Chapter 29: Sengoku
North Blue: Warship on its way home
The snowy night has ended, the sun is rising, and the frost on the entire North Blue is gradually smoothed by the golden morning light.
The Suzheng warship cut through the waves, with long white waves rolling up at the stern, like a cold blade splitting the boundless silence.
On the deck, the Marine Corps' flag fluttered in the morning breeze.
[Military Medical Cabin: Deep in the Cabin]
In the quiet cabin, only the slight "beeping" sound of the instruments was heard.
Rosinante leaned on the hospital bed, gauze wrapped around half of his body, breathing slowly but weakly.
On the small chair beside the bed, the young boy Luo Zheng was sitting with his head down and his knees hugged. The corners of his clothes were stained with blood, and his fingers were white hidden in his sleeves, but he didn't say a word.
He still carried the warmth of yesterday's battle, but his eyes were calmer than many veterans.
The door opened.
Rogge walked into the cabin. He was wearing a formal military coat with dried blood splattered on the collar. He looked like a cold sword that had not been sheathed, and his aura was cold.
"Military doctor, continue to observe."
He glanced at the instrument and gave the order in a calm voice.
"Yes, Commodore!" The military doctor saluted and retreated.
Rogge walked to the communication cabin, operated the dial device, and opened the encrypted channel -
Naval Headquarters · Marineford · Marshal's Office
"Drip—drip—"
The Den Den Mushi opened its eyes, revealing a pair of old yet steady eyes.
"This is Sengoku."
On the other end of the phone, Rogge remained calm as usual:
"North Blue eradication mission completed."
"Target Pirates Diez Barrerus eliminated, Op-Op Fruit recovered."
"Commander Corazon is seriously injured but not dead. He is currently receiving treatment on this ship."
Just a few words, without any emotion.
But Sengoku on the other side remained silent for a few seconds.
Those old eyes, which had never been rippled, suddenly trembled slightly.
"...You saved him?"
Sengoku's voice was filled with obvious suppressed emotion, "You saved Corazon?"
Rogge nodded calmly: "Yes."
A long breath came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"…Thank you, Rogge."
Sengoku's voice was low, "This time...thank you so much."
Rogge did not respond to this emotion, but said calmly with an unchanged expression:
"I really want to thank me—"
"Then don't stop me from now on."
As soon as the words were spoken, there was a sudden silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
In the Marshal's office, Sengoku sat frozen at his desk, his fingers slowly sliding off the folder as he understood.
——This is not a joke, it is a declaration.
After a long while, a slow response came from the Den Den Mushi:
"I'll...try my best."
"We'll discuss this in detail after you return to headquarters."
"Hang up."
"...Um."
Rogge didn't say much and hung up the phone.
[Military Medical Cabin · Half an hour later]
The injection flows coldly into the blood vessels, dripping across the edge of life and death.
Amid the faint sound of the respirator, Rosinante slowly opened his eyes and regained consciousness.
The light was dim and blurry, but the first thing he saw was a figure standing tall like a rock wall.
White military uniform, stern outline, eyes like knives.
His voice was weak, but with a hint of a smile, he turned his head with difficulty to look at Luo who was sitting beside the bed.
"...Little ghost...are you still alive?"
"The fruit... was eaten?"
"Um."
Luo nodded gently, his voice hoarse, as if he was swallowing some emotion.
The shock in his eyes had not yet faded - escaping from the sea of fire, struggling back from the brink of death, and now the "Commodore of Rectification" who made all Pirates tremble in fear came to his rescue, everything seemed to be still burning.
Rosinante was about to say something when he was interrupted by a cold voice.
"I saved you—not out of charity."
Rogge slowly took a step forward and stood in front of Luo's bed, his tone as sharp as a knife:
"Especially you, little brat."
He leaned forward, his dark eyes like a cold pond, and every word weighed heavily on the heartstrings:
"What are you now?"
