Chapter 19 – Intelligence on the Roger Pirates!
After an entire day's voyage, the warship sailed through the Navy's exclusive passageway, crossed the Red Line, and officially entered the New World.
By nightfall, Vice Admiral Garp's warship had dropped anchor at some unnamed harbor deep within that turbulent sea.
The night breeze was cool, and countless stars shimmered above.
Lying in his hammock, Yoriichi Tsugikuni gazed out through the cabin window at the starlit sky. His quarters—a single room—had been specially arranged by Garp, though tonight that "single" room housed two people.
On the bed, Kuzan (Aokiji) slept half-covered by a blanket, mouth slightly open, breathing softly.
Yoriichi, meanwhile, had no such comfort. Garp had declared that since he wasn't an official crew member, there was no berth reserved for him aboard the ship. As such, he was assigned to share Kuzan's room and make do with a hammock.
Not that Yoriichi minded. Kuzan had even offered to swap places, but Yoriichi politely declined—not out of shyness, but simply because he wanted to try sleeping in a hammock.
And as it turned out… it was actually quite comfortable.
"Life at sea… isn't half bad," Yoriichi thought with a faint smile, closing his eyes and drifting into sleep.
That night, he dreamed a familiar dream—of sunlight, ocean waves, white sand, and a quiet seaside town. The people there were kind and honest, living simple, self-sufficient lives—not wealthy, but peaceful.
And Yoriichi, too, lived among them, sharing in that quiet peace.
The next morning, before Yoriichi had even woken fully, the sound of the anchor being raised echoed through the cabin.
He blinked his eyes open. Pale dawn light streamed in through the window, faintly illuminating the dim room. Turning toward the bed, he found it already empty. Kuzan was gone, though the bedding had been neatly folded.
Stretching once, Yoriichi leapt down from the hammock and stepped outside.
After a quick wash, he made his way to the mess hall. The moment he entered, a cheerful voice called out:
"Hey! Yoriichi, over here!"
Kuzan—still youthful and full of easy energy—was waving him over.
Yoriichi grabbed some bread and milk, then carried his tray to Kuzan's table, sitting down with a casual thump.
Kuzan gave him a quick once-over and grinned. "How'd you sleep? Getting used to life at sea yet? You didn't get seasick, did you?"
He sounded genuinely concerned, his tone more that of a friendly older brother than a ranking officer.
"I slept well," Yoriichi replied, smiling. "I'm fine—ships this big hardly sway enough to make anyone seasick."
He bit into his bread, washed it down with a mouthful of milk, then glanced around at the bustling dining hall.
"Kuzan," he began after a moment, "I heard we're out here to hunt down the Roger Pirates. Who exactly are they? What did they do to warrant this pursuit?"
At the mention of the Roger Pirates, Kuzan's eyes immediately lit up—this was clearly a topic he was eager to talk about. After taking a moment to recall the details, he began:
"The Roger Pirates, huh? They've done plenty, that's for sure."
"Back in the East Blue, they attacked two Marine branches. Their captain, Gol D. Roger, even killed a branch captain."
"After that, while evading pursuit, they roamed across more than a dozen nations—raiding and killing quite a few nobles along the way."
"They ended up becoming the most wanted pirate crew in all of East Blue. Later, they set sail into the New World, crushed many of their contemporaries, and repeatedly escaped capture by the Marines. By then, they were infamous as one of the era's great pirate crews."
"A few years ago, they returned to the East Blue. We all thought they were planning to retire—but…" Kuzan's tone shifted slightly. "Last year, they suddenly started moving again—sailing back and forth between the New World and the Four Seas."
"And just recently, for reasons no one really knows, the Roger Pirates entered the New World once more."
"Vice Admiral Garp's been chasing them for years. So once word came in about their latest movements, he didn't hesitate to follow."
Yoriichi listened quietly, nodding slightly once Kuzan finished his account.
He didn't say much—but the look in his eyes suggested that his thoughts were already turning toward what lay ahead.
These crimes… they certainly sounded unforgivable—attacking the Marines, plundering nations affiliated with the World Government, murdering nobles from those very same countries.
Each of these deeds alone was enough to draw the Navy's full attention—especially when coupled with their erratic movements and mysterious motives.
But still… it wasn't enough.
For such actions alone couldn't justify the fearsome reputation the Roger Pirates now carried across the seas.
Yoriichi was certain—there were things even Kuzan might not know.
"Then what about the Roger Pirates' crew?" Yoriichi asked. "Who are they, and how strong are they?"
Kuzan had been a Marine for some time now, and of anyone aboard, he should've been the most familiar with that notorious crew's members.
"Their captain, Gol D. Roger—he's a pirate with a bounty of 2.6 billion berries," Kuzan began.
"In terms of strength… he's fought Vice Admiral Garp several times. Every encounter ended with Roger escaping. He's the real deal—no doubt about it."
"Their first mate is Silvers Rayleigh, another infamous pirate with a bounty of 1.1 billion."
"There's also a samurai from Wano Country—Kozuki Oden. Word is, he used to sail under Whitebeard before joining Roger."
"Then there are two from the Mink Tribe—Inuarashi and Nekomamushi."
"Oh! Right," Kuzan suddenly added, snapping his fingers. "Roger's crew has two brats about your age!"
He grinned and clapped Yoriichi on the shoulder with excitement.
"About my age?" Yoriichi turned to him, puzzled.
"Yeah… I think one's called Shanks, and the other… Buggy, maybe?" Kuzan replied, rubbing his chin, not entirely sure of the names.
"I see," Yoriichi murmured, understanding dawning in his eyes.
Kuzan's grin widened. "So that's why Vice Admiral Garp brought you along, huh? Makes sense now!"
The realization seemed to amuse him, and he chuckled knowingly.
At that moment, Yoriichi recalled what Garp had said to Instructor Zephyr before their voyage—something about Roger's ship having "two kids about the same age as Yoriichi."
So it was Shanks and Buggy!
He had guessed as much before, but now the confirmation solidified it. And with that, Yoriichi could finally place himself somewhere within this world's timeline.
His understanding of One Piece's chronology had always been vague—and ever since joining the Marines, he'd been careful not to pry into Garp's background or his age, so as not to attract attention.
But now, knowing how old Shanks was, everything fell into place.
In just a few short years… the world would be shaken to its very core.
Yoriichi and Kuzan continued chatting over breakfast, discussing little more than training and daily life.
Just as they were about to head out for the day's "practice," however, someone stepped into their path.
It was Bogard, Garp's trusted aide, a sword cradled casually in his arms.
"Lieutenant Commander Bogard," Kuzan greeted him first, raising a brow. "Something the matter?"
"Good morning, Lieutenant Commander," Yoriichi added politely.
Bogard nodded to both before speaking in his calm, measured tone.
"Captain Kuzan, Vice Admiral Garp has assigned me to take over the instruction of Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
"The Vice Admiral believes there's no longer any need for him to continue studying the Six Styles. From today onward, he's to begin training in Haki."
"Starting now, I'll be responsible for his instruction. You'll remain Vice Admiral Garp's adjutant, Captain Kuzan."
Kuzan blinked, then chuckled, nodding in understanding.
"So that's how it is," he said, glancing at Yoriichi. "Well, looks like your training's moving up a level. Haki, huh? Didn't expect you to start so soon."
He shivered slightly, as though recalling something unpleasant. "That stuff's no joke—it's going to hurt."
With a half-smile, he waved and walked out of the dining hall.
Bogard turned toward Yoriichi, his expression as calm and sharp as the blade at his hip.
"Yoriichi, come with me," he said. "We'll begin on the deck."
(End of Chapter)