If soone were visiting the Sabaody Archipelago for the first ti, they would surely be captivated by its dreamlike scenery.
Seventy-nine towering Yarukiman Mangroves ford the foundation of the archipelago, their massive roots serving as the very ground beneath one's feet. Countless bubbles of varying sizes drifted lazily through the air, making the place resemble sothing straight out of a fairy tale.
This was the mandatory gateway from the Grand Line into the New World—much like the final rest stop before entering the Grand Line itself. With such a critical geographic position, the prosperity of Sabaody was self-evident.
But where wealth and traffic gathered in excess, sin inevitably followed—staining the island in the colors of hell.
Each of the seventy-nine mangroves corresponded to a numbered grove. Groves 1 through 29 were lawless zones. Human auctions there were as commonplace as grocery shopping.
And those groves…
Were Roldi's targets.
Over the past five years, Roldi's influence had already extended into Sabaody.
Groves 40 through 59, and 70 through 79, were entirely under his control.
Five years of steady accumulation had built enough power for him to consider relocating his main base to Sabaody itself. Though his current headquarters had been established for five years, it lacked the overwhelming geographical advantage Sabaody possessed.
As for the Marines' reaction?
He didn't care.
At thirty-three years old, both his Giant bloodline and Mink bloodline had fully awakened.
In a world that worshiped survival of the fittest, there was at least one benefit:
When you were strong enough, your brain could rest. You didn't need to think anymore.
Roldymade no attempt to hide his movents. He strode openly through Grove 29, his four-man core team following behind him. This ti, they hadn't brought any lower-tier forces.
"Hey, Crocodile—how many targets do we have in Grove 29 again?"
Thanks to his exceptional strategic mind and command ability, Crocodile handled all financial managent and intelligence gathering for Roldi's crew. After all, one couldn't expect Mihawk to manage bookkeeping, Sheen only cared about entertainnt, and Moria handled personnel logistics.
"Grove 29 has fewer targets," Crocodile replied after only a brief pause. "Forty-three in total. Large auction houses and underground facilities combined."
All the information was stored neatly in his mind.
Truly useful talent.
"Then let's get moving," Roldysaid casually. "We're going to be busy today."
That day beca a nightmare for every criminal faction in Sabaody.
Roldyswept through them with the most brutal, bloody, and direct thod imaginable.
At first glance, he didn't look like a pirate—more like so avenger of justice. But in truth, his targets were very specific:
Human traffickers.
For those who dealt in selling people, Roldyhad zero tolerance.
As for arms dealers and intelligence brokers? Those were subdued through overwhelming force. They could either submit—or leave Sabaody forever. But if they chose to leave, they would abandon every asset they possessed on the island.
That was the "fee" for having done business in Roldi's territory.
Enormous amounts of money began flowing into his coffers.
Naturally, such actions provoked the fury of many powerful forces.
The underworld's "Emperors of the Dark" all held assets here. Nobles from major kingdoms had stakes as well.
But the largest stakeholder of all—
Was the World Governnt.
Nearly half of Sabaody's illegal industries were tied directly to them.
The Celestial Dragons had grown increasingly greedy. The Heavenly Tribute alone could no longer sustain their wasteful indulgence. The World Governnt had many expenditures to fund.
Gray inco was a massive slice of the pie.
Originally, everyone enjoyed their portion peacefully.
Then Roldyflipped the entire table.
No one else could eat.
And he walked away with the cooking pot.
The Marines received intelligence by the ti Roldydestroyed the fifth illegal operation.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat in his office with a splitting headache. His Den Den Mushi hadn't stopped ringing.
Calls from nobles of ordinary kingdoms were manageable. Even governnt officials pressured by underworld bosses could be handled.
But one call stood above the rest—
A direct order from the Five Elders.
"That brat Roldyhas lost his mind!" Sengoku slamd his desk. "Seizing Sabaody through sheer bloodshed—what the hell is he trying to do?!"
Headache or not, Sengoku moved swiftly.
For the past five years, Roldyhad been relatively quiet. Aside from a few minor clashes, the Marines and Roldyhad maintained a tense but stable coexistence.
This ti, however—
He had gone too far.
Troop mobilization began imdiately.
A fleet nearly on the scale of a Buster Call set sail toward Sabaody.
With Admiral Aokiji (Kuzan) away on assignnt, Sengoku dispatched the remaining two Admirals:
Admiral Kizaru (Borsalino)
Admiral Akainu (Sakazuki)
And just to be safe, he forcibly recalled Monkey D. Garp from vacation.
The Marines advanced in full force.
Kizaru, being the fastest, moved ahead alone.
anwhile, the Marine forces stationed at Groves 60 through 69 received orders to stall Roldi's advance under the command of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
"The Lord won't forgive you, Fitt Roldi!"
A man in a black suit, dripping in gold jewelry, struggled wildly in Roldi's grip. His mouth was filled with gold teeth.
Roldysmirked.
"Sorry. I don't particularly care about your so-called 'lord.'"
He tightened his hand.
"From today onward—this island belongs to ."
With a single squeeze, the underworld boss—whose strength didn't even asure up to a Marine field-grade officer—was crushed into a grotesque heap of flesh.
Seeing their leader die instantly, the remaining subordinates abandoned all thoughts of resistance. Or perhaps they had never possessed the courage to begin with.
They wept and scrambled toward the exit.
Unfortunately for them—
A woman with unmistakable underworld boss aura stood at the doorway. In her hand swirled a miniature sandstorm.
"Desert Spada."
The wind roared.
Grains of sand beca blades, shredding everyone caught within. Even the building's roof couldn't withstand the force and was ripped clean away.
"Hey, Crocodile," Sheen grumbled from the side. "This is supposed to be our territory soon. Can't you be a little gentler? Repairs cost money!"
Sheen held no formal title within Roldi's crew. But as Roldi's first companion—and the one he acknowledged as his sole deputy—he carried considerable responsibility.
Sothing like a chief steward of the inner circle.
Crocodile rely glanced at him.
And ignored him.
Sheen: "…Fine. I'll endure it."
After all—
He'd gone through this hundreds of tis already.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comnt!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon/Sagamaster789
User Comments
0 comments from readers