Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
"You said what?!" Four of the Five Elder Stars (Gorōsei) couldn't hide their shock as they stared at Akainu, who had come to report. They could hardly believe what they were hearing.
"Hiss…"
The swordsman Gorōsei suddenly drew a sharp breath, accidentally cutting his finger on the edge of his blade while wiping it clean.
Akainu's expression darkened. He took a deep breath. "We've searched the entire battlefield, including underwater, but we still couldn't find Rowen."
"According to the Vivre Card, he left with Colonel Ain; we know now that he was kidnapped. Someone took advantage of his exhaustion after the battle with Redfield to abduct him!"
"The destination, unsurprisingly, is Wano Country!"
"That bastard Orrick, how dare he?!" The long-mustached Gorōsei stood up in fury, his jaw clenched tight.
"So, it has finally begun…" The blond-haired Gorōsei set down the broken wine glass he had just crushed, sighing heavily.
"Akainu…"
"Sir!"
"Inform everyone. Prepare for war!" The Gorōsei's gaze was firm and commanding as he looked at Akainu. "This war concerns the authority and dignity of the World Government's 800-year reign. There will be no retreat. Understood?"
"What about Rowen then?" Akainu shot back, his eyes blazing with intensity. "The enemy didn't kill him on the battlefield because they couldn't, but that doesn't mean he'll survive once taken! Are you saying we should abandon him?!"
"If necessary… then yes." The long-mustached Gorōsei nodded solemnly. "This war is unlike any we've faced before. Even we are prepared to make sacrifices."
"Your mission is to stabilize the frontlines and coordinate Marine Headquarters operations. Before you complete your primary duty, you are not allowed to act recklessly!"
"But that's insane!" Akainu clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, using the pain to vent his rage. But he didn't explode this time; the Gorōsei were right.
It was logical for the enemy to target Rowen. After all, the name Soryu (Azure Dragon) resonated throughout the seas. Not long ago, he had single-handedly crippled one of Kaido's arms. With him around, Akainu seriously doubted whether Orrick's troops even had the courage to attack.
"The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be blown down by the wind." Rowen's brilliance shone too brightly. The enemy would stop at nothing to eliminate him.
This joint assault by Red and World was undoubtedly just a smokescreen, a distraction from their true objective. If they foolishly risked everything to rescue Rowen, they'd fall right into the enemy's trap.
To save him would be an act of emotion. Not saving him… would be an act of righteousness. Different people would choose different paths. But Akainu knew exactly where his position demanded he stand.
"Please… be alright, Rowen!"
…
On the endless blue sea, a submarine burst through the surface, revealing its dark silhouette under the sunlight. As the blinding light poured through the window, Rowen's eyelids twitched slightly before he suddenly opened his eyes.
"We've arrived?"
No one answered. He quietly turned his head and looked outside the cell at a clearly nervous pirate gripping his weapon tightly, pressing himself against the wall and staring directly at him.
Rowen grinned. "No need to be so tense. What do you think I can do in this state?"
Clank!
Rowen moved slightly, and a heavy dragging sound echoed around him. Seastone chains bound him tightly like a wrapped dumpling, suspended in mid-air. The entire cell, even the walls, seemed to be made entirely of Seastone, just like what Crocodile had done to the Straw Hats in the original series.
"By the way, what time is it now?"
"E-eight in the morning…" The pirate, perhaps realizing there was no way Rowen could escape, gained a bit of courage and replied.
"Eight o'clock, huh? Time for breakfast, right?" Rowen smacked his lips. "Where's mine then? Don't tell me you didn't prepare any. Even in Impel Down, prisoners got food. Well, technically, only the slave laborers in Blazing Hell and the Level-6 untouchable bigshots get rations…"
"I-I don't know!" The pirate stammered, feeling the weight of Rowen's sharp, commanding gaze, which swept over him like a wild beast sizing up its prey. The pirate instinctively pressed closer to the wall, wishing he could just disappear.
"No food, because this is my ship." A deep, magnetic voice echoed as Ryokugyu pushed open the corridor door and walked in. "Even if there was food, I wouldn't give it to you. One can never be too cautious when it comes to you."
Rowen followed the direction of the voice and grinned at him.
"Yo, healed already?" A centipede-like scar stretched across Ryokugyu's forehead and down his cheek. The pink-white flesh showed it was a freshly healed wound, making his expression look even more sinister.
It was a gift from a few days ago when Ryokugyu had grown complacent, thinking victory was in hand, and Rowen had taken the opportunity to strike. If not for his strong physical durability, Rowen might have peeled off his entire face.
Looking at the playful glint in Rowen's eyes, Ryokugyu held back his anger and sneered. "You really are a monster! The doctors told me your bloodstream is filled with Seastone powder. That must be how you beat Redfield, huh?"
"But now... don't you regret being too clever for your own good?"
"After all, if it weren't for that trick, I wouldn't have been able to catch you."
"Well... who knows?" Rowen shrugged. He tried to move, but apart from his head and fingers, nothing else could budge. The ends of the chains were fused into the very structure of the cell. Unless he could somehow snap the Seastone restraints while being suppressed by Seastone, escape was impossible.
Even so, he narrowed his eyes with a calm expression and said casually, "Maybe I'm just acting, letting myself get caught on purpose. Even the strongest fortress can collapse from the inside. You understand that, don't you?"
"What?!" Ryokugyu was startled for a moment but quickly snapped out of it.
"Don't try to play mind games! In your current state, you can't do anything!"
"Oh? You sure about that?"
"You--!!" Taking a deep breath, Ryokugyu's face turned dark. "I don't need to argue with you. Once we get to Wano Country, don't worry, you'll wish you could die, but won't be able to."
"I see. Because you're about to go to war with us, you want to drag me through the streets for public humiliation, or execute me to boost morale and suppress the Marines' spirit… all while eliminating me as a threat to lay the foundation for your plan."
"What a… clever little two-birds-one-stone scheme." Watching Ryokugyu's pupils shrink sharply, Rowen chuckled.
"Don't look at me like that. Your side's behavioral patterns are way too easy to guess. I really can't imagine what Orrick would need to talk to me about in person otherwise."
As he said that, Rowen yawned. "But damn, it's still frustrating. Spent my whole life hunting geese, and now got pecked in the eye by one… Can't believe I let a pirate of all people gain the upper hand."
Taking advantage of others' battles was something the Marines, under Sengoku's leadership, were notorious for, despised by pirates for it. If Kaido had been the one leading the alliance, he never would've done something like this.
But… Orrick isn't a real pirate. His methods were far more unpredictable.
"Heh… Then enjoy your time here. Feel the pain that pirates have endured while being shamefully imprisoned by your Marines all these years!"
To that, Rowen looked genuinely baffled, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You seriously believed that nonsense I just made up?"
Then, with a pitying shake of his head, he withdrew his gaze and said with exaggerated sympathy, "Well, whatever floats your boat."
"Y-You bastard!!" Ryokugyu suddenly realized that coming here to "inspect" was a terrible decision. Rowen had the confidence to completely ignore and even ridicule him. And he himself… really couldn't do anything in return.
"Keep your eyes on him! No matter what he says, ignore it!" He barked furiously at the unfortunate pirate on guard duty, and before even taking more than three to five steps into the prison, Ryokugyu turned and left decisively.
"Y-Yes sir!" The pirate responded loudly, then suddenly shivered. He cautiously turned his head, bit by bit.
Inside the cell, Rowen was smiling at him with narrowed eyes. "So… what's your mother's maiden name?"
(End of Chapter)
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