Chapter 8: The Calm Before the Storm

——Marine Headquarters, Marineford

"—Glad you could finally make it, Garp... And good work, Rear Admiral Sengoku."

"Yeah, yeah! So, what’s the big deal!?"

"Tch!? Hey, you damn—GARP!! How many times do I have to tell you to use honorifics with the Vice Admiral!?"

"—Ah, forgot. My bad, Vice Admiral. Your name is… uh… forgot. Eh, whatever."

"YOU’VE GOT SOME NERVE, YOU BRAT!!"

"…No, it’s fine. I know how Garp is."

The room was an office—simple, but imposing. A massive desk dominated the space, behind which sat the Vice Admiral, an older man in a cap.

On the wall, framed in gold, hung a single word: "JUSTICE."

Marine HQ was the fortress of those who upheld that ideal. Every soldier here was a weapon in its name.

And before the Vice Admiral stood two of its most promising warriors.

Garp—the man with a fearless grin, exuding a wild yet oddly carefree aura.Sengoku—the man with an afro and round black-framed glasses, sharp-eyed and composed.

Alongside names like Tsuru and Zephyr, they were considered the future of the Marines. Admirals, the Fleet Admiral, even the World Government itself had their eyes on them.

But Garp, in particular, was notorious—not for crimes, but for misconduct so outrageous it felt criminal.

The Vice Admiral sighed internally. No time for that now.

"—Let’s get straight to it. First... Garp. Your promotion has been approved."

"!"

Sengoku’s brows shot up, but the Vice Admiral continued.

"Congratulations. The official order and medal ceremony will come later, but as of now, you’re a Vice Admiral. You and I—"

"Oh, neat. —Alright, later."

"—DON’T JUST WALK OUT, YOU IDIOT!!!"

"QUIT MESSING AROUND, VICE ADMIRAL GARP, YOU BASTARD!!!"

Halfway out the door, Garp was yanked back by a combination of the Vice Admiral’s glare and Sengoku’s fury. Sengoku, ever the stickler, had even used his new rank—but clearly, Garp couldn’t care less.

"Ughhh… So, what else is there, old man?"

"…………"

"Vice Admiral!! Control yourself!! —HEY, VICE ADMIRAL GARP! KEEP THIS UP AND I’LL KNOCK YOU OUT COLD!!"

The Vice Admiral exhaled sharply.

Enough.

There was no room for jokes after this.

"…Yesterday’s Marine Base Massacre… The mastermind was… the Rocks Pirates."

"!!? …I heard Rocks was involved, but… that’s… true?"

The air turned to ice.

Garp, Sengoku, even the Vice Admiral himself—their expressions darkened.

No one spoke at first. Then, with a slow nod, the Vice Admiral confirmed the worst.

Sengoku broke the silence:

"…Unfortunately, it’s real, Garp…! A World Government-affiliated nation and Marine base in the Grand Line—obliterated. The base’s Vice Admiral, ten officers, and countless soldiers slaughtered. Mass looting. And the culprit wasn’t just Rocks… it was a crew under his command. Survivor testimonies confirmed it…!"

"…! That’s not like him… Why now…?"

Even Garp, who rarely cared for details, looked shaken.

Rocks was infamous—but a leader? That was new.

Finally, the Vice Admiral spoke again, his voice heavy:

"Who knows… For years, he’s operated alone, causing chaos… but never on this scale. And now, a crew? Unless…"

His gaze sharpened.

"Was gathering those warlords under him just the first step…?"

Yes—Rocks had once been a wandering pirate.

But his overwhelming strength, cunning, and near-instinctual ability to evade Marine pursuit had made him impossible to capture.

His rise as the ruler of Pirate Island, Hachinosu, only cemented his infamy. A man notorious for never keeping subordinates. Even other pirates despised him for his brutality and temperament.

Yet, through sheer force, he silenced those very pirates and seized control of Hachinosu.

For a time, he had lain low—giving the Marines a fleeting sense of relief, even anticlimax.

But their fears had been right. And yet… they had also been wrong.

No one expected this.

"! …What about his crew? If it’s just a bunch of weaklings, the actual threat level might not be—"

"...Look at this, Garp."

