New World, Peach Garden
Inside a reception room in Shandora, Rolan, Kuro, Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru sat around a round table.
Rolan looked at the three Marine veterans in front of him, a faint trace of doubt surfacing in his mind.
"May I ask why the three of you went through the trouble of disguising yourselves just to come to Peach Garden?"
He already had a rough idea. Their visit was most likely connected to Kuzan.
After all, he had spoken with Kuzan for hours. They had reached several agreements, and Kuzan had immediately returned to Marineford afterward. It was obvious that a high level meeting must have taken place as soon as he got back.
So the presence of Garp and the others here meant only one thing. They were here to verify whether Peach Garden truly matched Kuzan's claims.
Sengoku lifted the teacup in front of him, took a small sip, then spoke with a faint smile.
"Hahahaha, we just wanted to see what kind of ability a so-called God Slayer has, to convince our new Fleet Admiral this much."
Rolan let out a quiet chuckle.
"Whether I convinced him or not, I think you three already have your answer."
After saying that, he raised his teacup and leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed as he waited.
He knew they would not have come here without making a decision first. As high ranking Marines, they understood exactly what kind of place Peach Garden was.
If they had come with hostile intent, just the three of them would not be enough.
Which meant they had either chosen to trust Kuzan, or they simply had no way to stop him.
Sengoku narrowed his eyes as he observed Rolan.
When Kuzan first proposed merging the Marines with Peach Garden, the reaction had been shock. None of them had expected such a decision.
But after hearing Kuzan's reasoning and plans, they had decided to come and see things for themselves.
What kind of influence could this man possibly have, to pull in the Revolutionary Army and even make a newly appointed Fleet Admiral consider such a dangerous path?
Tsuru's expression remained thoughtful.
From everything she had seen so far, Peach Garden truly deserved its reputation. It was orderly, prosperous, and powerful.
But even so, merging the Marines into it was another matter entirely.
As a staff officer, she had to weigh every risk carefully, especially one that affected the survival of the entire Marine organization.
Compared to Sengoku and Garp, who were more open to Kuzan's idea, she remained cautious.
Yes, the Marines had done things under the World Government that went against justice. But over time, they had been changing. Their independence had been growing, and the World Government's control was no longer as absolute as before.
She believed that eventually, the Marines could separate themselves completely.
But if they merged into Peach Garden now, they might simply exchange one form of control for another.
And that possibility was even more dangerous.
Her purpose here was simple. She would observe everything, gather any negative information, and use it to persuade Kuzan against this merger.
"Hahahaha, Rolan boy, this tea of yours tastes great. Do you have more?" Garp said, taking another sip.
Unlike the others, he remained completely carefree, as if nothing here concerned him at all.
Rolan gave a slight smile.
"Of course. I am not stingy with friends. If you are interested, I can give you some when you leave."
Garp's eyes immediately lit up.
"That's excellent, really excellent."
At that moment, Sengoku spoke again.
"Rolan, if the Marines merge into Peach Garden, can they still be called the Marines?"
Rolan paused briefly, then understood the concern.
"Hahahaha, the Marines will remain the Marines, regardless of whether they join Peach Garden. Their system will not change."
He took a sip of tea before continuing.
"In fact, we will not interfere much with their operations."
Tsuru's voice came from the side, sharp and direct.
"Or maybe you're just saying that to lower our guard."
Rolan chuckled softly.
"You are already here. You can ask the nations that have joined Peach Garden yourselves."
He set his cup down.
"Stay for a while, and you will find your answer."
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"Besides, you do not have many options."
He looked straight at them.
"Kuzan is not favored by the World Government. And his personality is not suited to following their orders blindly."
"If the Marines remain under them, conflict is inevitable."
His voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.
…
At the same time, fresh newspapers spread across the seas, reaching every corner of the world.
The headline stood out clearly:
World's Greatest Swordsman Changes Hands, Who is the New Holder?
The news sent shockwaves through countless regions.
…
South Blue.
A one eyed swordsman held a newspaper in his hand, his expression filled with disdain.
"Where did this brat come from? Claiming the title of World's Greatest Swordsman. Does he think that title is a joke?"
He let out a cold laugh.
"Good. Once I kill him, that title will be mine."
He barely glanced at the rest of the article before tossing the newspaper into the air.
As he walked toward the coastline, he never even drew his blade.
Behind him, the falling newspaper was sliced into countless pieces by invisible sword intent before it touched the ground.
…
West Blue.
Inside a lively bar, a drunk man raised a newspaper high.
"Hahahaha, who is this guy? He looks too young."
The crowd quickly joined in.
"Exactly, does he even have real experience?"
"Three swords at his waist, he's probably just showing off."
A woman smirked.
"He looks handsome, but I wonder if he can actually last."
"Hehehe, keep your thoughts to yourself."
Laughter filled the room.
Then a timid voice spoke up.
"Didn't you read properly? Mihawk himself admitted defeat. Even if the title sounds exaggerated, he is still the chief swordsman of the strongest pirate crew."
"Hahahaha, Mihawk must have been bribed."
"Yeah, that green haired brat is just a fraud."
"Not just him, even Rolan being the strongest might be fake."
At that, someone suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"You're wrong. Rolan is terrifying. I saw him once, from a distance. Just one glance made me feel like I was standing at death's door."
The bar fell silent for a brief moment.
Then someone scoffed.
"What's there to fear? I'll go take that title myself."
…
East Blue, Shimotsuki Village.
Koushirou stood quietly, holding a slightly damp newspaper.
He looked up at the sky.
"Zoro… you really made it this far."
His voice was calm, yet carried a trace of emotion.
"Kuina would have been proud."
He lowered his gaze slightly.
"The path of the sword has no end. The title of World's Greatest Swordsman is not the final destination."
"I hope you do not lose yourself because of it."
A quiet sigh escaped him.
"If only you were here to see this, Kuina…"