Not a Hero, but Without Regret

"Grown ups,"

On a warship bearing the insignia of the World Government off the coast of Dressrosa.

"Doflamingo has lost consciousness, and most of his subordinates have been killed or captured... The Doflamingo Pirates are no more!"

Listening to the message sent back by the undercover agent in the Den Den Mushi, the man wearing a white hat and a white trench coat, with one eye black and the other white, fell into deep thought:

Is it really that simple?

The Doflamingo Pirates, who had troubled the Celestial Dragons for decades and outwitted CP0 for most of their lives, were just wiped out like that? Is it really true that people's intelligence is different?

The CP0 member touched his mask. Although they were instilled with loyalty to the Celestial Dragons from childhood, after all these years, who didn't know what ordinary Celestial Dragons looked like? To put it bluntly...

Even a pig could be made a 'Celestial Dragons,' and while there are some elites among them who are being groomed, this CP0 agent, while adept at strategic planning, is hardly as capable as these battle-hardened, experienced CP0 agents in practical matters. However:

What they and their associates couldn't accomplish in over a decade, that 'Saint Roman' solved in a single day...

Could it be that we really are too 'incompetent'?

While several CP0 members were deep in thought, the Five Elders in the Holy Land Mary Geoise were also looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Ah, this..."

"Little Roman is really... really..."

They said they'd "take care of" Doflamingo in a day, but less than half a day later, Doflamingo was already lying there like a dead dog. The Dressrosa Kingdom, once as impregnable as Iron Barrel, was instantly turned upside down. This efficiency is just too much...

"Alas, we all thought he was joking and didn't take it to heart."

Previously, the Five Elders all thought Roman's words were just 'youthful arrogance,' so they didn't tell Roman many of the secret deals between the Celestial Dragons Doflamingo, leading to:

"It would be better if those 'things' fell into the hands of the Navy, but if they fall into the hands of others..."

"Little Roman is too... I should have made him handle the underground transactions as well."

Faced with the complaints of his two colleagues—one with a bald mustache and the other with white curly hair and a bushy white beard while wearing a flat cap— the Five Elders, with long, straight white hair, stroked the beard on his chest.

"Forget it, compared to those 'trivial matters,' Doflamingo, who has glimpsed that person's secret, is more important!"

The Five Elders with blond hair and golden beards next to him also nodded.

"That's right, the key now is how to make Doflamingo 'shut up' forever."

With the group reaching a consensus, CP0's top assassins immediately headed towards Dressrosa! Given the abilities of the nearby CP0 members, they wouldn't be able to kill Doflamingo in the hands of Marine Admiral.

"The Birdcage has disappeared!"

"... We're saved?"

"This is no longer a free land controlled by evildoers—"

"Hahaha, finally, we've finally broken free from that guy's control!!!"

As the crisis subsided, everyone cheered. Except:

"Roman, why are you unhappy?"

This can be considered the easiest battlefield the Straw Hat crew has ever faced, even easier than Fish-Man Island.

After all, there wasn't a giant 'Noah' falling from above. The fully equipped Straw Hat crew, along with top arena fighters, single-handedly defeated the Doflamingo family, carrying off Kaido's subordinates Jack the Drought and the Beasts Pirates. This should have been a cause for celebration, but:

"They won too easily."

?!

Seeing the puzzled looks on everyone else's faces, Roman sighed.

"Unbeknownst to us, our strength has surpassed that of the Shichibukai, leading to this instance... cough cough, being resolved too easily. This has resulted in..."

Without the crisis of the Birdcage shrinking, without the island-wide declaration of a decisive battle, and without even dragging it into a 'second round', Doflamingo was cleanly and decisively defeated by Luffy.

In that case, would the people of Dressrosa still rally for the Straw Hat crew as they did in the original story? Many of them might not even know that Luffy killed Doflamingo for them, and the formation of the Grand Fleet might also be...

"Hehehe, you just like to overthink things!"

Luffy tugged at his Straw Hat. Although Roman didn't say it aloud, Luffy already understood what Roman was thinking.

"Roman, I told you I don't want to be a hero."

Luffy pointed his index finger at himself and grinned broadly.

"Compared to others' grateful farewells, I'd much rather hear everyone's joyful cheers of freedom!"

