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South Sea. Baterilla Island.
Rapid footsteps echoed through the streets as a squad of soldiers moved quickly through the town. Their eyes were sharp, sweeping over every passerby, especially women.
Leading them was a lieutenant. Under orders from above, they were to count the number of pregnant women on the island and compile a list of names.
This was only the first round of screening. Many more troops would arrive later.
A search connected to the bloodline of Pirate King Roger was not something the Navy could afford to take lightly. The entire South Sea command was already wound tight with tension.
In a secluded alley, three figures silently watched the Marines pass. Only after the squad disappeared into the distance did they step out.
"Should we?"
Bullet slid the edge of his right hand lightly across his throat, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
"Don't alert them," Crocodile said calmly. "They're not our target."
"And besides."
He glanced sideways.
Standing there was a rigid figure with dull eyes and a cold expression. A lightning puppet.
From its outline alone, it looked almost identical to Kyle. The only difference was the unnatural skin tone, since it was metal, and the faint arcs of electricity that flickered across its surface.
It was clear the puppet possessed a trace of consciousness.
Suddenly, the electrical glow intensified. A cold, mechanical voice followed.
"Find Portgas D. Rouge. Take her away from here."
"Once that's done, the mission is complete."
The voice was slow, but both men could tell. This was Kyle speaking through it.
"Be quick."
The puppet's gaze fixed forward, on the four or five Marines still visible in the distance, before it spoke again.
The three of them pulled up their hoods and vanished in the blink of an eye.
When they arrived at Rouge's courtyard, no one was there.
"Wait for her to come back," the lightning puppet said.
Crocodile's eyes flickered slightly. He lit a cigar and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
Bullet looked openly impatient. Compared to a task this dull, he would much rather be fighting a real battle.
The lightning puppet stood perfectly still, unmoving.
Near dusk, a lone figure approached. Her face was etched with exhaustion and worry. One hand rested gently on her stomach as she sighed.
Portgas D. Rouge.
She had sensed this coming, but she hadn't expected the Marines to arrive so quickly. Worse still, the harbor had already been sealed off. There was no way off the island.
"What should I do now?"
Confusion flickered in her eyes.
Could the child in her womb still be saved?
She could die if she had to, but Ace. She wanted him to be born safely, to grow up in peace.
Lost in thought, she reached her house, took out her key, and opened the door. After locking it behind her, she went through the motions inside before finally collapsing into a chair.
"Ace…"
"My poor child."
Her voice trembled, but her eyes soon hardened with resolve.
"Don't be afraid. Mom will protect you."
"No matter the cost."
Suddenly, the door shook under a heavy knock.
"Who is it?"
Her heart jolted, but she forced herself to sound calm.
During the daytime inspection, the Marines hadn't noticed anything. Her pregnancy was still early, her belly barely showing.
"Open the door!"
A low, impatient voice answered.
"Or we break it down!"
Rouge froze for a moment. After a brief hesitation, she stood and opened the door.
Three towering, powerfully built men stood outside.
"Portgas D. Rouge."
The lightning puppet pushed back its hood, its stiff face twisting into something like a smile.
"You?"
Rouge stared in shock.
She recognized them at once. They were the men from a year ago, the ones who had shown up at her wedding, claiming to be Roger's friends.
"Come with us. Now," Crocodile said, exhaling smoke as he spoke.
Noticing her puzzled stare at the puppet, he added, "That's Kyle's puppet."
"We're here to get you out."
Rouge took a step back, uncertainty flashing across her face.
The man who had captured Roger was Kyle. That was something the whole world knew.
"You don't get to choose," Bullet snapped. "Move. Now."
Her heart trembled. She turned away. "I need to pack some things."
Bullet was about to argue, but the lightning puppet raised a hand to stop him.
The three men waited quietly outside as the sky darkened.
At some point, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky above Baterilla Island and vanished.
Elsewhere, aboard a warship that had already reached the South Sea, Kyle slowly let out a breath.
"So you encountered Roger in the South Sea?" Sengoku asked gravely.
"That's right," Kyle replied with a smile.
Rouge had been taken to safety. The biggest worry on his mind was finally settled.
"Which island?" Sengoku pressed.
"On the open sea," Kyle said. "More accurately, he found me."
Sengoku's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh?"
"We fought briefly," Kyle continued. "After that, he chose to turn himself in."
Sengoku fell silent.
He had hoped to get more information from Kyle before coming here, but that hope was clearly misplaced.
"This search for Roger's bloodline is extremely important," Sengoku said. "You'll assist from the side. Be careful. Don't give anyone an excuse or leverage against you."
"I understand," Kyle nodded.
The operation began quickly. Kyle himself had little to do. Most orders came directly from Sengoku.
Days passed. Half a month went by with no results.
Sengoku's expression grew darker by the day.
"Could the intel be wrong?" Kyle asked.
"No," Sengoku shook his head. "What worries me more is that the woman carrying Roger's blood may have already gone into hiding."
Kyle smiled faintly and said nothing more.
He had already heard from Crocodile and Bullet. Rouge was settled in a hidden, secure place.
Another half month passed.
Sengoku looked weighed down by pressure from Kong and the World Government.
"Nearly every island in the South Sea has been searched," Sengoku said heavily. "And yet we still can't find anyone who fits the intelligence."
"Where could she be hiding?"
Kyle frowned slightly. "Are we really that afraid of Roger's bloodline?"
Sengoku looked up, meeting his gaze. "It's not us."
"And yet…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Kyle understood anyway.
Those at the very top were afraid. Or rather, they wanted to erase the problem at its root.
It was also a warning.
A brutal, cold demonstration meant to terrify the world.
Ten more days passed. Still nothing from the South Sea.
Then an order came down from the World Government.
"Damn it, have they lost their minds?"
Sengoku slammed his fist down, his face twisted with anger and hesitation.
"All this over a single anonymous report? They'd go this far?"
"What happened?" Kyle asked, stepping closer.
"They want to execute every suspicious pregnant woman on Baterilla Island," Sengoku said through clenched teeth.
Kyle's pupils shrank. His heart lurched violently.
"And there's more."
Sengoku turned to him, his eyes filled with reluctance.
"They've designated you to carry out the task. Personally."
"..."
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