Chapter 28: Prelude to a Storm

Above the East Blue clouds, the wind howled like a blade, whistling past his ears.

Roy's figure flickered in a continuous series of teleports, each flash tearing a pale blue afterimage in the air, as if cutting the sky itself.

"Kuina's sacrifice... in the end, was it just to stimulate Zoro's swordsmanship awareness, to become fodder for the so-called 'follower of Joy Boy'?" His voice was low, as if coming from the depths of the sea of clouds, carrying a hint of mockery and helplessness. His gaze seemed to pierce through the layers of clouds, as if he could see the threads of fate, those already woven trajectories.

"And now, Luffy has been taken away from the East Blue by me, far from the stage that 'fate' had prepared for him..."

The wind swept across the clouds, tearing at his clothes, his battle robe flapping loudly. Roy's pupils constricted slightly, a deep light flashing in his eyes. "But that man... he's not the type to stop because of this."

Marine Headquarters, Sengoku's Office.

The sun was shining brightly outside, but the room was filled with the smell of gunpowder. Garp was sitting leisurely on the sofa with his legs crossed, holding a large bag of rice crackers, crunching them loudly, crumbs scattering all over the table. Sengoku's forehead veins were bulging, the pen in his hand almost snapping. He tried hard to control his emotions and continued to review the mountain of documents.

Finally—

"Plink!"

A booger accurately landed on Sengoku's document.

"GARP!!!" Sengoku slammed the table and shot up, his roar making the windows buzz. "If you have nothing to do, go out on a mission!!!"

Garp lazily scratched his ear and smiled nonchalantly. "You have to give the younger generation a chance~"

Sengoku gritted his teeth in anger and was about to continue roaring when the Transponder Snail on the table suddenly rang, "Buru-buru-buru."

Sengoku took a deep breath, forced down his anger, and picked up the snail. "This is Sengoku."

The Transponder Snail transformed into Roy's likeness, but the image flickered from time to time, showing he was moving at high speed.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, I need to report something to you~" Roy's voice came through intermittently, with a familiar, relaxed tone.

Sengoku frowned slightly. "What is it? Aren't you in the East Blue right now?"

"That's right~" Roy's voice was still cheerful. "I've taken a liking to two super-promising swordsmanship prospects over here, but... there might be a small conflict with a certain someone~"

Sengoku was slightly taken aback. A character in the East Blue that Roy needed to report? A thought flashed in his mind, his pupils suddenly constricting. He shot up, his voice suddenly rising. "You're not talking about—Red-Hair, are you?!"

Garp, who had been lazing around, instantly sat up straight, his gaze sharp, rice crackers falling all over the floor.

In the Transponder Snail, Roy's image wavered, and he said with a smile, "Yes, I might have a go with Red-Hair. But don't worry, even if I can't win, I can run fast~"

Garp snatched the Transponder Snail and said urgently, "Do you need me to come over?"

Roy on the other end chuckled. "No need. By the time you get here, old man, it'll all be over."

Sengoku's expression turned serious. He pondered for a moment and finally sighed. "If possible, try not to fight too hard. The peace in the East Blue right now is rare."

"Understood!" Roy's voice was crisp and clear.

"Beep—" The call ended, and the office fell into a brief silence.

Garp then threw his head back and laughed. "That brat has some guts."

Sengoku rubbed his temples and sighed helplessly. "I hope it doesn't cause too much of a stir..."

Garp suddenly scratched his head, his eyes flashing slightly. "But... Shanks was also on Roger's crew... If they really do meet, it won't be simple."

Hearing this, Sengoku's brow furrowed even more, his gaze deep as he looked out at the sea horizon.

Under the dim light, thick files were stacked on the desk. At the very top was a red file marked [HIGHEST ALERT]. Sengoku's finger slowly slid across the gold-stamped words on the parchment—

「Red-Haired Pirates · Captain "Red-Haired" Shanks」

Bounty: 849,000,000 Berries (In the year 1509, Red-Hair had only just started making a name for himself in the New World, but he was already a famous great pirate. Since I can't find a specific bounty, I've made one up~)

Origin: Former apprentice on the Roger Pirates

Danger Level: S

Garp stood by the window, unusually not eating rice crackers, but with his arms crossed, staring at the star chart of the East Blue. His voice was low and grave. "The kid from Roger's ship... has now raised his own flag."

Sengoku pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light. "In just a few short years, from a nobody to a presence that shakes the New World. His crew—" The file was flipped, revealing more information—

First Mate "Ben Beckman"—a genius with an IQ surpassing that of the Marine's strategic staff.

Sniper "Yasopp"—a legendary gunman who never misses.

Combatant "Lucky Roux"—a monster who uses super-speed martial arts with his obese body.

Garp suddenly sneered. "This lineup... it's almost like a deliberate copy of the Roger Pirates back in the day."

Sengoku's pen heavily circled the words "Roger's crew." "The most troublesome thing... is Shanks himself."

