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Chapter 112 Sabaody Land
Island No. 13, quiet and eerie.
The humid sea breeze, mixed with the unique fishy and sweet scent of mangroves, blew in through the open window lattice, gently dispersing the yellowed smell of old wine in the tavern.
The iron wind chime hanging at the door swayed slightly, making a tiny tinkling sound, like a faint warning.
Rogge slowly pushed open the door of the bar, and the door hinge creaked, as if echoing throughout the silent island.
The sunlight shone in from behind him, stretching his shadow across the overly clean floor like an unsheathed blade.
The shop was empty, with only the whale oil lamp hanging above the bar casting a dim light, casting Shakky's slender shadow on the wall.
Behind the bar, Shakky was wearing an elegant cheongsam and had a lazy posture, but she couldn't hide the indifference and danger in her bones.
While she was casually wiping the glass in her hand, she glanced at the man who was pressing down on her like a mountain.
"Oh my, isn't this Xuanlin Admiral~"
She chuckled softly, her tone soft and lazily teasing:
"Thanks to you, I have no business at all today~"
Rogge ignored her teasing and walked straight to the bar.
The sound of military boots hitting the ground was as heavy as a war drum, and every step seemed to strike at one's heart.
When he sat down, a few tiny cracks silently appeared on the smooth ebony countertop of the bar.
Just sitting down brings such a sense of oppression.
"Where's Rayleigh?"
He went straight to the point, his voice low as thunder, and tapped his fingers lightly on the bar. Three muffled sounds sounded, like a countdown to an explosion on the battlefield.
Shakky was slightly stunned, then smiled charmingly and spread her hands:
"I don't know either~"
"A few days ago, a group of young pirates came to him, saying they wanted to learn something called 'Haki'... and the old guy actually got inspired and went out to sea with them."
She covered her mouth and smiled gently, but there was a hint of complexity and helplessness in her smile.
"Now, I'm left here alone, all alone."
"What if some unreasonable pirates come one day... I'm a poor woman with no one to rely on~"
Rogge's eyes were as cold as frost and snow, and his gaze pierced Shakky's eyes like a sharp blade, making no secret of his distrust.
"I hope what you said... is true."
As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes, and the vast expanse of Observation Haki instantly spread out, as if the entire Island No. 13 was covered by an invisible net.
Shakky watched quietly from the side, without stopping to wipe the cup, but his palms turned slightly white due to nervousness.
After a few breaths, Rogge opened his eyes, his gaze as deep as a cold pond.
He had confirmed that Rayleigh was indeed not on the island, but this woman's words... might not be credible.
He stood up and walked towards the door, his steps still steady and powerful. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back and said indifferently:
"Tell Rayleigh—fate is something that is meant to be crushed."
"If he comes back, don't think of avoiding me easily next time you see me."
After saying this, Rogge strode away, reflected in the dazzling sunlight outside the tavern, as if the only lonely figure left in the world that could not be desecrated.
Shakky looked at the figure gradually moving away, the smile on his face finally completely disappeared, and there was a hint of indescribable emotion in his eyes.
She exhaled lightly and said to herself:
"What a terrifying little devil... Even an old witch like me would feel suffocated in front of him."
She gently shook the wine glass in her hand, and the amber wine swayed like blood.
"Rayleigh, do you really... still want to continue to obey your so-called fate?"
The wind chimes outside the window swayed, making a crisp yet sad sound.
The tavern once again fell into the kind of oppressive silence that was so suffocating that it made one feel suffocated.
Above the ruins of Island No. 1, the setting sun cast a blood-red glow.
The setting sun dyed the ruins of Island No. 1 dark red. Rogge's military boots rolled over the corpse of a Pirates, and the sound of bones breaking was particularly clear in the silence.
At this moment, the Den Den Mushi rang softly.
Rogge picked up the phone, and the Den Den Mushi's unique expression immediately changed to that of Rhett, and his voice was filled with excitement and fatigue:
"Boss, mission accomplished."
"The Red Earl has been annihilated, the fruit has been successfully extracted and eaten by Shiryu, and they are preparing to return."
Rogge nodded calmly, "Very good, go straight back to G-5 base and we'll talk when I get back."
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Rogge flicked his fingertips lightly, and the air shield that had been covering the Sabaody Archipelago for a long time slowly lifted.