Luo lowered his head and said nothing.
"Speak." Rogge's voice became deeper.
"…the user of the Op-Op Fruit."
"Do you know what that means?"
Rogge looked straight at him, his voice a verdict:
"From today on, you are no longer a 'human'."
"You are the 'goods'. You are the key to the deal, the bargaining chip in the pirates' dreams, the elixir of immortality in the mouths of madmen."
"Everywhere you go, people will chase you, grab you, and cut you open."
"Your 'life' no longer belongs to you."
Luo's eyes were slightly red and his knuckles were white, but he still tried hard not to waver.
"So." Rogge stood up straight, his tone calm but firm as iron:
"You—have to stay."
"Join the Marines, be under my supervision, be trained by me, and live better than them all."
"This is your only way to survive."
Luo didn't answer, but his eyes didn't flinch.
Rosinante, who was standing by, was silent for a long time after hearing this.
He looked at Luo lying on the hospital bed, then at Rogge standing like a lone peak, and finally slowly closed his eyes and exhaled.
"...Let him stay."
"If it's you...I'm relieved."
There was no pleading in the words, only frank entrustment and... acceptance of fate.
Rogge didn't look back, just nodded slightly and turned out.
His cloak swept across the hatch, creating a gentle breeze.
Young Luo looked at the figure from behind, and for the first time there was more in his eyes - direction.
A reason stronger than hatred.
At this moment, fate seemed to turn to the side of "justice".
Marineford Naval Headquarters Port Afternoon
The sun shines through the clouds and onto the magnificent main harbor.
A solemn black warship broke through the waves and returned home. Its hull was a Madara barge, full of gunpowder and the afterglow of victory.
On the ship-facing platform at the highest point of the port, Marshal Sengoku was waiting early, which was unusual. Surrounding him were the medical officer and other professional medical teams of the headquarters, all standing in awe.
The dove of peace flew low and circled in the sea breeze, as if it also sensed the unusualness of this moment.
"Here it comes." Sengoku whispered.
The next moment——
The deck slowly dropped.
Rogge was the first to step out of the cabin, wearing a black military uniform and looking as imposing as a mountain.
Behind him was Rosinante lying on a stretcher, no longer in danger of death, but still looking a little pale;
Standing next to him, with a calm expression but eyes filled with unspeakable emotions, was the young Trafalgar Law.
Rogge's eyes were normal as he glanced at the people above him. He didn't deliberately salute, but spoke lightly:
"The person has been brought back."
Sengoku was shocked, then hurried forward and went to the stretcher himself.
He squatted down, looked at Rosinante's face, which was still recovering, and said in a low and hoarse voice:
"You b*****d..."
"Finally... I came back alive."
At this moment, the usually dignified marshal had a barely perceptible moisture in the corners of his eyes.
"Battle...Uncle Sengoku..."
Rosinante grinned, with a hint of weak teasing, "I'm back."
Sengoku said nothing more, just gently gripped his shoulders without saying a word.
Rogge stood silently by, neither urging nor interrupting.
He knew that this father and son - perhaps not really father and son, but the concern that had lasted for more than ten years had long surpassed blood ties.
On the other side, the young boy Law instinctively stood where he was, but Sengoku turned around to look at him and actually smiled, which was rare.
"You are...Trafalgar Law?"
"...quite calm."
Sengoku patted his shoulder gently, his eyes showing some of the kindness and gentleness that only an old grandfather could have.
"Come on, I'll take you to register."
He smiled.
"From today on, you are ours."
Luo was slightly stunned, and looked up at the kind figure. For some reason, a warm feeling suddenly arose in his heart.
——It's like…
It was like that person suddenly had a grandson.
Rogge stood at the side of the warship, watching them go away, his cloak fluttering in the wind.
He didn't stop it, just watched silently.
After a long while, he uttered softly:
"Live well, little devil."
"This sea will not give you a second chance from now on."
The wind blows from the distant sea.