"Captain Roger, you flatter me! It's truly an honor to be on the same ship as the Pirate King!" Shiro said humbly, but the barely concealed joy at the corners of his mouth betrayed his excitement.
Being recognized by such a legendary figure filled him with pride.
"Pirate King? That's an interesting title. Little Shiro, from now on, I'll aim to become the Pirate King! Wahahahaha!" Roger laughed heartily, his signature mustache fluttering in the sea breeze.
"Captain Roger, you are the Pirate King. No one can stop you!" Shiro said firmly, his eyes blazing with intensity.
In his heart, he thought: If you weren't the Pirate King, how could I just sit back and win so easily?
"I believe you, little Shiro. Over the years, your predictions have almost always come true. And thank you again for using your Devil Fruit powers to cure me of my illness!" Roger patted Shiro on the shoulder with gratitude in his eyes.
Shiro leaned quietly beside this bold, powerful man with unmatched charisma, gazing out over the endless ocean. The sunset glittered across the water, breathtakingly beautiful.
He held onto his dream of One Piece, brimming with hope.
This—that pursuit of freedom, dreams, and adventure—was a uniquely masculine kind of romance.
Meanwhile, in the World Government headquarters, the Gorosei were staring at the bold headline in the World Economic News, their scalps tingling with shock:
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro gripped his sword tightly.
"Byrnndi World is reckless. This act openly challenges the authority of the Marines and the World Government!"
Topman Warcury's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Luckily we captured him… otherwise, who knows how many pirates would be emboldened to provoke us!"
Marcus Mars slammed his fist on the table in frustration.
"World may be caught, but he still has plenty of allies!"
Shepherd Ju Peter stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"We need to figure out how to capture World's comrades as well."
Jaygarcia Saturn proposed a plan after a moment's thought.
"Why don't we drastically raise the bounties on the World Pirates? Let the bounty hunters do the work for us."
The Gorosei unanimously agreed, raising the World Pirates' bounties fivefold and issuing wanted posters worldwide.
Additionally, to intimidate pirates further, the Marines would dispatch an elite task force to eliminate threats across the seas.
Back at Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood in the solemn command center. The atmosphere was tense. Although they had prevented Byrnndi World from destroying Marine Headquarters, the damage from his cannon blast had been catastrophic—likely the worst in decades.
Reconstruction and repairs were underway when Sengoku received an urgent order from the Gorosei, instantly disrupting the calm within headquarters.
Without hesitation, Sengoku contacted Garp, who was currently on a distant mission, informing him not to return to Marineford but to stay at sea and hunt down pirates with full force.
Garp's seasoned eyes widened in surprise at the sudden command, but the shock soon turned to excitement. A faint smile appeared on his lips, and a fiery gleam lit his eyes. He knew that with this order, he could finally officially pursue Roger, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown with his longtime rival.
Meanwhile, across the vast ocean, the Oro Jackson sliced through the waves, sunlight glinting off its hull. Roger's booming laugh echoed across the deck as he scooped up Shiro, admiration shining in his eyes.
"Little Shiro, you really are a genius! You knew the World Pirates' bounties would skyrocket, didn't you?"
Shiro remained calm, nodding without fanfare.
"That's only natural. After all, Byrnndi World bombarded Marine Headquarters. The World Government won't just sit by and do nothing."
The crew gathered around, faces filled with respect and admiration. Every word they spoke praised Shiro's courage and wisdom, their gratitude obvious.
Nearby, Shanks and Buggy looked on with envy, silently wishing they could one day become as indispensable to the crew as Shiro.
Roger lifted Shiro high once more, a radiant smile on his face.
"To celebrate the World Pirates' bounties skyrocketing, we'll be getting a huge reward! Three days of feasting, wahahaha!"
"All right!" the crew shouted in unison, voices booming.
With that bounty, the Roger Pirates would no longer worry about finances. They could sail freely across the seas, embracing adventure and chasing dreams without restraint.
In the following days, the crew successfully sold the captured World Pirates to several bounty hunters, earning a hefty sum. As they prepared to throw another celebration, the shrill horn of a Marine ship echoed in the distance.
Looking toward the sound, they saw a massive Marine vessel approaching swiftly. On the bow stood a rugged, middle-aged man with a full beard, one foot casually resting on the railing, exuding a carefree confidence.
He held a rice cracker in one hand, crunching it sharply as he scanned ahead.
It was none other than "Marine Hero" Garp.
Since the God Valley Incident, Garp's fame as a Marine hero had spread across the pirate world, thanks in part to the World Economic News's publisher, Morgans. During that fateful battle, Rocks had been defeated by Roger and Garp together. Morgans, seeking the World Government's favor, credited Garp alone in the papers, turning him into the celebrated hero who "saved the world."
Despite his fame, Garp had been unhappy in recent years. Why? Because his only son, Monkey D. Dragon, had become the leader of the Revolutionary Army, openly opposing the World Government.
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