Chapter 430: The Pirate King is Captured!
But to Roger's disappointment—
Charlotte didn't react at all.
"Wahahahaha! As expected, you're really something else, Charlotte!"
Roger laughed heartily, while Charlotte frowned in silence, watching the man act half-crazed.
Roger suddenly stood up.
"I'm leaving the territories of the New World to you. Treat them well."
With that said, he turned and headed toward the harbor, draping his cloak over his shoulders.
Charlotte said nothing—just silently watched Roger's figure in the setting sun.
Roger's string of vague, cryptic words made it clear to Charlotte:
The time of Roger's surrender was near.
---
Time passed.
A month after Roger's secret visit—
"Captain! Big news!"
Barrett hurried over, holding a newspaper.
Charlotte took it and opened it—
> "Pirate Crew Captain Gol D. Roger Captured by Marine Hero Monkey D. Garp! Public Execution Scheduled in One Week at Loguetown in the East Blue!"
Charlotte's pupils shrank.
The Great Era… had begun.
---
"Extra! Extra! Pirate King Gol D. Roger has been captured!"
The news stunned the entire world.
---
In the first half of the New World — on a small island —
The Flying Pirates:
"Roger got caught? Is this news reliable?"
Golden Lion Shiki bit his cigar as he glared at the paper.
"It's reliable!"
The pirate who answered was visibly trembling.
"Bullshit! How can something like that be true?"
Shiki shot the messenger in the leg.
"ARGHH!"
The pirate screamed in agony.
"Boss, please calm down!"
The others rushed over, panicking.
"Don't bring me this nonsense!"
Shiki, face blank, stormed out.
"Boss, where are you going?!"
"I'm going to find Roger—ask him if this crap is real!"
Shiki growled and soared into the sky, cigar clamped between his teeth.
"BOSS!"
His crewmates shouted in disbelief.
---
Meanwhile — Whitebeard Pirates —
"…Roger. So this is the path you chose?"
Edward Newgate looked at the newspaper and murmured.
He recalled Roger's words during their final visit.
Raising his sake bowl high, he toasted toward the horizon.
"Farewell, old friend."
Then he downed it in one gulp, his eyes looking long into the distance.
---
In Totto Land —
"What did you just say?! That thieving Roger got caught by Garp?! Wasn't Garp missing?!"
Big Mom's stomach had grown even larger again, her mind still stuck on cakes, momentarily stunned by the news.
Katakuri sighed deeply at his mother's dazed state.
"Mom, Garp returned to Marine HQ half a year ago. More importantly, Roger's been captured. Should we take any action?"
Katakuri asked cautiously.
"…Action?"
Big Mom blinked.
Looking at the cake in her hand—
"Children! Prepare a banquet! We're celebrating that thief Roger's capture!"
She suddenly became cheerful.
Katakuri was speechless, but didn't dare disobey.
Preparations for the banquet began.
"Oh, and Katakuri! Didn't Roger's crew snatch a few of our islands? Take them back!"
Big Mom's tone turned angry.
"Yes, Mother!"
Katakuri quickly agreed—
At least she remembered the important stuff now.
He let out a small sigh of relief.
---
Flashback — One Week Ago —
Roger arrived at Sabaody Archipelago.
There, he met Rayleigh for the last time.
"I'm not going to die, brother."
Roger said, back turned, as he left.
Rayleigh sat in his chair, head bowed silently, listening to Roger's footsteps fade away.
---
Marine HQ —
Wooo!
"Gol D. Roger spotted!"
The Marine port was swarming with soldiers.
"Hahahaha! Where's Garp?! Let him come out!"
Roger laughed loudly at the crowd of marines.
"Roger?! Why are you here?!"
Garp ran out, visibly flustered upon seeing Roger at the base.
"Garp, I came to turn myself in.
What, the Marines don't welcome me?"
Roger said with a grin.
Fleet Admiral Kong arrived, flanked by a host of admirals—
Sengoku, Tsuru, Akainu, and others.
"Roger! You're under arrest!"
Kong bellowed.
Roger didn't resist, laughing as the shackles were placed on him.
As he passed Garp, their eyes met.
Garp's gaze was complicated—
Roger had been his greatest rival for decades.
Roger was taken to Marine HQ's prison.
---
Fleet Admiral's Office —
"We just received orders from the World Government.
The public will be told that 'Marine Hero Monkey D. Garp captured Gol D. Roger.'"
Kong glanced at Garp's expressionless face.
Everyone looked toward the Vice Admiral.
"The Five Elders have decided," Kong continued,
"Roger's influence is too great.
He'll be executed publicly to crush the pirates' arrogance."
Kong slammed the desk with his fist.
Just imagine the prestige of publicly executing the Pirate King!
"Yes, sir!"
The other officers roared, blood boiling.
"The execution will take place in Roger's hometown—Loguetown, East Blue."
"Yes, sir!"
All the generals shouted again.
Only Garp remained seated, silent.
Kong glanced at him but said nothing.
---
After the meeting —
Garp walked out with a blank expression.
After hesitating for a moment,
he made his way to the prison.
Ignoring the awe-filled stares of the other marines,
Garp stopped before Roger's cell.
Roger looked up, noticing the sound of footsteps.
He smiled.
"Garp… can I trust you?"
Garp stood with arms crossed, silent.
"…My child is about to be born."
Garp's eyes widened.
"I want you to protect them."
Roger added.
Garp's face changed drastically.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
he shouted, panicked.
"No."
Roger looked up, firelight casting shadows across his face.
"You will help me."
Sweat beaded on his brow, but his gaze was sharp.
"Garp…
I'm counting on you to protect my child."
To be continued…
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