The Beginning Of The End

[ Third Person POV ] 

Baterilla, South Blue

In the small island of South Blue, within the small town of Baterilla. A man could be seen walking casually towards a small house humming a tune.

He had just left the market to get some groceries, and now was heading back to his home. He had met a lovely woman a while back, and they really had hit it off. Soon after, he ended up living with her in a small house that happened to be her primary abode.

"Rouge, I made it back!" Roger exclaimed happily as he opened the door and walked in.

"Welcome back, I've already finished making some food. So wash up so we can eat," Rouge's serene voice could be heard from the kitchen Roger walked towards the sound of her voice.

Roger soon walked into the kitchen, and set the groceries down on the table before approaching Rouge from behind and hugging her. From an outsider's perspective, they looked like a pleasant couple that had nothing but love for each other.

"I wish we could stay like this forever," Rouge said reminiscently.

"We both know that can't happen," Roger replied softly, kissing her neck.

Roger's sickness was still killing him. Even with all the medicine that Roger's former ship doctor, Crocus, had given him right before he left the ship. It was still a growing sickness that was slowly consuming at Roger's life. 

The best the medicine was doing at that moment, was slowing the pace in which the sickness was consuming him. He had a couple of months at most, before the sickness went too far.

It also didn't help that the World Government's manhunt for Roger had taken priority over time. 

It had been more than obvious that Roger had reached the last island within the New World. Rumors and stories had quickly spread immediately after it had been announced that the Roger Pirates had disbanded. Even with the World Conscription, this was a very bad look on the World Government's side. 

The failure to uphold justice and capture Roger before it had been too late was degrading the World Government's Reputation. It was even worse when it went down to the Marines, who had happened to be subordinates of the World Government.

The Roger Pirates had been their top adversary for the Marines. The fact that the Roger Pirates had been able to fight off and evade the Marines until their dreams had been fulfilled and disbanded, was like a spit on the face to the Marines. There was no way that the Marines were going to let the Roger Pirates slide.

They could have gone after the entire crew, but they knew that it wouldn't have as much impact compared to catching Roger and executing him in public. Searches for him had increased to an unimaginable standard. The Marines had even set up check points on every World Government affiliated island to check if Roger would visit those islands just in case.

Meanwhile, there were plenty of ships that had been deployed to visit different islands that weren't affiliated with the World Government. 

They really had it out for Roger.

"Do you think that they'll ever find us?" Rouge asked Roger worriedly.

"That's going to be difficult.....except for one man, maybe," Roger assured calmly while continuing to hold Rouge's waist delicately.

Most of these searches were mostly happening in the New World and Paradise, although they had also put checkpoints and searches in the blues as well, they didn't put as much emphasis on the blues compared to the New World and Paradise.

"Either way, I want to spend as much time as I can with you," Roger replied softly as Rouge turned around. 

A soft kiss was then made between the two.

...

Marine Ford

Fleet Admiral Kong sat on his desk while reading some reports on the World Conscription. 

There had been much to do before hand, and that work load had shown no signs of easing anytime soon. At least, as long as Roger was still out and about.

Currently, the World Government's largest headache had been trying to erase the legacy that the Roger Pirates had just established after what they had just done. Using the World Conscription was merely a means to an end.

By ordering the World Conscription, the Marines were going to be able stretch their influence as far as possible. 

Getting more Marine soldiers along with possible information on the location of Gol D. Roger, it was like killing two birds with one stone. It wouldn't be too long until they found him, and now the best that they could all do was wait until something came up.

As for the conscription, they were getting flooded by countless Marine recruits. Many of them showed promise of being prominent in the future, but for now, they were nothing more than Marine soldiers who were in dire need of training. 

Countless training camps were formed so that they could usher in the Marines who showed potential. Admiral Zephyr had been placed responsible of the situation and was busy directing all the programs that were to be happening within these training programs. 

Meanwhile, Kong was responsible for directing the recruits towards appropriate training camps. Countless names were riddled on papers that were stacked on Admiral Kong's desk, and he had been spending the last few weeks sorting them out and sending out orders for the new recruits.

Suddenly, Garp burst in along with his subordinate and trusted friend, Bogard.

"Admiral Kong! I'm still not getting any signs of Roger from where you sent me. Just let me look for him by myself!" Garp complained.

"Not right now, there are still many locations that happen to be convenient spots for Roger to show up," Kong then handed Garp a piece of paper listed with new multiple locations where Roger might have been hiding.

"Try these locations out, and if you can't find him there. Report back to me, and we'll find a way to move forward," Kong spoke.

Garp didn't look too happy about it and huffed before turning around and leaving, and Bogard simply saluted at the Fleet Admiral before following him, hot on Garp's heels.

Just as Garp had left, a couple of CP0 agents immediately went into the office without knocking. Kong immediately recognized this group of agents, mostly because that they were high in seniority within the organization.

"What is it? I'm currently occupied with a lot of work, as you can see," Kong gestured at the mountain stacked papers that were on his desk.

"We aren't here to help you with that paper work, we are merely here to inform you of a new operation that will be taking place soon," the CP0 leader handed Fleet-Admiral Kong a sheet of paper.

"We have gotten information about Kaidou and the Beast Pirates occupying Wano," the agent began explaining while Kong looked over the document, "they've been spotted having multiple weapons facilities that can prove to be a very valuable asset for us if we negotiate with them properly."

"What does that have to do with us? The World Government isn't affiliated with Wano," Admiral Kong replied.

"We will be heading towards the island to establish trade relations, mostly for their weapons. Also, we heard some rather interesting information that they may have Sea Stone mines there as well."

Admiral Kong sighed before returning the paper to the CP0 leader.

"It's no surprise that the World Government is in dire need of Sea Stone. Those Whitebeard bastards took one of our most vital sea stone production mines that we had," Admiral Kong remarked. 

"Just make sure to stay out of our way when all of this begins. It will be incredibly inconvenient if you intervene," The CP0 leader responded before leaving the office.