Chapter 74: West Blue

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Sabaody Archipelago.

Arashi met Rouge in a quiet, secluded courtyard away from the island's bustling centre. 

Her soft pink hair fell in waves over her shoulders, and her rounded belly showed clearly. 

A gentle, loving look was ever-present on her face. 

As Arashi and his companions arrived, Rouge was lounging in a bamboo chair, sunbathing, and turned slightly away from them. 

When she saw Arashi, she greeted him as warmly as if it hadn't been a year since their last meeting.

"It's been a long time, Arashi," Rouge said softly.

Arashi's previously tense expression softened slightly, and he gave a faint smile. 

"We're going to move you somewhere safer, where you can give birth to Ace in peace." Rouge seemed unsurprised; she rose quietly to her feet. 

From the moment Roger was executed and the Marines swarmed Baterilla, she knew what lay ahead for her. 

Arashi observed her silently packing her things. This was a smart woman; he didn't have to explain much. 

Just as he sensed a few prying eyes around them, he felt no need to alert her further. 

A faint flash of lightning emitted from him, drawing Crocodile and Bullet's attention.

In a matter of minutes, the four of them lowered their hats and quietly departed. 

The battleship left the Sabaody Archipelago without further delay, heading directly for the Calm Belt. 

Sensing no other disturbances within a wide radius, Arashi finally turned to face Rouge.

"You can take off your hat now. Starting today, you'll be living in the West Blue."

Rouge took off her hat, her pink hair swaying in the sea breeze. 

Looking at the vast sea before her, she murmured, "The West Blue, is it?" 

The rest of the crew exchanged glances as they noticed the pregnant woman but kept their thoughts to themselves.

"Who's the lady?" asked Buggy, shooting a meaningful look at Smoker.

"A pregnant woman… Could it be?" The two looked at each other, sharing an unspoken understanding.

"A lover!" whispered Smoker, looking a bit too excited. 

"She must be Vice Admiral Arashi's lover!" The thrill of discovering such a secret had him buzzing with energy.

"To think Vice Admiral Arashi seems so serious on the outside, but here he is, hiding a woman with a child," Buggy grinned. 

The two whispered to each other, unaware that others overheard every word. 

Arashi's face darkened as he glanced at Bullet, who quickly strode over, landing a punch on each of their heads.

"Ow!" they shouted, wincing from the pain.

"Looks like you two still have time to chat!" Arashi said coldly as he approached. "Bullet! Double their training intensity!"

"Yes, sir!" Bullet nodded. Once Arashi was out of sight, Bullet shot the two a sly grin. 

"Time to teach you recruits the first rule of survival here: learn to keep your mouth shut!"

With that, a harsh training session began, filling the ship with Buggy and Smoker's anguished cries. 

Evans and others watched on, shaking their heads in amused awe as the screams echoed across the deck. 

As the sea breeze picked up, the ship entered the Calm Belt.

"Our situation has put a lot of pressure on you, hasn't it?" Rouge asked softly, her voice barely audible over the silence.

"It's my responsibility," Arashi replied, turning to face her. 

Memories flashed through his mind: the destruction of Baterilla, the words of Kong and Sengoku, and the endless chain of events. 

Taking this on had indeed cost him much. But having accepted this role, he would see it through.

"I only want Ace to grow up safe and sound," Rouge said, her voice full of quiet hope.

"He will," Arashi replied with a faint smile. Perhaps sensing his reserved demeanor, he added, "I'll do my best to ensure both of you are safe."

To secretly shelter Roger's wife and her unborn child—if word of this got out, it would shake the world. 

His reputation, his standing in the Marines, all of it would be jeopardized. 

He might even be cast out entirely. At that point, everything he'd worked toward would crumble, and he'd have to start over.

"Thank you," Rouge murmured. With that, she and Mina went below deck to rest. Rouge settled down, glancing out of the window. 

The absence of wind and the faint but hauntingly eerie atmosphere left a chilling sensation. Yet, her expression remained calm.

"Ace…" she whispered, caressing her rounded belly, "As long as you're well, so am I."

She thought back to something Roger had once said about Arashi. "That kid… He's a dangerous one, but he's trustworthy."

Rouge remembered Bullet and Crocodile's arrival the day the first Marines arrived, then boarding this ship bound for the West Blue. 

"Trustworthy, huh?" She murmured. Slipping off her shoes, she lay down on the bed, finally able to rest. 

Pregnancy, especially with the constant stress of hearing about Marines searching for Roger's bloodline, had taken its toll on her.

In no time, she drifted off, snoring softly. At the bow, Arashi couldn't help but smile as he looked back. 

This woman likely hadn't slept well in a long time. Fortunately, Bullet and Crocodile were reliable and sharp. 

They'd successfully brought Rouge from the South Blue to Sabaody Archipelago—a place that, in a way, provided cover through its very danger.

Under the sun's golden rays, the ship plowed through the waves, heading for its destination. By the next day, they arrived in the West Blue.

"G-18 Base," Arashi muttered, his eyes flickering. He recalled the information from the files Crocodile had given him. 

G-18 was a highly defensible military base, larger than G-8 and located at a strategic point in the West Blue.

"To the north of the base lies the Land of Flowers. It's an area every commander must monitor carefully," Crocodile said in a low voice.

"The Land of Flowers and the Happo Navy, huh?" Arashi repeated, his gaze sharpening as he looked forward. 

