The Ark Maxim slowly rose into the air, its golden hull gleaming in the sunlight.
On the deck, Roy stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the gradually shrinking Onigashima below.
Yamato stood on the other side, holding Genzo's hands, his gaze complex as he watched the skull-shaped island recede into the distance.
That's where her "home" is.
She has a nominal "father".
There is a past she tried to escape.
Now, she has finally left.
They left openly and legitimately as members of the Roy Pirates.
" Yamato."
Roy's voice came through.
What are you thinking about?
Yamato snapped out of his daze and shook his head.
"It's nothing, Captain."
"It's just... a bit sentimental."
Roy looked at her, remained silent for two seconds, and then said calmly,
Let bygones be bygones.
"From this day forward, you are Yamato of the Roy Pirates, and a member of Hachinosu."
"We can come back and check on Kaido anytime."
But your home is on Hachinosu.
Yamato paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Yes, Captain!"
Roy nodded, turned his gaze away, and looked towards the distant horizon.
The Ark Maxim accelerated, breaking through the clouds and speeding towards Hachinosu.
Inside the cabin, a figure, tightly bound by Seastone chains, lay quietly in a corner.
Kozuki Toki.
She was unconscious, breathing steadily, and her injuries had already been treated.
Roy didn't kill her; instead, he took her aboard the ship.
Of course, not out of sympathy.
It's not because of the Devil Fruit she possesses.
And the secrets hidden in the mind of this person who came eight hundred years ago.
The ability to send people into the future.
Perhaps one day, this fruit will come in handy.
Roy looked away, took out an encrypted Den Den Mushi from his pocket, and dialed a number.
Blub Blub... Blub Blub...
A few seconds later, the Den Den Mushi was connected.
From that direction came the arrogant voice of Golden Lion Shiki.
" Roy, you brat? What do you want from me?"
" Shiki, how's the situation with G-1?"
Roy asked directly.
On the other end of the phone came the loud laughter of the Golden Lion.
"Hahaha! Need I say more?"
"I personally took action, and those little punks from G-1 were utterly thrashed and ran for their lives!"
"That kid Akainu is indeed skilled, but he's tied up with that madman Bullet and can't spare a single move to deal with me!"
"Those warships, I threw them into the air one by one, smashing them to pieces!"
Roy's lips curled up slightly.
Where's Garp?
" Garp?"
The Golden Lion snorted.
"Didn't you say that old guy had already left Wano Country?"
I calculated the time and figured it was about time, so I quickly left.
"What, he hasn't arrived yet?"
Roy shook his head.
It should be soon.
Where are you now?
"They have already withdrawn from the G-1 area."
The Golden Lion said triumphantly,
"Those navy guys want to chase me? Dream on!"
"I've already vanished with my fleet!"
Roy nodded.
"That's good."
Where's Bullet?
"That kid?"
The Golden Lion sneered.
"He's still locked in a battle with Akainu. When I told him to retreat, he was a little reluctant."
"But they eventually withdrew."
"That kid actually listens to you quite a bit."
Roy smiled slightly.
" Bullet is my man, of course he listens to me."
"Let him answer the phone."
A few seconds later, Bullet's gruff voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
Roy!
"Boss, that G-1 game was really exciting!"
"That kid Akainu, his magma is indeed powerful, but I'm not bad either!"
"If you hadn't told me to retreat, I could have fought for another three days and three nights!"
Roy laughed.
"Alright, I know you're amazing."
"How are you now? Are you injured?"
Bullet chuckled.
"It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."
"That Akainu got a good beating from me too!"
"Boss, what about Wano Country? Is it all sorted out?"
Roy nodded.
"Nailed it."
" Kozuki Oden died in battle, Wano Country fell into Kaido's hands."
" Seastone vein, profits split 50/50."
Bullet paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Great! That's fantastic!"
"Boss, you really are..."
He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts.
"You're fucking amazing!"
Roy smiled.
"Alright, stop flattering me."
"You go back to Hachinosu first, I'll be there soon."
"Clear!"
After hanging up the phone, Roy put away the Den Den Mushi and looked up at the distant horizon.
The battle scenes of the G-1 Branch flashed through my mind.
The fierce battle between Bullet and Akainu, the relentless bombardment by Golden Lion's warships, and the panicked escape of the naval soldiers...
It seems that the G-1 Branch suffered heavy losses in this battle.
The wrecked warships, the soldiers killed in the bombings, the wounded Vice Admiral...
That's enough to make the navy bleed for a while.
And more importantly--
Garp was forced to return to Wano Country, and the Navy's plans for the New World were disrupted.
He orchestrated all of this.
A faint smile curved Roy's lips.
He won the game.
Meanwhile, at the G-1 Branch.
The ruined square was filled with the smoke of gunpowder.
Everywhere there were shattered warship wrecks, charred corpses, and collapsed buildings.
Akainu stood in the center of the ruins, his body writhing in molten lava, his face ashen.
He had multiple wounds on his body.
Bullet's punch was indeed heavy.
"Report!"
A communications soldier rushed over, his face deathly pale.
" Vice Admiral Garp's fleet has arrived at the port!"
Akainu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.
"Let him come over."
A few minutes later, Garp strode over.
He glanced at the devastated base, his brow furrowing.
" Sakazuki, how's the situation?"
Akainu gritted his teeth and said, word by word,
" Golden Lion Shiki leads the Flying Pirates attack."
"Douglas Bullet, team up with him."
"Our losses include 27 warships, over 800 soldiers killed in action, over 300 seriously wounded, and countless others slightly wounded."
"Three lieutenant Vice Admiral were seriously wounded, and six lieutenant colonels were killed in action."
" The G-1 Branch was more than 60% destroyed."
Garp remained silent.
After a long while, he sighed.
"A clever scheme..."
"That Roy kid, he's got some serious scheming..."
Akainu stared at him.
" Mr. Garp, what about Wano Country...?"
Garp waved his hand.
"It failed."
" Kozuki Oden died in battle, Kaido completely took control of Wano Country."
" Kurozumi Orochi has been captured; the CP0 Chief escaped with a severed arm."
"CP0 elites, all wiped out."
Akainu's expression grew even more grim.
The navy lost.
A complete and utter defeat.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In the Fleet Admiral's Office, Sengoku received a battle report from the G-1 Branch.
He flipped through the pages one by one, his face growing increasingly ashen.
Twenty-seven warships sank, over eight hundred soldiers were killed, three Vice Admiral were seriously wounded, and the G-1 Branch was destroyed by more than 60%...
This is one of the Navy's most devastating losses in recent years.
And all of this is because of that man—
Roy.
He orchestrated the war in Wano Country, he held Garp back, he had Golden Lion and Bullet launch a surprise attack on G-1, and he put the Navy in an unprecedentedly passive position.
Sengoku put down the battle report, placed his hands on the table, and clenched his knuckles until they turned white.
" Roy..."
What exactly do you want?