Yoriichi's name was no longer that of an unknown nobody in these seas.
Anyone who even slightly paid attention to the balance of power on the Grand Line had heard of him.
Having made his mark by stepping over Golden Lion Shiki, Yoriichi was now a figure known by name and deed. His name was recognized in both Roger's and Whitebeard's circles.
When Marco realized that the red-haired Marine who had ambushed him earlier was none other than the man who severed Shiki's arm, his face filled with shock.
"No wonder he's so strong. That red-haired kid was Yoriichi all along!"
"But... isn't he a bit too young?"
"At that age, to have such strength? Even if he'd been training since the womb, how could he be this powerful?"
Thinking back to that young man on the mountain, Marco couldn't help muttering in disbelief. He could accept that some people were incredibly strong, but he couldn't wrap his head around someone Yoriichi's age possessing such might.
It made him feel like he'd wasted his past twenty-something years.
"He's probably about the same age as Shanks and Buggy," Roger said calmly. "The world will always produce those born with extraordinary talent."
"No need to dwell on it. Let's go. We need to regroup with the crew and leave Lodestar Island while Garp hasn't changed his mind."
Roger stepped in front of Marco, bent down, slung him over his shoulder, and with a word to Shanks and the others, strode toward the port.
Even though the Marines didn't seem eager to continue the fight, Roger knew it was because both the Roger Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates were gathered here.
The Marines didn't fear the Roger Pirates alone. Their mission target was the Roger Pirates. What the Marines feared was the combined force of Roger's and Whitebeard's crews.
Roger understood full well what he and his men had seen on the Final Island. Before the Marines reacted, he had to get his crew out.
If he could help it, Roger didn't want to clash head-on with the Marines' top powers. He no longer had full faith in his body.
Just those two brief exchanges with Garp had left his lungs burning. His condition was worse than it had been over a year ago.
Roger and his group moved with speed. Within minutes, they reached the port.
When Sengoku saw Roger's group return, but without Garp or Yoriichi, his face darkened at once.
His Kenbunshoku Haki spread out in an instant. As his perception filled in the situation, his grim expression shifted into one of anger and frustration.
He had feared Garp and Yoriichi had fallen. Instead...
"Well, Rayleigh!" Roger called with a grin. "Get Shanks and Buggy aboard."
Seeing Roger and the others safe, Rayleigh smiled too.
After exchanging greetings, Roger blurred into motion and landed on Whitebeard's ship.
"Farewell, Marines!" Kozuki Oden laughed as he glanced at the Marines on the dock. With a mighty leap, he followed Roger onto the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard's face lit up when he saw Oden looking so lively, but when his gaze fell on Oden's blood-soaked chest, the smile froze.
Then, catching sight of Marco slung over Roger's shoulder, Whitebeard's expression turned furious.
He glared at the Marines and roared:
"Marines!"
"You dared lay hands on my family?!"
"Are you declaring war on me?!"
As he spoke, Whitebeard planted Kogarashi into the deck, raised his hands like claws.
Crack
A sharp sound split the air like an eggshell breaking. The air at his fingertips fractured into a spiderweb of clear cracks, like shattered glass.
With Whitebeard's motion, the entire port of Lodestar Island began to tremble violently.
"Hmph!"
A deep grunt escaped him, and the island, already cleaved by Roger's slash, shook madly. The port's defensive works, so painstakingly rebuilt, collapsed under the force of the quake.
"Marines who touch my family will pay the price!" Whitebeard bellowed.
Just as he was about to unleash his full might and summon another tsunami against the Marines, Sengoku stopped hesitating. He shot into the air, and from hundreds of meters away, hurled a golden palm strike at the Moby Dick, sending a fearsome shockwave toward the ship.
"Is that weak little strike supposed to do something, Sengoku?" Whitebeard laughed, gripping his fist and punching the air. The space before him warped under the blow.
As the shockwave neared, the distortion spread, forming a barrier that blocked Sengoku's attack.
Boom
The clash sent waves rippling across the sea. Whitebeard easily retrieved Kogarashi, ready to leap down and take the fight to Sengoku.
But Roger's voice rang out:
"Newgate, don't get tangled up with the Marines."
"I have something important to tell you. Let's go first."
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed. He glanced at Roger.
"I can talk after I've taught the Marines a lesson."
Roger's words didn't move him.
Then Oden grabbed his arm.
"Big brother, Roger really does have something important to say. Let's go first. If we fight the Marines, it'll never end. And I'm fine, it just looks worse than it is."
Hearing this, Whitebeard hesitated. Reluctantly, he glared at the Marines, then called out:
"If Oden's not holding a grudge, neither will I."
"But I still need to let off some steam!"
"Are you ready?! We're leaving!"
At his call, his crew confirmed, and Whitebeard nodded. Planting Kogarashi again, he smashed his fists into the air.
Beneath the Moby Dick, the sea rose up, lifting both it and the Oro Jackson and bearing them swiftly away from the port.
Moments later, Lodestar Island quaked again, and a tsunami formed, stretching miles long and towering hundreds of meters high, crashing toward the Marines.
Using the tsunami as cover, the two pirate crews made their escape.
The Marines had no chance to pursue. Sengoku, grim-faced, braced to act when a loud hum echoed from the island's interior.
Garp's Conqueror's Haki blasted the wave, halting its surge and forcing the sea back.
"Hahaha! Sorry about that, Sengoku. I'm late, haha, late!" Garp laughed as he arrived at the port with Yoriichi.
Sengoku's fury boiled over. He jabbed a finger at Garp's nose and roared:
"Damn you, Garp! What were you doing?! How did Roger manage to rescue those two brats?!"
"And Yoriichi..."
Sengoku turned toward Yoriichi, but the young Marine raised his hands and cut in:
"Roger ambushed me."
Sengoku froze, his pupils narrowing. He glared at Garp, ready to explode, when Yoriichi stepped forward and handed him a torn piece of white paper.
Sengoku's words caught in his throat. He looked at Yoriichi, puzzled.
"A life paper. One of Roger's crew. We can track them with this."
/////////////////////////
Support me by adding this fic into your library!
100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
For Advance Chapters, please visit and consider joining me on P(a)treon!
p(a)treon.com/Lnee
1-2+ Chapters daily on P(a)treon, will go up depends on the powerstone extra chapters.
You can also access my other translated fics on P(a)treon!