Human destiny often changes dramatically when one encounters different people or events.
August.
The sun shone brightly, skies were blue, and the sea shimmered like sapphire.
Gentle tides lapped at Dressrosa's shores as the sea breeze brought a natural coolness, making one forget the salt in the air.
"Phew~ Back here again, huh?"
"Dressrosa… this place has really changed."
A small boat, no more than five or six meters long, slowly pulled into port and docked at the far edge of the harbor. A middle-aged man stood at the helm, hands gripping the wheel, watching the bustling Dressrosa port with a soft sigh.
He appeared around 45–50 years old. Years of sailing had left his skin rough and weathered. Wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and strands of gray hair beneath his red cap hinted at his age.
He wore black trousers, brown leather boots, and a red floral shirt, completely unbuttoned, revealing a scarred chest. A western-style saber hung at his waist. The image he gave off: rugged and carefree.
This man was none other than the former Pirate King who left his wife to re-enter the New World, Gol D. Roger.
"Time to see it all with my own eyes," he muttered, grabbing a small satchel and stepping out from the cabin.
After dropping anchor and securing the boat, he scanned the area. Seeing no one paying attention, he leapt lightly onto the dock and headed toward the central port area.
Since Yoriichi Tsugikuni and the Dawn Branch had settled in Dressrosa, the port had changed daily. It had been five months since the Giant Pirate Crew's rampage. In the aftermath of that disaster, Yoriichi began construction on the ruins.
The new Marine branch covered 100 mu, roughly 66,000 square meters. With no high-tech equipment in this era, everything was built by hand.
Even removing open yards and training grounds, over 20,000 square meters still had to be filled with buildings.
To speed up the timeline, draw in population, and revive the port quickly, Yoriichi had hired as many workers as possible.
Just building this one branch required nearly 5,000 craftsmen.
Such a massive labor force meant massive consumer power. In that time, Dressrosa civilians and merchants saw the port's future and began buying property and opening shops. Businesses sprung up like bamboo shoots after rain.
Within months, the area had become a thriving, self-contained commercial town.
With Yoriichi and his men stationed there, Dressrosa saw unprecedented peace and prosperity. Maritime trade blossomed.
King Riku had always kept an eye on the Marines and their port project. When he realized the potential, he used royal authority to expand the port and dock areas further.
More jobs meant more commerce. Beyond dining, a wide variety of consumer industries began to appear.
Out of both gratitude and practicality, King Riku designated a restricted zone at the port exclusively for Yoriichi's branch. Only warships could dock there, civilian or merchant vessels were barred.
Thus, when Roger arrived, he was directed to dock at the very edge.
As he walked toward the central dock, the first thing he saw was the blue-and-white Dawn Marine Branch rising high in the distance.
"Whoa… this is serious. The Marines really plan to make a move here," Roger muttered, unable to hide the disdain in his tone. His face darkened.
Watching the flurry of activity, Roger frowned and began circling the massive complex, examining every detail. At the same time, he activated Observation Haki, extending it over the entire Marine branch.
After a quick scan, his expression grew more severe. Despite the summer heat, his face looked cold enough to drip water.
"A branch of this size… so many workers… and there are women and children too?"
"That kid… so young, already a Vice Admiral… Has power already blinded him?"
Roger's Haki picked up countless life signs, most were weak and peaceful. Nearly a hundred were exceptionally weak, indicating they were likely children.
And from the activity of those life forces, they were working.
Roger, a pirate through and through, had never believed in that "work is glorious" nonsense. In his eyes, labor was a punishment from the gods. Forcing children to labor? That was a sin against heaven.
Yet here it was, happening within Yoriichi's branch.
Roger had come to Dressrosa mainly to check out the so-called "future of the Marines," the one bold enough to strike at the Celestial Dragons' shield.
Now, he was deeply disappointed.
He didn't sense any overwhelming auras from inside the branch. The port had no visible warships. It seemed the Marines had gone out on business.
After thinking a bit, Roger found a tavern on the street and walked inside.
"Boss, one bottle of Bremaster."
Pushing through the saloon doors, Roger looked around the nearly empty bar and sat at the counter. He set down his bag and gestured to the man behind the counter.
"Oh? A strong spirit, this early?"
"Quite rare. Something troubling you, sir?"
Tavern owners, no matter the world, are always chatterboxes. In the Hall of Chatter, bartenders, cab drivers, barbers, and real estate agents are the Four Heavenly Kings.
This rule seemed universal, even in another world.
The bartender, polishing a glass behind the bar, glanced at Roger and struck up conversation with a smile.
"Hahahaha! Boss, you're sharp!" Roger burst out laughing.
