42. Listening To The Voice Of All Things

Oro Jackson.

For newer Marines and pirates, this name might not ring a bell. It's a part of history that the World Government is eager to bury.

However, for veterans like Sengoku and Garp, it's a symbol of an era long past.

It was the greatest ship in the world, the only one known to have conquered the Grand Line.

The pirate ship of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King.

A vessel that carried the weight of an entire era.

Originally presumed lost to history with Roger's death, its reappearance was unexpected.

"At this point, are Rayleigh and the echoes of their old days attempting a revival?" Sengoku growled, slamming his fist on the table.

The defeat of an Admiral and the emergence of the Straw Hat Boy hadn't given him such a headache.

Because both Garp and he understood the significance of this ship's reappearance.

Though Roger had died years ago, they never truly captured him or dismantled his crew.

Those legendary figures vanished mysteriously overnight after Roger found One Piece.

A year later, Roger turned himself in and died, and his crew remained silent.

Except for Red-Haired Shanks, who rose to become one of the Four Emperors.

The fabled Roger Pirates seemed to have vanished completely from history.

After Roger's death, the Marines aggressively hunted down remnants of the old era, effectively bringing it to an end.

Douglas Bullet, the Demon heir, was apprehended during that period.

And now, with the Oro Jackson resurfacing, what role does Rayleigh play?

Is he summoning remnants of the Gol D. Roger Pirates for the next battle?

Various thoughts raced through Sengoku's mind, all leading to grim conclusions.

For the first time, Sengoku doubted the outcome of the impending conflict. While the involvement of the Straw Hat Kid and Rayleigh alone would be manageable, the presence of the Oro Jackson and remnants of the Roger Pirates changed the equation drastically.

Their strength was formidable, even terrifying.

In the wake of the Oro Jackson's reappearance, it was highly likely that numerous notorious pirates from the New World would flock to Marineford to witness and join in what could be the era's greatest battle.

"Alert Zephyr and order his return to headquarters."

"All Marine Vice Admirals and above currently deployed must return to headquarters immediately."

Sengoku's voice thundered with authority.

...

In the depths of the sea...

"I never imagined I'd set foot on this legendary ship," Nami, Usopp, and the others murmured in disbelief as they cautiously explored the ship's mahogany railing.

They couldn't fathom how they got here.

This was the pirate ship of the former Pirate King Gol D. Roger, a vessel steeped in legend.

"Is this the work of Mr. Tom? What an exquisite masterpiece," Nami remarked, admiring the ship's beauty.

Franky carefully examined the ship, recalling its appearance from over two decades ago.

"It's incredible to think that this ship has endured for decades, weathering countless legendary voyages and still remains as sturdy as ever," he remarked.

"Are you Tom's apprentice? He was the finest shipwright. Though he never set foot on this ship, he was always our ally," Rayleigh said with emotion.

"Mr. Tom is indeed the greatest shipbuilder in the world. I've always believed that. He mentioned more than once that he built the Oro Jackson for Gol D. Roger. It's his crowning achievement in shipbuilding," Franky replied proudly.

"A shipwright takes immense pride in the vessel they craft to conquer the Grand Line. The old man never regretted building this ship for the Roger Pirates," Rayleigh reminisced.

Silently, he gave a relieved smile.

"This pirate crew has deep ties to us—Gol D. Roger's will, Tom's disciple, the person Crocus is seeking," Franky mused.

The crew's unfulfilled purpose seemed to resurface on this ship, leading them towards their ultimate destination after years of circling.

"You don't mind having them on board the Oro Jackson," Rayleigh remarked lightly to himself.

"Of course not, Rayleigh. I've been waiting for this moment for twenty years, to set sail once again," a distant, ethereal voice seemed to echo in Rayleigh's heart like the chime of a bell.

For a brief moment, he envisioned a faint figure radiating light seated atop the mainmast next to the Roger Pirates' flag.

But the vision faded as quickly as it appeared.

Rayleigh paused, then glanced at the Straw Hats; none seemed to have heard the voice.

With a complex expression, he lightly patted the mainmast and murmured, "So you've been here all along. I'm sorry for leaving you alone, buddy."

And in that moment...

The Straw Hat Boy exclaimed from the bow of the ship, "Did you hear that? It sounded like someone talking."

"Don't be ridiculous, Luffy. We're 10,000 meters deep. How could anyone be talking?" Usopp retorted.

"But I swear I heard something. Hey, is anyone there?" Luffy called out loudly, his voice echoing in the eerie silence of the deep sea.

"Roger," Rayleigh murmured, reminiscing about his own youth, recalling similar experiences in the depths of the sea.

"It's like Luffy has the ability to hear the voices of everything," he added with a nostalgic smile.

Luffy's momentary auditory experience was just a fleeting episode.

Soon, a bright light emerged ahead, revealing a massive island enveloped in soap bubbles.

In the pitch-black depths of the ocean, this magical island with its vibrant lights appeared before them.

Fish-Man Island, their final destination before reaching the New World.

The Oro Jackson set course for the port specified by Fish-Man Island.

As the ship approached its destination...

Suddenly, several colossal figures emerged from the depths, swimming towards them.

Each of them was thousands of meters in size, their immense presence leaving the crew awestruck.

"After more than 20 years, humans can hear our voices again," one of the Sea Kings rumbled.

"That ship looks familiar. I remember a human named Gol D. Roger riding on it over 20 years ago," another remarked.

"Is it Gol D. Roger? No, it's a similar-looking kid wearing a straw hat," a third Sea King pondered.

"Can our purpose be fulfilled in this era?" came the uncertain query.

"I don't know. Let's wait and see," the others replied.

And just like that, the colossal figures vanished back into the darkness, leaving the crew bewildered.

In just a few brief moments, the Sea Kings demonstrated intelligence akin to humans.

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