The Bottom Line

Marineford 'Fleet Admiral's Office

Warm sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the room with the delicate aroma of tea.

Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru rarely get together, sitting around the tea table, looking quite content.

"The younger generation has all grown up; these days are so leisurely!"

As Garp spoke, he stuffed Senbei (rice cracker) he'd swiped from Sengoku's drawer into his mouth, chewing it with a loud crunch.

Sengoku rolled his eyes. "It's not like you weren't slacking off all the time before they grew up."

Zephyr smiled, a rare occurrence, and slowly picked up his teacup. "The more idle we are, the stronger they are. Isn't that a good thing?"

He took a small sip of tea, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes, "Yes, it's not easy to have this kind of peace and stability now."

Before the words were even finished, a spatial ripple suddenly appeared in the center of the office, and a vortex silently unfolded.

Roy stepped out and nodded naturally to the four elders one by one. He then walked to the tea table, sat down, and poured tea for them in turn.

Sengoku raised an eyebrow. "Oh, a rare guest indeed. What brings you back all of a sudden?"

Roy pushed the teacup towards him, his tone calm. "Just finished something and thought I'd drop by."

Garp laughed heartily, picked up his teacup, and downed it in one gulp. "I heard you beat up two Shichibukai in Dressrosa? You're really disrespecting your superiors, aren't you?"

Roy shrugged. "Beating them up was a complete accident."

"I originally went there because a powerful person had piqued my interest, but I just happened to stumble upon that incident."

He glanced at him, his tone meaningful. "I heard the Five Elders called you personally? Sometimes you should be more discreet; it's not time for that yet."

Roy nodded slightly. "I understand."

Sengoku put down his teacup, his expression turning serious. "By the way, aren't you going to check on the battle situation on Hachinosu?"

With Ace and Luffy both there, Ochoku is no ordinary opponent—he was one of the first members of the Rocks Pirates.

Zephyr smiled and slowly put down his teacup, "Oh, didn't I tell you when I came?"

Sengoku was taken aback. "What did you say?"

Zephyr wiped the tea stains from the corner of his mouth, his tone casual. "Kuzan went along, I think it was this kid—" He pointed to Roy, "... arranged in advance."

Upon hearing this, Sengoku breathed a sigh of relief, "I see, then I'm relieved."

Just as the atmosphere was getting right, Crane's expression suddenly turned serious, her gaze fixed on Roy, and her tone became solemn:

"Roy... how about we consider bringing your parents to Marine Headquarters?"

This one sentence instantly froze the previously gentle atmosphere.

Roy's fingers paused slightly, the teacup hovering in mid-air, his eyes instantly turning cold.

Are you worried that my recent tough stance might cause trouble from above?

His voice wasn't loud, but it made the air in the room seem to suddenly drop in temperature.

Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru fell silent, a look of solemnity and complexity flashing in their eyes.

Roy put down his teacup, took a slow sip, and said in a calm but cold tone, "If they really want to do that... taking it won't help."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the four people changed almost simultaneously, as if they were recalling a past event they did not want to touch upon.

Zephyr's fists clenched tightly on his knees, his knuckles turning white. "Roy..."

Garp's smile vanished completely, and his brows furrowed in a rare display of concern.

Sengoku took a deep breath, his gaze behind his glasses sharp as a knife.

Roy looked at Zephyr, his tone unusually calm. "Teacher, so many years have passed... You should already know some things in your heart."

Zephyr's pupils contracted slightly, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes.

After a few seconds of silence, Roy continued, his expression returning to calm. "Don't worry, those five old guys aren't that stupid."

I've only annoyed them a few times; it's not to the point of a complete falling out.

His tone shifted abruptly, his expression tightened, his body leaned forward slightly, and his eyes sharpened like a blade.

"Even if they really wanted to harm my parents, kidnapping is meaningless to me."

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

Thump.

It was so quiet it was almost silent, yet it made all four of them's hearts tighten simultaneously.

"What if something really happens..."

He didn't continue, but the oppressive aura he exuded was enough to make one imagine the consequences.

"A 'nuclear bomb' that can instantly Teleportation to your face."

"Nobody in this world wants to face this kind of threat!"

Garp gave him a deep look and said slowly, "Family is always the bottom line."

Roy nodded slightly. "I understand."

He adjusted his Glasses, his tone softening. "Since you have your own plans, we won't say any more. However—"

She looked at Roy meaningfully, "Roy, sometimes showing weakness is a strategy. Too much sharpness makes you vulnerable."

Roy smiled slightly, "Thank you for the reminder, Staff Officer Tsuru."

"But..."

He stood up, the darkness flowing silently beneath his feet.

My "sharpness" has never been for self-preservation.

"But it's so that... some people won't even dare to think of breaking it."

Hachinosu

The chill still lingered in the air, and half of Hachinosu had now been transformed into a world of ice and snow.

Ochoku's figure was completely sealed within the massive ice wall, and even the aura that had made the three of them tremble was completely annihilated by the heavy ice layer.

Luffy, Ace, Gion finally snapped out of their mind from the harrowing battle, their gazes all falling on the tall, languid figure standing there.

Gion took a deep breath, sheathed her sword, and said in a voice filled with undisguised sincerity and gratitude, "... Thank you."

Kuzan turned around, hands in his pockets, still looking nonchalant, a smile playing on his lips, "Ara ara~ You three have done a great job."

His gaze slowly swept over the three men. "These aren't ordinary enemies..."

Luffy and Ace approached, their fighting spirit gradually subsiding, but the feeling of being squeezed to the extreme in their chests lingered for a long time.

For the first time, they perceived so clearly the intimidating power of Marine Admiral.

It wasn't simply a difference in strength, but rather a presence that commanded respect and awe, making it impossible to ignore.

At the same time, Kuzan's ice seal is not indiscriminate, but precise down to every inch of the area.

The Iceburg's edge conveniently bypassed the navy soldiers' positions, but froze most of the remaining Pirates.

The naval soldiers' eyes gleamed with excitement as they quickly formed ranks and advanced.

Those who deserved to be killed were killed on the spot, and those who were to be captured were quickly disarmed. The arrogance of the Pirates on Hachinosu was completely crushed at this moment.

The Hachinosu Battle was a resounding victory!

Gion gazed at the icy world before her, then looked at Kuzan, her tone questioning, "... You've been here all this time?"

Kuzan lazily scratched the back of his head, his tone still slow, yet reassuringly confident:

"Oh my gosh~ With those two troublemakers around, how could Roy not have a backup plan?"

"After all, his meaning was—to fight with all your might, even if it's a life-or-death battle, you have to fight with all your might..."

A gentle breeze blew by, and ice shards slid off his shoulder. A faint smile played on his lips, yet it seemed as if he were speaking for the entire navy:

"But remember—that doesn't mean we'll just stand by and watch you go to your deaths."

He slowly raised his hand and pointed to the half of the Hachinosu that had become a frozen ruin at his feet:

Go ahead and fight, gamble, challenge your limits... because behind you—we are here.

In that instant, the cold wind seemed to stand still, and every word that fell into the ears of the three was like a thousand-pound hammer:

"So go for it! With us here, the sky won't fall."