"To defeat the Doflamingo family more quickly, to stop people from crying and suffering, to prevent our comrades from fighting injured—you did a great job, Roman!"

········

"That's right,"

Roman squinted and looked up, his cheerful voice barely concealed despite wearing a helmet.

"As the Straw Hat crew's strategist, our victory and safety should be our top priority!"

What does it matter if they're called 'heroes' or 'adored by millions'? Luffy doesn't care, Nami doesn't care, Zoro doesn't care, Sanji doesn't care, Chopper doesn't care, Robin doesn't care, Franky doesn't care, Brook doesn't care...

Maybe Usopp cares? But compared to his companions, it's really nothing!

"I'm overthinking it,"

"We're just 'pirates,' we do what we want. Saving the country isn't about becoming heroes, it's just something we did along the way. Sorry..."

"Hehehe, although I don't know what Roman is talking about, but—"

After a rare moment of mental effort, Luffy immediately reverted to his true nature.

"Let's have a feast!!"

"OK."

Roman nodded.

It's just a banquet, and it's already started.

I am Celestial Dragons, and I am rich!

·······

"Just doing it as a matter of convenience?"

As the Straw Hat crew left, laughing and joking, Fujitora, sitting on the ground behind a half-broken wall, shook the dice in his hand.

"It was your 'casual act' that saved this country."

'I am Donquixote Doflamingo, the rightful ruler of this country!'

The nightmare is over.

One day, two days, one year... two years... how long have you been a toy? My dears, and little Andy... are you both alright?

The nightmare is over.

Even toys have things they want to protect! My tin eyes can't shed a single tear anymore...

The nightmare is over.

'Ten years have passed. We've been fighting in secret for ten years! But we still can't see a glimmer of hope. This is our last desperate gamble...'

The nightmare is over.

·········

"It's truly a miracle,"

The Marine Admiral stood up, his blind eyes surveying the entirety of Dressrosa.

"This is the first time I've ever seen a country cheering and weeping with joy amidst ruins. The Straw Hat crew..."

I want to thank you all!

It is you who have shown me a different kind of 'color'.

Bright, sincere, like the sun—shining on others without asking for anything in return!

On the other side,

"Fire Fist!"

With a single punch, Sabo sent Burgess, who was attempting to ambush Luffy, flying. Then, he turned around and pulled out Den Den Mushi.

"Got the goods? The ship's ready? Then we'll wait for Hack..."

"Hack is with us!"

Koala's angry voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi, causing Sabo to hang up immediately.

'Huff... huff... this naive fellow,'

Lying in the flames, Burgess gritted his teeth as he glared at Sabo, who had turned and left. Since Sabo hadn't killed him, he was determined to 'repay' him properly.

Tread,

A pair of white shoes landed on the ruins, causing Burgess was pretending to be dead, to flinch!

Brush,

He had just opened his eyes to resist when a white gauntlet rapidly enlarged in his pupils!

"I'm different from other people,"

"There is no habit of 'holding back'."

A hand covered Burgess's face, and the ensuing darkness engulfed the number one captain of the Blackbeard Pirates.

"Shh~~"

"Everyone,"

With the Birdcage removed, the Den Den Mushi's signal also brought everything from Dressrosa to the entire New World.

"I am Vice Admiral Maynard."

Standing amidst the ruins, Maynard, the 'Pursuer,' gestured to the rubble behind him.

"That's right, as you can see. This is Dressrosa!"

"Now, let me recount what happened. Another Den Den Mushi will connect to Admiral Fujitora's side..."

Regardless of the circumstances, the Navy's "greatness," "glory," and "justice" cannot be desecrated. Now, Maynard is prepared to first criticize Doflamingo's ruthlessness and cunning, and then promote the Navy's theme of "moving from one victory to another," thus defining the nature of this matter before proceeding further.

The Navy is not wrong! The only ones who are wrong are the ambitious individuals who have infiltrated the Shichibukai.

However, what Maynard did not expect was:

"Your King Riku,"

Leading a large group of naval soldiers, Fujitora arrived before Riku Dold III, the former king of the Dressrosa Kingdom, whose misunderstanding had been cleared up.

On one side are disciplined naval soldiers, on the other are wounded civilians; on one side are world-class combatants, on the other are gladiators in the arena. One side is serious, the other is filled with fear and anger.

