The Grand Line, the first half.
A deserted island.
The island's scenery was beautiful and pleasant.
But the Log Pose was moving abnormally slowly.
In the blink of an eye, the Roger Pirates had been stationed here for over a month.
This day.
Suddenly, a news bird flew over the island.
Those in the center of the island, eating roasted meat, showed excited expressions.
Roger grinned, putting down the roasted meat in his hand.
A red glint flashed in his eyes.
His Conqueror's Haki shot towards the sky, striking down the news bird.
Roger chuckled.
Rayleigh covered his forehead and sighed, then his figure flashed.
He leaped out of the dense forest.
Appearing in mid-air.
He took out a hundred Berries and put them into the unconscious news bird's pocket.
Then he placed the unconscious news bird on top of a branch.
He took a newspaper and jumped down.
Rayleigh said helplessly:
"Don't just unleash your Conqueror's Haki randomly, Roger."
Roger laughed heartily:
"It won't happen again, it won't happen again."
Saying that, he took the newspaper and began to read.
Rustle~ Rustle~
Suddenly, Roger's eyes sharpened, and he shouted excitedly:
"Hey! Rayleigh!"
"Look!"
"Hahahaha."
"It's too interesting."
"A samurai."
"Let him be our comrade."
Rayleigh took the newspaper.
On the cover was a swordsman with two swords, wielding them in a two-sword style.
Behind him was a pile of slain pirates.
The clothing he wore was different from those on the sea, and it could be seen that it was very old.
The title on the cover read:
"The Wandering Swordsman! A Samurai from the Legendary Golden Country!"
Rayleigh mused:
"The Golden Country... Wano Country, huh."
Roger laughed heartily:
"Right? Isn't it interesting?"
"Go find him and make him my nakama."
"Hahahaha... cough cough..."
Rayleigh suddenly frowned:
"Your cough can't be put off any longer."
"We'll set sail tomorrow and head to Drum Island."
"You must get checked out."
Roger chuckled sheepishly:
"Hai hai."
------------------
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
It was a rare day off.
Enel walked towards Admiral Sengoku's residence.
He pushed open the door and entered.
In the courtyard, Sengoku, with a smile on his face, was accompanying Rosinante.
If others saw this, they would surely be dumbfounded.
Sengoku, the usually stern and serious Admiral, was actually showing such a kind smile...
It was like a little girl bumping into Sakazuki with an ice cream.
Sakazuki, with a smile on his face, patted the little girl's head and gave her 100 Berries, saying:
"Buy a five-scoop one."
Just as preposterous...
Enel, however, was unfazed and called out:
"Admiral Sengoku! Rosinante!"
Sengoku looked up at Enel with a smile:
"Came to play with Rosinante again, Enel?"
Enel said with a grin:
"Mhm."
Sengoku looked at the time and said:
"Then you play with Rosinante for a while first."
"I'll go handle some official business."
Enel gave Sengoku a reassuring look.
Sengoku smiled kindly at Rosinante and walked back into the room.
He would quickly finish his official duties... and then go buy Rosinante some new clothes in the evening.
Rosinante, seeing Enel, also ran over excitedly.
But there was no sound at all.
He only moved his lips without making any noise.
Enel was taken aback:
"Rosinante?"
Rosinante nodded, his mouth moving as he said something.
Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and waved his hands.
A semi-transparent barrier enveloped the two of them.
Enel frowned:
"Devil Fruit, huh."
At this moment, Rosinante's voice came out:
"Mhm, mhm."
Then, his voice became dejected:
"But it doesn't seem to be of much use."
"It can only block out sound."
Enel's eyebrows twitched... blocking out sound.
Then all his moves would be unable to be shouted out, how cruel...
He then comforted him:
"It's okay, Rosinante."
"Devil Fruit abilities are just supplementary."
"The body is everything."
Rosinante nodded in confusion:
"Mhm!"
Enel said with a smile:
"Let's go, I'll show you the new move I've mastered~"
Rosinante looked at Enel with admiration:
"Okay~"
The transparent barrier enveloped the two as they walked towards the back mountain of Headquarters.
On the way.
Enel demonstrated his new move to Rosinante:
"Look!"
As he spoke, electricity flickered from various parts of Enel's body.
A sharp electric light appeared in his hands.
The ear-piercing sound was like the chirping of a thousand birds.
The lightning in his hands would sometimes turn into a spear, and sometimes into a short blade.
Rosinante's eyes sparkled as he watched Enel.
Suddenly, Enel stopped.
His face filled with shock as he looked at the people around him.
This...
This...
As if he had realized something, he turned back to look at Rosinante, as if discovering a treasure.
He withdrew his ability and raised Rosinante high:
"Hahahahahaha!!!"
"Rosinante! Your Devil Fruit ability is truly amazing!!!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
Rosinante, being held up high, was completely bewildered:
"Huh?!"
Enel said excitedly:
"This barrier can block out all sound!"
"All sound!!!"
"Your ability! Plus my ability!"
"Invincible in the world!!!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Let's go, let's go! Let's test it out!!!"
With that, he impatiently pulled Rosinante and rushed towards the Marine Academy.
------------
Marine Headquarters Academy, under a large tree.
Borsalino lay lazily on the grass under the tree.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering in specks on his body.
Borsalino stretched:
"Life~"
His eyes narrowed slightly as he enjoyed the moment of tranquility.
He fell asleep at some point.
By the time Enel and Rosinante, who came running, saw him, it was this scene.
Enel smiled like a demon.
He asked Rosinante to use his ability.
If it weren't for the fact that they could see with their eyes, they wouldn't have felt anyone's presence at all by instinct.
The two slowly approached Borsalino.
Even when they were right in front of him, Borsalino didn't react.
Enel's right wrist flickered with electricity.
The golden ornaments on his wrist wriggled and condensed.
They turned into a golden spike more than a meter long.
It was slowly pressed against Borsalino's temple.
He gave Rosinante a gesture.
Rosinante nodded and withdrew his ability.
Suddenly, Borsalino's eyes snapped open.
A sense of deadly threat stimulated his brain.
There was no time to think.
Relying on his body's instincts, he instantly transformed into a ball of light and escaped the spot.
He appeared a hundred meters away.
Enel's eyebrows twitched.
With that speed, moving with Yatagami, you're really putting on an act...
Borsalino also noticed Enel and the spike in his hand at this moment.
He let out a long sigh:
"Kowaii ne~ Enel~"
"That's too scary~"
"How can you point such a threatening thing at someone~"
Looking at Borsalino, who had no self-awareness at all.
Enel's lips twitched. He should have just stabbed him a moment ago!
Electricity flashed in his hand, and the golden spike turned back into ornaments on his wrist:
"Don't mind it, just doing an experiment."
"Thanks, Borsalino."
"Hahahaha!"
With that, he grabbed the excited Rosinante and rushed away in a hurry.
Borsalino stood there, helpless:
"Ah~ ah~"
"My peaceful nap..."
"But..."
"How could I not have sensed anything at all."
Borsalino, who had not seen Rosinante withdraw his ability,
Suddenly began to doubt his life...