Explosive News

Marine Headquarters · Marineford

Marine Headquarters, once orderly and steady-paced, fell completely into chaos the instant a piece of intelligence arrived.

The doors of the Intelligence Division were flung open, hurried and disorderly footsteps echoing through the corridor as if even the air had been thrown into turmoil.

Sengoku accepted the highest-priority emergency report, still warm from delivery.

The next second, Sengoku's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Zephyr and Rock... fought Newgate at sea...?!!"

His voice was not loud, yet it exploded in the middle of the office like a depth charge.

"Pfft--!!!"

Garp, who had been stuffing rice crackers into his mouth nearby, sprayed crumbs all over the desk.

"W-what the hell--?!!"

His eyes flew wide open as he sprang to his feet, knocking his chair over with a harsh screech.

"I'm heading to the harbor right now!!" Garp was about to rush out on instinct.

"Garp, stop!!!"

Sengoku's roar rang out like a military order, pinning Garp where he stood.

"There's no need to go!!!"

As soon as he said that, Garp whirled around, his face full of disbelief. "No need to go?!! What do you mean--?!!"

His voice abruptly rose, and even his breathing became ragged.

"Could they have...?!!"

At that moment, Tsuru beside Sengoku spoke.

Holding the report, she remained calm, though her voice carried a trace of barely concealed shock. "Calm down, Garp."

"The follow-up intelligence has already confirmed it. They drove Newgate back and are currently on their way home."

Garp froze for two seconds before his tense shoulders slowly sagged.

"That's good..."

He let out a long breath, as if lowering his heart from his throat back into his chest. At last, some color returned to his face.

However--

The air in the room had not yet truly eased.

Sengoku's gaze had already moved further down the report, and his expression changed within seconds.

First, it froze. Then, it grew increasingly grave.

"Rock fought Newgate head-on and shattered an entire deserted island."

"Zephyr led his team against the Rocks Pirates led by Buckin..."

Sengoku's gaze continued downward, and then--

His eyes abruptly widened.

In that instant, even his voice slipped out of control as he shouted, "No prisoners--?!!"

Those words struck the room like lightning.

Tsuru and Garp turned their heads at the same time, nearly speaking in unison. "What did you say?!!"

The moment those words fell, the office erupted.

Documents were knocked to the floor, Den Den Mushi shook frantically without anyone answering, and several intelligence officers stood frozen in place, their faces pale as though they doubted what they had just heard.

"Vice Admiral Zephyr went on an expedition, and there were no prisoners?!!"

A moment later, the corridor outside the Fleet Admiral's office had regained its surface order, though it could not conceal the undercurrent in the air.

Sengoku and Tsuru stood side by side.

Sengoku raised his hand and knocked.

"Come in."

Inside the spacious office, sea wind blew through half-open blinds, stirring the shadows of the curtains.

Behind the desk, Kong sat upright with his back straight. He looked up at the two of them. Without saying much, Sengoku handed over the report.

Kong took it. After only glancing at the first page, one of his brows rose slightly.

"That kid Rock went to challenge Newgate alone on his first mission..."

His gaze paused for a moment.

"And he even drove him back?!"

His tone was light, yet obvious ripples appeared in it for the first time.

Kong continued reading. The office was so quiet that only the sound of turning pages remained. Then his fingers stopped on a certain line.

"Zephyr..."

He murmured the name, his tone growing heavy.

Sengoku spoke then, his voice steady. "It was only after they departed that we realized Rock's true intention."

"We just didn't expect..."

Tsuru nodded lightly and took over, her tone still calm but carrying a deeper meaning. "This is Rock's first step toward changing the Marines."

With that, the office fell into brief silence.

Kong closed the report. The sound of the pages coming together was soft, yet it seemed to mark the end of a certain phase.

He looked out over the vast, restless sea beyond the window, his gaze deep, as though he were watching a giant ship that had strayed from its predetermined course and was speeding toward an unknown future.

"Is that so..." he said slowly.

After a moment of silence, the corners of that face weathered by countless storms lifted slightly.

"But this step isn't a bad thing."

"It's just that the road ahead may be a little difficult, Rock..."

No one in the office said another word.

Meanwhile--

International Charity Alliance Temple · Fotocoloni.

Gold, silver, and jewels burst free from their seals and poured out of the treasury, flooding the courtyard like a torrent.

"MAMAMAMA--!!!"

Charlotte Linlin carried a treasure sack larger than a person over her shoulder. Lightning exploded beneath her feet, and despite her enormous body, she moved with astonishing speed, cracking the ground all the way.

She threw back her head and laughed, the sound shattering the stained-glass windows. "These! These!! They're all mine!!!"

On the other side--

"Oh my, don't block the way~"

Golden Lion Shiki floated in midair with an unconcerned smile, casually tossing down bombs one after another.

"Boom--!!!"

"Rumble--!!!"

The explosions made no distinction between friend and foe. Beams and pillars were blasted apart, treasure chests were hurled into the air, and pirates who had just seized loot were thrown into the walls by the shockwaves.

"You madman!!"

"Shiki! Are you fucking doing this on purpose?!"

Screams, curses, and greedy laughter mixed together.

Lightning and explosions intertwined as the entire temple began to collapse structurally. Finally--

"Boom!!!"

The main hall's roof was completely blown apart. Amid flying dust and flames, a tall figure stood atop the shattered rooftop.

His cape snapped in the wind, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Rocks D. Zebek.

He looked down at these "companions," each harboring their own schemes. A vein twitched at his temple as his voice crashed down like thunder. "What the hell are you doing?!!"

"You can even make looting this much of a mess?!!"

"Move faster. We didn't come here to tear down the place!!!"

The people below were still bickering, but they eventually stopped their underhanded tricks and continued carrying away the treasures.

Rocks took a deep breath, his eyes darkening.

Something was wrong.

His gaze swept over the battlefield. Why was one person missing?

"Where's Newgate...?"

He had obviously been the first to set off. With his personality, he should have charged to the front long ago.

Just then--

"Purururu--!"

The Den Den Mushi in his arms suddenly began vibrating. Rocks raised a brow and reached out to answer it.

The Den Den Mushi's face quickly changed, its mouth curving into Whitebeard's distinctive crescent smile.

"Newgate?"

Rocks asked coldly, "Where the hell did you run off to?"

From the other end came Whitebeard's somewhat low but still bold voice. As he continued speaking--

Rocks's expression gradually changed.

First, he raised his brow. Then, he frowned. Finally, his eyes darkened completely.

"...Rock?"

He quietly repeated the name.

Wind swept over the shattered roof and stirred his cape. Rocks was silent for a long while before speaking slowly. "I understand."

"You head back to Hachinosu first."

"Things here... will be over soon."

The Den Den Mushi call ended. Rocks stood where he was, his gaze unfathomable.

Just then--

"Hey, look at the sea--!!!"

A rough voice suddenly rang out from the ruins below.

Silver Axe kicked aside a broken wall and roared, "We've been surrounded by the Marines!!!"

Several warships had suddenly appeared in the waters surrounding the temple. Their cannons slowly turned, their formation already complete.

Linlin stopped walking, licked her lips, and grinned. "They came quickly."

"Was there an intelligence leak?"

Shiki hovered in the air, shrugged, and smiled easily. "We were planning to leave anyway~"

Rocks came back to his senses. He raised his head, the shadows in his eyes fading, replaced by pure, savage excitement.

"They came at just the right time..."

His voice was low, yet everyone fell silent without realizing it.

"Prepare to attack."

The next second, Rocks abruptly spread his arms as if welcoming a storm.

"Sink them--"

"Then plunder them--!!!"