"Even in the New World, there are forces recruiting researchers?"
Dragon replied, "Yes. The Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates, who have been stationed in Wano for the past two years."
Hearing this, Rowan understood immediately.
So it was those two. The gigantification experiments and artificial Devil Fruit research had already begun to take shape.
With the forced disbandment of MADS, the discovery of lineage factors had spread throughout the world.
At times like this, the influence of a scientific genius was enough to change the entire world.
As for Wano, Kozuki Oden still had two years of dancing ahead of him. Waiting one year was something Rowan could afford.
However, relying on favors alone would never be enough. For someone like him, personal strength was essential. That was also why he could not simply bring the Whitebeard Pirates along.
A man like Edward Newgate would never be persuaded so easily.
Even when Gol D. Roger told him the final secret of Laugh Tale, he remained unmoved.
For someone like Whitebeard, the future or the world itself did not matter. The only thing he cared about was his family aboard the ship, and Kozuki Oden was one of them.
While Rowan was deep in thought about the future, his gaze suddenly sharpened. He turned toward a distant rock behind him.
Dragon noticed it as well.
"That is the daughter of the Ohara scholar Olvia, Nico Robin. She ate the Flower-Flower Fruit and is also the youngest scholar."
As Dragon spoke, he waved his hand.
The ear-shaped flower hidden behind the white rock dissipated, and a small figure stepped out from not far away.
She looked up at Rowan, then at Dragon.
"Um… I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
Dragon replied, "You didn't hear much anyway. Your ability is convenient, but it is also easy to detect."
Robin scratched her head awkwardly, then looked at Rowan. From behind her back, she brought out a bouquet of flowers.
"Thank you, Mister Mask. My mom said you saved her and the others, so I've always wanted to thank you."
Rowan accepted the bouquet. "There aren't many places on this island where flowers grow, are there?"
Robin nodded. "It took me a long time to find them. But with my ability, picking them was easy."
Rowan said, "I'll accept your thanks. But next time, don't eavesdrop. Otherwise, I'll tell your mother."
Robin smiled brightly. "So that means you won't tell her this time, right? Mister Dragon won't either? I promise I won't eavesdrop again."
After Dragon also agreed not to report her, Robin happily waved goodbye and left.
Rowan watched the little girl walk away.
This was yet another protagonist whose fate he had changed.
Compared to the childhood she originally had, this was the kind of life a child truly deserved.
After finishing his guidance for the Revolutionary Army, Rowan returned to the Marine warship.
Over the next three months, he remained busy. Batch after batch of pirates burned within the prison. While their sin value was not as high as that of the Celestial Dragons, the sheer quantity still brought in a considerable total.
After all, pursuit missions often wasted most of their time in travel. And as for major pirates like Big Mom and Kaido, Marine Headquarters would not allow them to be engaged for now.
With only Kuzan and Rowan, victory was impossible.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford
After returning with Kuzan and completing his report, Rowan heard the news.
The giant Vice Admiral Jaguar D. Saul had defected.
In his memory, this giant with a distinctive laugh and a bond with Robin had originally defected because he allowed Olvia to escape.
But now, because Olvia had been captured and then secretly released through Rowan's staged act, this upright Vice Admiral's defection had been delayed for quite some time.
After reaching the rank of Vice Admiral, one would inevitably witness things that did not align with justice. Some could accept it, some could not, and others chose to endure it.
If this giant Vice Admiral defected and went directly to Elbaf, even the Marines and the World Government would hesitate, taking into account the giants within the Marines.
So…
Rowan looked toward Kuzan, who had just pushed open the door and stepped out of Sengoku's office. His expression was terrible, and even the sound of the door closing carried a heavy force.
The two walked out one after the other, and Rowan's voice sounded from behind.
"So they want you, his old friend, to handle the capture alone? Or lure him out and then capture him? Interesting…"
Kuzan stopped and turned back to look at Rowan. "I'm in a very bad mood right now. If you want to get beaten up, keep talking."