The pieces of his plan came together in his mind, names of key locations and individuals flowing through his thoughts: Ohara, the Land of Flowers, the Kingdom of Ilusia, Troya, and Raschap.

"Though it's not the Grand Line, the West Blue is nothing to be taken lightly," Arashi remarked with a sigh.

The West Blue—a sea region known for its formidable power. 

This place is the birthplace of famous Mafia families that rule the underworld, especially the Five Mafia Families, which originated here, with the Capone Family being one of the more notorious ones. 

Additionally, the Flower Country's Happo Navy poses a constant headache for the Marines. 

The most renowned figure among them is Chinjao, the 12th Pillar of the Happo Navy.

Legend has it that Garp, Chinjao's instructor, once trained by smashing eight mountains into rubble just to face him. 

In that epic clash, Garp's single punch left a lasting dent in Chinjao's proud cone-shaped head. 

The Happo Navy's signature technique, the Hasshoken, is also highly regarded and bears a strong resemblance to the advanced form of Haki known in Wano as Ryuo. 

Without question, the Happo Navy is a considerable force. 

Many powerful individuals hail from the West Blue like Shanks, Moonlight Moria, Brook, Lafitte, Sanjuan Wolf, and others. 

Of course, there is the legendary archaeological island of Ohara.

At the mention of Ohara, Arashi's eyes narrowed. His memories of that island were vivid, and it held a special place in his thoughts. 

He remembered his conversation with Vegapunk, who revealed that his homeland was indeed this very island. 

Although his memories of his origins were fragmented and nearly blank, what struck Arashi deeply was Ohara's grim fate. 

Because they studied Poneglyphs and research into the Void Century, the World Government ultimately obliterated the island under the Buster Call. 

Ohara was on a steady path to its doom, with only two years remaining before its destruction. 

By then, Arashi would face a choice: reach out and assist, or remain indifferent.

"The Flower Country won't be easy to handle, but they won't openly provoke the Marines either," Crocodile's voice came from beside him. 

"Additionally, some royal guards in other kingdoms also shouldn't be underestimated. 

"The Five Mafia Families control the entire West Blue's underground society."

Arashi listened, his gaze slightly narrowing. "How does the Marine Headquarters view them?"

Crocodile paused, then replied, "They don't seem overly concerned about these factions." 

"As long as they maintain the surface-level peace, the Marines won't initiate conflicts."

Arashi nodded. "Then we might get a bit of peace ourselves."

Though he said that, he knew peace wouldn't last long. In two years, no matter what, it would all erupt. 

By midday, the warship arrived at the G-18 Fortress. 

As the enormous iron gates slowly opened, the impressive, majestic scene almost resembled the Gates of Justice at Marineford. 

The vast inner bay sparkled, with over ten warships docked at the port, and the towering steel structures and grand buildings stood in rows. 

Every so often, a Marine stood straight at their post. As Arashi's ship entered the fortress, the entire base erupted in excitement.

"The new Commander has arrived!"

"Hurry! Where's the welcoming ceremony we prepared?"

"That's Vice Admiral Arashi, the legend from Marine Headquarters!" 

A steady stream of Marines poured out from the base, forming neat lines, creating an impressive and overwhelming sight.

Crocodile observed with some surprise; the gathering of so many Marines on the front plaza was striking. 

Compared to pirate crews, the sheer number of Marines at this base was astounding. "Eight thousand! Or is it ten thousand?" he murmured.

"Thirteen thousand," Bullet replied, his arms crossed and grinning. The amount of Marines here even surprised him.

"They're ours now," Arashi said softly. At this moment, he felt a different sense of responsibility from any promotion before. 

Thirteen thousand Marines stood before him, under his command alone. This immense fortress would also belong to him entirely. 

Having no troops was nothing like commanding thirteen thousand. He was now, undeniably, the ruler of the West Blue—a true regional military governor. 

The thought filled him with excitement, but he forced himself to calm down almost immediately.

"If you leave it to me," Bullet said solemnly, "I can turn them into elite soldiers, a force that is ours alone."

"A force that obeys only us—and you," he emphasized.

Hearing this, Arashi's eyes gleamed. As the warship docked at the port, Arashi and his team disembarked one by one. 

They looked out at the Marines assembled before them, standing straight and staring back with eyes full of excitement and curiosity. 

At the forefront of the officers, a booming voice echoed.

"Salute!"

In an instant, every Marine saluted in unison, creating a "whum" that echoed through the air. 

Arashi surveyed the scene calmly. He took a step forward, raising his hand to return the salute.

"Hello, everyone! I am Vice Admiral Arashi, and from now on, I will serve as your Commander here at G-18!"

The plaza fell silent as the sea breeze fluttered the Marine flags on the docked ships. Every gaze was fixed tightly on their new Commander. 

"Now, on my first day of meeting you all," he said, his eyes landing on the highest-ranking female officer, "would someone like to give me a brief introduction to this fortress?"

Sensing his gaze, the officer immediately stepped forward. "Branch Captain Eveya, reporting for duty!"

Arashi looked her over, then nodded with a smile. "The honor is yours, Eveya."

This female officer was a swordsman, with a sword at her side, a stern expression, and a cool demeanor. 

With black-rimmed glasses and her long black hair in a ponytail, she had a clean, straightforward look. 

As for her strength, Arashi wasn't certain, but he figured she must be formidable to hold the highest rank in this base.

"It's my duty," Eveya replied softly, a hint of curiosity in her gaze as she looked at the young Vice Admiral before her.

<End Chapter>

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