Mere hours after Roger's execution, his final words had already spread across the world.
From sailors to nobles, from merchants to criminals, people everywhere had begun whispering about ONE PIECE.
The news agencies worked faster than ever.
Reporters had snapped photos, written headlines, and rushed to print their newspapers.
Some of the larger media outlets had already mass-printed copies, preparing to release the news globally.
Meanwhile, the ten Marine warships that had escorted Roger had already departed from Loguetown.
Their destination—Marine Headquarters in the Grand Line.
They traveled at full speed, using the Calm Belt route to return as quickly as possible.
Praise & Promotion
"Your reaction was quick. Well done."
Tsuru stood beside Jon, offering rare praise.
She had witnessed his swift attack against the man trying to question Roger.
"But in the end… it didn't change anything."
"Roger had already planned everything in advance. The fact that you sensed something was off already makes you better than most."
Tsuru shook her head.
Her words were genuine.
The Marines had been too careless.
They had been so focused on showcasing their power that they had failed to anticipate Roger's final move.
And now, the damage was done.
"This is going to spiral out of control. The seas won't be peaceful for much longer."
Jon remained silent.
Because Tsuru was right.
The world was about to change.
And even she didn't realize just how much worse it would get.
The Ripple Effect of Roger's Death
As the Marine fleet returned to Marineford, the world had already erupted into chaos.
Silvers Rayleigh, in the Sabaody Archipelago, sat in a bar, drinking.
"Old friend… you wanted to pass your will to the next generation, huh?"
He recalled Roger's final words to him before they parted ways.
And now—he finally understood what Roger meant.
"I still have a few decades left in me. I guess I'll stick around… and see what future you were hoping for."
Elsewhere—
Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, and even Captain John—
All of them had heard the news of Roger's final message.
Though none of them had attended the execution, they each reacted differently.
With Roger dead, the title of Pirate King was vacant.
And every ambitious pirate in the world now craved that position.
Each of them had one thought in their minds—
"I will be the next Pirate King."
The Grand Line hadn't plunged into chaos yet, but the seeds of war had been sown.
It was only a matter of time before the world descended into anarchy.
Jon's Promotion
Shortly after returning to Marineford, Jon received a formal commendation.
For his quick response and efforts in maintaining order, his rank was officially raised.
From Marine Captain—to Marine Rear Admiral.
He had officially stepped into the ranks of the admirals-in-training, reaching a level only a few Marines his age had achieved.
To be promoted to Rear Admiral in his twenties was a rare honor in Marine history.
Though the chaos following Roger's death had begun to spread, it hadn't fully erupted yet.
The world still needed time to process Roger's words.
The true storm had yet to fully arrive.
The World Government and Marine Headquarters were on high alert.
Fleet Admiral Kong had ordered many of Marineford's officers to deploy to key bases across the Grand Line.
Their goal—to prevent large-scale pirate uprisings.
Jon, however, had not been assigned to any mission.
He was ordered to remain at headquarters, awaiting further instructions.
He wasn't surprised.
As a member of the Marine Strategic Division, he had fewer field assignments than frontline forces.
At first, Jon had always wanted to be out at sea, hunting pirates.
But over time, he had come to a realization.
"No matter how many pirates we capture… we'll never get rid of them all."
The world itself was rotten.
Without fundamental change, pirates would never disappear.
If Marine Headquarters didn't need him for combat, he wouldn't complain.
An Urgent Summons
Jon's period of peace didn't last long.
One day—
He received a direct order from Fleet Admiral Kong.
The moment he got the order, he immediately reported to the Fleet Admiral's office.
Upon arriving—
He was shocked to see that he wasn't the only one summoned.
The room was filled with familiar faces.
"Jon, you got the summons too?"
Borsalino and Sakazuki greeted him first.
But they weren't the only ones.
Among the officers present—
Doberman
Vetus (who, upon seeing Jon, looked away in irritation)
Peberton, a Marine officer with a stocky build.
Jon was stunned.
"You all got called here by the Fleet Admiral too?"
It wasn't just that they were familiar faces—
They were all graduates from the same Marine Academy class.
"Why would Fleet Admiral Kong summon all of us together?"
Jon turned to Borsalino.
"Do you know what's going on?"
Borsalino scratched his head.
"No idea. But if we're all being gathered… it's probably something big."
They were no longer recruits.
Each of them had become key Marine officers.
For all of them to be summoned at once, it had to be a critical mission.
A few minutes later, the final officer entered the room.
With six of them gathered, they were escorted inside.
This was Jon's first time inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
It was larger than expected.
Not just an office, but a spacious lounge—complete with sofas, bookshelves, and other furnishings.
Standing inside—
Alongside Fleet Admiral Kong—
Was Admiral Zephyr.
Jon and the others stood at attention, saluting.
The Truth Revealed
Kong's expression was grave.
His eyes scanned the six men standing before him.
Then, in a low, serious tone, he spoke:
"Sakazuki. Borsalino. Jon. Vetus. Doberman. Peberton."
"You six are among the finest young officers in the Marines."
"I have summoned you today to assign you a mission of utmost importance."
The six officers remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
Kong was not one for unnecessary words.
"You're probably wondering why you've all been gathered together."
"It is because this time—your target is not a pirate."
"It is not a criminal."
"It is someone who—until now—was a Marine just like you."
The room fell deathly silent.
A heavy atmosphere filled the air.
Then, Sakazuki spoke, his expression dark.
"Fleet Admiral… are you saying there is a traitor within the Marines?"
Kong nodded.
"Yes, Sakazuki. Someone has betrayed us."
"And that man is someone you all know."
Then—
Kong spoke the name that sent shockwaves through the room.
"Monkey D. Dragon."
A stunned silence followed.
Jon's heart clenched.
"It's happening already…"
Dragon's betrayal had been exposed.
And the Marines had already begun the hunt.
----------
Powerstones?
10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/milezen
Make Sure to give a Review!
Collections please!