"Hm? This is…—!?"

The Vice Admiral handed Garp a familiar sight—a bounty poster.

But it wasn’t just one.

A thick stack landed in Garp’s hands. And the faces printed there—each and every one—were monsters.

Even Garp recognized them all.

"Captain Rocks at the top…! Whitebeard! Charlotte Linlin! Golden Lion…! What the hell is this!? Why are this many monsters together…!?"

"The rest are familiar faces too, no? These are the new bounties issued today, Garp. The numbers have skyrocketed… The total estimated bounty for the crew? Might exceed 10 billion berries. The government is treating this as an unprecedented threat."

"We haven’t confirmed all members yet… Reports mention a giant dragon and a girl flying on strange wings… Unverified for now, but—"

"...!! This is a damn nightmare…!"

Even Garp—a man who had captured some of the most notorious pirates with his bare hands—gritted his teeth at the names and reports.

If these monsters were unleashed upon the world, people would lose sleep in terror.

And worse… they had struck a Marine base. The World Government’s credibility would crumble.

"The government’s already decided to cover this incident up… But with this scale, and so many witnesses… How long can they hide it?"

"Tch…!!"

"…………"

At the Vice Admiral’s helpless words, Garp clenched his fists.

To him, the Marines were his home—the people, his duty to protect.

But the World Government? That left a bitter taste.

Sengoku shot Garp a sidelong glance but said nothing. The Vice Admiral pressed on:

"We must stop this evil before it advances further… The Admirals are already mobilizing, and a Buster Call is being considered—Which brings me to you, Garp. We need you on this."

"!! But I’ve got that idiot—"

"Ah… Roger. True… He’s another rising threat. Five years since he first made waves… Can’t call him a rookie anymore."

"Damn right!! That’s why I’ve gotta—"

The Vice Admiral nodded. Roger was dangerous. No question.

But—

"—This takes priority!! He’s a threat, but nothing compared to Rocks!!"

"Tch…!! But—"

"Enough, Garp!! This is a direct order from the Fleet Admiral himself!! We overlook your usual antics, but not this time!!"

"!! …Damn it…"

Even Garp faltered under the Vice Admiral’s rare, steel-toned command.

As a Vice Admiral, Garp had near-total freedom. But defying the Fleet Admiral’s absolute order?

Impossible.

—For a normal Marine, at least.

After a long silence, Garp finally spoke. Calm. Resolute.

"…Then I’ll catch both."

"!!? Wh—What!?"

"!? Garp, you—"

The Vice Admiral gaped.

Sengoku, knowing Garp all too well, tried to stop him—but failed.

Garp declared, louder:

"Rocks AND Roger…!! I’ll bag ’em BOTH!!! That settles it, right!?"

"…!!!"

"Tch… You idiot…!!"

The Vice Admiral was speechless.

Sengoku’s face twisted—Here we go again.

Garp snorted, as if to say Problem solved, and turned to leave.

"Hmph, we done here? —I’m out."

As he stomped toward the door, Sengoku barked:

"! GARP!! You can’t just—"

"…Let him go, Sengoku."

"!? Vice Admiral…!?"

The Vice Admiral didn’t even watch Garp leave.

Elbows on his desk, head bowed, he exhaled deeply—then murmured:

"I knew I couldn’t stop him… That’s just who he is. And now, he’s my equal in rank."

"B-But as an organization—"

"No, it’s fine… If Garp says he’ll do it… the Admirals and Fleet Admiral will accept it. Though failure won’t be forgiven."

"…Sir…"

Sengoku fell silent.

The higher-ups did have faith in Garp.

But they also feared him.

His actions, his ideals—one misstep, and they could be disastrous.

Yet now, the government feared Rocks more.

"Even the top brass are in chaos… They’re scrambling for a solution. Sengoku… steel yourself. The seas ahead will be rough…!!"

"Maybe too rough for even the Marines or World Government to weather…!!"

"Tch… Understood…!!"

—The Marines, champions of Absolute Justice, now faced a threat that filled them with unprecedented dread.

The Rocks Pirates had shaken the world’s foundations.

And the storm had only just begun.

---

"——Here you go, thanks as always."

"Coo."

