Rosen gently stroked Boa Hancock's head as she nestled against him, her usual arrogant demeanor replaced by a longing gaze. The Pirate Empress, who once looked down on all men, now melted at his touch.
Around them, the remaining Warlords of the Sea watched in stunned silence. Even Doflamingo and Moria, lurking near the entrance to the Black Hole, exchanged looks of genuine terror. They had known Kuma was a traitor, but Hancock was a far greater shock. The "least likely" Warlord had defected.
Without a word, the two Warlords plunged into the Black Hole, fleeing the New World without looking back.
Some pirates, still conscious after the bear paw treatment, gaped at Hancock's affection. "Is that really the Pirate Empress?" one muttered, questioning his own sanity.
Vista, one foot already in the Black Hole as he awaited transport to Impel Down, let out a silent sigh. Between Kuma, Hancock, and the recently "collared" Mihawk, Rosen's influence over the Shichibukai was absolute. The assassination attempt against him had been doomed from the start.
Brrring! Brrring!
The shrill ring of a Den Den Mushi cut through the air. Hancock ignored it, lost in the moment, but Gion, standing nearby, pulled the snail phone from her Justice Coat pocket.
"This is Gion," she said.
"Major Admiral Gion," the snail mimicked Sengoku's voice. "Is Rosen with you?"
Gion glanced at Rosen. He gave a slight nod. She handed him the receiver.
"Sengoku-sensei," Rosen answered, his free hand still resting on Hancock's shoulder.
"First," Sengoku said, his tone heavy. "Congratulations on annihilating two Emperors. A resounding victory."
"Thank you," Rosen replied, sensing the hesitation. "But you didn't call just to congratulate me. What is it?"
Sengoku paused for a few seconds. "The Judge Fortress has been invaded."
Gion stiffened. The Judge Fortress was the Marine Headquarters' most critical facility, second only to Marineford itself. It housed Vegapunk's research and was protected by Monkey D. Garp.
"Is that so?" Rosen's expression remained calm. He stroked Hancock's cheek, causing her to flush and curl tighter against him. "They have a sense of timing, don't they?"
"You don't seem surprised," Sengoku noted.
"The Red-Haired Pirates," Rosen stated. It wasn't a question.
"How did you know?" Sengoku's surprise was evident.
"Crushing Dracule Mihawk with Conqueror's Haki allowed me to glimpse his memories," Rosen explained calmly. "He contacted Shanks immediately after learning of our war with Whitebeard. In this world, only Shanks has the audacity and strength to strike the Judge Fortress precisely when I'm occupied in the New World. And only his crew could bypass the defenses undetected."
"Observation Kill," Sengoku deduced. "Mihawk mastered it. That explains why you didn't sense them. Damn it."
"It's fine," Rosen said. "I left contingencies in the Judge Fortress, along with Mr. Garp. Holding the fortress is achievable, even against Shanks."
"That's what I wanted to hear," Sengoku sighed, relief evident in his voice. "Otherwise, Garp might have perished there. The situation was dire."
Rosen frowned slightly. "That serious?"
"Mainly because of an unexpected variable," Sengoku explained.
"What is it?"
"Kaido has been released."
Rosen's eyes narrowed. "I see. Shanks' goal wasn't just to cripple our technology, but to free Kaido. However, even if released, Kaido shouldn't be able to distinguish friend from foe. Unless..."
"He regained consciousness," Sengoku confirmed. "And he didn't just wake up—he controlled the Azure Dragon's Will within the Devil Fruit and achieved Awakening. He teamed up with Shanks to overwhelm Garp. If not for your contingency plans, the fortress would have fallen, and Garp would be dead."
"So Kaido escaped," Rosen analyzed. "With Shanks' help, he achieved Awakening faster than anticipated. That explains the intensity. And Garp?"
"Alive. Wounded, but alive," Sengoku said. "Shanks possesses Future Sight, Observation Kill, and advanced Conqueror's Haki. His first mate, Ben Beckman, has Admiral-level combat power. And Kaido, now free, might ally with them."
"Don't worry," Rosen interrupted, his voice flat and dominant. "He's just Kaido. If I can capture him once, I can capture him a thousand times. As for the Red-Haired Pirates... find a time. We'll wipe them out."
His calm declaration crushed Sengoku's lingering anxieties. The message was clear: the Marines, under Rosen's command, would not be shaken.
—-
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