After handing over the captured pirates, Saint Roselith Seraphina prepared to return to Marine Branch 18.
She had been patrolling the East Blue for nearly seven months.
Seven long months of hunting pirates across scattered islands and remote waters.
It was about time she returned to the branch.
After all, she was still the commanding officer of Branch 18.
The administrative officer Bruce had already contacted her several times through the Den Den Mushi, urging her to return.
As for Loguetown, which was not far from their current location, Seraphina had no intention of going there.
As the commander of a Marine branch, wandering around outside all the time would hardly set a good example.
Once the tangerines from Nami's family grove were loaded onto the warship, preparations for departure were complete.
The purchase had cost Seraphina roughly 300,000 Berries.
According to the market price, it was a fair deal.
But to Belle-Mère's household, that amount of money was nothing short of salvation.
Their gratitude toward Seraphina was genuine.
To them, she was simply the kind Marine big sister wearing sunglasses.
Ever since spending time under the watchful gaze of Monkey D. Garp, Seraphina had realized something.
Keeping her eyes closed all the time made her stand out too much.
However, opening them constantly still felt unnatural.
After all, it was a habit formed over decades.
So she had purchased a pair of dark sunglasses in town to disguise the habit.
Of course
If one calculated carefully…
Seraphina could already be considered an older woman.
But discussing a woman's age was absolutely forbidden.
Even if the woman in question was oneself.
Such matters were strictly off limits.
Meanwhile, in Cocoyasi Village, Nami stood beneath the warm sunlight.
She held a freshly drawn sea chart above her head.
The map depicted the coastline of the Conomi Islands in careful detail.
Nami smiled brightly.
"Sister Seraphina…"
"When I grow up, I'll definitely join the Marines!"
She wanted to become a Marine who could help people.
Just like Seraphina.
And one day
She would draw maps of the entire world.
The thought filled her heart with excitement.
To Nami, Seraphina was incredibly gentle.
Much gentler than Belle-Mère, who always appeared strict and fierce.
Far away at sea, Seraphina's warship had already left the harbor.
They sailed along the waters surrounding the Conomi Islands.
Their next destination was Syrup Village.
But not long after departing
A sudden transmission arrived.
Fran received the call first.
The moment he heard the message, his expression changed dramatically.
He immediately hurried toward Seraphina.
At that moment, Seraphina was standing on the deck, supervising the Marines' training.
More specifically
Swordsmanship practice.
Unfortunately, the results were frustrating.
Seraphina sighed internally.
Why are these people so slow?
Just swing the sword like this.
Then step like that.
Isn't it obvious?
Why do they keep asking questions?
Back when she had learned swordsmanship, she simply had Bruce read the manuals aloud while she listened.
Hearing it once had been enough.
Understanding came naturally.
In fact, she often improved the techniques after learning them.
Sometimes she even mocked the manuals for being outdated.
So she genuinely could not understand why these soldiers struggled so much.
Among all of them, only her young disciple showed real talent.
That boy could grasp the principles after only a few demonstrations.
Even so, Seraphina remained patient.
These soldiers were still her subordinates.
Her frustration came only from disappointment.
She wanted them to become stronger.
Fran approached quickly.
"Captain…"
His tone was urgent.
Seraphina accepted the Den Den Mushi.
But the moment she placed it to her ear
Silence.
The connection had already been cut.
"Where did the distress call originate?" she asked calmly.
Fran answered immediately.
"About thirty nautical miles east of Cocoyasi Village."
Fran possessed an excellent memory for navigation.
Important coordinates were always stored clearly in his mind.
Then he hesitated.
"Captain…"
"They requested that the report be forwarded to Marine Headquarters."
Fran's expression grew uneasy.
"If the enemy is extremely powerful… rushing there ourselves could be dangerous."
Corvus had departed less than an hour ago.
How could a distress call appear so quickly?
Seraphina thought silently.
Fran was right.
The message never specified the enemy.
If it were someone with the strength of a Marine Admiral
Charging in blindly would be suicide.
But Seraphina did not believe Captain Corvus would fabricate such a situation.
Still…
Her Observation Haki had once been deceived by an opponent's convincing feigned death.
That experience had made her more cautious.
Suddenly
The Den Den Mushi produced a faint sound.
Seraphina lifted it again.
"Hello?"
"Captain Corvus?"
A voice responded.
But it was not Corvus.
It was arrogant.
Cold.
"The people on the other side are Marines, right?"
Seraphina's expression darkened.
"Your captain is in my hands."
"If you want to save him…"
"Come quickly."
"If you're too late…"
"I'll kill him."
CLACK.
The call ended.
After that
Only dull impacts echoed through the receiver.
Thud.
Thud.
It sounded like something heavy striking wooden boards.
Seraphina slowly lowered the Den Den Mushi.
"Thirty nautical miles…"
She looked toward Fran.
"How far is that from here?"
Fran immediately unfolded the navigation map he always carried.
Using a ruler, he measured the distance precisely.
"It isn't far," he said.
"But our ship will need about an hour to reach it."
He pointed northeast.
"That direction."
Seraphina's gaze sharpened.
"There's no time."
She turned toward the sea.
"Are you certain?"
Fran nodded.
"I'm certain."
The moment she heard the confirmation
Seraphina drew her sword.
Winter Solstice.
Cold energy surged around the blade.
With a single swing
A massive sheet of ice exploded across the ocean's surface.
Then Seraphina vanished.
She stepped forward using Soru, one of the Six Powers.
Her figure appeared instantly on the frozen sea.
To any observer familiar with the Marine Admirals, the scene would look eerily similar to the ability of Kuzan.
Seraphina sprinted across the frozen ocean at incredible speed.
The Den Den Mushi remained in her hand.
Through it, faint sounds of battle still echoed.
Steel clashing.
Wood breaking.
Screams.
The fight was still ongoing.
Faster.
She had to be faster.
After all
It was she who had ordered Corvus to escort the prisoners.
She had never expected such a disaster to occur during the return voyage.
The warship might take an hour.
But Seraphina needed only five minutes.
Finally—
Her Observation Haki expanded outward.
Through it, she saw the battlefield ahead.
And she saw Captain Corvus.
Collapsed.
Not moving.
At that moment, on the captured warship
A fish-man dragged several prisoners onto the deck.
"Boss!"
"There are still pirates locked inside the ship!"
The discovery improved Arlong's mood instantly.
The stubborn Marine captain from earlier had irritated him deeply.
Arlong looked down at the frightened pirates.
"Do you want to join my crew?"
His grin widened.
"If you refuse…"
"I'll kill you."
Faced with such a threat, the pirates immediately surrendered
But suddenly
One of the fish-men shouted.
"Boss!"
"There's someone running across the sea!"
Arlong looked toward the horizon.
A black dot was approaching rapidly.
Closer.
Closer.
Arlong narrowed his eyes.
"What is she running on…?"
Ice.
His expression changed slightly.
For a brief moment, he thought of Admiral Kuzan.
Why would a Marine Admiral appear in the East Blue?
Had the Marines truly come to hunt him down?
But as the figure grew clearer
Arlong relaxed.
The approaching warrior was not Kuzan.
Behind him, the newly surrendered pirates screamed in terror.
"It's her!"
"The White-Haired Witch!"
"Saint Roselith Seraphina!"
"We're dead!"
Those pirates had once been captured by her.
Their fear came from personal experience.
They remembered her terrifying sword strike
A slash powerful enough to split a pirate ship in two.
Arlong grabbed one of them by the collar.
"Tell me," he said coldly.
"Who is she?"
The pirate stared at the approaching figure in absolute terror.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
"I…"
"I'm going to die…"