Carrying Tashigi Away! Shocking News for Marine Headquarters!

"White Devil Ba... Overlord! Let go of Miss Tashigi immediately, or we will open fire!"

Knowing well that it was a futile effort, the captain of the reinforcement squad still raised the long rifle in his hand and aimed it squarely at Chu Bawang.

It had to be said that, compared to the scum Colonel Mouse who had died at Chu Bawang's hands, Smoker had trained his subordinates rather well.

Even though Smoker had already fallen, they could not simply stand by and watch Tashigi being abducted publicly by Chu Bawang.

"What? Is there anyone else who wants to come up and court death?!"

Xiao Qing swept her icy gaze across the crowd, plunging everyone into an abyss of freezing terror.

The oppressive aura of the hundred-thousand-year soul beast, the Azure Bull Python, swept through the Marines' consciousness like a violent, raw torrent!

Thud! Thud!

The Marines who had just spoken wore expressions of sheer terror, dropping to their knees one after another.

Roger's pupils constricted sharply, and his heart surged with shock: "Such a terrifying oppressive force! Moreover, this is a form of pressure completely different from Conqueror's Haki!"

So-called Conqueror's Haki belonged to the category of a "king's" intimidation.

It was a rare type of Haki that could only be developed by those possessing the aptitude of a king.

Meanwhile, the pressure released by Xiao Qing belonged to the category of a "strongman's" intimidation!

This was the very first time Roger had ever witnessed a form of pressure different from Conqueror's Haki!

If it could be popularized on a large scale, it would undoubtedly trigger a massive revolution across the entire world, and could even cause the entire world to undergo a complete reshuffling!!!

"Everyone... please don't make any more meaningless sacrifices! Even Colonel Smoker is no match for the White Devil! I cannot bear to watch you die before my eyes!"

"You... stop worrying about me and run for your lives!"

Tashigi bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes—a sight capable of melting the hardest of hearts and moving anyone to grief.

"Xiao Qing, finish them all off and don't let them ruin this lord's good mood."

Chu Bawang casually heaved Tashigi over his shoulder and strolled away swaggeringly.

"Yes, Master."

Xiao Qing offered a respectful bow, her gaze growing increasingly piercing as she turned back toward the Marines.

***

Several days later.

Marine Headquarters, Marineford, one of the three major powers of the Grand Line.

At this point in time, Marine Headquarters had not yet experienced the Summit War, and the military might of the Marines still remained at its peak.

Marineford featured a massive oval military harbor serving as a defensive barrier, lined with countless heavy military cannons and surrounded by countless battleship-like giant beasts guarding the military base.

In the eyes of the soldiers of Marine Headquarters, they maintained public order throughout the world under the banner of absolute justice.

Yet in the eyes of pirates, Marine Headquarters was merely the lapdog of the World Government.

At this moment, within the highest-level secret military conference room of Marine Headquarters.

Led by Fleet Admiral Sengoku the Buddha, a gathering of top Marine brass was seated around the table, their expressions cold and solemn.

Fist Garp, Vice Admiral Tsuru, Akainu Sakazuki, Kizaru Borsalino, Aokiji Kuzan...

With a simple gesture from Sengoku the Buddha, a messenger officer placed a classified document marked as top secret right before them.

Everyone held their breath, the room plunging into an eerie silence.

Even Kizaru, who usually carried a carefree demeanor, wore a grave expression.

The atmosphere within the highest-level secret military conference room felt chilling and murderous for a time.

Sea breezes blew outside, yet no one had the leisure to care, their hearts gripped by a creeping dread.

"Gentlemen, I assume you can all grasp the gravity of this intelligence?!"

"I want to know your thoughts on this matter!"

As Fleet Admiral of the Marines and known as the "Clever Strategist," Sengoku the Buddha furrowed his brow into a tight knot, sharp glints flashing behind his frog-like glasses.

His oversized military cap cast a shadow over his eyes, and his tone carried a grave severity, revealing the intense unease hidden within the heart of this highest-ranking Marine commander.

No one spoke.

Or rather, everyone remained utterly immersed in profound shock, still unable to digest the heart-stopping intelligence laid out before them.

Whether it was Fist Garp, hailed as the Hero of the Marines, or the three Marine Admirals known as the strongest military might of the Marines, all of them wore tightly locked brows and maintained a golden silence.

The news before them was simply too terrifying!

It sent shivers running down everyone's spines!

If this intelligence was confirmed to be accurate and that legendary man had truly returned to this sea, no one could guarantee whether the world would spiral out of control once again!!!

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, is this classified intelligence... true?!"

Finally, someone broke the silence.

It was Vice Admiral Tsuru, the member with the most seniority within Marine Headquarters.

For the first time, a rare tremor laced her tone.

Ordinarily, as a staff officer, she held relatively little right to speak on such matters.

However, the contents of this intelligence involved far too much—so much that dared not bear deep contemplation.

Moreover, that legendary man was the sworn rival of her generation of aging legends, alongside Sengoku and Garp.

The grim situation had already left her feeling somewhat restless and uneasy.

If that man had truly been resurrected, the entire world would undoubtedly go mad because of it, right?

Sengoku spoke with a heavy expression:

"This intelligence was transmitted to us by Colonel Smoker, who guards Loguetown, even while his body was severely injured."

"Although somewhat stubborn in personality, Colonel Smoker is an elite graduate with stellar marks from the Marine Academy, and his combat strength is by no means inferior to that of a regular Rear Admiral!"

"Otherwise, he would not have been assigned to guard the special sea area of Loguetown."

"Intelligence operatives have verified that it is indeed Colonel Smoker himself! Based on Colonel Smoker's military training and academy evaluations, there is a high probability that this intelligence is true!"

"In other words, the man who ushered in the Great Age of Pirates... has truly been resurrected!!"

When uttering those final words, even Sengoku the Buddha—a Marine strategist who had handled the Ohara incident and witnessed countless storms—could not help but swallow hard.

That was the legendary figure who had initiated the Great Age of Pirates, the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!

Everyone present belonged to the true upper echelon of the Marines, and naturally understood the hidden truths behind Roger's execution—which were far simpler than what the World Government propagated.

The Pirate King Roger had never been captured by Marine Headquarters at all!

That fellow had simply surrendered himself to Marine Headquarters because his time had come due to illness!

In that distant era, the Pirate King Roger had unquestionably been the most dazzling figure of the age.

Even after expending vast amounts of manpower, resources, and wealth, it had still proven impossible to capture Roger and his crew.

He had once been the most vexing enemy of Marine Headquarters, and both a young Akainu and Kizaru had suffered severely at his hands!

Yet now.

That legendary man had actually been resurrected once again!!

Could it be that the world was about to descend into chaos once more?