45 Chapter 44

"Why did you die... Roger?"

Within the deepest floor of Impel Down, the greatest prison to ever exist, there lied one man whose feet were shackled. bloodied from continuous torments, his entire body was drenched in blood.

"Ridiculous... all of you selfish idiots out there, looking for treasure... will only get in the way!!"

It was a mere whisper. At first glance, it may seem like nothing but a man's way to escape from this hellish experience of being shackled, but once oneself looks for the second time, he or she would realize.

This man, 'Golden Lion' Shiki who spread his name wide as the rival of Gol D. Roger the Pirate King and Edward Newgate the 'Whitebeard,' was speaking with a terrifying conviction.

"...A new age...?" Shiki then roared, expressing his disgust at the idea, "Pirates aren't the idiotic treasure seekers!! Pirates—we rule the seas!!!"

The way this man spoke seemed strange, for it lacked the despair that was engraved within each and every single prisoner. It was as if... this man knew he'd escape someday.

"Just you wait...! Someday... I'll make all of you see that!!!"

A few months after, on August 1502, 'Golden Lion' Shiki becomes known as the sole man who broke through the world's worst prison. However, at the same time,

Vice Admiral 'Aokiji,' chasing after Shiki relentlessly, locates and wipes out his entire crew on the island of Merview. Shiki runs away miserably with his sword-legs, while holding his severed left arm.

__________

[2 Years Later, October 10th, 1504]

[Marineford]

Silence. With all the present marines standing strictly, they gazed up at the stand in front of them, where Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood with a solemn demeanour.

Doll, Bastille, Dalmatian, Cancer, Maynard, and surprisingly, Masterson—the six of them stood among the Marine Officers, with the justice coats of their own draped around them.

Among the three Admirals: Seidohebi, Haironezumi, and Akainu, only Seidohebi was present, standing with an impassive expression on his face.

At a far distance away, the civilians too spectated the scene with nervousness, wondering just what is it that caused Marineford to fall into silence.

Looking around those below, Sengoku finally opened his mouth with a solemn expression, "...This year may possibly be the worst year there ever was, since the start of the scums' era."

Few marines' hands clenched helplessly.

"Big Mom and Kaidou's deeds have gotten out of control. Ignoring our presence, they plundered and killed every single person that they've come across, expanding their influence and asserting their dominance in the New World. And the ones who've been restricting their malicious acts weren't us, but 'Whitebeard' Edward Newgate and his pirate crew!" Sengoku gritted his teeth with evident rage,

"And that's not all! The so-called 'super rookies,' traveling from the Reverse Mountain—no marine has managed to capture one, not even one!! What is the purpose of Marine's existence then?!"

His words were full of heat. The marines, getting angry from the speech, adapted to the same, rage-filled eyes that Sengoku currently had. Then, Sengoku, abruptly switching into nothing but a cold seriousness, declared,

"Soon, a disaster will arise."

And the emanating heat within the atmosphere disappeared. The cloud, covering the entirety of Marineford,

Plop.

seemed a little heavy at the current moment.

"'Sir' Crocodile, 'Heavenly Demon' Donquixote Doflamingo, 'Hell Blaze' Diego, 'Red Hair' Shanks, and 'Marine Hunter' Dracule Mihawk. From what we can deduce, the five rookies will eventually meet at Sabaody Archipelago, the World Government's area of interest. Big Mom and Kaidou showed their interest in this topic as well, advancing to the Red Line in an attempt to stabilize their forces by recruitment. And finally..."

Sengoku paused. His face darkened, finding it hard to speak the next set of words. Nonetheless, he continued,

"...the mass massacre at the island of Nextra, done by none other than 'Demon Heir' Douglas Bullet."

Douglas Bullet. He was previously a member of Pirate King's crew. And recently, Marine received the information that based on his current feats, Bullet... he awakened his devil fruit.

"But no more." Sengoku whispered, "The finale of this year shall not go to the hands of the pirates. We shall show to the world, of what it means to disrupt the justice governed by the Marine."

Sengoku raised his hand, and spoke triumphantly,

"Henceforth, I, as the Fleet Admiral, declare a war against the pirates—to all marines!"

__________

<<Garp. We have to put an end to this.>>

Within the Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line, there sat one summer island known to have a great view. Lying on top of a sunbed with sunglasses over his eyes, Garp, holding the dial of Den Den Mushi, spoke into it seriously, "Things really are getting out of hand recently, eh, Sengoku."

<<I'm going to launch Buster Call, and go there myself. However, there lies a certain possibility that the other members of the former Roger pirates may intervene. Currently, with two Admirals along with Borsalino and Kuzan, combating Big Mom and Kaidou for territories, I cannot afford to leave the headquarter entirely empty by taking Blaise along.>>

"I know already. No need to speak around." Garp, standing up with seriousness, stated, "I'll be there in two days."

The call has come to an end, and Garp, placing the Den Den Mushi down, turned his eyes at the beach in front of him, where one white-haired man was seen lifting up a gigantic boulder on his back.

"Smoker," Garp, calling out to the man, Smoker, said while buttoning up his shirt, "I'm going to be away for a while."

Smoker, throwing the boulder on the side with one hand, asked casually, "For what cause?"

Garp momentarily closed his eyes. Then, opening them back up, he replied grimly, "Douglas Bullet."

"The 'Demon Heir,' I see," Smoker narrowed his eyes, "Is he really such a big deal, for the two of you to head together?"

