Chapter 003: Roger Resurrected, Marine Headquarters Shocked!
New World.
New Marine Headquarters.
The Paramount War had destroyed more than half of the original Marine Headquarters, Marineford, making it impossible to maintain operations.
After the battle for the position of Fleet Admiral, the new Fleet Admiral, Akainu Sakazuki, having defeated Aokiji, strongly advocated moving the Marine Headquarters to the G-1 Branch in the New World to demonstrate their resolve in confronting the pirates of the New World.
The New Marine Headquarters mimicked the military configuration of Marineford, establishing a massive oval military port as a defensive barrier.
Countless military batteries and fortresses stood in great numbers, and the surrounding waters were patrolled by endless warships, cruising back and forth, devouring everything like giant beasts.
The Highest Military Conference Room.
A group of high-ranking Marines, led by Akainu, took their seats. As the herald placed an intelligence file marked "Top Secret" in front of everyone, the room fell into an eerie silence.
The atmosphere was cold and murderous, seemingly more piercing than the sea breeze outside the window, chilling everyone to the bone.
"I trust you have all seen this intelligence file?"
The new Fleet Admiral, Akainu, sat in the main seat like a silent volcano, a burning cigar clamped in his gloved right hand.
The brim of his military cap obscured his eyes, casting a shadow that made his expression unclear.
But the severity in his tone revealed the restless mood of the new leader of the Marines.
No one replied.
No one dared to reply.
Whether it was the Inspector General Sengoku the Buddha, who had stepped down from the position of Fleet Admiral, or Fujitora Issho, the new Admiral possessing "Monster" level strength who was selected through the World Military Draft, everyone had their brows locked tight, not saying a word.
After all, the news before them was simply too terrifying to contemplate deeply.
If the intelligence was true, and that man had really returned to this sea, no one knew how much turmoil and conflict it would trigger.
"Is the intelligence verified?"
Finally, someone spoke.
It was the Marine Inspector General, Sengoku, sitting in the gallery.
Originally, having stepped down as Fleet Admiral, he had no command authority or power over Marine orders and relatively little right to speak.
But this intelligence was truly grave; it concerned his old rival, and he couldn't just sit still.
Great Staff Officer Tsuru spoke with a heavy expression:
"This is intelligence personally transmitted by the Base Commander of the Loguetown outpost, Colonel Das."
"He is an excellent graduate of the military academy; otherwise, he wouldn't have been appointed to such an important position as the Base Commander of Loguetown."
"Given his military professionalism, there shouldn't be a mistake."
"That man... has returned."
With the last sentence, even someone like Staff Officer Tsuru, who had weathered countless storms, couldn't help but swallow, her throat feeling dry.
Roger. Everyone present was high-ranking Marine personnel.
They naturally knew that the events of the past were far from the simple political propaganda portrayed to the public.
That man was never arrested by the Marines; he turned himself in!
In that era, the Marines exhausted unknown amounts of manpower and resources—with Garp, Sengoku, Tsuru, Zephyr, and other Admirals all mobilized—yet they were unable to arrest Roger and his pirate crew.
And now, Roger had resurrected!!!
The most terrifying part was that the Marines had just gone through the Paramount War and engaged in a massive battle with the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the Four Emperors of the New World. Although they barely achieved victory, the loss to the forces of Justice was immeasurable.
With the Marines' current power, surrounded by the Four Emperors in the New World, if Roger were added to the mix, the situation would not be optimistic.
This was what caused the most headache and fear among the many high-ranking Marines.
"That old geezer, he's dead as a doornail, why come back?"
Garp, sitting to the side, frowned and said.
Sengoku shook his head and said:
"Roger alone isn't the most terrifying thing. What I fear most now is that those fellows hiding in the darkness might use the title of the Pirate King to start a war again."
His eyebrows twisted into a knot, and his white hair seemed exceptionally aged.
Fujitora slowly said:
"If this old man remembers correctly, Roger's vice-captain... that 'Dark King' Rayleigh, is still alive..."
This sudden remark caused cold sweat to break out on the backs of almost everyone present.
Yes.
According to the confidential intelligence collected by the Marines and the Government, Roger had voluntarily disbanded the pirate crew back then.
But all these years, Dark King Rayleigh had been living in seclusion on the Sabaody Archipelago. He fought Admiral Kizaru two years ago, and his strength remained extremely formidable.
And he was just the tip of the iceberg of the incredibly powerful Roger Pirates from back then!
If Roger were to raise his arm in a call to arms at this time and the news spread, causing the Roger Pirates—who once turned the whole world upside down—to "resurrect," that would be the ultimate disaster for the Marines and the World Government!
Not to mention, the current Warlord of the Sea, Buggy the Clown, and one of the Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks, were both crew members on Roger's ship!!
With the Marines' current strength, they were already struggling to confront the Four Emperors of the New World. If the Roger Pirates were to resurrect... the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Compared to these, I am more concerned about that brat named Liu Feng."
At this moment, Akainu suddenly spoke.
He gritted his teeth firmly, his face full of gloom.
One hand crushed the cigar with force, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.
"Roger might just be the first. If he has the ability to resurrect other dead people..."
His voice trailed off.
Every high-ranking Marine trembled.
Names that should have been buried, names like evil ghosts, names that signified war and blood...
Gradually flooded into their minds, uncontrollable.