One of my daily tasks as a pirate apprentice was receiving the morning newspaper delivery.

Some might wonder how newspapers reach a ship in the middle of the ocean, but veterans know the answer—News Coos, seagulls wearing sailor hats that deliver papers worldwide.

These birds carry bundles of newspapers in red satchels around their necks, selling to anyone with cash—even pirates. Though employed by the World Government, they don’t report locations. They’re just salesbirds, flying the seas to hawk headlines.

That’s why, even in the middle of the Calm Belt, aboard this floating ship… the News Coo arrives.

"—Gihaha…! The paper’s here…!"

"! Captain."

As I took the papers and sent the bird off, the door burst open—revealing Rocks, our captain, already munching on a sandwich.

"I was about to deliver these—"

"GIHAHAHA!! Couldn’t wait! Gimme! Information’s a weapon!"

"…Here."

…Kind of childish for a captain, I thought (but would never say), watching him crouch to skim the headlines mid-bite.

Then his usual vicious grin twisted further.

"…Heh. Just as I thought."

Must be about our attack. I reached for the discarded papers—

"Gihaha! Exactly—they wrote NOTHING."

"Huh…?"

I froze. Nothing?

But flipping through, I realized—our raid on the Marine base wasn’t mentioned at all.

"…Cover-up."

"Damn right! Can’t admit Justice got humiliated, can they? GIHAHA! Pathetic—can’t even tell the people they lost!"

As he laughed, I muttered, "Information control…"—prompting Rocks to leer at me.

"Ohhh? Sharp for a brat."

"Eh? Ah—!?"

He shoved a stack of papers at me. Wanted posters.

"GIHAHAHA! Our new bounties! Look at these numbers—they really want us dead!"

My throat tightened.

Whitebeard. Charlotte Linlin. Golden Lion. Key crewmates now boasted bounties over 1 billion berries—with Rocks himself nearing 3 billion, shattering records.

Yet to pirates, bounties are badges of honor. Rocks only laughed harder.

"Hide the news all they want—fear spreads anyway! You can’t silence whispers! Every hidden attack erodes trust… GIHAHA! How long till the masses revolt? The Reverie in two years’ll be hilarious!"

I nodded silently. He was right.

The Rocks Pirates were a den of monsters. If we kept targeting World Government affiliates, even member nations would turn on the Marines.

Weak defenses? Useless justice? They’d demand change—or take matters into their own hands.

And as the Marines frayed… we’d rise.

Until the Celestial Dragons fell.

—The thought made me smile—

"—Not bad for a kid. You get it."

"…Eh? Ah—thank you…!"

I fumbled, flustered by the praise.

…Weird. He’s actually… kinda nice?

For a tyrant, anyway.

"GIHAHAHA! Knew picking you was right! Strong idiots are exhausting—at least you think! Kaido’s not bad, but… heh. I prefer you, Nue."

Huh? What? Lolicon? No, no, that's just creepy and weird...

"Gihaha... You ain’t thinkin’ somethin’ stupid, are ya...?"

"N-N-N-No, of course not...!"

Oh crap oh crap oh crap!! I messed up! This guy’s a master of Observation Haki...!! Did he hear my thoughts...?! N-No, no way—he can’t possibly know specifics. At most, he just sensed I was thinking something sketchy. Yeah. That’s it. So please, for the love of god, stop with the oppressive aura—wait, is that Conqueror’s Haki?!

"...Tch, whatever. I’ve got high hopes for you and Kaido."

"Y-Yes, sir! I’ll do my best!!"

I snapped into a crisp salute—then paused. Wait, saluting’s a Marine thing, right? Is this even okay for pirates? But knowing Captain Rocks, he’d probably just find it amusing.

"Gihaha... Not bad. A salute? That’s some sharp irony...!!"

...Oh, he actually liked it. So much for Observation Haki—this was just me reading his personality.

"Now get back to work. The idiots’ll be up soon."

"Ah, right. Uh, the newspaper...?"

I glanced at the discarded papers, silently asking permission. Rocks waved a hand.

"...Hah. Wanna read it? Fine by me. Bring it back when you’re done—gotta show the others later."

"T-Thank you! I’ll read it here and return it!"

