too well that the World Government wanted him dead. And he also knew that the title "Pirate King" would draw hatred and revenge like a magnet, for him and for his crew.

Until now, the World Government hadn't known the Roger Pirates had disbanded. After the failed mission at Lodestar Island, the Marines had made no further moves.

But with Bullet's death, Roger could already foresee what was coming. Once he was executed, the government wouldn't stop at him. They would trace every step of his past and hunt down every last one of his crew.

Before turning himself in, Roger had already told his comrades not to come rescue him. But he had overlooked Bullet, the one who had already left the crew.

And now, because of that oversight, Bullet had charged into Yoriichi's base... and died.

That guilt weighed heavily.

Roger knew he wouldn't live much longer. What haunted him now was not his own fate, but the safety of his family and friends.

Garp sat cross-legged in front of the cell, noticing Roger's anguish.

"An incredible Marine, huh?"

"If Yoriichi heard the Pirate King praising him, I'm sure he'd be delighted."

"Roger... Bullet was a pirate. Yoriichi is a Marine."

"He died because he chose the wrong path. Blame no one but himself."

"And you too, you chose the wrong path."

Though enemies by duty, Garp couldn't help but feel a strange friendship with Roger. His mind drifted to something Yoriichi once told him, that Roger was dying of a terminal illness.

Thinking back to how Roger had turned himself in, Garp began to suspect, Roger hadn't been captured. He had surrendered.

And now, his life was running out.

Despite his rough exterior, Garp was keenly perceptive. He'd already pieced most of it together.

"Wrong path?"

"No... I didn't choose wrong!"

Roger's eyes burned. A flush returned to his pale face. He was thinking of something, something powerful.

"What? Don't tell me you still believe being a pirate is the right path?"

"You bastard!"

Garp snapped, stunned.

But Roger just laughed again and sat down on the floor.

"Hahaha!"

"Garp, if you live long enough, you'll see it for yourself!"

"I'm not wrong!"

"Those who are right will be guided by fate!"

"Your Marines... you won't stop it!"

His laughter was wild, tears shimmering in the corners of his eyes.

Sengoku and Garp stared, confused. But since he wasn't trying to escape, they let it go.

As Roger's journey back to Marineford continued, Kyros, Mihawk, and Issho were aboard a crimson-hulled merchant ship bound for the South Blue's Patrilia Island.

The island had a temperate climate, with four distinct seasons. It was already late September when they entered South Blue waters.

On the deck, Kyros sat cross-legged with a map in hand, studying it closely.

"Patrilia Island isn't even marked on this chart... This is going to be tougher than expected."

The island belonged to the Orlan Kingdom, a conglomeration of island nations. The map only marked the main kingdom.

Kyros muttered to himself, clearly hoping his companions might offer some help. But Mihawk was focused on practicing with his black blade Yoru, and Issho was lounging by the railing with a fishing rod in one hand and dice in the other.

They weren't listening.

"Ahem... Issho-san, Mihawk-san, don't you two have any advice?"

Kyros looked up, hoping for support.

Issho turned with a smile. "Kyros, you know I'm blind. Navigation isn't exactly my area."

Mihawk followed, not even pausing. "You know I only focus on this," he said, raising his sword. "Besides, the Orlan Kingdom is marked. Once we get there, we'll ask around."

Kyros gave a bitter smile and raised the map.

"You might not believe this, but the Orlan Kingdom is a federation of over a dozen island nations. Its territory is this big."

He shook the map, revealing how massive the area was.

Mihawk finally looked over. Kyros held a civilian South Blue map, not detailed at all.

Yoriichi hadn't used HQ's maps to avoid suspicion. This one was bought at high cost from merchants in Dressrosa.

Charts were rare and precious in this world. Without satellites, mapmakers were top-tier professionals. Only the government and Marines held full charts.

That map showed Orlan Kingdom(TL: Oykot Kingdom?) covered roughly 1/20 of the South Blue. Finding Patrilia Island in that vast space would be no easy task.

"Guess we'll have to take our time," Mihawk shrugged.

Kyros sighed and nodded.

Just then, a white News Coo flapped overhead, dropping a newspaper onto the deck near Kyros.

He picked it up casually, then his eyes widened.

"…We might not have time to take it slow anymore."

"Pirate King Roger is scheduled for public execution in Loguetown on September 28!"

It was the headline, a global announcement from the Marines.

The name "Gol D. Roger" had been shortened to Gol Roger. The article detailed his capture, and Yoriichi's photo appeared once again under the bold claim: "The Young Legend Who Captured the Pirate King."

It also mentioned Bullet's death at Yoriichi's hands, though that story was buried beneath the shocking headline.

"September 28?" Mihawk narrowed his eyes. "That's just a week from now."

Kyros nodded. "Once he's executed, or maybe even now, the World Government will start tracking his past movements."

"If we move too slowly…"

Mihawk and Issho both went silent.

This was the first time Yoriichi had entrusted them with a solo mission. If they failed…

Kyros didn't even want to imagine how he'd face Yoriichi again.

✦✦---------------------------------------------------------------------✦✦

100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter

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