As the bartender fetched the drink, he kept chatting. "If you don't mind sharing, you could talk to me. Drinking alone won't help with heavy thoughts. Talking might make it better."
He popped open the Bremaster, set it in front of Roger, and offered a glass.
But Roger ignored it, grabbing the bottle and chugging it straight from the neck.
700ml of wine, he downed half in one go.
Thud!
Setting the bottle heavily on the bar, he looked up and chuckled. "Yeah… it's something alright. Some kid's growth completely ruined my plan. Kind of annoying, really."
Hearing this, the bartender scanned Roger's face and laughed. "Ah, yes! At our age, if it's not work, it's kids giving us headaches."
"You have no idea, my son refuses to learn the business. Says he wants to be a Marine instead."
"What's so great about being a Marine, huh? Sure, there's justice, authority, strength, and a decent salary… but your life's always at risk!"
"Sigh… kids never listen."
Clearly, the bartender misunderstood Roger's concerns and assumed a personal story.
Not that Roger corrected him.
The bartender sat down, opened another bottle, poured himself a drink, and chatted away. It was still early, bars weren't busy until late. Finally having someone to talk to, he let his work wait.
Roger just smiled quietly.
But when he heard the bartender say his son wanted to be a Marine, and noted the positive tone he used, Roger was momentarily surprised.
This guy… had no complaints about the Marines?
Even with all the labor and construction? The people of Dressrosa didn't seem to mind?
"Boss, from the way you talk… sounds like being a Marine is seen as a good thing here?"
"I saw the Marine base across the street. Pretty impressive! With so many craftsmen, the Marines must've spent a fortune, huh?"
Roger watched closely, expecting the bartender to start ranting about Marine oppression.
Instead, the man nodded and replied seriously, "Oh yes! To build that branch, Vice Admiral Yoriichi has spent a tremendous amount of money!"
Roger was stunned.
As far as he knew, when the Marines built bases in member nations, they only paid for materials. Labor was free, provided by the country. In feudal societies like this one, commoners were easily ordered around.
Yet here? The Marines were paying wages?
"Craftsmen here earn very well, those with skills make 6,000 Beli a day for 9 hours. Laborers earn 3,500. Even the elderly and children get 200–300 Beli per hour, all with food and lodging provided."
"In Dressrosa, that kind of pay lets you live comfortably."
"To keep this up, Vice Admiral Yoriichi goes out hunting pirates every time there's a report."
"He's really working hard!"
The bartender's tone when mentioning Yoriichi was filled with admiration and gratitude, which shocked Roger even more.
Clearly, Yoriichi was nothing like other Marines.
Roger had estimated the number of workers. To maintain that kind of payroll, Yoriichi had to spend around 20 million Beli a day, a conservative estimate. The real number was likely much higher.
Where was that money coming from?! Marine HQ wouldn't pour that much into a single branch.
And this branch? It occupied over 60,000 square meters, and with the extended dock and sea zone, the influence was closer to 200,000 square meters.
What was this guy planning?
Usually, a Marine branch housed a few hundred men. A few thousand was already enormous. Commanding such a force required at least a Rear Admiral.
Yoriichi's base, once complete, could support 5,000–6,000 Marines.
A single branch… rivaling the combined strength of dozens in the Four Blues. Other than Marineford itself, Roger had never seen a base of this scale.
"To build something this big in the New World… this kid's authority is insane."
"Is no one keeping him in check?"
"To run a Marine branch of this size smoothly, does he really have what it takes?"
"…Looks like I need to meet him in person."
As Roger continued chatting with the bartender, he mentally calculated the true power of Yoriichi's branch, and was stunned.
If Yoriichi fully armed those 5,000 Marines, he could launch dozens of warships at once. And if he trained a few strong officers, this one Vice Admiral could trigger multiple Buster Calls simultaneously.
In terms of real power? He might already rival an Admiral.
Roger had no idea whether Marine HQ was even aware of what Yoriichi was doing in Dressrosa.
If he were in charge at HQ, he would've never allowed this.
The bartender noticed Roger falling silent and didn't interrupt. Eventually, Roger collected himself, and they resumed chatting.
Their conversation revolved mostly around Yoriichi and the Marines.
The bartender didn't find this strange. Roger wasn't the first outsider to ask about the new branch. In the New World, a Marine base in Dressrosa was naturally a hot topic.
Meanwhile, out at sea, Yoriichi Tsugikuni was "fishing" with his crew.
Only, the "fish" he hunted was unlike anyone else's.
He was targeting a pirate crew with a total bounty exceeding 700 million Beli,
The Moonlight Pirates.
And their captain?
None other than the future Warlord of the Sea,
Gecko Moria.
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100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
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