It's relatively simple to obtain results and work backward to the process.
Without knowing the outcome, launching an investigation smoothly becomes far more complicated.
Finn had known from the beginning that Roger suffered from a terminal illness, that his time was limited, and that the Roger Pirates would eventually disband. Therefore, he'd searched for relevant clues in the massive volume of intelligence about the Roger Pirates, ultimately arriving at today's conclusions.
It seemed perfectly reasonable.
But without this "cheater" in their midst, the Marines would likely never have noticed these trivial, seemingly useless intelligence details. Drawing the conclusion that Roger was ill from such fragments would have been impossible.
And this very "impossibility" further proved Finn's apparent "exceptional intelligence analysis ability," at least on the surface. After all, the Marine leadership didn't know he was cheating.
Once his predictions came true in the future, the top brass would feel it even more intuitively.
"You're saying Roger is very likely suffering from a terminal illness, which explains his urgency to find Raftel. Now that he's achieved his goal, the illness prevents him from continuing to sail. Additionally, they've already reached the pinnacle of piracy and obtained everything they wanted." Admiral Sengoku spoke slowly, working through the logic. "Therefore, the Roger Pirates are highly likely to disband?"
"Yes, that's my current assessment," Finn confirmed with a nod.
"This is truly... a bold hypothesis." Borsalino's tone had lost its usual sardonic edge, replaced by genuine consideration.
Finn glanced at Borsalino before responding. "The Chief of Staff taught me that intelligence analysis requires broad speculation and careful verification."
Chief of Staff Tsuru smiled slightly. "Exactly. That's the proper approach."
Though Finn's speculation seemed somewhat far-fetched at first, the evidence he'd presented made it plausible. The more they considered it, the more possible it became.
Gradually, Sengoku and the other officers began taking it seriously.
"If the Roger Pirates really do disband, how should we respond?" Borsalino asked suddenly.
"Disbanding doesn't erase their crimes. Neither does retirement." Sakazuki's voice was hard, uncompromising. "No matter what choices they make, the Marines must bring justice to them. We must find these evil bastards one by one and execute them."
At that moment, Fleet Admiral Kong spoke up, his expression troubled. "The Five Elders' order is explicit: bring Roger to justice. He knows too much."
Even as he said it, Kong's brow furrowed. He'd always felt the Five Elders and other high-ranking World Government officials were hiding important secrets from him, but his position didn't allow him to ask questions.
In truth, the Five Elders were panicking. While others didn't know what Raftel contained or what the Poneglyphs recorded, they had some understanding. Roger now very likely knew the truth that had been hidden throughout history. Though Roger and his pirates probably wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal everything, the Five Elders couldn't afford carelessness.
They'd given explicit orders to Fleet Admiral Kong: capture Roger and kill him in the shortest time possible.
That's right. Normally, captured major pirates were imprisoned in Impel Down. But the Five Elders had no such patience for Roger. They wanted him caught and eliminated immediately.
As Deputy Chief of Intelligence Staff, Finn had done his job admirably by providing these assessments and predictions. How the Marines should respond was beyond his purview now. He could offer suggestions, but didn't need to worry about execution.
The conference room soon filled with strategic discussion as the officers debated their approach.
At the same time, in the New World on Sakura Island, the Roger Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates met once more.
Newgate sat beneath a cherry blossom tree with Roger, sharing drinks together.
"Where's Oden? You've found the last island, so it's time to return my Second Division Commander to me, right?" Newgate asked between sips.
Roger smiled and drank as well. "After we left Raftel, Oden departed first to return to Wano Country. He said he had matters to handle there. Once he finishes, he'll come see you again."
"Is that so?" Newgate murmured softly, without pressing further.
He knew perfectly well that Oden was the son of Wano Country's shogun. If there were truly matters requiring his attention there, it made sense.
Without dwelling on it, Newgate took another drink. "In the blink of an eye, you bastard became the Pirate King..."
"Hahahaha, are you envious?" Roger laughed heartily.
"Don't get too proud. There's still a long road ahead, Roger." Newgate glanced at his companion.
After speaking, Roger fell silent for a moment. Then his smile brightened. "Your road may still be long, but I've already walked mine to its end."
Newgate's displeasure was immediate. "Are you provoking me? Do you believe I'll sink you to the bottom of the sea?"
"No, I'm just stating a fact." Roger's tone was remarkably calm. "To be honest, I don't have much time left."
His expression suggested he was discussing someone else's death, not his own.
Newgate went still, then remembered what Roger had mentioned when asking to borrow Oden.
