The Panic at Marine Headquarters

Defeated, dramatic, and still trying to look stubborn and dignified... Roya had honestly seen enough.

Without so much as glancing back, he turned away from Dracule Mihawk.

"I'll return to the ruins of my homeland and retrain myself," Mihawk shouted behind him.

"I won't take a single step off the island until I'm certain I can defeat you!"

Roya chuckled, not slowing his steps.

"Then maybe plan a scheduled recess ahead of time... you're gonna be there a while."

With a light tap of his foot, Roya gently launched himself from the sandy island, drifting back onto the deck of the Moby Dick like a feather in the wind.

The other pirates followed suit, leaving Mihawk behind with little more than dust and silence.

---

As polite applause echoed, Boa Hancock stepped forward with a smile.

"Your strength truly lives up to the title, Vice-Captain Roya," she said, her eyes gleaming.

"It gives me great confidence in the next phase of my plan."

"Captain Whitebeard, I ask you to deploy your Vice-Captain, along with your top officers and a strike team…"

But Roya cut her off mid-sentence, his voice flat.

"What's your relationship with Luffy? Why did you help sneak him into Impel Down?"

"Do you even realize Ace isn't there?"

Boa's expression froze.

She bit her fingertip, faltering before replying:

"I… have an interest in that boy, Luffy…"

Then, realizing what Roya had just implied, she snapped to attention.

"Wait—Ace isn't in Impel Down? My intel must've been wrong then…"

Roya sighed.

> "If Ace were there, do you really think a prison could hold him if we were coming to get him?"

At this point, Whitebeard gave a chuckle and pulled his cloak tighter.

"Hmph. Wind's picking up. This old man's going back inside for a bit."

"You two can handle the details. Boa—when you talk to Roya, focus on the real questions. He's not interested in your little 'plans.'"

With a knowing grin, the old man vanished below deck.

Roya felt an awkward twinge in the air—clearly the old man was playing matchmaker.

He cleared his throat.

"Your plan is clever—using your Shichibukai status to smuggle Luffy into Impel Down…"

"Once he's in, you play the 'helpless love-struck empress' and call on Whitebeard to support his 'brother.' A move like that would force Marine HQ to split its forces to protect the prison."

"If nothing else, it weakens their defenses before the main battle. Smart."

"But... you've overlooked two key problems."

Boa's sharp eyes locked onto his, clearly thinking deeply—but Roya looked away.

"One: Ace isn't in Impel Down. So the Marines have no reason to defend it."

"Two: Dividing our strength to attack Impel Down may free some strong prisoners—but will Whitebeard survive long enough against Sengoku and the Three Admirals alone?"

Boa didn't answer. Instead, she smiled playfully and blinked.

"Then... would you like to accompany me, Lord Roya?"

Roya blinked, then chuckled.

"No, I won't be going with you…"

"You'll be following my plan. Got it?"

---

That night, under the cover of darkness, three battleships quietly split from Whitebeard's grand fleet.

But no matter how stealthy, they couldn't escape the eyes of those watching.

From the crow's nest of his ship, X Drake observed the departure, then pulled a Den Den Mushi from his coat—dialing a very specific number.

Not far away, Scratchmen Apoo leaned against a railing, muttering to himself.

"That guy Roya… already has the strength of a true Emperor. No way he'll play second fiddle forever."

"Law? He's only out for revenge—he won't ever swear loyalty."

"But Kid, Drake, Hawkins… hmm. They're solid candidates."

"Yeah… guess I'll report that directly to the Governor."

He paused, frowning.

"Weird… why did I say 'report it truthfully'?"

---

Marineford – Strategic Command Room

Sengoku slowly lowered the Den Den Mushi receiver.

He hadn't said a single word throughout the call.

Now, with the call ended, the room fell tense.

Aokiji, Kizaru, Akainu, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Garp all turned to him.

With a long, heavy breath, Sengoku finally spoke:

"Mihawk has been defeated. Crushed, without resistance."

The silence shattered.

Akainu slammed a fist into the table.

"Damn it! Roya's grown this powerful already?!"

"Mihawk may not have lived up to the title, but in pure swordsmanship, he was unmatched—now even his blade can't cut through Roya's Observation Haki?!"

"We'll have to completely reevaluate the threat of this so-called 'Fifth Emperor'!"

But Sengoku wasn't done.

"According to our agents, Roya didn't even use his Observation Haki's evasion—except once, at the very end."

"During the sword duel, he beat Mihawk using a twig. A twig. He only needed two exchanges to bring Mihawk to total defeat."

Akainu's fury froze mid-expression.

He was confident he could beat Mihawk—but that cleanly?

Even he knew he couldn't replicate such overwhelming humiliation.

Kizaru, smiling cryptically, mused:

"Well now… that makes things interesting. Can't wait to meet them when they arrive."

Sengoku continued, face grim.

"Our intel also reports… strange signs between Boa Hancock and Roa."

"She's now traveling with Roya, his blade servant Squard, and—McGuy. Destination: Impel Down. Purpose: unknown."

Even Tsuru's composed face wrinkled in thought.

Why would Roya leave Whitebeard's side before the final battle?

In the corner of the room, Rob Lucci, half-shrouded in shadow, suddenly chuckled.

"Our 'build-him-up-to-break-him-down' plan is working."

Sengoku didn't look at him, but tapped the table—an invitation to elaborate.

Lucci leaned out of the shadows, smirking.

"Impel Down is a nightmare for us—but for Roya?"

"It's a goldmine."

"Squard is already his loyal sword-slave. McGuy is tight with him. If they break out and recruit even a few top-tier prisoners… he'll have the foundation of a full-blown Emperor-class crew."

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