Chapter 383: Roger's Intentions
"What the hell are those pirates doing?!"
Fleet Admiral Kong's furious roar almost broke through the ceiling.
Outside the office, Garp, Tsuru, and Zephyr exchanged glances.
"Uh… I just remembered I have something to do! Gotta go!"
Garp turned on his heel.
But Tsuru's hand was quicker—she grabbed him by the collar.
"Garp, stop messing around. Something serious must've happened for the Fleet Admiral to be this mad."
Dragging Garp, Tsuru entered the office.
"Fleet Admiral, what happened?"
Kong took a deep breath to calm himself and handed over the intelligence reports.
"It's the Roger Pirates and the Rockefeller Pirates… they ran into each other on Gaya Island and got into a fight."
Tsuru silently read the report, her expression grave.
"They ran into each other… and fought?"
Garp's eyes widened. He immediately sat up straight.
"Damn it! I didn't even know!"
He slammed the table in frustration.
He'd been chasing the Roger Pirates for so long, but when they disappeared into Paradise, he gave up and returned to HQ.
Now he'd missed a monumental clash.
Kong glared at him, then looked at Tsuru.
"What do we do? We had planned to block the Rockefeller Pirates at the New World entrance with Sengoku, but now that the Roger Pirates are involved… will that mess things up?"
Tsuru fell into deep thought.
With Roger as an unpredictable factor, things could spiral quickly.
"We need to prepare for every outcome. The New World entrance won't just be those two… Golden Lion Shiki has tried to break through Sengoku's blockade many times, and this might be his chance. If three pirate forces join hands, we must not act recklessly."
She was essentially suggesting to cancel the operation.
Too many variables. The Navy's hands were tied.
One misstep and the cost could be catastrophic.
Kong fell silent.
This really was troublesome.
"…Let me think on it."
He finally said.
Tsuru sighed quietly.
The Navy's discussion about the Roger and Rockefeller Pirates reached an impasse.
These two pirate crews were just too powerful.
Especially the Roger Pirates—
the past few capture attempts had shown that even two Admirals weren't enough.
Roger, Rayleigh, and Jaba were all top-tier.
And now with former Whitebeard 2nd Division Commander Kozuki Oden, their strength had only increased.
Add in the Rockefeller Pirates, and Kong feared the Navy would suffer massive losses if they acted.
---
Back on Gaya Island
A bonfire party was underway on a quiet beach.
Everyone was enjoying the feast.
"Cheers!"
Roger raised his mug toward Sharlo, his face already red from drinking.
"Hic~!"
Sharlo hiccupped, breath reeking of alcohol.
"This stuff's powerful!"
He commented.
"Wahaha! It's from my hometown in the East Blue!"
Roger beamed with pride.
The two of them sat together, guzzling down drink after drink.
The atmosphere was merry.
Rayleigh had long since made his way over to some maids, chatting and roasting meat.
Jaba was showing off his muscular physique to a group of kids.
Kozuki Oden munched oden alongside Caesar, both eating heartily.
The party went late into the night.
Eventually, everyone fell asleep—Roger and Sharlo included.
The next morning…
Most were still passed out on the sand.
Sharlo opened his eyes and noticed Roger sleeping next to him—one leg thrown across him.
He instantly woke up.
Thud!
"OW!"
Roger yelped, rubbing his behind as he looked around.
"Who sneak-attacked me?!"
He turned to see Sharlo pulling his leg back.
"Hahaha! Sharlo, you're up early!"
Roger grinned.
"You had your leg over me all night. You think I slept well?"
Sharlo groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Wahaha! Don't worry about it!"
Roger threw an arm around him with a smile.
Sharlo just sighed and let it go.
Then Roger's tone shifted.
"Sharlo… what's your take on the New World?"
Sharlo poked the fire in front of them and replied casually:
"What else is there to see? I'll sit back and watch."
"I meant the political situation," Roger said seriously. "You're heading back to the New World soon. Got any plans?"
"Plans?" Sharlo raised an eyebrow. "First I'm taking back the territories Charlotte Linlin stole. After that? Expansion. I might even take your land."
"Hahaha! Ambitious, huh?"
Roger squinted.
"Then how about this—what if I gave you my territory?"
Sharlo's hand froze. He turned to Roger.
"Are you insane? Your territory spans all of the New World. That'd pit me against Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Shiki at the same time!"
"Relax. Not all of it. Just parts I no longer want."
"…And why would you give it to me?"
"At least your people can eat."
Roger said seriously.
"I've sailed the New World for years now. Seen Whitebeard, Shiki, Linlin… dozens of pirate and kingdom territories.
Only in your lands do people consistently have enough food."
He stared out at the ocean, his voice nostalgic.
"…Just for that?"
Sharlo raised an eyebrow.
Honestly, he hadn't put much effort into managing his lands.
He just let them govern themselves.
All he asked for was a modest protection fee.
The more wealth they had, the more they paid.
It funded the Rockefeller Pirates' operations.
—
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