30 Chapter 30

Garp was acutely aware of this reality better than anyone, yet he still chose to confront Roger and his gang. Each time, it would erupt into an epic clash that lasted for days. The saving grace was that most of the powerhouses within the Roger Pirates chose not to target the weaker Marine soldiers. When Roger and Garp clashed, most just watched from the sidelines, as if Garp's crew and the Roger Pirates had formed a tacit understanding.

Even when they clashed under Garp's orders, the fight was to restrain the enemies because he knew that if their entire crew fought to the death, perhaps only Bogard might survive, while the rest, including me, would surely perish.

It wasn't that I hadn't crossed swords with monsters like Rayleigh to measure the gap between us, but every time, he would simply swat me away like a fly. The difference was like a gaping chasm—unfathomable and daunting.

"Wait, are you deep in thought, Ross?" Bogard couldn't help but ask, noticing my contemplative demeanor.

"The tides will soon start to shift, Bogard-san. The world is changing," I replied, collecting my training equipment, including all the weights, and walking towards my designated cabin to prepare for another encounter with the Roger Pirates.

It took us another three days to reach Saints Island, and luckily for us, HQ had notified us that the Roger Pirates had yet to leave the island. As we approached the island, I observed a remarkable sight: a large number of ships lay anchored along its shores. Most of these ships bore the Jolly Roger of pirates, while others belonged to certain kingdoms and merchant vessels. However, unlike other pirate-infested islands where chaos and violence reigned, Saints Island exuded an air of tranquility.

Amidst the array of ships, my attention was immediately drawn to a majestic vessel—the Oro Jackson. This three-masted galleon stood out with its imposing presence and intricate design. Its sails billowed in the wind, and its hull gleamed in the sunlight, showcasing the craftsmanship that went into its construction. The Oro Jackson would later become renowned throughout the world as the only ship to have traveled across the entire globe.

As it was a neutral island, Garp also did not want to create any sort of conflict. Our Marine warship came to a stop a mile away from the port, adhering to this principle. The pirates on the island had also noticed the imposing marine warship anchored a mile away from the shore of Saints Island. I had already detected movements on the Oro Jackson using my Observation Haki, but I was certain that the Roger Pirates were already aware of the identity of this Marine warship despite its broken figurehead.

Within a few minutes, the Oro Jackson raised its sails and slowly started moving in the direction of our ship. As the Oro Jackson drew closer, Garp stood at the forefront, mentally prepared for a potential conflict. I spotted Gol D. Roger, the future Pirate King, majestically standing on the Oro Jackson's railing, carrying Ace on his hip. Roger's presence was commanding, exuding an aura of authority and power that seemed to envelop the entire ship. His legendary status was evident in every movement, every glance, as if he was a force of nature personified.

As the Oro Jackson drew nearer, I could see Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, standing tall and imposing on the ship's railing. His presence commanded respect and awe, with an aura of authority that seemed to radiate from him. Ace, his cutlass, rested casually on his hip, a testament to the bond between them.

But it wasn't just Roger who caught my attention. His first mate, Rayleigh, stood beside him, his expression cautious as he eyed Garp and the rest of our crew. I could sense an air of tension emanating from him, as if he was wary of the potential consequences of a confrontation with Garp.

"Roger, are you sure about fighting Garp now?" Rayleigh whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the waves. "We still haven't ascertained your current condition. It wouldn't be wise for you to clash with Garp before we exactly figure out what's wrong with your body, and if the Marines knew, then it would become troublesome."

Roger's laughter rang out, carrying across the distance between our ships. "Hahaha, Rayleigh, you've disclosed the information yourself despite being so cautious," he remarked, his eyes flickering towards me with uncanny precision. I felt a chill run down my spine as our gazes met, as if I was being weighed down by the entirety of the ocean itself. Yet, I refused to back down, meeting his gaze head-on despite the sweat beading on my back.

"ROGER!!!" Garp's booming voice echoed through the air, and the overwhelming pressure on me receded like a retreating tide. In that brief moment, the vast difference between us became glaringly apparent—he was an absolute monster, much like Garp himself.

"Garp! You've certainly found yourself quite the recruit," Roger remarked with a hearty laugh. "He's grown remarkably strong since our last encounter. Perhaps he'll hit it off with Shanks and Buggy here, hahaha."

I remained composed, fully aware of Roger's ability to detect any of my advanced Observation Haki techniques that helped me read emotions and thoughts. Even the Voice of All Things was off-limits in his presence. However,despite the risk, curiosity got the better of me, and I attempted to eavesdrop on Rayleigh's conversation. It confirmed what I suspected—Roger was indeed sick, and they had only recently discovered it. If the canon knowledge held true, Crocus would soon join the Roger Pirates to aid in Roger's recovery.

Observing Shanks and Buggy, Roger's two apprentices aboard the Oro Jackson, brought back memories of our clashes during confrontations between Roger and Garp. Each encounter lasted for days, with both sides battling relentlessly for supremacy.

