Chapter 30 Sengoku's Acquiescence
Marineford Main Office Building
On the night of his return, Rogge did not rest immediately, but walked towards another building carrying a bag of black peppers he brought back from North Blue.
He didn't knock on the door, but pushed it open and walked in.
"I'm back."
[Inside the Admiral's exclusive office]
Akainu Sakazuki was sitting behind the stone desk, holding his chin with one hand and reviewing documents with the other.
He looked up when he heard the voice, and after seeing who it was, he pressed the corners of his mouth together, revealing a rare relaxation.
"Humph, you little brat, you're back so quickly."
Rogge casually placed the pepper on the table and said, "You've been talking about that North Blue thing, haven't you? I just happened to bring it back on the way."
Sakazuki raised his eyebrows and took a look at the pepper. "It's quite good. You finally remember me, an old man."
Before he finished speaking, he looked at Rogge again: "I heard that you rescued the Op-Op Fruit from those beasts of Diez Barrerus?"
Rogge pulled out a chair and sat down, his tone calm:
"The fruit was not saved, but a special ability user named Trafalgar Law was brought back."
"And the madman behind him who died once with a smile."
Sakazuki was stunned when he heard this, and a look of unexpected solemnity appeared in his eyes.
"...Rosinante?"
"Um."
After a moment of silence, Akainu nodded, with a smile on his face.
"Well done, kiddo."
"This time, you've thrown the old man an offer he can't refuse."
Under the warm yellow light, Akainu Sakazuki leaned back in his office chair, with the chili peppers in his hand put aside.
"On-On Fruit..."
He murmured again, his expression deepening, "I never thought that boy would fall into your hands."
"This is no ordinary victory."
He stared at Rogge with a dagger-like gaze, "You know what you're getting back."
"Know."
Rogge's expression remained impassive as he looked directly at him, "That's why I set out alone."
Sakazuki said gravely, "You're stirring up trouble, Rogge."
"Yeah." Rogge nodded without hesitation, "I just have to choose."
"Pick their bottom line, pick the Pirates' greed, pick how wide-eyed the World Government is willing to be."
Sakazuki suddenly smiled when he heard this and whispered, "Who is the same as him..."
"But it's good this way—you can't just be someone who follows orders."
He pointed at the chili peppers on the table and said, "Next time, don't just bring the seasoning. Take North Blue's hiding rebels with you as well."
"rest assured,"
Rogge stood up, his cape fluttering slightly, "They're all lining up."
[Marineford · Rogge Residence · Late Night]
The room was as quiet as usual, the military uniforms were hung neatly, the sword rack stood at an angle in the corner, and the air was filled with the smell of iron and ink.
Rogge's fingertips slid across the desktop, and he looked at the system interface after a long time: [Absolute Justice System]
A curtain of light emerged—like a battle record deep within the soul.
Current Judgment Points: 100,742
[Total Pirates eliminated: 943 fleets/15,273 people]
[G-5 Cleanup Index: S+]
Rogge stared at the panel, his fingertips moving slightly.
Conqueror's Entanglement Activating——
[Confirmed Judgment Point Consumption: 100,000 points]
In an instant, the air in the whole room trembled, and Haki surged from his back like a dragon, flowing into his limbs along his blood vessels.
It was a suffocating weight.
Fists clenched tightly—a domineering aura faintly emerged!
It was like transparent flames wrapped around the finger bones, and the air vibrated slightly due to its existence, and even the iron sword placed beside it rang slightly.
"…This feeling…"
He muttered to himself, his eyes growing calmer.
"Rather than destruction, it's more suitable for liquidation."
Conqueror's Entanglement Lv.1
Can add "King's Suppression" impact to any attack
When combined with Armament Color, it possesses the "Penetration and Disintegration" property.
Rogge walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and overlooked the entire Marineford naval port.
The harbor lights are like stars, and the solemn ships are moored quietly.
"One hundred thousand Judgment Points, only to exchange for a level one skill... This system is truly rigged."
"But..."
"efficient."
He turned around, took down the standard short blade from the rack, and casually swung it out—
The air made a low hum, and wherever the short blade reached, a shallow crack was directly torn open as if by the "cut-off wind"!
[Air Fruit·Coordinated Forced Vibration Completed]
[Bindable: Conqueror's Entanglement]
"Combo unlocked?"
Rogge raised the corner of his mouth.
"interesting."
He closed the system interface, flung his cloak, walked into the inner room, lay down, closed his eyes, and murmured softly:
"The Marine's knife must be sharpened in blood."
"My knife... should be sharper."
The lights went out.
Before dawn, the air in Marineford seemed to have become a little more solemn because of the breeze that was wrapped around the overlord's will.
Day 2: Marineford, Headquarters Tower
The morning sun streamed through the windows into the tower conference room, but the air was still heavy.
"Bang—"
Sengoku scowled as he slammed a stack of intelligence files onto the table, sending dust flying.
"This is all the information Rosinante has completed. Trafalgar Law's physique, fruit reactions, mental evaluation, combat potential, mental stability, and even... his motivation for revenge."
He pointed at the cover of the file, his tone calm and serious:
"That boy may be just a scarred child now, but you and I both know that he is no ordinary person."
"The Op-Op Fruit in his body has initially fused. According to the medical department's assessment, his ability activity is three times higher than the known standard value."
"Although we're still a long way from achieving so-called 'anti-aging surgery,' this kind of growth potential... is terrifying."
Sengoku paused, his gaze fixed on the black-capped officer before him.
"He trusts you and even considers you his master." He said with a complicated tone.
"I approve. He can go back with you to G-5 and receive your training."
Rogge remained calm and nodded gently, "Very good."
Sengoku slowly sat back in his chair and looked out the window at the shimmering naval port in the distance.
After a few seconds of silence, he lowered his voice:
"But, Rogge..."
"You're different from Sakazuki...your uncle."
"He is the knife and you are the nail."
"You may look cold, but sometimes you're even more ruthless than Akainu."
"I know you never ask questions about the rules when carrying out missions, but this time—"
He stared at Rogge sharply:
"Trafalgar Law, if one day you plan to take him to do something... Marines shouldn't do—"
The words were not yet finished, but they were already full of meaning.
"...As long as it's not a 'big deal' that threatens the entire Marine Corps, I can choose not to watch it."
"It's a 'military language'."
Sengoku added slowly, his tone low, "It's also a 'human word'."
Rogge was silent for two seconds, then raised the corner of his mouth slightly and said in a calm tone:
"I never do anything a Marine shouldn't do."
"I only do what is right."
Sengoku exhaled lightly, leaned back in his chair as if a huge burden had been lifted, and closed his eyes.
"Let's go, kid."
"Your bunch of lunatics have probably already torn down half of the training grounds in G-5."
Rogge stood up, his cape fluttering and his steps brisk.
When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and glanced sideways at Sengoku:
"Luo... is very smart."
"It's also very dangerous."
"Since he ate that fruit, he is destined to never return to the path of an ordinary person."
"In that case—I will teach him how to live uprightly in this dirty world."
After saying that, Rogge pushed the door open and walked out.
——As always, those cold, straight steps seemed to crush the rusty iron tracks of the entire old era.
Sengoku stared at the departing figure for a long time without moving.
He whispered to himself:
"I really want to see...how far you'll take this cause of justice."