Rowan grinned and chose to shut up. The two continued walking.
This mission belonged solely to Kuzan, so Rowan could take the opportunity to rest for a while until Kuzan returned. Of course, if something came up, he still had to follow orders.
With nothing to do, Rowan spent a day at Enies Lobby, two days in Water 7, then brought a few crates of good liquor to the intelligence department to "build relationships."
After gaining the reputation of a monster in the training camp and becoming Kuzan's subordinate, Rowan's image as a corrupt Marine had somewhat faded under his wine and dine tactics.
Of course, many still disliked him. After all, he never trained. Every day he was either drinking or on his way to drink and admire beautiful women.
Rumors were still spreading about how he had captured an entire exploration ship just because he fancied a woman aboard.
Yawning, Rowan rubbed his sleepy eyes. Just as he was about to head to Enies Lobby again to gather information, someone blocked his path.
The person was quite beautiful and wore the rank of Colonel.
Rowan raised an eyebrow. "So now, saluting a superior has turned into blocking their path? Should I try this on Fleet Admiral Sengoku next time?"
The woman withdrew her hand, thought for a moment, then gave a proper salute.
"Rear Admiral Rowan, I believe you must have a way to contact Vice Admiral Kuzan?"
Rowan thought for a moment, then suddenly looked fully awake, a smile spreading across his face as he openly sized her up from head to toe.
"Yes, I do. Before he left, he gave me a Den Den Mushi. Said if anything changes, I should contact him directly."
A hint of joy appeared on the colonel's face. She endured his gaze and even blinked slightly.
"Then… could I borrow it? I have something very important to discuss with Vice Admiral Kuzan."
Rowan chuckled. "You're here because of Saul, right? You used to be his subordinate, and now you seem to be under Vice Admiral Momousagi. The intelligence department can also contact Kuzan, but you didn't go there. So whatever you want to say cannot be known by the World Government?"
"You should understand then. If it cannot be known by the World Government, it cannot be known by me either. After all, I am the most obedient dog of the World Government."
The colonel's smile disappeared.
The situation she thought would be easiest had become the most troublesome. Wasn't it said this guy would lose his head when he saw a beautiful woman?
Was she not considered beautiful?
"Then… are you free tonight, Colonel Doll?"
"…No."
She turned and left immediately, frowning.
This man was not easy to fool, and from what she had heard, he was extremely strong.
If she agreed, would that not be walking straight into a trap?
Rowan scratched his head, looking unconcerned, then turned and headed toward the harbor. He went straight to Enies Lobby to find Spandine again.
As for Saul, he would likely connect with the giants of Elbaf. But those large and straightforward people were simple-minded and might only recognize Nika.
On the other hand, Little Garden might be worth visiting sometime to establish some connections.
In his memory, Kuzan's turning point happened at Ohara. What he could never forget was not only the sinking of the refugee ship, but also the moment he personally froze Saul.
Although later it always felt like Kuzan had tampered with it and let him go, by now the original body should have almost recovered as well.
Somewhere on an island in the Grand Line.
Kuzan rode his bicycle with a frown. The sea behind him froze along his path as his legs pedaled rapidly, yet he still could not shake off the persistent nuisance following him.
"Oh? Letting an Ohara survivor go without authorization is a serious crime. After all, who knows if there were scholars among them researching the Poneglyphs. And you just let him live?"
"Or has your Observation Haki as a candidate admiral degraded to this level? You cannot even tell whether the person frozen inside still has a presence?"
"Not talking? Staying silent does not make you righteous. You even deliberately let the observers see you freezing him."
"Looks like our candidate admiral has learned to play tricks as well…"
"Oh right, how long will your ice take to melt? Those CP agents probably cannot break it open right now. You even gave him a nice layer of armor. After a couple of days, once those guys lose patience, they will leave."
"Your friend is badly injured, but he should still be able to escape the World Government's sight. So you even reminded him to return to Elbaf?"