Shanks, a celestial Dragon possibly from the Firgarland family, had been discovered by Roger in a chest after the God Valley incident. He would go on to become one of the future Yonko and play a significant role in Luffy's journey as a pirate. Despite being born in the same year as me, the current Shanks still fell short in comparison. He had yet to fully harness his potential as a powerhouse.

However, it was another newcomer to the Roger Pirates who truly caught my attention—Douglas Bullet. According to the canon, Buggy had started a rumor that he was someone who could clash evenly with the Dark King himself. I harbored doubts about such a ridiculous claim. Maybe Rayleigh was just playing around so as not to hurt the teens ego. The current bullet who stood before me was a teen around 16 or 17 years old. Yet, a part of me longed for a confrontation, eager to measure myself against an opponent so consumed by combat.

Perhaps it was my intense fighting intent that drew the attention of Douglas Bullet, who turned nonchalantly to face me, a creepy smile curling his lips.

"Oye, Bullet, be careful. That kid's not like your average Marine trainee. Even Roger praises him for his tenacity and talent," Scopper Gabban remarked from his perch on a wine barrel, noting the exchange between Bullet and me. "Roger has offered him a spot on our ship more than once, despite him being Garp's protege."

Bullet's gaze grew more intense as he absorbed Gabban's words. In his mind, Roger was the only opponent worth his attention, and everyone else was insignificant. He had joined the Roger Pirates solely for the opportunity to face Roger in combat, and hearing that even Roger had praised me ignited his battle lust like a raging tornado.

Roger, unperturbed by the exchange, was curious to see how much I had grown in recent months. He didn't intervene, as long as the skirmish didn't escalate into a death match.

"Roger! I have no intention of disturbing the peace on this neutral island. If you're not a coward, follow me. I've found a good spot with a chain of islands where we can go all out without holding back," Garp declared, goading Roger into a confrontation. Sensing something amiss in Rayleigh's reaction, Garp wanted to ensure that Roger engaged in battle rather than attempting to flee.

"Very well, Garp. We can fight to our hearts' content. No one will intervene. I hope you'll join our banquet after the fight," Roger replied with a hearty laugh. "And perhaps you can bring the kid along."

With a few instructions from Garp, the Marine ship began to move towards the designated battlefield, followed closely by the Oro Jackson. Garp had already received multiple calls from Kong, which he chose to ignore, urging him to wait for reinforcements, but both Sengoku and Zephyr were occupied, and Kong himself couldn't make a sudden move so deep into the New World. So I knew the so called reinforcements would take a long time, and Garp was not patient enough to wait such a long time.

"So you want to fight him?" Bogard's voice came from my side, indicating that he too sensed the battle intent emanating from me. I began undoing my sword belt and handed it over to Bogard, who shot me a questioning look at my action.

"Oh, I'm just worried that those monsters would end up killing me if I cut down one of their own. My blade is meant for killing. I'd rather fight him with my fists. People might forget that I am Garp-san's student if I rely too much on my sword," I explained. I knew that killing Douglas was not an option.

I couldn't disrupt the fragile balance that Garp and Roger had established, nor was I foolish enough to believe I could challenge someone as formidable as the Dark King and the rest. Bogard squinted his eyes and gave me an ugly look as I handed him my sword. As my swordsmanship instructor, everything I had learned about blades during my time in the Marines had come from him.

"Hmm, fine. But don't you dare lose. You know how Garp-san will punish you if you fail," Bogard warned. He understood how much I had grown in strength and could also vaguely estimate the power of the young man challenging me. Thus, he had an idea of who would likely emerge victorious in the fight.

On the Oro Jackson, everyone eagerly observed the preparations for the upcoming confrontation, with one exception: Silvers Rayleigh, the first mate of the Roger Pirates. He entertained the idea of silencing me, knowing that I had eavesdropped on their secret about Roger's condition. However, he ultimately shook his head and sighed.

"Rayleigh, don't try anything stupid. Garp will hunt you to the end of this world if you harm the child under his protection. Even I may not be able to save you from his wrath if you cross that line," Roger cautioned his friend, understanding his first mate's line of thought. He knew Garp's fierce determination to protect those dear to him, a trait shared by both of them.

"I also believe that the kid will play a huge role in the future, perhaps even changing the balance of the entire world. I believe he is destined for greatness," Roger added, casually tapping his friend's shoulder while laughing. In doing so, he subtly conveyed his thoughts, urging Rayleigh not to target me.

"Tch, Roger, I'm not that heartless to target a child because of your stubbornness. Is this fight really necessary? We could just leave. Garp has only a single ship and can't stop us. With our ship's speed, we could be away from here before more marines arrive. But no, you have to go ahead and clash with your marine friend, even before you ascertain what kind of disease is ailing your body," Rayleigh lamented. Having been with Roger since the beginning, he understood his friend's nature. If it was a challenge, Roger wouldn't back down.

"Haha, where's the fun in that, Rayleigh? One must never run away from a fight, and for all we know, I am simply being affected by a different type of cold," Roger remarked with a chuckle. He understood that his friend was worried about him, especially since the doctors at the infamous Saint Island were unable to diagnose his condition. Instinctively, Roger knew there was something wrong with his body, but for the time being, he brushed it off as a simple ailment to avoid worrying Rayleigh further.