# Chapter 506: Beaten to the Punch
Returning to the North Blue, the Roger Pirates were rarely discovered by the Marines.
Due to the further application of Hearing the Voice of All Things, Roger could to some extent perceive whether ships were approaching and their direction by listening to the wind and ocean currents.
As long as they were detected, the Oro Jackson could deliberately avoid them.
Even if it wasn't like Hades directly using "Heavenly Eye," it still had extremely high strategic value.
Roger's illness could flare up at any time.
To avoid accidents, the Roger Pirates avoided battle as much as possible.
If it flared up during a battle, the consequences would be unimaginable.
After all, in his weakened state, Roger couldn't even use Haki; even some small-fry Pirates in the New World could kill him.
No one else could have imagined that the Roger Pirates, who shook the Great Sea, would appear in the weak Four Seas.
Time passed peacefully for a while.
It wasn't until they arrived at the Grand Line that they were finally discovered by the Marines.
Various Marine Bases strengthened their patrols, and the Intelligence Force was also closely monitoring the various Islands in the First Half of the Grand Line.
Although it was unclear why the Roger Pirates would appear in the First Half of the Grand Line, which housed the Headquarters with the strongest Marine forces.
However, since they had come, this opportunity must not be missed.
Due to their apprehension about the Roger Pirates' abilities, the Marines were not in a hurry to act.
To travel to the New World, the Roger Pirates would inevitably pass through Fish-Man Island.
Before that, they would once again attempt to encircle and suppress the Roger Pirates.
Regardless of success, they had to try.
"Garp, target the Roger Pirates. Don't let him escape our vision."
Fleet Admiral Kong instructed seriously.
"Don't worry, leave it to this old man."
Garp said excitedly, rubbing his fists.
Having finally gotten news of the Roger Pirates, he didn't want to miss this good opportunity.
Without Roger, he had been feeling a bit restless during this time, only able to stay at Headquarters and train his Adjutant Kuzan.
With his nemesis before him, Garp immediately volunteered to go out as soon as he received the news.
Even if Kong disagreed, he would still act.
Looking at Garp's departing back, Kong sighed.
He had no confidence in the upcoming operation.
If the Roger Pirates arrived with a Super Giant Storm, just like at the Edd War Sea Area, what could they do?
The Marines did not have the confidence and ability of the Flying Pirates to withstand gale, heavy rain, and giant waves.
If the Roger Pirates brought a Storm and circled Marineford, most of the buildings in Marineford would be razed to the ground, and who knows how many people would disappear in the Storm.
This was completely a natural disaster.
Frankly speaking, facing the Roger Pirates, who had now exhibited the potential of a mobile natural disaster, Kong absolutely did not want to provoke them, especially to anger them.
But this was an order from the World Government.
The Roger Pirates also knew information about Ancient Weapons, so the operation was necessary.
As for Garp, he didn't hold much expectation.
Facing the terrifying strength exhibited by the Roger Pirates, even two Garps would be useless.
To deal with the Roger Pirates, they still had to rely on encirclement and suppression.
However, they didn't just have one chance.
After the Roger Pirates passed through Fish-Man Island and headed to the New World, the Marines could conduct another encirclement and suppression operation against them.
The last time the Roger Pirates escaped was likely also due to a special ability.
These two opportunities were exposed by the Roger Pirates appearing in the First Half of the Grand Line.
Kong's intuition told him that these were likely the last two opportunities.
After all, once deep in the New World, it would be difficult for the Marines to act against the Roger Pirates, no matter what.
Unless they utilized the CP0 Director-General's flight ability to directly air-drop high-end combat power.
Just like when he dealt with "\"Golden King\" Donovan" back then.
But that was the last resort.
Sky Island, the top of Giant Jack.
"Roger, was your feeling wrong? There's nothing here?"
Led by Roger, following the voice of nature, the Roger Pirates traveled along Giant Jack all the way to the top.
Before them was an empty expanse; they didn't find what they were looking for.
"No, my feeling isn't wrong. They told me there's a stone up here, and the Golden Bell."
Roger frowned.
He didn't believe his ability was mistaken.
Nature would not lie.
Spencer, with his ponytail, walked forward and squatted down to carefully examine the surroundings.
He reached out and touched the ground.
After a moment of thought, he said:
"Captain's feeling is right. There was something here originally, and it wasn't small. There are still traces here, quite old. It's very likely someone came here before and took what was here."
Hearing Spencer's words, many Crewmates stepped forward and indeed found a square, shallow imprint on the surface of the giant leaf.
Due to its immense size, they hadn't noticed it at first.
"Hmm? It seems someone was here before."
Roger placed his palm on the surface of Giant Jack's leaf again.
After a long while, his eyes lit up.
"There were two people."
"It seems someone came here years ago, ahead of us."
This was not good news.
They were now only one step away from the Final Island, and they didn't want to miss any useful clues.
Most of these Poneglyphs appear in remote places.
Sky Island, isolated from the Great Sea, and the ruins below are good proof of this.
Perhaps what was originally here would be of use to them.
"The ruins below are the same. Someone should have been there years ago too."
Hearing this, someone thought of the ancient ruins they found below the clouds.
"Who could it be?"
"I want to determine the exact time. Go to Angel Island and find out who came here before us and what happened."
Roger stood up and instructed.
His deep gaze continuously looked into the distance through the clouds.
Half a day later, the dispersed Roger Pirates gathered again.
During this time, Roger also appeared in various places, using his Hearing the Voice of All Things ability to obtain as much useful information as possible.
"About eleven or twelve years ago, a Native Village on Sky Island was massacred. There were no survivors."
"Those two appeared around that time period."
"That was the end of the Previous Era. How could we know who it was?"
A little over ten years ago wasn't long for Roger, but ten years was enough to erase everything.
Mock Town below had changed generations countless times.
Moreover, in that era, news was far less accessible than it is now.
Many things were not recorded, and even if they were, they couldn't obtain them with their identity.
In the Previous Era, the Roger Pirates were still running around under the shadow of the Rocks Pirates.
This conclusion clearly left them somewhat disappointed.
"Hahaha! Don't worry, we'll find the last stone sooner or later."
In such a situation, Roger's hearty laughter dispelled the worries of all his Crewmates.
Roger had less and less time, but they would definitely help Roger fulfill his dream.
And so, they continued their journey.
Having come this far, they firmly believed that what they sought would appear before them.
(end of chapter)