The Gomu Gomu no Mi.
It was the Devil Fruit that the future Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy, obtained from Red-Haired Shanks. On the surface, it was a Paramecia-type Fruit, granting the user a rubber body and strange abilities.
Through the powers of this fruit, Luffy rose from an unknown small-time pirate in East Blue to one of the Five Emperors ruling the seas.
Later, during the assault on Kaido, he received a thorough beating from the Four Emperor and finally awakened the fruit.
Only then did the world learn that the Gomu Gomu no Mi wasn't actually a rubber fruit at all... but the mythical Sun God Nika's fruit.
Once awakened, the powers of the Nika Fruit turned its user into the protagonist of a gag manga, able to fight however they pleased. In two words, the fruit's true ability could be described simply: absolute freedom.
And when Yoriichi Tsugikuni heard the name "Gomu Gomu no Mi" from Roger's mouth, a flurry of thoughts clicked into place.
That Roger knew the world government's long-buried secrets likely had something to do with his journey to Laugh Tale. That Shanks would one day go to such lengths to steal what appeared to be a trivial fruit from CP9 must mean he, too, had learned the truth.
The Nika Fruit.
In this fate-bound world, eating it seemed to grant one the right to become the child of revolution, not the role itself, but merely the chance.
Because over the centuries, others had eaten the Nika Fruit, yet none had ever awakened it. Not a single one.
Yoriichi scoffed.
"The Gomu Gomu no Mi, huh? I have no interest in that sort of thing."
"You probably won't believe this, but I already have the Mera Mera no Mi and the Smoke-Smoke Fruit in my hands. If I wanted to become a Devil Fruit user, I would have done it long ago."
"Devil Fruits are more of a liability to me than a benefit. They'd only introduce a fatal weakness."
He dismissed Roger's recommendation outright. Treasures of the sea held no allure for him.
Roger watched Yoriichi's response and assumed he simply didn't know the fruit's true identity. So he didn't explain further. Instead, he smiled and offered a vague hint.
"Trust me, kid," he said.
"That fruit won't disappoint you."
"Of course, if you don't eat it, that's fine too. But I can promise you this... without the help of that fruit, you won't be able to uphold the justice you believe in."
Roger's tone was firm. Even though he clearly admired Yoriichi's talent, he still spoke those words.
Yoriichi turned his head to meet Roger's gaze. At that exact moment, Roger also turned his head from the stone bed to face the young Marine at the window.
They stared at each other in silence for a long moment. Then Yoriichi stood up and walked to the door.
Roger grinned.
"Leaving already? Don't you want to know why I dared to make such a bold claim?"
"To say that you, the youngest Vice Admiral in Marine history, won't be able to uphold your ideal of justice in the future?"
Yoriichi stopped.
Roger clearly knew a lot, and more importantly, he believed everything he had discovered.
Without turning fully around, Yoriichi tilted his head and replied calmly.
"There's nothing to be curious about."
"No one in this world can truly see what lies years or decades ahead."
"I believe in destiny. But not the kind written by a god from the start."
"I believe in the destiny shaped by human hands."
With those words, he opened the door and stepped out into the rain, vanishing slowly from Roger's sight.
Roger watched his silhouette fade into the storm, sat up slightly, and muttered under his breath.
"How do you know the destiny shaped by human hands isn't exactly the destiny a creator set for you from the beginning?"
The debate over fate had no answers.
All a person could do was live in the present and do what they believed was right.
Yoriichi walked straight to his office.
Located in the upper floors of the new Marine base in Dressrosa, the base was nearly complete. The dormitories were finished, and the rest of the construction had slowed.
Yoriichi's office was on the fifth floor, about thirty square meters, not small. A long desk faced east, sparsely decorated with little more than a transponder snail. Hanging behind the desk was a calligraphy gift from Zephyr: "Justice, Pure and Clear."
To the south, a window overlooked the port, strategically placed to let Yoriichi monitor any incoming activity. Along the west wall stood a long sword rack with four spaces: three occupied by Tenryuugatana, Enma, and a plain bamboo sword. The fourth remained empty.
The furnishings were modest. The room gave off an unadorned, disciplined feeling.
At the window, Yoriichi stared out at the sea, now veiled in heavy rain. The misty, quiet ocean calmed his heart.
There was a knock at the door.
Without turning, Yoriichi said, "Come in."
Kyros entered and saluted smartly. "Vice Admiral. We've just received word from headquarters."
"Fleet Admiral Kong has dispatched Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp to Dressrosa to escort Roger."
"They're expected to arrive in a month."
"Headquarters orders us not to leave the island before the handoff, and to ensure Roger remains secured."
"They also advise us to prepare for enemy attacks. Intelligence suggests pirates are planning to strike the Dawn Division."
Yoriichi narrowed his eyes and listened carefully. When Kyros finished, he nodded.
"How's the operation I ordered? Are the long-distance ships ready?"
