One Piece Thundergod Marine

Vegapunk departed, taking the Heart of the Ocean with him, his steps firm and unwavering.

He understood Rowen's perspective all too well.

Just as he took immense pride in his scientific achievements, this man took equal pride in his fists.

It was precisely because they shared this same unshakable confidence that Vegapunk had chosen to reveal the truth, despite the unpredictable consequences. 

And it was for the same reason that Rowen remained unmoved by his research— believing that if anything ever went wrong, he could simply destroy it with a single punch, no questions asked.

This overwhelming sense of dominance, concealed beneath a calm exterior, was what truly left an impression on Vegapunk!

Compared to the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars), who operated in the shadows like scheming thieves, hoarding secrets, and ruled by paranoia, Vegapunk saw Rowen as a true authority— a man who wielded supreme power without hesitation.

Meanwhile, due to Orrick's unexpected arrival in the Holy Land, both sides had reached a silent agreement, and to the world's surprise, the destruction of Fish-Man Island was swept under the rug.

The government and the Marines did not launch a large-scale hunt for the culprit; instead, they acted as if nothing had happened, focusing on their usual affairs.

Fish-Man Island, rather than stationing a heavy military presence, simply gathered workers to clear the ruins, as if its near-annihilation had been an unfortunate yet unremarkable incident.

Ordinarily, such an approach wouldn't have raised suspicions. The Marines frequently handled the aftermath of disasters for World Government allies. But in this case, with the entire island nearly wiped from existence, the silence was unsettling.

Many suspected that the government wasn't unaware of the culprit's identity—but rather, that they knew exactly who it was and dared not act!

But… who could force the government into inaction?

After all, the so-called "Marine Era" was only growing stronger.

For a time, rumors ran wild across the seas, and undercurrents of unrest surged beneath the surface.

Yet, despite the incident, Fish-Man Island— once a crucial link between Paradise and the New World— remained largely undisturbed.

Even among the more daring pirates, few chose to travel through it. Many opted to purchase Eternal Poses at steep prices rather than wait for their Log Poses to reset in the resin bubbles of the deep.

---

In the New World, within the Hundred Beasts Pirates' territory, at one of their armories—

A vast island blanketed in silver snow, where towering mountains had been hollowed out to create sprawling weapons factories. Here, enslaved workers toiled relentlessly to fuel Kaido's war machine.

Kaido had dozens of such armories, each one churning out enough weapons daily to equip an army of five thousand. At this point, even Kaido himself had lost track of the sheer number of armaments under his control.

Inside the factory, "Mage" Basil Hawkins was conducting his routine inspection, ensuring production remained on schedule while keeping the workers in check.

The Pirate Alliance from the original story had still taken place—just slightly ahead of schedule.

Previously, Eustass Kid and Hawkins had simultaneously launched attacks on the Hundred Beasts Pirates— Kid destroying one of Kaido's armories while Hawkins seized control of one of his islands.

Their bold actions had drawn swift retaliation. But after experiencing Kaido's overwhelming strength firsthand, the two had quickly decided to set aside their rivalry and join forces.

Shortly after, "Roar of the Sea" Scratchmen Apoo had also thrown his lot in, forming a trio determined to take down Kaido together.

And then…

There was no "and then."

Kaido crushed all three of them in a single move.

Kid, refusing to submit, was thrown into prison. Hawkins and Apoo, valuing survival above all, chose to bend the knee and join the Hundred Beasts Pirates.

"Lord Hawkins, here's the production log for this period."

A pirate from the Hundred Beasts Crew approached, his eyes carrying a hint of awe.

Even though they had been utterly crushed by Kaido, the fact that Hawkins and the others had dared to challenge him at all earned them respect among pirates. Only monsters among monsters would even consider such an act.

Taking the documents, Hawkins calmly reviewed them before nodding.

"No issues. Prepare this batch for transport. It's time to regroup with Kaido Sama."

"What about the workers?"

"This is their fate. They were born to serve Kaido Sama until their last breath."

The pirate shuddered but nodded. "Understood."

Though he was loyal, he personally preferred the ever-boisterous Apoo. At least Apoo didn't mask his emotions when dealing with others— whether it was disgust, amusement, or satisfaction, it was always clear to see.

Unlike the enigmatic Hawkins, whose face was forever unreadable.

The Hundred Beasts Pirates thrived on bloodshed and despised weakness, but at the end of the day, they were still men with emotions to vent.

Just as the pirate was preparing to leave, another crew member burst in, panting and frantic.

"Bad news, Boss Hawkins! Boss Apoo has been taken down!"

For the first time in a long while, Hawkins' impassive expression darkened.

Scratchmen Apoo— who had once been their ally before being absorbed into Kaido's crew— had been nearly as strong as himself.

And he was defeated?

"Who did it?"

"The Marines! G-11's 'White Hunter' Smoker!"

"…I see. Smoker, who bypassed many high-ranking officers to take command of G-11. No wonder Apoo lost."

Hawkins nodded, and strands of straw began extending from his body, forming a ritualistic pattern before him. Those familiar with him knew—this was a divination.

"And? How did he end up fighting Smoker?"

With the rise of Marine G-11, pirate territory in the New World had shrunk significantly. However, an all-out conflict was still a long way off. Both sides had established a delicate balance, drawing an unspoken boundary along G-11's jurisdiction.

Under normal circumstances, there should have been no reason for Apoo to cross paths with Smoker.

"…Word is, a group of fugitives escaped from Wano. Boss Apoo was sent to track them down but ran into a Marine patrol fleet. When they tried to stop him, he lost his temper and destroyed one of their ships… which led to White Hunter personally hunting him down."

The pirate explaining the situation couldn't help but sigh.

Apoo had just proven an old saying: "If you don't seek trouble, trouble won't find you."

The Marines had become terrifyingly efficient. Just months ago, during the Pure Gold Incident, even the Red-Haired Pirates— known to be on par with or stronger than Kaido— had suffered dearly in their pursuit of treasure. The [Red Force] itself had nearly been sunk in the process.

And yet, Apoo had thought it wise to pick a fight with them?

"The Marines… they've been tightening their grip lately, expanding Sea Train routes to strengthen control over various islands. The space for us to move freely is shrinking. It's becoming… excessive."

Hawkins shuffled his tarot deck, placing a card upon the straw. His voice remained calm as he asked his final question.

"What does Kaido Sama say?"

The fugitives were from Wano. That alone made it an unavoidable issue. But what truly mattered was Kaido's stance on the matter.

"Kaido Sama doesn't care. He said they're just a few runaways— let them fend for themselves. But General Orochi has declared they must not be allowed to live, so…"

The pirate hesitated, unsure how to continue.

Kaido and Orochi shared only a cooperative relationship. Yet, twenty years ago, it had been Kaido's power that helped him seize Wano's throne.

And that meant…

"So, whether we like it or not, we have to get involved."

Hawkins calmly flipped the tarot card over.

The Wheel of Fortune.

A sign of great change— one that could lead to fortune… or disaster.

(End of chapter)

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