One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

Garp's words made Akainu clench his fists so tightly they cracked.

Lava dripped through the fingers, burning charred holes in the ice.

His eyes were fixed on Garp, then slowly shifted to Roy, his murderous intent and anger almost tangible—but he said nothing more.

Because this is an order.

The order was personally issued by the naval hero.

Even Akainu cannot openly defy him.

Zephyr nodded silently.

He had wanted to leave for a long time—the Celestial Dragons were dead, the witnesses had been silenced, and there was no point in them staying here except to increase casualties.

And to be honest, he didn't want to continue fighting with Roy and his group of young people.

Aokiji put his hands back in his pockets and lazily spoke:

"Alara".

"Sakazuki, I told you long ago, now is not a good time to start a war with Roy."

You didn't believe me, but now you do, right?

Akainu gritted his teeth, his eyes surging with anger and struggle, but in the end, he lowered his head.

It's not a compromise, it's being forced to bow down by reality.

In his current state, let alone Roy, he might not be able to beat any one of Roy's subordinates.

If we keep trying, we'll only die here.

But when you die, you have nothing left.

Once he's dead, Roy can no longer be hunted down.

Once he dies, he can no longer uphold his absolute justice.

Akainu remained silent. His silence was the answer.

Garp turned around to face Roy.

That carefree smile returned to his rugged face: "Roy, satisfied now?"

As Roy watched the scene unfold before him, his smile slowly widened, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

He knew that Garp's reasons for deciding to back down were far more than the three he had just mentioned.

The Celestial Dragon is dead.

All witnesses at the auction have been silenced.

The Navy could easily pin the blame for the Celestial Dragons' deaths on Roy, and then announce that the Roy Pirates attacked the auction house, killed the Celestial Dragons, and stole the Celestial Gold.

Anyway, Roy is already the "Emperor of Heaven's Way". What does it matter if he takes three more lives?

In this battle, the navy has achieved the minimum objective that can be represented diplomatically.

Continuing to fight would be counterproductive.

This old guy may seem carefree, but he's actually more calculating than anyone else.

"Of course I'm satisfied."

Roy grinned.

"Naval hero, since you've spoken, how could I, a junior, refuse?"

Garp laughed heartily: "Stop being sarcastic! Get lost, you give me a headache!"

Roy smiled and shook his head, his telekinetic field silently unfolding and enveloping all his allies present.

He didn't turn around, nor did he withdraw his gaze; he simply took a step back.

He took a few steps back before sheathing Qiu Shui.

"withdraw."

At Roy's command, everyone—the officers of the Roy Pirates and the entire Red-Haired Pirates—moved simultaneously.

There was no panic, no haste; everyone retreated in an orderly fashion, maintaining a fighting stance and giving the navy no opportunity to take advantage.

Roy walked last.

He took a few steps back, then suddenly stopped and turned to look at Akainu, who was being supported by Zephyr.

"Admiral Akainu."

Roy's voice was as relaxed as if he were saying goodbye to an old friend.

"Next time we meet, remember to bring a few more people."

"If one person comes, I'm not enough to fight them."

Akainu suddenly looked up, his eyes almost overflowing with killing intent.

But he couldn't utter a single word—

Because Zephyr's hand was firmly pressed on his shoulder, preventing him from rushing out.

Roy smiled, turned and disappeared into the night.

Only after Roy and his group had completely disappeared from sight did Akainu suddenly break free from Zephyr's grasp and slam his fist into the ruins beside him.

The magma fist shattered the reinforced concrete, sending debris flying everywhere.

"Roy—!!!"

His roar echoed through the empty street. No one answered him.

Garp chewed on a rice cracker, staring in the direction Roy had disappeared, and remained silent for a long time.

A rare hint of weariness flashed in his usually frivolous old eyes. He turned around, dusted himself off, and walked toward the harbor.

"Let's go. Back to the group."

Night falls in Area 13 of the Sabaody Archipelago.

The sign for the Knocking Bamboo Bar swayed gently in the moonlight, and the bells on the door jingled in the night breeze.

The bar was brightly lit and more lively than ever.

The moment Roy and his group pushed open the bar door, Jinbe, Granny Newe, Shirley, the Kuja warriors, the Mink warriors, and the freed slaves who had been waiting there all stood up.

"Captain Roy!"

Jinbe strode forward, his honest face filled with excitement.

"You're back safe and sound!"

Roy smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping over the faces in the bar—Lily the mermaid was curled up in a tank in the corner, her golden fishtail glowing faintly under the light.

The Nine-Snake Warrior's wounds had been bandaged, and Granny New stood to the side, leaning on her snake staff, her expression complex.

Wolfgang, the fur warrior, knelt on one knee, his right paw pressed against his chest, and lowered his head.

"My benefactor, you're back." Wolfgang's voice was hoarse but solemn.

Roy waved his hand: "Don't call me benefactor, just call me captain. From now on, you're all people of Beehive Island."

Wolfgang looked up, and his amber eyes lit up.

The long-armed craftsmen, the dwarf girls... all the freed slaves bowed their heads to Roy one after another.

They didn't speak, but the gratitude and determination in their eyes were more powerful than any words.

At the bar, Riley had already poured two glasses of wine.

Shanks walked over and sat down next to him, taking off his straw hat and placing it on the bar.

"First Mate Raleigh," Shanks' voice was a little hoarse.

Rayleigh pushed up his glasses, looking at this junior who had inherited Roger's straw hat.

It has been a long time since we last met.

Back then, Shanks was just a kid following Roger around; now he's grown into a great pirate who can take Garp's iron fist head-on.

"I heard you fought Garp and even used Divine Evasion?"

"hey-hey!"

"He got beaten up badly."

Shanks grinned and pointed to his still-bleeding hand.

"It's good enough that we came back alive."

"Even I can't beat Garp."

They both laughed at the same time.

Their laughter carried a hint of bitterness and nostalgia that only they themselves understood.

They talked about Roger's last journey.

They started talking about the kid Shanks met in the East Blue named Luffy.

We talked about how so many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and how old friends from back then are now scattered to the ends of the earth.

Roy leaned against the bar, listening to Rayleigh and Shanks reminisce, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Xia Qi came out of the kitchen carrying a large plate of roasted meat.

She put the meat on the table, wiped her hands, then turned to Roy and punched him in the chest.

"Sister Xiaqi, your way of greeting people is still so unique."

"You little rascal, you always cause a huge uproar every time you come to Chambord."

"This time, I didn't cause trouble on my own initiative."

It was the Celestial Dragons who were blind first.

Besides, Akainu killed a Celestial Dragon, so I'm the one who has to take the blame.

Sister Xiaqi, you can't distort the truth.

Xia Qi, with a cigarette dangling from her lips, rolled her eyes at Roy, but the curve of her lips betrayed her true feelings.

That rascal, he always manages to come up with something new every time they meet.