The air that had been oppressive for so long began to flow again, and the entire archipelago seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
In the distance, the main Marine fleet has arrived at Island No. 1.
Under orderly command, a large number of marines began to clean up the battlefield and the remaining bodies of pirates. The twisted wreckage witnessed this absolutely just purge.
The soldiers of the rectification unit carried the bodies silently. Every corpse that was carried away had a uniform "G-5" execution mark branded on the neck.
"Report to the Admiral!"
A colonel trotted over and handed over a list: "147 pirates have been confirmed executed, and 83 slaves have been rescued. In addition..."
He lowered his voice and said, "I found this in the basement of the auction house."
On the back of the list was a yellowed account book, which recorded the "protection fees" collected by the Marine branch in Sabaody from the auction house over the years - each amount was stamped with the branch chief's personal seal.
"lead the way."
The officers at the branch base are destroying evidence.
"Quick! Throw the transaction records into the furnace!"
The branch chief's fat face was covered in sweat. "That madman Rogge won't find this place—"
The door suddenly exploded!
Rogge's figure appeared in the flying wood chips. The branch chief had just raised his hand halfway to draw his gun when his entire arm was broken at the shoulder.
"Three years ago, you allowed pirates to plunder civilian ships and collect ransoms."
Rogge pressed his foot against the wound on his broken arm. "Last year, you sold twelve children to the Celestial Dragons as 'pets'."
The branch chief screamed for mercy: "I, I am on behalf of the World Government—"
"Crack!" Rogge crushed his throat with his foot and turned to look at the other officers kneeling and trembling.
"Now, who still wants the excuse of 'following orders'?"
Ion walked quickly forward and joined Rogge.
"Admiral Xuanlin, the follow-up cleanup work has been fully launched."
Rogge nodded slightly, his eyes suddenly fixed.
His eyes swept through the crowd and saw a little girl with her head lowered, blending in with the crowd and quietly leaving the ruins with the evacuation team.
Ai En followed his gaze and asked in a low voice: "Is there something wrong with that little girl?"
Rogge's expression was calm, and he withdrew his gaze calmly: "Don't pay attention to it."
"Our target is not her."
After saying this, he raised his hand to signal to continue sorting out the ruins.
The inconspicuous little girl blended into the crowd and left quietly. After she was far away from the crowd, she quickly hid in the shadows in a hidden corner of the alley.
After confirming that there was no one around, she leaned against the wall and slowly returned to her original form. Her body gradually stretched out and turned into that familiar figure - one of the supernovas, Jewelry Bonney.
She was panting heavily, cold sweat on her forehead, and she patted her chest lightly: "Almost...almost got discovered..."
She subconsciously turned her head to look in the distance, at the tall figure directing the Marine to clean up the ruins.
"...That guy... really didn't notice me?"
Bonney bit her lip, a hint of confusion and unwillingness flashing in her eyes.
She clearly felt that Rogge's eyes were on her at that moment. She still feels the lingering fear of the illusion that her soul was seen through.
But he didn't take any action, nor did he order anyone to chase him?
"Why?"
She shook her head, not daring to stay any longer, and turned decisively, disappearing into the shadow of Sabaody Archipelago.
——She saw clearly the situation today. It was no longer a battlefield that the so-called "Pirates' rising star" could set foot on.
The setting sun gradually sets and night falls.
And in this silence, Rogge spoke lightly:
"Ain, pass the order down. All security matters in the Sabaody Archipelago will be completely taken over."
"Effective today, the Marine branch in Sabaody will be reorganized."
"Let me smell the stench of corruption again—"
"Next time, it will be people who are burned in the furnace."
"From now on, there must not be any darkness here anymore."
Ian ordered the soldiers to post a new notice, the content of which shocked the onlookers:
abolishment of slave auction licenses;
Establish a civilian reporting hotline;
Receipts are required for Marine purchases;
A certain fishman merchant who was often blackmailed suddenly burst into tears. He trembled and touched the notice as if he had touched a miracle.
On the second floor of the bar, Shakky put down his binoculars and chuckled. "Rayleigh, you lost the bet."
She shook her Den Den Mushi. "That guy really burned down the Celestial Dragons' cash cow."
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Rayleigh chugs his drink amidst laughter: "Hahahahaha… Truly a new-age lunatic!"