Chapter 28: Prelude to the Storm
Above the East Blue clouds.
The wind roared like blades, whistling past his ears.
Roy's figure flickered through a continuous sequence of warps, each one leaving a faint blue afterimage, as if tearing the sky itself.
"Kuina's tragedy... was it really just fodder, meant to fuel Zoro's ultimate ambition to become a 'Follower of Joy Boy'?"
His voice was low, laced with irony and fatigue, carried from the depths of the cloud sea.
His gaze cut through the layers of cloud, seeing the threads of fate already woven.
"And now, Luffy has been taken from the East Blue, far from the 'stage' that fate had prepared for him..."
The furious winds whipped around him, making his Marine coat snap.
Roy's pupils contracted, a profound light in his eyes. "But that man... he's not the kind who stops for anything."
Marine Headquarters, Sengoku's Office.
Sunlight streamed through the window, but the air inside was thick with tension.
Garp sat on the sofa, legs crossed, crunching loudly on a huge bag of rice crackers, scattering crumbs everywhere.
A vein pulsed on Sengoku's forehead. He fought to control his anger as he reviewed the stacks of paperwork.
Finally—
SPLURT!
A piece of snot landed precisely on Sengoku's document.
"GARP!!!"
Sengoku shot to his feet, his roar making the windows rattle. "If you have nothing to do, get out and go on a mission!"
Garp scratched his ear lazily, smiling carelessly. "Gotta leave some chances for the young guys, right~"
Sengoku was about to rage when the Den Den Mushi on his desk rang.
Sengoku took a deep breath and answered. "This is Sengoku."
The Den Den Mushi projected Roy's image, but it was flickering wildly, showing he was moving at high speed.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I wanted to give you a heads-up~" Roy's voice came through, steady and familiar.
Sengoku frowned. "What is it? Aren't you supposed to be in the East Blue?"
"That's right~" Roy's voice was light. "I've spotted two extremely talented sword fighters, but... I might run into a bit of trouble with someone else~"
Sengoku paused, trying to think who in the East Blue could cause Roy to report back. Then, his eyes widened. He shot up, his voice cracking. "You don't mean—Red-Haired Shanks, do you?!"
Garp, who had been slouched on the couch, was instantly on his feet, his eyes lethal, crackers falling to the floor.
Roy's image flickered, a smile on his face. "Yep. Might have a run-in with the Red-Hair Pirates. Don't worry, though! Even if I can't beat him, I can always run fast, right~"
Garp snatched the Den Den Mushi. "You want me to come?!"
Roy's voice was soft. "No need. You'd only get here after it was all over."
Sengoku recovered, his expression grave. He sighed. "If you can, try not to cause too much damage. The East Blue has been peaceful lately."
"Understood." Roy's voice was crisp.
The call ended. A moment of silence was broken by Garp's massive laugh. "Brat! He's got guts!"
Sengoku rubbed his temples. "Just try not to let him cause too much trouble..."
Garp scratched his head, his eyes flickering. "Shanks was a kid on Roger's ship... If they really clash, it won't be easy."
Sengoku's frown deepened. He looked toward the sea, his eyes distant.
Under the dim office light, a thick file marked [TOP ALERT] lay on the table. Sengoku's finger traced the gold lettering:
Red-Hair Pirates Captain: "Red-Haired" Shanks
Bounty: 849,000,000 Beri
Origin: Former Apprentice of the Roger Pirates
Danger Level: S
Garp stood by the window, his arms crossed, silently gazing at the coordinates in the East Blue.
"The little kid from Roger's ship... he's raised his own flag," Garp said, his voice heavy.
Sengoku pushed up his glasses. "In just a few short years, he went from nobody to someone who shakes the New World. And his crew—"
Sengoku flipped the file, showing the other members:
First Mate: Ben Beckman—A tactical genius surpassing even our strategists.
Sniper: Yasopp—A legendary marksman who never misses.
Fighter: Lucky Roux—A monster capable of blinding speed despite his size.