"...Do what you want."

With that, Rocks plopped back into his captain’s chair and resumed eating his sandwich. This guy just gave a whole villain speech... while holding a sandwich. Kinda ruins the intimidation factor. Then again, even the so-called "Devil of the Seas" was still human.

"Hmm, let’s see..."

I unfolded the paper. The Calm Belt’s lack of wind made for easy reading.

Newspapers were one of my few entertainments aboard this pirate ship. Between drinking, reading, and messing around with Kaido, options were slim. At least we stole some books and board games last raid. That’ll kill time... till I get bored.

I skimmed the headlines: "West Blue Plague—Nation Finally Discusses Countermeasures." Ugh. Took them long enough. Bet their 'measures' will be useless, too.

Then I flipped the page—and froze.

"Th-This...!"

"—Gihaha. What’s got you shocked?"

"Ah—!"

Rocks loomed over my shoulder, peering at the article.

"—Heh. Didn’t take you for a pirate gossip."

"...Something like that."

"...? Gihahaha! Not bad—you’ve got a sharp eye."

The article was mundane: a skirmish in the Grand Line, some pirate crew victorious. But what caught my attention—and Rocks’ approval—was the name.

"—‘Roger.’ This brat’s been makin’ waves lately. Took down a few big names already."

Gold Roger.

A pirate of this era... and the man who would one day achieve the impossible.

"Gihahaha! Kid’s young, but tearin’ through the Grand Line. Cocky bastard—but he’s got more spine than most. If we cross paths, I’ll break him into my crew...!!"

"…………"

Rocks’ confidence was absolute.

As his crewmate, I’d seen his power. It defied scale. Even veteran pirates and Marine Vice Admirals were toys to him. Is there anyone—anything—in this world stronger?

If Rocks wanted something dominated, it would be.

Yet...

"...! Achoo!"

Ugh, it’s getting cold—it was warm just a minute ago...

"We’re crossin’ into North Blue soon... Gihaha. Boring. Not a single Sea King in sight... But fine. Roger can wait. First—we paint this sea red...!!"

"Yes, their meeting is still... far off."

"What path they'll take, what end awaits—none of that is clear yet."

"But one thing is certain—"

"It's gonna be stormy..."

...When their paths finally cross, it will shake the very foundations of the era.

Whether I'll still be alive by then, I don't know.

But for now—I'll keep living, keep striving.

And if I do... maybe, just maybe, I'll find even more joy in this life.

"—Oh right, almost forgot. Nue! Name one thing you want—consider it your reward!"

"! Something I... want? —Ah!"

The sudden offer caught me off guard. But then I remembered—

Back when I first took this job, he'd mentioned something like this.

"Even as an apprentice, I reward hard work! So speak up! What do ya want!?"

"...Ah, well... in that case—"

Flustered, I hesitated.

There was something I'd wanted for a while now.

Might as well ask…

---

The Grand Line — Open Sea

"GYAHAHAHA!! Listen up and tremble!! We’re the Kinketsu Pirates—under the banner of the Rocks Pirates!!"

"Choose!! Join us... or die miserably!!"

Under stormy skies, two pirate ships faced each other.

The crew of the smaller vessel stared up at their enemies—larger, fiercer, their sails bearing the mark of Rocks.

Murmurs spread through the crew.

"—So? What’s the call?"

"Rocks... Provoking him wouldn’t be wise... What do we do?"

A sunglass-wearing axeman exchanged glances with a blond swordsman in round glasses.

Rocks’ name carried weight—every pirate knew of his growing empire.

Normally, avoiding conflict would be the smart move.

But their captain, standing at the prow, only grinned wider at the ultimatum.

And when their enemies’ laughter grew louder—he made his choice clear.

"—Don’t know who this Rocks is, and don’t care!!"

"A pirate bows to NO ONE!!"

"Pirates are—!!"

"————FREE!!"

"!!?"

The sheer force of his Haki sent dozens of the opposing crew collapsing unconscious.

Where others faltered at Rocks’ name—

This man only smiled, thrilled by the challenge.

His name—

Gol D. Roger.

Just a man.

No—just a pirate.

Sailing the seas as he pleased.

Free.