43 Three Years! Gol D. Roger Turns In!
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The horizon was dotted with the sails of twenty warships as they cut through the waves, a majestic fleet setting out once again.
Their destination was the tumultuous waters of the Edd War sea area, a place that had recently been a battleground of epic proportions. However, upon their arrival, the scene that greeted the Marines was one of desolation and destruction.
The sea was littered with the remnants of ships and the lifeless bodies of pirates, a grim testament to the storm's fury.
"We're too late..." A Vice-Admiral's voice broke the silence, his eyes scanning the wreckage: "It looks like they were all killed by the storm."
Amidst the floating debris, a marine soldier hurried over, his face etched with urgency: "Report, sir! We've managed to capture some pirates, but they're all from the Golden Lion Pirates. They claim that during the storm, the Roger Pirates managed to escape from this sea area."
Garp, standing with his arms crossed, nodded solemnly: "Just as expected."
Sengoku, with a furrowed brow, added: "Our plan has failed. It seems Shiki's plan has also fallen apart. He didn't succeed in convincing Roger, and Roger still managed to escape."
Borsalino, leaning against the ship's railing, let out a sigh: "In the end, we got nothing."
Sakazuki asked: "What about the spies in the Golden Lion Pirates? Do they know what happened?"
"We did receive some important intelligence." Sengoku continued: "One of the spies witnessed Shiki being injured and unconscious, rescued by his subordinates. As for the Roger Pirates, the informant saw them, but they escaped very quickly from the storm."
The sun had begun to set, casting an orange glow over the somber scene. Borsalino squinted into the fading light: "Do we withdraw or continue searching for the whereabouts of the Roger Pirates? It's already dark, and visibility is poor."
Brontes suggested in a calm voice: "I think we should wait for the orders."
Sengoku nodded and turned to enter the cabin: "I will call Fleet-Admiral Kong."
He needed to contact Marineford for further instructions.
The aftermath of the storm was devastating. Over a thousand pirates from the Golden Lion Pirates had been captured, and countless others had perished. The storm had decimated two-thirds of their forces, and the fate of the Golden Lion himself was uncertain.
Eventually, orders from Marineford arrived. The fleet was to stand by and await further instructions.
After a full day anchored in the Edd War area, with no news of the Roger Pirates or Shiki's whereabouts, the Marines faced the bitter truth that their quarry had vanished without a trace.
With heavy hearts and a sense of depression, the order to withdraw was given.
The ships turned back, setting a course for the G-1 Base.
The battle that would go down in history as the Ed War had been won by the Roger Pirates, and the Marines' secret grand plan had ended in failure.
...
Time passed, and life at the G-2 base went on. It was over a month later when Brontes received surprising intelligence.
"Shiki has reappeared in the New World, but with a part of a steering wheel stuck on his head?"
Brontes, standing amidst the clanging of weights and the scent of exertion, barely registered the news about Shiki's peculiar appearance.
His mind was elsewhere, focused on the elusive Roger Pirates. Despite the vast resources at their disposal, the Marine and the World Government's intelligence network had failed to track the movements of the most wanted crew on the seas.
...
Days turned into months, and months into years at the G-2 base. Before Brontes knew it, two years had slipped by like ships in the night.
During this time, the Marine hierarchy underwent significant changes. Sakazuki and Borsalino were promoted to Vice-Admirals. Kuzan, along with Momonga, Doberman, Onigumo, and others, rose to the rank of Rear-Admirals. The core strength of the Marine was becoming an ironclad force, causing ripples of concern among the pirate community.
The Marine's might was further bolstered by the addition of four Logia Devil Fruit users, who quickly became the main combatants. Their feats were legendary, and their victories were celebrated by the common civilians, who sang praises of the Marine's growing power.
However, just as the world was beginning to believe in the unstoppable rise of the Marine, a piece of news spread like wildfire, shaking the very foundations of the world. The Roger Pirates had done the unthinkable—they had reached the mythical island of Raftel and claimed the legendary treasure known as One Piece.
The World Economy Newspaper, reflecting the voice of the people, bestowed upon Gol D. Roger the title of King of the Pirates. This revelation sent shockwaves through the pirate world.
Those who had dreamt of finding Raftel and claiming the title for themselves were left in a state of disbelief, their ambitions crushed by Roger's triumph.
In a world where the success of one can spell the failure of many, Roger's ascent to the pinnacle of piracy was a harsh reminder of this reality. Yet, when everyone expected Roger to leverage his newfound treasure to dominate the world, the Roger Pirates did the unexpected—they vanished.
Rumors swirled among the pirate groups in the New World that the legendary crew had disbanded. The Pirate King himself had disappeared without a trace, along with his companions. The seas were left in a state of bewilderment and anticipation.
...
Another year passed in the blink of an eye.
Now, in the New World, at the G-2 Marine Base, Brontes was interrupted during his training by an urgent message.
His aide-de-camp burst into the room, the urgency in his voice cutting through the rhythmic sounds of the gym.