He was referring to the plan to secretly extract Roger's wife and child from the South Blue. Using a warship would draw too much attention, so discretion was key.
Yoriichi didn't fear trouble, but he preferred to avoid unnecessary complications.
After Roger's public execution, the World Government would surely trace his movements. Once they discovered he had a family, a massacre in Baterilla would be inevitable.
So Yoriichi planned to erase Roger's existence from the island entirely.
The method was simple: relocate every person who knew Roger's identity, to Dressrosa.
The government's reach might extend to the South Blue, but not so easily to Dressrosa.
"It's ready," Kyros said.
"With all the traffic passing through Dressrosa, we were able to quietly acquire a medium-sized merchant ship. It's fully prepped and ready to sail."
Kyros had been briefed on the plan, and he supported it. Even if Roger was a criminal, his family had never profited from his crimes. They were innocent.
"Good. Expand the cabins. Bring everyone who knows about Roger's wife. No need for force, just offer generous settlement payments."
"Once the handoff is complete, you'll go with Fujitora and Mihawk to the South Blue."
Kyros nodded.
Though sending all three of their top fighters was overkill for such a mission, Yoriichi wasn't taking any chances.
As for himself, he had to remain behind.
Now that the Dawn Division had a base, he finally understood why Marine HQ Admirals rarely left their posts.
It was fear of losing everything while away.
Because of their victory over Roger, Dressrosa had become infamous among pirates. Countless eyes were watching.
And with that, a month passed.
In early September, Sengoku and Garp's flagship, Ship No. 0, arrived at Dressrosa. The fleet anchored smoothly at the port, greeted by Kyros and a dozen Marines.
Once the wooden gangplank lowered, Sengoku and Garp stepped onto land.
Sengoku glanced at the massive Marine base. "I couldn't see it clearly from the sea, but now that I'm on land... this is your base? Where did Yoriichi get the money to build all this?"
"You've only got a hundred or so men. Isn't this a bit excessive?"
"Enslaving civilians to build a base is a serious crime, you know."
Kyros smiled awkwardly.
"No, Admiral. The Vice Admiral had future expansion in mind."
"As you know, pirates in the New World are… formidable."
"Of course, Vice Admiral Yoriichi did not exploit any civilians. The funds were provided by King Riku himself."
"That so?" Sengoku chuckled coldly.
"King Riku, huh? That generous?"
He didn't press further. He had a good idea where the money actually came from.
"Where's Yoriichi?" Sengoku asked. "Why isn't he here?"
"He's guarding Roger," Kyros replied, then gestured. "Please, follow me."
Kyros didn't want to linger. He just wanted to complete the handoff and get started on the South Blue mission.
When Sengoku and Garp finally arrived at the so-called "prison," they were stunned.
They had expected a high-security cell, layered with defenses.
Instead, Roger was living in a plain dorm room. The only difference was the stone bed.
No guards. No cuffs.
Yoriichi sat casually on a stool. The two of them were chatting like friends.
Sengoku and Garp looked at each other, clearly thinking the same thing.
Something wasn't right here.
Roger waved from the bed. "Yo! Long time no see, Sengoku, Garp."
The room had been cleared, only they were present.
Garp frowned. "What the hell is going on here?"
Before he could continue, Yoriichi stood and smiled. "Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp. Good to see you again."
"As you can see, Roger wasn't captured. He turned himself in."
"That's why he's not restrained."
Roger quickly shook his head. "Lies. The brat's lying. He captured me. See these wounds?"
"I'm only staying because I don't want another fight."
"Heh. These kids today... terrifying."
He pulled open his shirt to reveal the wound Yoriichi had left.
Sengoku and Garp looked between them, confusion growing. There was more to this story.
Garp opened his mouth, but Sengoku held up a hand.
"Borsalino!"
From outside came a voice. "Yo Admiral Sengoku"
"Bring in the team. Shackle the Pirate King and get him aboard."
A moment later, a young Vice Admiral in a yellow pinstripe suit stepped in.
His pupils narrowed when he saw Roger. He muttered, "Scary… the Pirate King, huh?" as he fastened the seastone shackles.
"Goodbye, kid!" Roger called out cheerfully as he was led away. "Hahahahahaha!"
Sengoku and Garp didn't linger. They exchanged brief words with Yoriichi, then returned to the ship.
As the flagship pulled away from port, Sengoku turned to Borsalino.
"Once we're out of sight... go back."
"Find out what Yoriichi is hiding."
Borsalino blinked, scratched his head, then nodded.
Back at the port, Yoriichi stood watching the sea. Once the ships vanished from view, he turned to leave.
Then he stopped.
His Observation Haki picked up a powerful presence rapidly approaching Dressrosa.
He smiled faintly.
"Worthy of the 'Strategist Sengoku.' You've already sent someone to investigate?"
He didn't mind.
Let them come.
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