The day after the banquet ended,
“gurararara, thank you for helping us repair the ship, Blumarine.” Newgate said with a smile to the Roger Pirates’ shipwright, a hunchbacked old man.
(In the known members of the Roger Pirates revealed in the manga and SBS, not every crew role is clearly detailed, so this story reasonably assigns positions.)
“Hahaha, Newgate, you are too kind.
Since your ship is repaired, I should return.
The Captain is still waiting for me.” Blumarine responded with a gentle and kind smile.
Since neither Newgate nor Shaq were particularly skilled in ship repair, if they had done it themselves, they would at most have nailed planks over the cracks in a crude manner.
When Blumarine learned of this, he enthusiastically offered to handle the repairs.
Initially, Newgate refused, but as the kind old man said, “Ship repair is the most wonderful job in the world,” Newgate ultimately relented.
“Gurarararara, then I look forward to our next meeting, sir.” Newgate said in a rare gentle tone.
“Shaq, escort Mr.
Blumarine back and bid farewell to Roger and the others for me.”
Shaq nodded, stood up, and said with a grin to the old man, “Then let’s go, Mr.
Blumarine.”
Blumarine did not refuse.
After bidding farewell to Newgate, he walked with his hands behind his back and said, “Then I’ll trouble you, young man.”
“Hahaha, not at all, sir.
Rather, it’s Pops and I who have troubled you.” Shaq replied with a laugh.
“What a polite young gentleman.”
The old man and the young man chatted as they walked.
The island was not large, and they quickly arrived at the other side.
After successfully sending Blumarine back to the Roger Pirates, Shaq bid farewell to each of them.
“Uncles, Pops asked me to bid you farewell for him.
I look forward to our next meeting.
And you two little guys, Shanks and Buggy, goodbye.”
The two infants seemed to sense the parting.
Their big eyes grew watery, as if they were about to cry.
They were very fond of this older brother who had played with them.
“Hahaha, don’t cry, Shanks, Buggy.
Men of the sea will always meet again under the guidance of fate.”
The two little ones seemed to understand, holding back their tears and waving their chubby little hands vigorously.
“Ya hahahaha, Kid Shaq, I hope next time we meet, you’ll be a real man!” Roger laughed loudly, waving goodbye.
“Of course, Uncle Roger!” Shaq waved back, then turned and left without hesitation.
“Pops, I’m back!” Shaq jumped onto the deck and said to Newgate.
“gurararara, then let’s set sail!”
…
Three days passed after parting from the Roger Pirates.
According to Newgate, they were already very close to Dressrosa, only about two days of sailing away.
That day, Shaq trained as usual, while Newgate leaned against the railing, watching and occasionally offering guidance.
At that moment, as their small boat passed an unnamed island, a Marine warship suddenly appeared from the blind spot at their three o’clock position.
Newgate narrowed his eyes and stood up, observing the Marines.
There were not many soldiers aboard, and most looked very young.
At first, they paid little attention, assuming it was just a civilian vessel, since Newgate had not raised a pirate flag and the Whitebeard Pirates had not yet been formally established.
However, a sharp-eyed Marine recognized the man standing on the deck.
His legs trembled, and his voice shook as he said, “Th-that’s Edward Newgate… Whitebeard!”
The others stared carefully, and soon all of them recognized the infamous Great Pirate who had once sailed with the Rocks Pirates.
But one particularly young Marine was different.
Instead of fear, his eyes lit up.
He quickly ran toward the operations room.
Inside, a towering, broad-shouldered man with purple hair stood before a map, holding a cigar, his expression stern and contemplative.
“Establishing the G-1 Branch… the Marines have finally begun pushing deeper into the New World,” he muttered.
This man was Zephyr, known as “Black Arm Zephyr,” already a prominent Marine officer famed for his strict sense of justice.
At that moment, the door burst open.
“Sir!
We’ve encountered Whitebeard Edward Newgate!
Should we engage?!”
Zephyr was briefly startled but quickly regained composure.
He understood clearly: taking down Newgate alone was impossible.
The ship had just completed a transport mission there were no high-ranking officers present, and their combat strength was limited.
But retreating without resistance?
That would shatter Marine morale.
Zephyr quickly made a decision.
“Dragon, contact the G-1 Branch immediately.
Request reinforcement.
We will hold him here.”
The young Marine nodded sharply.
This boy was Monkey D.
Dragon, still a teenager, serving as a Marine soldier under Zephyr’s command.
“Yes, sir!” Dragon saluted and hurried to relay the message via Den Den Mushi.
Meanwhile, Zephyr strode out onto the deck.
On the small boat, Newgate stood calmly, making no move, quietly observing.
If it were the past, he might have charged without hesitation but now, with Shaq by his side, he preferred to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Shaq also noticed the warship.
He drew Flower Fish and stood ready.
“Whitebeard!
I didn’t expect to meet you here.
Surrender!” Zephyr’s voice rang out across the sea.
Newgate snorted.
“gurararara… Zephyr, still spouting nonsense, I see.”
He turned slightly and said to Shaq, “Stay alert.
If anything happens, call me.”
Then, without hesitation, he leaped toward the Marine ship.
Shaq followed immediately.
The moment they met, Newgate and Zephyr clashed.
Both restrained their power Newgate mindful of Shaq, Zephyr mindful of his soldiers.
Even so, the force of their blows sent shockwaves rippling across the deck.
As the fight continued, Zephyr’s heart grew heavier.
After the God Valley incident, Newgate had grown even stronger.
The two had fought before once evenly matched but now the difference was clear.
Zephyr had reached the limits of his growth.
Newgate had not.
“Damn it… he’s still evolving…”
Zephyr gritted his teeth, his fists striking harder, faster.
“Whitebeard must be stopped here… or another Rocks may rise!”
With that thought, his resolve hardened, and his attacks became even more ferocious.