"Your illness?" His eyebrows rose.
"Yeah. I probably can't hold on much longer, so my journey has ended. Fortunately, I fulfilled my dream and sailed around the entire Grand Line. Even if I'm dying, I have no regrets. Hahahahaha..." Roger's laugh rang out across the cherry blossoms.
"Tsk. Still showing off." Newgate clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Though he didn't show it outwardly, hearing that Roger wouldn't live long stirred an unexpected loneliness and regret in Newgate's chest.
"So what? What are you planning to do next?" Newgate asked.
"I came to say goodbye today. After this banquet, the Roger Pirates will disband. We've all fulfilled our dreams." Roger's smile softened, his eyes growing distant. "After that, if God grants me more time, I'm going to enjoy life. Unlike a bastard like you who nobody loves, there's the most wonderful woman in the world waiting for me. I promised her that after fulfilling my dream, I'd definitely go back and marry her."
A rare tenderness appeared in his expression.
"Disband...? When I think about the seas without a bastard like you, it really does feel a bit uncomfortable." Newgate's voice carried unexpected emotion.
He didn't dwell on it further.
After chatting for a few more moments, Roger asked, "Speaking of which, do you want me to tell you Raftel's secret?"
"No need." Newgate's refusal came without hesitation. "I don't care about those things at all. Just like you searched for your dream, I'm searching for mine. And I've already found the treasure I want most..."
He looked toward his sons in the distance, drinking and laughing with Roger's crew members. A smile touched his lips, his distinctive crescent-shaped mustache quivering slightly.
Retracting his gaze, Newgate suddenly pulled out a newspaper. "I'm curious about this. What's your name? Why does the newspaper say 'Gold Roger'? If I remember correctly, isn't your name 'Gol D. Roger'?"
Initially, when Roger first set sail, the World Government hadn't cared about such details. But after he found Raftel, they'd forced a "name change" on him. They'd erased the D from his name. In newspapers and on wanted posters, he was simply called "Gold Roger."
"My name is not Gold. I've always had only one name: Gol D. Roger." Roger's lip curled in disgust. "Those bastards in the World Government did this to erase D's existence, to suppress D's Will."
"D's Will?" Newgate murmured, then smiled. "Come to think of it, there's a kid on my ship with D in his name. Marshall D. Teach. Does this D have special meaning? What will are you talking about?"
"The enemy of God..." Roger's voice grew quieter, more serious. "The World Government has always feared this will. I've left all the truth in Raftel. Hahahaha, Newgate, I'm waiting for someone. Whether it takes ten years or twenty, even though I'm dying soon, I've left my will there. D's Will. If you live long enough, help me see who I'm waiting for, will you?"
"You talked for so long and said absolutely nothing. I hate you bastards who act all mysterious." Newgate cursed, though without real heat.
Roger ignored the complaint. He smiled, raised his wine bowl, and extended it toward Newgate.
Newgate glanced at Roger, then finally raised his own bowl and clinked it against Roger's.
Neither spoke. They simply drank.
After finishing the bowl, Roger stood and glanced at the cherry blossom tree. He waved to Newgate. "It's not worth wasting the last of my life on a bastard like you. Let's say goodbye..."
"You're dying and you're still such a bastard?" Newgate said with a smile.
"Goodbye, Newgate." Roger's face split into a brilliant smile.
Newgate stared at Roger for a long moment, then threw back his head and laughed. "Gurararara! Farewell, Gol D. Roger!"
The two greatest pirates of this era said their goodbyes.
And this farewell, just as Roger had said, would be forever.
Cherry blossom petals drifted down around them, pink and white against the blue sky. In the distance, the sounds of laughter and drinking continued as two legendary crews shared one last celebration together.
Newgate's journey had not yet reached its end.
But Roger's life had no regrets.
The wind carried petals across the clearing as Roger walked away, his crew gradually following. Newgate remained beneath the tree, watching them go, his massive frame silhouetted against the blossoms.
He raised his bowl one final time in silent salute.
Soon…
The world would change forever.
Back at Marine Headquarters, Finn couldn't know the details of this farewell between legends. But he knew it was happening. Knew that even now, the Roger Pirates were beginning their final disbandment.
His predictions would come true.
And when they did, his reputation within the Marines would be cemented beyond question.
Sometimes, Finn reflected, knowing the future felt less like an advantage and more like watching a tragedy unfold in slow motion, powerless to change the inevitable.
But that was the price of foreknowledge.
All he could do was position himself to survive what came next.
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