Water 7.
The ground had sunk even further.
Staring at the relentless sea, Tom felt a growing sense of worry.
Without land, people had nowhere to live. If this continued, his second home would eventually fall into complete ruin.
"Franky, you overslept by five minutes again. That makes it the twenty-ninth time this month. If this happens again, I won't help you with your weapon research anymore. You're just slowing down my progress..."
"C'mon, c'mon! Hahaha! Don't sweat the small stuff. Here, take this, let's get started!"
Franky tugged at his underwear, which had ridden uncomfortably into his backside, then shoved a half-eaten burger into Gladius' mouth, cutting off his endless complaints. Slinging an arm around his neck, Franky led him toward their latest project.
"Today, let's reinforce the BF35's naval cannon. Gladius, show off that unbeatable ability of yours!"
The rowdy duo interrupted Tom's moment of melancholy, bringing a warm smile to his face.
"Hahaha! Just make sure you don't blow yourselves up like last time!"
"Got it, Tom-san!"
...
A short while later.
Franky and Gladius were huddled around an explosive round, modifying it from a hollow shell into a fragmentation bomb.
"Alright, Gladius, turn the entire bomb into an explosive! Then we'll fire it from the BF25—it's gonna be insane!"
"Idiot! If you turn the whole thing into an explosive, it'll detonate the moment it's fired, just like last time."
Cursing under his breath, Gladius got to work, his hands skillfully handling the bomb.
A secretion from his skin slowly seeped into the round, transforming its core into highly volatile explosive material.
As someone with a slight obsession with explosives, ever since acquiring Gladius, Franky had been on the hunt for the Boom-Boom Fruit. A hefty bounty had finally led him to one in Sabaody.
Unfortunately, after Gladius ate it, they realized it was the same fruit that Mr. 5 had consumed—just under a different name.
Unlike the Boom-Boom Fruit, which required storing explosive gas, this one functioned differently.
According to Doflamingo's understanding, a better name for it would have been the Living Bomb Fruit.
Any part of the user's body could explode at will—even something as minor as flicked boogers or blown air. The user was completely immune to their own explosions, capable of swallowing bombs without suffering any harm.
Watching as the bomb gradually changed color, Franky jumped up and down in excitement.
"This is SUPER powerful! Let's test it right now!!!"
Loading it into the cannon, they fired. The shell arced gracefully through the sky before plunging into the ocean.
"BOOM!"
A ten-meter-wide underwater mushroom cloud erupted from the blast.
Nearby, shipwrights working on the merchant vessel Aegobus were thrown into the sea by the massive wave it generated.
"Whoa! Now that's a proper explosion! Hahaha!" Tom roared with laughter at the sight.
"We did it! We did it! Gladius, your ability is totally invincible!!!" Franky's eyes gleamed with envy.
"Franky! Gladius!"
Soaked to the bone, the furious shipwrights from the Aegobus came storming toward them.
...
"Rouge, live well."
Roger gently brushed his hand over the orange hair of the woman before him before turning away and boarding the merchant ship.
"Roger-san, aren't you taking Rouge with you to Sabaody this time?" Looking at the lone pirate captain, Liya couldn't help but ask.
"Hahaha! This time, I'm just meeting up with some old friends. Besides, Rouge is already pregnant."
"Ah! My apologies, I wasn't aware. Wishing you a safe journey and a swift return. In her condition, Rouge needs you by her side."
Realizing her misstep, Liya immediately bowed at a full ninety degrees.
"It's fine. As compensation, I'll take responsibility for the convoy's security this time."
Roger's gaze flickered toward Kagasi, whose sharp eyes had already seen through his disguise.
...
Days later.
Sabaody Archipelago, Dock 13.
Watching Roger disappear into the bustling crowd, Kagasi hurried toward the Donquixote Family's base on area #1.
Though he bore Roger no ill will, he dared not act recklessly in his presence.
...
The Divine Palace.
After finishing his training, Doflamingo glanced at his attendants, each striking a different pose.
It was time for another round of "sowing seeds"—ensuring his dear adopted son would have plenty of younger brothers.
"Beep beep beep!"
The emergency line buzzed. As soon as the call connected, Tesoro's urgent voice rang out.
"BOSS, Roger has been spotted in Sabaody!"
Doflamingo's expression sharpened instantly.
"Inform Kagasi immediately—he needs to take Portgas D. Rouge away."
"BOSS, Kagasi is already in Sabaody. Roger arrived on one of our family's merchant ships."
"...Huh?"
Taking a moment to process the situation, Doflamingo replied, "I'll handle this personally."
Click.
BOOM!
Doflamingo vanished from sight, launching himself toward the Numancia Flamingo.
Gol D. Roger—undoubtedly one of the rarest powerhouses in the world.
But when it came to being a father and husband, that was debatable.
Rather than entrusting his wife and unborn child to Rayleigh, he didn't even inform his crew about their existence.
Maybe he feared disrupting his old friend's retirement.
And when the situation became critical, the only person he told was his rival—the Marine Hero, Garp.
That kind of logic was as ridiculous as Kozuki Oden dancing naked in Wano.
Truly, Kozuki Oden's ability to brainwash people was terrifying.
From misleading the people of Wano 800 years ago to raising a daughter who worships her father's killer.
Even so, none of that mattered.
Doflamingo was about to play Whitebeard for a day.
Pausing mid-flight, he pulled out his transponder snail and dialed a good friend.
...
Elsewhere, after wrapping up his affairs, Roger casually swam to Marine Headquarters and turned himself in.
This news was immediately relayed to the World Government.
Inside Pangaea Castle, the Five Elders sat in a heated debate.
"What do you make of Roger's surrender?"
"It seems the rumors of his terminal illness were true. We need to control Morgans."
"The real concern is how to handle Roger. The so-called Pirate King surrendering? He is still a member of the D. Clan."
"But no one else knows that. His existence has already been erased from history."
"That doesn't mean he isn't a threat!"
"Secret execution?"
"Let's announce it to the world. Ever since Roger was named the Pirate King, piracy has surged out of control. The balance between the Marines and pirates is completely skewed. We need to restore order."
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"..."
BANG!
The doors to the chamber burst open as a flustered Spandam rushed in, drenched in sweat.
"Elders! Bad news! Roger's surrender has already spread across the seas!"
The Elders' expressions darkened.
Roger had lost his greatest value.
Shing!
A single flash of a blade.
The sword-wielding Elder sliced through everything between him and Spandam, demonstrating terrifying precision.
Spandam saw nothing—only felt an overwhelming urge to pee.
The Elder gritted his teeth.
"MORGANS!!!"
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+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg