Chapter 34: Kong's Gaze!
Two photos lay before the Vice Admiral.
One was the updated wanted poster of Charlotte Linlin. It had changed since the last issue—now a new image and a higher bounty adorned the paper.
In the photo, Linlin was caught from the side, a wicked grin stretching across her face. Smoke swirled around her, and even through the picture, one could sense her arrogance and madness.
Below the image, under the lines of text written, was her latest bounty: 500 million berries.
To satisfy her gluttonous appetite, Linlin had attacked a royal castle and plundered it clean. Now, she stood recognized as one of the most dangerous figures in the world.
A natural-born tyrant, armed with monstrous strength and an unyielding defense—her rise was inevitable. Once she awakened her Conqueror's Haki, she would be unstoppable.
(Indeed, Linlin possessed immense potential for Haki from the start. Years later, she would become one of the few who could wield the Conqueror's Haki Infusion—a terrifying power that could even clash with Kaido's.)
The second photo was different. It had been taken by a reporter in the Kingdom of Rommel.
It showed a giant carrying a man and a woman in his palm as he left the kingdom. Though only their backs were visible, the child's distinctive red hair was unmistakable.
Roy.
Despite his growing reputation, the Vice Admiral and the higher-ups had decided not to issue a bounty for him—at least, not yet.
The official statement read:
"Since Harold Roy clashed with Rommel's local guards while rescuing enslaved women, his actions demonstrate compassion. He is a kind-hearted youth who can still be guided onto the right path.
Therefore, the Navy is ordered to begin an operation to retrieve Harold Roy from the Giant Pirates and escort him to Marineford. There, he will undergo reformation and be personally trained by a designated instructor."
There it was—the perfect example of how the word "official" could mean whatever the higher-ups wanted it to mean.
If someone was considered expendable or beyond redemption, the Marines would immediately brand them a criminal and issue a bounty.
But if someone had potential—especially a child with power worth exploiting—they would twist the story and claim it was an act of compassion.
Notably, the report made no mention of the human traffickers Roy had defeated.
After all, the Celestial Dragons themselves regularly purchased slaves through those same auction houses.
Still, since Roy hadn't yet been branded a criminal, many in the Navy saw him as far more admirable than Linlin.
Of course, the records conveniently omitted one detail: Roy had also unleashed giants against government forces.
At Marineford, several officers debated his case. The consensus was to capture him alive and bring him in for "education."
None of them believed a mere child could threaten the Navy. They assumed discipline and strict training would tame him easily.
…
At the edge of Marineford's training grounds, a tall, broad-shouldered man stood silently, his arms crossed.
He was built like a fortress—muscles rippling under his uniform, his presence commanding without a word. A white beard shaped like the kanji for "mountain" rested on his chin.
Kong.
At this point in time, he was still a Navy Admiral. But years later, he would become the Commander-in-Chief of the entire World Government's military forces—a legend among legends.
"It's a shame I can't go myself," Kong muttered, his deep voice carrying over the sound of Marine recruits training nearby. "Such a promising talent… what a waste it would be if he turned to piracy."
He was thinking about the boy named Harold Roy.
According to the latest intelligence, Roy had clashed directly with Charlotte Linlin multiple times. Though he was repeatedly overwhelmed, he had sustained no serious injuries—something no child should have been capable of.
Reports suggested his defense was astonishingly similar to Linlin's.
"Are they really not related?" Kong asked with a frown, glancing at his aide. "Maybe distant bloodlines? Half-siblings?"
"Unlikely, sir," the captain replied quickly. "The Cipher Pol agents investigated Linlin's hometown but found no trace of anyone with the surname 'Harold.' There's no record of Roy's origins either."
"What about neighboring islands?" Kong pressed.
The captain grimaced. "That… would take too long to investigate, Admiral."
Kong sighed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "So be it."
He turned his gaze back toward the horizon beyond the training field. In a few weeks, he was scheduled to leave Marineford for Mary Geoise, assigned to safeguard the Holy Land itself.
Still, a part of him itched to go personally. He could sense it—that boy was extraordinary.
After losing Linlin, the Navy didn't want to lose another prodigy to the world of pirates.
Even the World Government, though ruthless and pragmatic, shared that sentiment.
They wanted Roy captured… but alive.
…
A few days later.
In the New World, a massive giant ship drifted near the shores of a small island.
Compared to the corruption of the World Government, Roy's conscience felt clean—clearer than ever before.
Not far from the giant vessel, another pirate ship was anchored. It was much smaller, flying a tattered skull flag. The ship itself was empty, but from the island town nearby came the unmistakable sounds of chaos—clashing swords, screams, and the roar of fire.
"I'll go deal with them first," Roy said, standing at the bow. His sharp eyes fixed on the blazing town before he leapt down to the shore.
Toki looked over the railing nervously. The giant ship was high off the ground, and jumping wasn't an option for her.
So she turned and ran down the wooden ramp built at the side, hurrying after him.
"Don't go," Pandora said, flying beside her. His flames flickered calmly. "You'll just make things harder for Roy."
Toki hesitated, biting her lip. Though she didn't like admitting it, the little sun-shaped creature was right.
If she joined the fight now, she'd only be a distraction.
"…Alright," she whispered, turning back reluctantly. She sat by the ship's railing, watching the flicker of fire in the distance, waiting quietly for Roy's return.
"Pandora, you idiot! Don't just stand there—eat the fire already!" Roy's voice shouted from the town.
Pandora blinked. "Coming!"
He transformed into his fiery form, soaring into the sky like a comet. From above, he looked down at the burning town below—then inhaled deeply.
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