Unexpected Developments

"Someone's coming."

In the largest tavern in town, Rogge and the others drank the local specialty sheep's milk wine and devoured mouthful after mouthful of mutton, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Enel was a nosy bastard. Back on Sky Island, he had loved eavesdropping on others. Not wanting anyone to speak badly of him, and thanks to his Devil Fruit ability, his Observation Haki remained active at all times, allowing him to hear every conversation across the entire island.

It was like having a giant Den Den Mushi that could monitor conversations around him anytime, anywhere.

"It should be the Marines." Rogge stopped what he was doing and curled his lips into a smile.

"Are we running for our lives?" Ares stopped eating and asked.

"Running from what? Let's see who it is first. They came so quickly—it looks like they were waiting specifically for us here." Rogge thought for a moment.

"That's normal, isn't it? We nearly took down a Shichibukai. The Marines need to save face too. And after all the attention we drew before, they probably couldn't wait for us to reach Sabaody," Jelly said.

"There's no need to fight the Marines to the death right now. We're getting closer and closer to Marine Headquarters. Going up against the Marines with just us would be overestimating ourselves," Cook said.

Rogge glanced at him. "Isn't that obvious? Who would be stupid enough to take on the Marines? Even the Four Emperors don't have that kind of confidence."

Bang!

The tavern doors were pushed open, and a man wearing a Marine coat entered at the head of the group. When Rogge saw what he looked like, he froze for a moment before breaking into a grin.

"I never expected it to be you. It's been a long time, Vice Admiral Doberman."