"That's easy. Monteluce Island is nearby, and the Lantis people also need to change their basic attire. There's a demand for supplies, which will effectively hide their original identities. By the way, how's the investigation I asked you about before?" Rosen said calmly.
"It's all clear now. Every pirate captain we captured has a history of slaughtering and plundering civilians," Robin replied with a grave expression. Rosen had instructed her to look into this when they captured the pirates near Lantis Island.
She wasn't surprised by the pirates' deeds, but when she compiled the details into a list, the sheer scale was horrifying. She also understood what the Boss intended to do and felt that so things were worth her full effort.
Setting aside his past actions, Robin even felt an inexplicable admiration for Rosen.
The Buster Call warships were heavily damaged, saving tens of thousands of lives. She had even overheard Rosen casually ntion that Kizaru, one of the Marine Headquarters' top fighters, had been injured.
The news hadn't reported it—Marine Headquarters had suppressed the information.
They weren't unaware; Kizaru himself hadn't hidden his injury, nor did he consider it shaful. But as one of the Marines' strongest, revealing such weakness could crush morale and expose vulnerability to the world—sothing neither the World Governnt nor Marine Headquarters wanted.
"Bones, MR.5, tell Alice to execute all the pirates and crew. Seal their mouths," Rosen handed the list Robin had compiled to Daz Bones and MR.5, who were training nearby.
True adventure-seeking pirates were rare. Rosen particularly despised those who slaughtered civilians—he'd rather they preyed on fellow criminals.
"Understood." These two never questioned Rosen's orders, even when they involved killing.
Since the Lantis people hadn't been exposed, letting the pirates go risked revealing their location. Releasing them to commit more atrocities wasn't an option. If it were too troubleso, Rosen might have turned a blind eye, but since it was easily done, he didn't hesitate.
"You're leaving first?" Rosen glanced at Law, who leaned against a tree with his sword in hand.
"My crew is waiting on another island. I need to return. Since our destination is Dressrosa in the New World, we'll et again at Sabaody Archipelago."
"I'll bring Doflamingo down. A ship without a doctor is inconvenient. Gather intel first—don't act rashly. Keep in touch with the Den Den Mushi." Rosen nodded.
Law's abilities and dical skills were invaluable. If they could secure his help, toppling Doflamingo would be worth it.
"Hopefully." Law wasn't entirely convinced.
Rosen had ordered the execution of pirates who'd once been spared—pirates Law disliked, but their fate suggested they'd been marked for death from the start.
They'd co to kill Rosen, so using them before killing them wasn't surprising. But Law wondered if he, too, was just a tool.
Setting that aside, Crocodile was an enigma. Law had witnessed his past massacres, yet now Rosen was killing pirates who hard civilians.
Was he righteous, evil, or sothing else? Law couldn't tell, but it didn't matter. The stronger Rosen was, the better—even if he was ruthless.
"Robin, we're heading to a trading island. We'll need disguises—we're all wanted now." Rosen smiled. A bounty of over 600 million berries—the World Governnt and Marines were truly going all out.
The chances of being caught were slim, but secrets couldn't stay hidden forever unless Rosen lived in seclusion under a false na, which wasn't happening.
During the warship attack, Daz Bones and the others had also acted. With the Shichibukai title revoked, they no longer had its privileges, and their bounties were reinstated.
Daz Bones: 150 million berries.
MR.5: 80 million berries.
Valentine: 60 million berries.
Their bounties had risen sharply, but compared to Rosen and the other two, it was insignificant—barely a footnote in the news.
Robin, however, had never been exposed. Even when traveling with Rosen, she took precautions. Unless soone who recognized her reported her, she remained off Marine Headquarters' radar.
"Boss, soone from Lantis is here," Valentine said, spotting two approaching figures.
"Hm? This one looks familiar, but I don't rember seeing her on Lantis Island." Rosen studied the newcor, accompanied by Lisa.
"Thank you for saving my life. You don't rember? Frans Island, the restaurant…" Liya jogged his mory.
Rosen recalled—a human with bone-spike mutations, once caged as a pet by Prince Andy.
"Ah, right. What brings you here?" Rosen had been waiting for the Lantis queen but understood she had much to handle post-crisis. He wasn't in a hurry anyway; the route to Skypiea was on this island.
"The queen sent us with gifts." Liya opened a box containing eight glass vials of unknown liquid.
"What's this?" Rosen had never seen it before. During the Demon Abyss War, he'd been underground, and this seed different from what the soldiers had used.
"A product of the Ninth Garden's research. It combines powerful animal genes and dicinal herbs to stimulate latent human potential. If the user's potential is high, it may grant a unique bloodline trait, allowing a battle-triggered berserk state for enhanced combat power. However, overuse strains the body—recovery is possible with proper care, but forced berserk modes drain life force…" Liya explained briefly.
Rosen rembered Alice using sothing similar during the city's defense.
Aside from the berserk state, unlocking potential was useful—though Rosen hadn't expected the Lantis to have multiple vials.
"These must be rare for you."
"They're hard to produce. I was captured on Frans Island because I was desperate to gather materials—Lantis' resources were dwindling. Now, with the island destroyed, production is impossible even with materials. Even if we could, quantities would be limited."
"The potion works best on those who aren't already strong—ideally administered during childhood or early training. The queen's strength partly cos from receiving it and surgical modifications when she was weak."
Rosen was intrigued, but it likely wouldn't help him much. Daz Bones and MR.5, though, could benefit greatly.
Childhood conditioning? It sounded familiar. Googlᴇ search N0v3l.Fiɾe
But he was puzzled—how did the Lantis possess such technology? "If you had leftover stock from the research facility, I wouldn't question it. But you implied you could produce more with materials and facilities. The Lantis have many secrets."
Liya paused, realizing her slip.
(End of chapter.)
User Comments
0 comments from readers