Chapter 71: Pregnant Woman

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South Blue, Baterilla Island. 

Urgent footsteps echoed as a team of Marines moved swiftly through the town streets, scanning the faces of the passing civilians, especially the women. 

Led by a lieutenant, they were following orders to locate and catalogue every pregnant woman on the island. 

This was merely an initial inspection; more troops would soon arrive. 

Given the delicate mission to investigate any surviving lineage of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, the entire South Blue Marine system was on high alert.

In a secluded alleyway, three figures watched as the Marine squad marched by, remaining hidden until the group had passed out of sight.

"Want me to take them out?" Bullet asked, his right hand motioning across his neck with a flash of intent in his eyes.

"Don't stir up trouble. Our objective here isn't them," Crocodile replied coldly. 

He glanced at the motionless figure beside him—a Thunder Golem, identical in form to Arashi but with a metallic sheen to its skin, occasionally sparking with faint blue lightning.

Suddenly, the electrical light on the golem surged, and an icy, synthetic voice broke the silence. 

"Find Portgas D. Rouge. Get her out of here. Once that's done, our mission is complete," the Thunder Golem instructed its voice a bit stilted but unmistakably carrying Arashi's authority.

"Move quickly!" The golem's eyes focused ahead, following the Marine squad of about four or five soldiers before it spoke again. 

The three cloaked themselves and vanished into the shadows. When they reached Rouge's small yard, they found it empty.

"Wait for her to return," the golem commanded. 

Crocodile lit a cigar, puffing casually, while Bullet shifted restlessly, far more eager for combat than such a straightforward operation. 

During this time, the golem stood unmoving, a silent sentinel. As evening fell, a lone figure approached, looking weary and troubled. 

She placed a hand on her belly with a sigh—it was Portgas D. Rouge. 

Though she'd expected it, she was still caught off guard by the speed of the Marines' arrival. 

With every escape route blocked by Marine patrols, there was no way off the island.

"What am I supposed to do now?" she murmured, her gaze reflecting a hint of despair. 

Her biggest fear was that she might not be able to keep her unborn child safe. 

She could sacrifice herself, but Ace...she desperately wanted him to be born and to grow up safely.

She approached her house, unlocked the door, and entered, closing it behind her. 

She collapsed onto a chair and whispered, "Ace…my poor child…" Her voice trembled, but her eyes held a fierce determination. 

"Don't worry, Mama will protect you…no matter what."

Abruptly, a heavy knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Who's there?" Rouge's heart skipped a beat as she steadied herself to respond. 

The Marines hadn't detected anything unusual in the earlier inspection, as her pregnancy was still early.

"Open up!" a rough voice demanded impatiently from the other side. "Or we'll kick the door in!"

Rouge hesitated for a moment before rising to unlock the door. Standing before her were three imposing figures.

"Portgas D. Rouge!" The Thunder Golem pulled back its hood, revealing a faintly metallic smile that seemed stiff, almost robotic.

"You're...?" Rouge's eyes widened. She recognized them as the same men who had called themselves Roger's friends at a wedding one year earlier.

"Come with us. Now." Crocodile exhaled smoke as he spoke in a low voice. 

Noticing her uncertainty as she looked at the golem, he added, "This is Arashi's golem. We're here to take you somewhere safe."

Rouge took a step back, her expression shifting. It was common knowledge that Arashi had captured Roger himself, a fact broadcast worldwide.

"You don't have a choice," Bullet snapped impatiently. "Now move!"

Rouge trembled slightly before saying, "I need to pack a few things." Bullet was about to argue, but the golem lifted a hand, silencing him. 

The three men waited outside as she prepared inside. 

Soon, darkness settled over the town, and a flash of lightning ascended from Baterilla Island, vanishing into the sky.

Meanwhile, Arashi took a long breath on a Marine warship already stationed in the South Blue.

"So, where did you encounter Roger in the South Blue?" Sengoku asked with a stern gaze.

"Yes." Arashi nodded, his tone calm, a faint smile on his face. Rouge had been safely evacuated, putting his mind at ease.

"Which island?" Sengoku pressed.

"At sea, actually," Arashi replied. "To be precise, he came to me."

Sengoku's gaze sharpened. "Oh?"

"We only fought briefly before he surrendered voluntarily," Arashi added with a sigh.

Sengoku fell silent, clearly disappointed in the lack of further intelligence. "The search for Roger's lineage is crucial," he said. 

"Arashi, you're to assist as needed. Be careful; we can't give anyone grounds for suspicion or criticism."

"Understood," Arashi affirmed.

The operation began promptly, but with Sengoku personally leading most of the orders, Arashi found his role less intensive. 

Weeks passed without results, and Sengoku grew more visibly frustrated by the day.

"Is the information reliable?" Arashi asked.

"It is," Sengoku said grimly. "I worry that the woman bearing Roger's bloodline might have already gone into hiding."

Arashi gave a faint smile, withholding that Crocodile had already confirmed Rouge was secure in a secret location. 

Another two weeks passed, and Sengoku's frustration only deepened under mounting pressure from both Kong and the World Government.

"Every island in the South Blue has been combed, but no trace of the target," Sengoku muttered. "Where could she be hiding?"

Arashi raised an eyebrow. "Are we so afraid of Roger's bloodline?"

Sengoku looked him squarely in the eyes. "It's not us who are afraid," he replied, leaving his sentence unfinished.

Arashi understood nonetheless: the world's elite wanted to stamp out any trace of Roger's legacy. This was as much an act of fear as a brutal warning.

