A golden laser beam shot toward Rolan's arm from afar, its speed terrifyingly fast.
Rolan immediately abandoned the idea of twisting Akainu's neck. He flung Akainu onto the deck and stepped aside in one smooth motion.
The laser beam condensed, light folding inward, and Kizaru's figure materialized in front of him.
Seeing Akainu lying on the deck with his left arm missing, Kizaru let out a quiet breath of relief.
"How frightening, Rolan," Kizaru said lazily. "Didn't expect you to cause this much trouble the moment you returned to Paradise."
Rolan glanced at the battered Admiral on the deck and curled his lips slightly. "You arrived just in time. A little later, and you would have been collecting Akainu's corpse."
"Cough… cough…" Akainu forced himself upright, blood staining his lips as he positioned himself opposite Rolan, forming a pincer with Kizaru. "Borsalino, we'll settle your lateness later. For now, we take down Rolan."
Rolan's eyes were indifferent.
In the next instant, his figure blurred as he appeared directly in front of Akainu.
Before he could strike, two more figures landed heavily on the deck.
"Wahahaha! Rolan, killing Marine officers right in front of this old man, did you ask for my permission?"
Rolan frowned slightly and looked up.
Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Aokiji stood side by side, master and disciple reunited.
"So even you're here," Rolan said flatly. "Vice Admiral Garp, it's been a while. What brings you out personally this time?"
Garp clenched his fists. "This old man doesn't like Celestial Dragons either, but I'm still a Marine. You should surrender quietly."
Rolan scanned his surroundings.
Four opponents, each at Admiral level.
And in the distance, dozens of Marine warships were rapidly closing in.
"Well then," Rolan said, his tone casual, "everyone, goodbye."
His figure vanished.
Even with his confidence, Rolan was not foolish enough to confront four Admiral level fighters head on. Strength aside, that would be pointless.
Sometimes, retreat was the smartest move.
"Ararara, he really got away," Aokiji muttered, scratching his head with an annoyed expression.
Akainu launched himself into the air immediately. "We're giving chase!"
"Sakazuki, stop," Kizaru said quickly. "You won't catch him."
Akainu turned back, glaring at Kizaru, who still had not moved. "Borsalino, why aren't you chasing him?"
Kizaru raised both hands. "There's no point in me going alone."
He was not suicidal enough to pursue Rolan by himself. At that point, no one would even retrieve his body.
Akainu's fury surged. "What are you all implying?"
Aokiji sighed. "You saw it too. Rolan's speed is absurd. Among us, only Borsalino can keep up, and even then…"
Kizaru immediately shook his head. "No, no, no. Chasing him alone is suicide."
"You restrain him, and we'll catch up," Akainu insisted. "With the four of us, we can definitely keep him here."
"Spare me," Kizaru replied bluntly. "You all know his strength. I can't restrain him."
Akainu knew this was the best chance they might ever get. But none of them were willing to pursue.
"Are we really just going to watch him escape?" Akainu roared. "Is this still the Marines? Is this still justice?"
Garp finally spoke. "Sakazuki, the situation isn't simple. Borsalino alone can't handle him, and the rest of us can't catch up. Throwing lives away won't solve anything."
Akainu's teeth ground together. "Vice Admiral Garp, you know Rolan is the most dangerous pirate in this world."
Garp shook his head. "I don't care about Celestial Dragons. And that man isn't pure evil."
Before Akainu could respond, a Den Den Mushi rang.
Buru Buru.
He pulled it out, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face appeared.
"Sakazuki," Sengoku asked, "did Rolan escape?"
Akainu frowned. "Yes, but we can still chase him."
"No need," Sengoku replied heavily. "It's meaningless."
Akainu stiffened. "Why? With the four of us…"
"You know his speed," Sengoku interrupted. "Only Borsalino can catch him, and he can't defeat Rolan alone. Since he's already gone, don't waste lives."
"But…"
"That's enough," Sengoku said firmly. "I'll report to the Gorosei. I'll bear the consequences."
The call ended.
Akainu lowered his arm slowly and returned to the deck, his expression dark.
…
Rolan's figure reappeared in front of the palace.
Nami ran toward him immediately, her expression tense. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Rolan replied. "If I'd stayed any longer, things would've gotten annoying."
"Idiot," Nami snapped. "Why didn't you let me help? Do you know how worried I was?"
Rolan looked at her for a moment, then placed a hand on her head briefly, his touch restrained. "I wouldn't have let it come to that."
"Hiss!"
Nami pinched his side hard. "Don't talk like that."
Rolan merely clicked his tongue, unfazed.
At that moment, Umon Belu approached. "Lord Rolan, are you unharmed?"
"Nothing serious," Rolan said. "Prepare the route. We're heading to Alabasta next."
Umon Belu nodded without hesitation. "Understood."
…
Alabasta.
The Sand Country, once buried beneath endless yellow dunes, had become remarkably prosperous. People from nearby islands migrated there in droves, swelling the population.
Under King Cobra's careful governance and the policies Rolan had suggested, Alabasta flourished. Order and stability reigned.
Princess Vivi stood atop the palace's outer wall, gazing at the distant sky.
Ever since Rolan informed her father through a Den Den Mushi that he would arrive in a few days, she had been waiting.
"Vivi-sama, please come inside," Igaram urged, opening an umbrella over her. "The rain is getting heavier."
Vivi shook her head gently. "By my estimate, Rolan should arrive today."
Igaram looked at her in silence.
Once, this princess had always maintained distance, kind yet untouchable.
Now, she stood in the rain, waiting.
Understanding her resolve, Igaram said nothing more and remained beside her.
The rain intensified, drumming steadily against the umbrella.
Just as he was about to speak again, Vivi's eyes lit up.
"That's the ship."
A faint silhouette appeared in the distant sky, cutting through the rain.
---