He pulled out another battle report—「Grand Line · Encounter」

Description: Shanks did not draw his sword. He only released his Conqueror's Haki, causing 300 elite Marines to faint instantly.

Garp's knuckles cracked. "Conqueror's Haki... the same 'King's Disposition' as Roger."

Sengoku closed the file, his voice like iron. "The Marine science unit analyzed that the purity of his Haki is comparable to Whitebeard's at his peak. If we let him continue..." He didn't finish, but Garp knew the rest—"Another seed of a 'Pirate King' is sprouting..."

Outside the window, a storm suddenly broke, as if heralding the coming tempest in the East Blue. The rain beat against the window, and the office fell into a brief silence.

Suddenly, Garp grinned, his rough laughter breaking the heavy atmosphere. "Speaking of which, that kid in the training ground a year ago..."

A glint appeared in Sengoku's eyes behind his glasses, his tense shoulders unconsciously relaxing. He unconsciously rubbed his pen. "Indeed... that child's control over his power has clearly surpassed the scope of an Admiral candidate." Ever since Roy had taken down seven Supernova crews in a row, the Five Elders' attitude towards the Marines had noticeably warmed.

Garp laughed and propped his feet up on the desk. "Not to mention the monstrous level of his fruit's development. And it's not like he can't have a go with Red-Hair..."

Sengoku clearly knew what Garp was referring to. The curtains in the office moved without a wind, and the "Reigning Justice" cape behind Sengoku billowed slightly. He suddenly slammed Shanks's file shut. "Communications officer!"

A communications soldier wearing a Transponder Snail helmet immediately pushed the door open. "Issue an additional order in my name: Rear Admiral Roy is authorized to take all necessary measures in the East Blue. If a conflict arises with the Red-Haired Pirates..." A sharp light flashed in Sengoku's eyes. "...no need to hold back."

Garp let out a loud whistle and casually shook the rice cracker crumbs onto the document Sengoku had just reviewed. "Now that's more like it! A new era needs new methods!"

After the communications officer had hurried away, Sengoku looked out at the storm. Once upon a time, he, who had insisted on "steady justice," would now actively issue such an order. "A lot of things have already changed since the moment Roy appeared..."

In the rain, the Marineford lighthouse suddenly shone brightly, projecting the two giant characters for "Navy" onto the clouds. This beam of light piercing through the storm was just like the sharp edge the Marines were now showing.

At that time in the East Blue, Windmill Village, Makino's bar.

Night was falling. Under the dim yellow light, the wooden bar was bustling.

"Cheers!"

The members of the Red-Haired Pirates were drinking and laughing, the sound shaking the room. The wooden tables were covered with half-eaten meat bones and empty wine jugs.

"Hey! Lucky, I saw that piece of meat first!"

"Hahaha! Yasopp, have you been thinking about your son lately?"

"Hell no, how can a son be more fun than adventuring!"

"Hahaha!!!"

The place was in an uproar, the air filled with the scent of malt liquor and the sweat of pirates. But Shanks sat alone at the bar, his fingertips gently rubbing a long-empty glass, his brow slightly furrowed. His gaze passed through the lively crowd and fell on a corner of the bar—an empty corner, with only a small, dusty wooden stool standing there alone.

Beckman walked over, puffing on a cigarette, a silver lighter flipping between his fingers, sparks occasionally flashing. "What's wrong? You've been on edge since we docked."

Shanks's gaze remained on the wooden stool. He said in a low voice, "I don't know... I just feel like someone is missing from here."

Beckman raised an eyebrow. "Missing who?"

Shanks's fingers unconsciously tapped the rim of the glass, the crisp sound seeming to tap into his heart. "It's like... the person who should be here, isn't here now."

Beckman was unusually silent for a moment, then finally blew out a puff of smoke. "You rarely show this kind of expression."

Shanks chuckled lightly, then shook his head. "Maybe... it's just my imagination..."

Outside the window, the last rays of the setting sun fell on the coastline. A small, orange figure sat alone on a rock, letting the waves lap at her ankles, the sea breeze ruffling her pink hair. Uta was hugging her knees, her gaze on the distant sea horizon, a faint hint of loneliness on her lips. "It's so strange..." She gently pressed her chest, where there was a strange feeling of emptiness.

"Everyone is here, but why... do I feel like someone very important is missing?"

From the distant bar came bursts of hearty laughter, accompanied by the clinking of glasses. Uta looked back there, a complex light in her eyes. She seemed to see that boy wearing a straw hat, laughing wildly, singing and laughing with her. But now, that smile was like it had been blown away by the wind, and she couldn't grasp anything.

"Uta! Time to come back and eat!" Yasopp waved from a distance, his voice carried by the sea breeze.

Uta slowly stood up, her skirt flying in the sea breeze. She looked back at the empty beach and whispered to herself, "Why, I wonder?"

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