Reactions from All Sides

Once news crossed the calm belts, it spread like a tide, gathering force and echoing again and again.

"Kaido captured alive."

In the New World, those four words were no longer just news.

They were a weight pressing on everyone's chest.

In the public eye, the Marines had, for the first time, gained clear, tangible symbols.

Garp the Hero.

Rock, the Marine Azure Dragon.

Like two nails driven deep into the backbone of the age.

—The Marines' two gods of war.

Somewhere in the New World.

The Oro Jackson sailed slowly across a calm sea.

Roger sat at the bow, a newspaper spread across his knees.

His face, usually so boisterous and quick to laugh, was unusually devoid of expression.

He stared at the headline for a long time.

"...Tch."

A soft sound.

Roger folded the paper and looked up at the endless horizon.

Waves rolled on, with no end in sight.

Rayleigh stood beside him, his cloak stirring gently in the wind. His voice remained steady.

"To capture Kaido alive without a scratch..."

"That guy may still be a little green, but he's no weakling."

"To overpower him like that..."

Rayleigh said no more.

The answer no longer needed saying.

Gaban leaned against the mast and gave a quiet laugh, though it lacked his usual ease.

"Who would've thought?"

"That young fellow who spoke so casually back then..."

"He's become this terrifying."

Roger did not answer. He was silent for a while.

The sea breeze blew past, and the ship rocked gently.

Then he suddenly smiled.

"Well..."

"As long as we don't cross the line..."

"And just finish our voyage..."

"Generally speaking..."

"We won't have to face him, right?"

His tone was light, but only Roger knew what had happened as he spoke.

Unbidden, another scene had surfaced in