You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
The Celestial Dragons lived atop the Red Line in Mary Geoise, so close to Marine Headquarters that one could almost say the two fortresses leaned against each other.
To launch an attack on Mary Geoise, one would first have to pass through Marineford, a fortress so heavily defended that any pirate daring to enter would have no way to leave alive. Unless someone was clinically insane, no sane person would even think about it. That kind of idea was simply suicidal.
"So then… what exactly is he trying to do?"
Even with Sengoku's sharp intellect, he couldn't figure out Rojen's true purpose. He strongly suspected that the chaos at the Sabaody Archipelago was orchestrated by that man, but he couldn't understand why.
"After taking control of Zephyr, he left the upper command of the Archipelago leaderless and in chaos. But that still wasn't enough; he even stirred up the lower ranks, driving the pirates into madness and looting, igniting the entire island in turmoil."
Piece by piece, Sengoku sorted through the sequence of events, his right index finger unconsciously tapping against the desk.
"Golden Lion… Rojen… Celestial Dragons…"
Suddenly, his pupils contracted sharply.
"This brat, he actually dares!"
For a moment, pure shock flashed in Sengoku's eyes, followed by speechless awe at the sheer, unthinkable boldness of what he suspected Rojen was attempting.
Holy Land Mary Geoise
In a peaceful garden, Yilu bent gracefully, watering the flowers with a gentle smile.
There were only three days left until the deadline that man had mentioned. Yet, there was not a trace of panic or urgency in her expression. It was as if she had completely forgotten the cruel reality awaiting her, being sent away like a mere object. Her eyes were bright, filled with a light called hope.
During this time, Runta had been secretly monitoring her. His cold heart could not comprehend why this woman remained so calm when she was on the verge of the most tragic fate of her life.
But today, when his indifferent gaze fell upon the newspaper in his hand, his pupils suddenly constricted. He scanned the entire article in haste, then took a deep breath, raising his eyes to glance at Yilu despite himself.
"What is it, Runta? You look like you've read something surprising in the news." Yilu smiled. Her every movement carried the grace of a noble princess, her gentle smile radiating purity and quiet beauty.
"…Nothing. Just something… unexpected." Runta's expression instantly returned to calm as he silently crushed the newspaper into a ball.
Yilu found his reaction strange, but said nothing.
Five minutes later, Runta seemed to receive new orders. He raised his hand and tossed the crumpled paper into a trash bin by the corner before leaving the courtyard. The paper landed precisely in the bin, bounced once or twice, and unfolded slightly, like a blooming rose.
After Runta had gone, Yilu quietly approached the trash bin, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. She reached in, retrieved the paper, and spread it open.
At first glance, her reaction mirrored Runta's, shock. But as her eyes moved across the entire page, her expression slowly softened into a smile.
"I knew it…"
"I knew that with your personality, you'd never abandon me."
"I knew it, Rojen!"
As she laughed, tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks, falling onto the newspaper and soaking through the ink.
…
Through the damp stains, the bold black headline remained visible, "Sabaody Archipelago in Turmoil, Nether Soul Pirates Stir Up a Storm! Captain Rojen Suspected of Clashing with an Admiral… and Emerging Victorious!"
Further down, the article continued, compiling every public, high-profile act by Rojen and his crew:
"The rising pirate crew, the Nether Soul Pirates, shake the seas! Great Pirate Trens annihilates an entire pirate crew with a single shot. Their power is astonishing!"
"At Water 7, the Nether Soul Pirates commit the outrageous act of assassinating World Government official Spandam, boldly leaving behind a mark reading: 'I'm just here to knock on the door.' What door do they intend to knock on? The meaning behind this phrase remains a mystery!"
The entire paper was a special issue, a full-page column detailing every public move committed by Rojen and the Nether Soul Pirates. It was clear some journalists had deliberately compiled it to analyze this powerful, suddenly-emerged pirate crew.
Yet, as the newspaper itself admitted, no one truly understood what the Nether Soul Pirates were aiming for.
No one… except one person.
She understood, and in that moment, her face was radiant despite the tears.
"I understand now… everyone!"
Yilu couldn't stop crying. Tear after tear streamed down her cheeks. She wept bitterly, yet her face was radiant with a smile.
All of those actions, all of those impulsive, world-shaking moves, they were completely unlike that man's usual style. He had always been one who lived by the word low-profile. He would never have done something so blatant!
And yet this time, he did. He did it recklessly, openly, letting the entire world witness it.
Why?
Yilu had already grasped the answer the moment she saw those reports. His purpose was simple. Everything he had done, every battle, every act of defiance, every headline, was only to tell her:
"I'm coming for you."
"I'll break down the doors of the World Government and bring you out!"
"No matter how tragic your past is, no matter who bullied or oppressed you, you have us."
"To us, you'll always be the cat aboard our ship, the cool, proud little lordling."
"A crewmate, a partner bound by life and death. Nothing more, nothing less."
No one had spoken those words aloud, but they were clear as day in Yilu's heart. A silent understanding, a bond that transcended words, was born in that moment, a connection that let them feel each other's hearts across distance. Between them, there were no Celestial Dragons, no divides of birth or status, no hierarchy of strength. In that closeness, they were equals, simply comrades.
…
Runta appeared again at the door. When he saw Yilu, who had been smiling moments ago, now weeping with that same smile, he froze and fell silent.
"You see it too, don't you, Runta?"
"They're coming."
She didn't say who, and he didn't ask. Yet both of them knew.
"This is the Celestial Dragons' palace. No one can get in." After a long silence, Runta's voice was low and steady. He was right. No matter who tried, no one could break into the most sacred palace in the world, because doing so meant facing the entire world. It wasn't exaggeration. It was truth.
"I believe in them. I believe my crewmates will come for me."
But Yilu's expression was calm. She looked up to the sky with a confident, hopeful smile. No one could know how grateful and moved she felt in that instant, how her tears wouldn't stop, not from sorrow, but from joy.
To have such companions… what a blessing. She whispered softly in her heart.
…
Meanwhile, back on the Sabaody Archipelago, Jason and the others had already located where Rojen was.
"How much longer will the Captain need?" Jason asked anxiously. Half an hour earlier, they had already heard the unending explosions across the island and the pirates' dying screams. There was no doubt now; Marine reinforcements had arrived. And this time, they would be even more terrifying.
"It should be soon," Trens murmured quietly.
The very next second, Rojen, seated cross-legged on the ground, his face dripping with sweat, suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Finally… It's done!"
(End Of This Chapter)