"Seems like you have started to question the Marines' so called justice as well. Want to come over and join me?"
"I think you still have some conscience. At least you know right from wrong. Not like that Sakazuki. Next time I see him, maybe I will chop off one of his dog paws and use it as a snack."
The nonstop chatter finally broke Kuzan's patience.
Ice spread beneath his bicycle as he stopped and set it aside. Turning around, he looked at Rowan.
"What exactly do you want?"
Wearing his mask, Rowan met Kuzan's gaze directly.
"The values you hold have already made you realize that the World Government is the real disease of this world. Whether you want to admit it or not, you cannot deceive your own heart."
Kuzan replied, "So what? I am only a candidate admiral. Even Fleet Admiral Sengoku must obey orders from Mary Geoise. What can I do? Even Vice Admiral Garp cannot do anything!"
Rowan shook his head slightly.
"No one is asking you to do anything right now, Kuzan. What Garp and Sengoku worry about, I understand. Sacrificing a small number so that the majority can survive, that is their logic."
"As long as the Marines exist, they can suppress most pirates and keep the world relatively stable. Because once things spiral out of control, the world might be cleansed entirely, with those they consider insects wiped out."
"After the God Valley incident, Garp understood some things. Sengoku understood some things as well. So one chose to endure, and the other chose to compromise."
God Valley.
Kuzan frowned and listened quietly. From these words, it sounded like the Celestial Dragons possessed the power to cleanse the world.
"How is that possible?"
"Why would it not be possible? Do you really think Garp, Sengoku, Tsuru, or even Zephyr share the same sense of justice as Mary Geoise?"
As Rowan spoke, he handed over a book.
"No one is asking you to act now. Even we are enduring and stepping back for the moment. But people like us will eventually have to face them, once we find the power to oppose them."
"This is our ideology, and the future we hope for. If our stances are aligned, should we not stand together?"
"When that day comes, I hope you will be there."
Kuzan stood stiffly.
He slowly extended his hand.
He knew exactly what the book in Rowan's hand represented.
So… should he take it or not?
Aligned stance?
In his mind, scenes flashed one after another.
The South Blue incident, the Ohara incident, the Olga Kingdom incident, the Saul incident…
So… was this world truly sick?
This was a question he had once asked Rowan. Now, he was using that same question on himself.
If this world was sick, then who exactly was the root of that illness?
The conviction he had when he first became a Marine surfaced in his mind. Kuzan's hand moved, and he took the book.
Behind the mask, Rowan smiled.
Kuzan, who had accepted the book, seemed to let out a breath of relief.
"This does not mean I have joined you. The Marines eliminating pirates is also doing something right. If you want to change the world, then when the time comes and you are certain, I will make my choice."
Rowan nodded slightly.
"Of course. I never said that taking this book meant you had joined us. I just want you to take a look. To see the brand new world we intend to create."
Putting the book away, Kuzan got back on his bicycle.
He turned his head slightly.
"So now you can stop following me and annoying me, right?"
Rowan waved his hand, and in the next moment, he vanished from the spot.
"What a convenient ability…"
Kuzan glanced at his bicycle and sighed.
Three days later, Rowan returned with a doctor and found Saul after the ice had melted.
After being bandaged, Saul looked at the masked Rowan and laughed.
"Dereshishishi… I know you. You are the one who stopped Sakazuki during the Ohara Buster Call. And recently I saw your bounty too, 830 million Beli."
Rowan smiled in response.
"Someone has to do something, right? Just like you. When you believe something is right, you go all in, even if it nearly gets you killed."
The giant laughed again, clearly in a good mood.
After a while, Saul struggled to stand up.
"I need to return to Elbaf. Thank you for treating my injuries. I will never forget this favor."
"Perhaps I have some information you should know."
Rowan looked at Saul.
"Since our stances align, I have seen your heart. So regarding some secrets of the giant race, I think you should know them."
Secrets?
Saul scratched his head and slowly sat back down.
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