After another ten days, the Marine search across the South Blue yielded nothing.

"Damn it, have they lost their minds?" Sengoku roared one day, visibly troubled. 

"It was just a simple report, yet they're prepared to go to such extremes!"

"What happened?" Arashi approached, curious.

"They're issuing an order to execute every suspicious pregnant woman on Baterilla Island!" Sengoku growled, gritting his teeth in anger. 

He hesitated, his gaze darkening as he turned to Arashi.

"And they've ordered you to carry out the task personally."

Silence. The South Blue temporary base was engulfed in a deathly stillness. Arashi stood in wordless contemplation. 

His hands, hanging at his sides, clenched and unclenched over and over. Looking closely, one might notice his body trembling ever so slightly. 

First, he was stunned, as if struck by lightning. Then, his mind went blank, and finally, his thoughts ignited into a furious blaze that narrowed his vision.

"Heh... heh-heh..." The strained laugh slipping through his lips sent a chill down Sengoku's spine, evoking a primal fear. 

"Arashi!" Sengoku's sudden shout carried a touch of Conqueror's Haki, urging Arashi back to his senses. 

Arashi's face lost its twisted smile, gradually settling. His thoughts surged as he considered the intentions behind the World Government's directive. 

To those in power, common lives were inconsequential, mere grains on the scale.

Moreover, demanding he carry out this directive was a calculated move—a blade pointed straight at him. 

It was an attempt to shatter his convictions and force him to contradict everything he stood for. 

This order was not just to exterminate the innocent; it was to break him from within.

"Arashi!" Sengoku's voice cut through again, his gaze filled with concern. The World Government's command was far too targeted. 

It might be just another subtle nudge to those lofty officials, but he couldn't fathom what Arashi might do in response. 

If Arashi turned rogue and became an enemy of the Marines... Just the thought made Sengoku tremble.

Arashi's abilities had already earned him a place among the world's strongest: an expert in Haki, body combat, and Devil Fruit mastery, capable of feats like defeating Shiki the Golden Lion quickly. 

And he was a man whose ideal of "Equal Justice" had sparked waves worldwide. 

Sengoku didn't dare let his mind wander any further. "Calm yourself, Arashi!" he insisted once more.

But at that moment, Arashi turned abruptly and walked toward the exit. "I know what I need to do."

Surprised, Sengoku quickly called out, "Where are you going?"

With his back turned, Arashi's face twisted into a smirk. "I'm going to carry out the orders of the World Government." 

With that, he left. Watching Arashi's receding figure, Sengoku's face clouded with worry. 

After a pause, he hastily contacted his old friend. If Arashi had done something recklessly, only Garp might have been able to bring him back.

Aboard the warship, the atmosphere was tense, and the squad was silent. "So, what's the plan?" Crocodile exhaled smoke, his voice heavy. 

"Are you going to carry out such a ridiculous order?" They had returned after securing Portgas D. Rouge in a safe place.

"Carry it out?" Arashi scoffed. "You called it a ridiculous order." His gaze turned distant as he looked out at the sea, his expression unreadable. 

Behind him, Bullet smirked, intrigued. 

He was curious to see what decision this powerful figure, who had risen to the top ranks of the Marines, would make. 

Would he turn his blade on innocent pregnant women or openly defy a direct order?

Time passed, and the warship arrived at Baterilla on the fifth day. Arashi disembarked first. 

Captain Proshu, stationed on the island, greeted him with a strict salute, his eyes filled with respect. 

"Captain Proshu, what's the current situation?" Arashi asked in a steady voice.

"We've fully surrounded the island," Proshu reported with seriousness. "We've stationed about two thousand elite soldiers here to prevent anyone from escaping."

Arashi nodded. "Tell me about the recent intelligence."

Proshu quickly responded, "The information came from an islander's report. He claims that Pirate King Roger once lived here, leading a quiet life that made him seem like just another ordinary father."

As they moved further inland, Crocodile and the others followed closely. "Where's this man?" Arashi's eyes narrowed as he asked.

"We have him in custody," Proshu replied.

"Take me to him," Arashi demanded.

They were brought to a man with a sharp chin, small eyes, and dishevelled hair, who trembled when he recognized Arashi. 

"You claimed to have seen Roger on this island?" Arashi's voice was icy.

"Y-Yes," the man stammered.

"And the others?" Arashi asked, turning to Proshu.

"Everyone else says they have no idea who Roger is." 

"This island is remote, and news rarely reaches here. Many residents have never even left the island in their lifetime."

Arashi's gaze flickered. He then looked back at the informant, a smirk on his lips. "So, nobody else has seen Roger, yet you claim to have met him?" 

The man faltered, and just as he was about to speak, Arashi's voice boomed like thunder.

"I've patrolled this island in the South Blue over a dozen times and never seen Roger." His tone was menacing. "So, where exactly did you see him?"

The man's face turned blank with shock. "Reporting false information... You truly are detestable." 

Arashi raised his hand and struck the man's skull, shattering instantly. Proshu, watching from the side, felt his scalp prickle with fear. 

He hadn't expected this young Vice Admiral, known for his high moral standing, to kill so decisively.

Then Arashi spoke again, his tone chilling. "The directive from above is to eliminate every suspicious pregnant woman on this island." 

"Captain Proshu, what do you think of that?" Proshu trembled, his eyes flashing with shock and fear.

(T/N: Check out my new Translated Novel - Naruto: Different Path)

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