"Heh, it's because we must succeed in this operation, that we are heading there ourselves." Garp tapped his forehead with a grin, "Sengoku values reputation, which is the key aspect in achieving his 'Reigning Justice.' This year around, Marine lost far too many. Without a single notable feat, this year's Marine will be remembered as the weak and incapable force, growing the doubt within people's hearts."

Smoker frowned in disgust, "...Politics as always. I swear, the seat of Fleet Admiral is nothing but torture."

"Bwahaha, agreed!" Garp then gazed at Smoker knowingly, "But that's your future, Smoker."

"Please, old man..." Smoker shook his head, "Don't jinx me like that."

Garp stared at his sole disciple. For the past two years, Smoker has grown taller, now standing at a height of approximately 190cm. His physique was more toned and refined, and having turned 16 in terms of age, the previously visible childish features were nowhere to be found.

"Welp! Seems like our vacation has come to an end, huh." Garp, grinning, draped the justice coat around him.

Smoker looked up at the sky, wiping the sweat off of his face while forming a subtle smile.

'2 years passed already.'

__________

'2 years passed already.' I thought as I watched the cloud above gently floating by, 'And many things happened.'

Garp-sensei and I, after our escape from Marineford 2 years ago, sailed aimlessly, for my teacher forgot to bring a pose for our navigation. At one point, that small boat sank, and we traveled by sky through the use of my fruit ability.

<Oh, that island looks ideal. Smoker—>

<Zzz...>

And here we were, living 2 years on this uninhabited island. Though the issue lied in the fact that none of us signed up for the News Coo delivery service, and remained oblivious to the outside situation, Garp-sensei recently discovered a Den Den Mushi in the wild and finally contacted the headquarter.

<GARPPPPPP!!!!!!!! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!!!!!>

That was the first time I heard Sengoku swearing.

"But the question is," Squinting my eyes at my teacher, I muttered, "How are you going to reach Marineford without any navigation tool? We literally got ourselves lost 2 years ago."

"Well—" Garp-sensei, hearing my words, was about to answer with a confident demeanour, but I quickly interrupted,

"Oh, no need to answer. You'll probably travel aimlessly, go to the first island you find, and ask them where the Marineford is—"

BOOM!

"Don't interrupt elders when they talk, brat! Where's your respect?!"

'Even after the training, Garp-sensei's fist still hurt...' I thought with my head impaled in the sand.

__________

A day passed. Garp-sensei left, and I, still remaining on the island with Den Den Mushi as my sole companion, was currently receiving the call.

<<Captain Smoker! Can you hear me?!>>

"Yes I can, so tone down your voice," I replied casually.

<<Y-yes! Currently, with Fleet Admiral's declaration, many divisions were dispatched worldwide! A request has arrived to you from the division led by Commodore Gion, to aid her in the upcoming battle against...>>

I couldn't conceal my smile upon hearing the familiar name. It seems that she, within the 2 years, managed to climb all the way up there—as expected from the future Admiral candidate.

"Gion, huh—"

<<...the Red Hair pirates!>>

I stopped.

'Shanks, of all possibilities?'

It wasn't that I was afraid. Rather, it was that I didn't view him as a threat in comparison to other notorious pirates—especially Crocodile and Doflamingo.

However, at the same time, Gion against Shanks... there existed an uncertainty.

'Is this supposed to happen?'

If this event was a part of canon, then without a doubt, Gion would live. However, she was someone who's been with me for a long period of time, someone who can be considered 'acting out of canon.' If so, I cannot assure her safety, especially since I knew how capable 'Red Hair' Shanks is.

'Tch...' The situation has become annoying. In the end, I answered, "Tell her to pick me up."

__________

[October 17th, 1504]

"Commodore Gion, the island has come in sight!" From aboard the Marine ship that sailed across the sea that was far too calm, one marine stated strictly, to a female Marine Officer with justice coat on her shoulders: Gion. She, with her sword Konpira sheathed by her waist, stared at the front where the tiny figure of one island appeared in her sight.

"So that's where Smoker's been staying," Nearby, another female Marine Officer with short, dark-coloured hair, Doll, muttered to herself while leaning on the rail, "In a freaking Calm Belt of all possibilities. No wonder we couldn't find him until now."

"Smoker, eh." The blonde Marine Officer crossing his arms with a cigarette in his mouth, Cancer, exclaimed, "It's been a long time since I saw him. But one thing is for sure,"

Grinning with a hand on his chin, Cancer then said,

"I'm more handsome than him."

"And just as annoying," Doll said while rolling her eyes.

"Enough chit-chatting." Then, Gion spoke up as she turned her eyes to the marine soldier on her side, "Turn the wheel. We're heading to Koto."

Marine soldier, confused by the sudden change, asked, "What of Captain Smoker, Commodore Gion?"

Doll and Cancer too turned their eyes at Gion in confusion. Gion, without answering, simply turned her eyes above at the crow's nest. Following her gaze, the others too looked above, and,

"Long time no see, all of you."

found Smoker standing casually, with a cigarette in his hand.

"...Huh?" Cancer's eyes widened upon sighting the cigarette. His hand immediately reached his lips, and found that the cigarette that he's been biting onto, was gone.

"Oi, Smoker," Gion, looking at grinning Smoker in annoyance, pointed down, "Get down over here."

"Boring as always, Gion!"

Gion barked, "It's Commodore Gion for you, Captain Smoker!"

And the ship has begun to sail to the island of Koto—where the information speculated Red Hair pirates' arrival.

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