"Sir, there's an urgent message from Marineford requesting your immediate return!"
Brontes set down the massive barbell, the weighty metal thudding against the ground, and said: "I understand. Prepare the warship."
"Yes, sir!" The assistant saluted crisply before exiting the room.
Brontes took a moment to glance at the calendar on the wall, a silent acknowledgment of the time that had passed.
The gears of fate were turning, and the plot of the One Piece World was unfolding. Over the years, Brontes had often pondered whether he should intervene to halt the Great Pirate Era.
Brontes had always been a man of contemplation, weighing the consequences of every action. The Great Pirate Era, despite its chaos, it had its merits, and Brontes, with his own ambitions, decided to let the tides of history flow unimpeded.
After a refreshing shower, he donned his ice blue suit and white overcoat. The warship awaited him at the dock.
....
Upon his arrival at the G-1 base, he was greeted by the sight of Sakazuki, his features set in a frown of concern.
"You received the orders too, huh? What exactly happened that would make the Fleet-Admiral summon both of us to Marineford?" Sakazuki's voice was tinged with suspicion, and rightly so. As the Chief of Staff of Marineford, Brontes was privy to more information than most.
Brontes's rise through the ranks had been meteoric, a testament to his strategic acumen and his success in quelling pirate uprisings.
"I'm not sure either. The message was brief, only stating the need for my immediate return. Something big must have happened." Brontes replied with a plain face.
Sakazuki's eyes narrowed. "Even you don't know? This is really weird..."
...
The atmosphere at Marineford was charged with tension.
In the grand conference hall, officers of high rank gathered, their faces a mix of anticipation and anxiety. Admiral Sengoku presided over the assembly, with the venerable Fleet-Admiral Kong preparing to pass the torch of leadership.
"Is everyone here?" Sengoku's voice cut through the murmurs.
"Everyone is here." Borsalino confirmed.
"Then let the meeting begin." Sengoku said, taking his place at the head of the table.
A Rear-Admiral, unable to contain his curiosity, broke the silence: "What exactly happened, Sengoku-san?"
The room fell deathly quiet as Sengoku delivered the news that would change the course of history.
"King of Pirates, Gol D. Roger has been captured!"
The statement hung in the air, heavy and unbelievable.
"King of Pirates, Gol D. Roger has been captured?" A Vice-Admiral murmured in shock.
"That's right. Yesterday, Vice Admiral Garp captured Gol D. Roger, and he is now imprisoned in Marineford's prison." Sengoku confirmed, his voice steady.
A wave of excitement and disbelief swept through the room.
"Really? That's great news!" An exuberant Rear-Admiral exclaimed.
"Indeed, it's tremendous news for us." Sengoku affirmed, his gaze sweeping over the officers.
The conference hall was abuzz with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. The sudden announcement of Gol D. Roger's capture had taken everyone by surprise, and the marines couldn't help but express their exhilaration at the news.
Yet amidst the fervor, Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and Brontes maintained a composed facade, their expressions unreadable, hinting at a deeper understanding of the gravity of the situation.
Sengoku's eyes found Brontes, recognizing his unflappable presence.
"Do you have anything to say, Brontes?" He inquired, curious about Brontes's thoughts.
Brontes, his mind already considering the implications, posed a critical question: "Nothing, except whether to execute Roger or keep him imprisoned?"
The room erupted with opinions.
"Since he has been captured, I suggest we execute him." An excited Vice-Admiral said.
"Indeed, Roger is no ordinary pirate now; he is the King of Pirate. Executing him would be greatly beneficial to the Marine and could deter pirates all over the world." Another Vice-Admiral agreed.
"I think, he should be executed. We cannot allow such evil to continue to exist." An old Vice-Admiral said with a murderous aura.
Sengoku, with a nod, confirmed the collective decision: "The World Government and the Marine have made the same decision. The news has already been broadcast worldwide. In seven days, at Loguetown in the East Blue, King of Pirates Gol D. Roger will be executed."
"Why Loguetown?" Sakazuki, sitting next to Brontes, asked at this moment.
"It's the decision of the World Government. Roger was born in Loguetown in the East Blue. The strategic significance of executing Roger in his birthplace as a powerful message to pirates everywhere." Sengoku explained.
Unbeknownst to most, this was also fulfilling Roger's last wish—to meet his end in the place he knew best, his hometown.
The meeting's agenda extended beyond the announcement. They needed to strategize for the potential of Roger's crew attempting a rescue.
The Roger Pirates were a formidable force, and any action from them could jeopardize the execution.
However, only Garp and Brontes were privy to the truth—Roger had surrendered of his own volition, and his crew would not be coming to his aid.
As the meeting concluded and the officers dispersed, the news of Roger's impending execution spread like wildfire across the world.
The shock was palpable, the air charged with the reality that the era of the Pirate King was drawing to a close.
In seven days, at Loguetown, the curtains would fall on the life of Gol D. Roger!