"The responsibility for the Doflamingo incident does not lie with you."

Facing the white- King Riku, Fujitora stood before him and the people behind him, his heavy voice spreading throughout the New World via Den Den Mushi.

"The fact that ruthless pirates were able to steal countries under the guise of the Shichibukai's is undoubtedly the responsibility of the 'World Government'!"

!?

"To all the citizens present, and to the Riku Royal Family..."

As the tall Marine Admiral put down his guide cane, he prostrated himself on the ground, as if pushing a mountain of gold and knocking down a jade pillar.

Kneel down.

Thump—

As Fujitora knelt down, a row of naval officers and soldiers behind him knelt down in unison!

"On behalf of the World Government, I apologize to everyone!!"

This kneeling,

It is for the darkness of this twisted world;

This kneeling,

They are ordinary people who are the cornerstones of this world, yet can only be seen as 'trendsetters' in the Great Pirate Era.

This kneeling:

"... Please raise your head, Fujitora."

"Is it really okay for the whole world to see this?"

Perhaps there are other ways to attribute this to the Navy? Whether it's discovering the darkness of the Shichibukai or "saving" a country, it can all be attributed to the Navy's power, just like when they faced Crocodile in Alabasta!

Isn't politics just about compromise?

"It is the World Government that allows pirates to commit such heinous acts. What right do we have to talk about 'justice' now?"

"The ones who saved this country from Doflamingo were those passionate 'pirates,' warriors from all over the world, and the people of Dressrosa!"

The only thing missing is the navy.

·········

"Hurry, hurry, hurry!!"

"The Marine Admiral apologized on behalf of the ' World Government'— "

"This is impossible. How could the World Government, with its eight hundred years of prestige,..."

"Does this represent the World Government's dissatisfaction with the 'Shichibukai'? Or is it a determination to eradicate pirates?..."

'The true face beneath the false prosperity and peace of Dressrosa!'

'The World's Greatest underground middleman: Donquixote Doflamingo has been arrested!'

'Marine Admiral Fujitora kneeling, and: the two pirate crews that pulled Doflamingo off his horse!'

In an instant, explosive news spread from Dressrosa, and at the same time:

Red Line

Holy Land Mary Geoise.

"Heh, a false alarm?"

"To make the whole world run wild for a mere Doflamingo?"

"If something like this happens again in the future, how can I continue to be the Fleet Admiral?!"

Faced with Sakazuki's questioning, the Five Elders were no pushovers either.

"Don't put on airs like Fleet Admiral here, Sakazuki."

"In the end, your navy is nothing more than a facade for the 'World Government',"

"Your reputation is not worth mentioning at all!"

After several firm voices, the blond-haired, gold-bearded Five Elders issued the order.

"In short, we can leave this matter to CP to handle."

"CP?"

Sakazuki, not to be outdone, retaliated by making things unpleasant for the other party.

"Those who know the situation say the CP is your subordinate, but those who don't might think you're the CP's subordinates..."

"Watch your tone, Sakazuki!"

Bald, with a mustache shaped like the number eight and a birthmark on his forehead, the Five Elders simply changed the subject.

"And what did Kuzan say?"

"With such a formidable fighting force under Blackbeard's command, what face does your Navy have left?"

"That idiot has already resigned from the Navy, and where he goes is none of my business!"

Although theoretically the Navy is subordinate to the World Government, in this Great Age of Exploration, it has long since expanded to the point where it can rival the Five Elders! However:

It's just a challenge; with that 'big shot' around, neither side can afford to completely break off relations.

"The Five Elders, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki!"

The naval officer who stormed in shattered the tense atmosphere in the room.

"Admiral Fujitora, on behalf of the World Government, kneels before King Riku!"

Although Fujitora knelt before the people of Dressrosa, no naval officer would ever utter such words in this 'Hall of Power,' which represents the center of the world where 'bloodline and power' reign supreme.

?!

PS: The reason I'm only updating now is because:

Earthquake.

Yes, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake happened right here in my hometown. It was actually just a fleeting moment, like an elevator suddenly shutting down. But the power and internet outages were a real problem... so I only had time to write this tonight. By the way, I thought people would be urging me to update, but the comments section is completely silent. This...

My feelings were complicated at that moment.