Garp scoffed. "The setup looks like a deliberate copy of the old Roger Pirates."
Sengoku circled 'Roger Apprentice' on the file. "The worst part is Shanks himself." He pulled out a combat report.
"Grand Line Skirmish"
Description: Shanks did not draw his sword. He only released Conqueror's Haki, causing 300 elite Marines to instantly pass out.
Garp's knuckles cracked. "Conqueror's Haki... the 'King's Ambition,' just like Roger."
Sengoku closed the file. "Marine R&D analysis shows the purity of his Haki is comparable to Whitebeard in his prime. If we let him continue..."
He didn't finish, but Garp knew the rest: "Another seed for a 'Pirate King' is sprouting."
Outside, rain suddenly poured down, signaling the coming storm.
The office was silent.
Garp broke the tension with a sudden, boisterous laugh. "Speaking of which, a year ago, that brat in the training field..."
Sengoku's shoulders visibly relaxed. He rubbed his pen. "Indeed... The boy's control over his power already surpasses that of an Admiral candidate."
Since Roy took out seven Supernova crews, the Five Elders' attitude toward the Marines had noticeably improved.
Garp propped his feet up on the desk. "Not to mention the monstrous development of his Devil Fruit. And he might actually stand a chance against Shanks..."
Sengoku knew what Garp was hinting at. The "Justice" coat behind him stirred.
He slammed the Shanks file shut. "Signal officer!"
The officer rushed in.
"Transmit a direct order in my name: Rear Admiral Roy is authorized to use any means necessary in the East Blue. Should he encounter the Red-Hair Pirates..."
Sengoku's eyes flashed. "...He is authorized to engage with lethal force."
Garp let out a loud whistle and casually brushed cracker crumbs onto Sengoku's freshly signed document. "That's more like it! The new era needs new tactics!"
As the officer hurried away, Sengoku looked out at the storm. He, who had always preached "Calm Justice," was now giving such a command.
"Ever since Roy appeared, everything has changed..."
Through the rain, the Marineford lighthouse suddenly flared, projecting the giant kanji for 'Marine' onto the clouds—a perfect symbol of the Navy's sharpened edge.
East Blue, Foosha Village, Makino's Bar.
Night had fallen. Inside the cozy wooden bar, the atmosphere was lively.
"Cheers!"
The Red-Hair Pirates were drinking and laughing, the tables littered with gnawed bones and empty barrels of ale.
"Hey, Lucky! That meat was mine!"
"Hahaha! Yasopp, you miss your kid yet?"
"Hell no! Adventure is better than kids!"
The air was thick with the smell of ale and pirate sweat.
Shanks, however, sat alone at the bar, his finger tracing the rim of his empty cup, a slight frown on his face.
Ben Beckman walked over, cigarette in his mouth, his silver lighter flicking. "What's wrong, Captain? You've been uneasy since we docked."
Shanks's eyes were fixed on an empty corner of the bar where a small, dusty stool stood alone. "I don't know... I feel like someone's missing."
Beckman raised an eyebrow. "Missing who?"
Shanks tapped the cup rim. "Someone who should be right here... but isn't."
Beckman was silent. "You rarely look like that, Captain."
Shanks shook his head. "Maybe it's nothing..."
Outside, the last rays of sunset fell on the shore. A small, pink-haired figure sat alone on a rock, letting the tide wash over her feet.
Uta hugged her knees, staring out at the sea, a look of subtle loneliness on her face. "That's strange..."
She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling an inexplicable emptiness.
"Everyone's here... but why do I feel like I'm missing someone really important?"
The sound of laughter and clinking cups drifted from the bar. Uta looked at the empty beach, then back at the bar, a complex flicker in her eyes.
She had a fleeting image of a boy with a straw hat, laughing freely, singing with her, and chasing her around. But the image vanished like smoke.
"Uta! Dinner time!" Yasopp's voice carried over the wind.
Uta slowly stood up, her skirt flapping. She looked out at the empty sea one last time.
"Why... why is that?"
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you