The expressions of the Marine officers shifted to shock.
They simply couldn't believe what Sengoku had just said; it sounded utterly impossible.
Even the most gifted prodigy couldn't attain such terrifying strength at Rojen's age. Everyone knew that true power came only through relentless effort.
Hard work. Sweat. Sacrifice. No matter how talented, to become a powerhouse requires years of dedication.
If Rojen had been just an ordinary boy with no prior abilities, then how could anyone explain the strength he displayed now?
"Dragon, share your experience fighting him." Sengoku's voice broke the silence as he turned toward a young figure seated at the far end of the long table.
Dragon, caught off guard, blinked, then smiled faintly and said, "His power... is strange. I've never encountered anything like it. One thing I'm sure of, it's not a Devil Fruit."
He paused, his brows furrowing.
"What baffles me even more is this: if what Admiral Sengoku says is true, and Rojen had no abilities before... then where did his combat experience come from?"
Dragon's voice dropped as he recalled the battle.
He vividly remembered the way Rojen countered his attacks, smooth, calculated, like a seasoned warrior. His reflexes and techniques weren't just skilled; they were refined, sharpened through endless battles. It wasn't something a novice could replicate. In some areas, Rojen's instincts even surpassed his own.
"That's precisely the mystery," Sengoku replied with a knowing smile, then his expression turned grim.
"Before Roger's death, Rojen had no powers. In fact, he was known across Loguetown as a failure. He'd never trained in combat, never awakened any ability."
"But then, in his clash with Dragon, he unleashed illusions akin to powerful genjutsu, manipulated minds, breathed fire, performed ninjutsu reminiscent of certain Grand Line nations, and even summoned black flames from his eyes, flames that could burn through seawater and never extinguish."
"And finally... he summoned a colossal skeletal warrior."
Sengoku's voice grew heavier.
"There's no way someone could master all of that in such a short span."
The room was still. The Marines listened with rapt attention, a creeping sense of unease settling over them.
It didn't add up. Even if Rojen were the most talented person alive, for over a decade, he had been weak, completely powerless.
So, where had this strength come from?
Sengoku continued.
"The second time he revealed his power was against Kizaru." A gleam of clarity flickered in Sengoku's eyes. "This time, his power took the form of a longsword. Unlike the previous battle, which involved illusions, black fire, and skeletal summons, this time the manifestation was entirely different and stronger."
"It was absurdly stronger."
"The sword could morph and ignite into flames intense enough to reduce everything to ashes. He could concentrate that fire along the blade's edge, unleashing slashes that could tear apart even the battlefield."
"Every aspect of that power was beyond ordinary."
"No one, not even the most brilliant talent, could surpass an Admiral in such a short time."
"Unless…"
Sengoku paused, his gaze sharp.
Bang!
He slammed his palms onto the table, leaning forward.
"This power… does not belong to him."
Gasp!
Murmurs erupted across the room. The gathered officers stared at Sengoku in disbelief.
They didn't want to believe it. But deep down, the explanation made sense. It was the only one that could account for everything.
"If we analyze it carefully, during normal conditions, Rojen's strength is stable. That's his base state."
"For instance, when he first fought Dragon, his initial performance matched that of pirates with bounties around 40 to 50 Million Berries. Only after some time did he suddenly transform and become overwhelmingly strong."
"The same happened during his encounter with Kizaru. At first, he was gravely injured by a single kick. Earlier still, when confronted by Vice Admiral Moya, he chose to flee."
"If this power was truly his own, why would he run? Why would he appear weak at the start?"
Sengoku's rapid, incisive reasoning left the room in stunned silence.
If Rojen had been there, he might've applauded. Sengoku, the famed Resourceful General, had pieced together the truth from nothing more than scattered clues.
"In short, we can now confirm a few key facts." Sengoku's eyes narrowed as he spoke with clarity and precision.
"Rojen. Male. Sixteen years old. Younger brother of Pirate King Gol D. Roger."
"In terms of raw strength, his usual form places him around the level of a pirate with a bounty of 120 million berries. However, when he enters that mysterious state…"
He paused, eyes darkening as he remembered how even Logia-type Kizaru had nearly perished in that battle.
"…there's no upper limit."
Those four words struck the assembled Marine officers like thunder, each of them snapping their heads up, eyes filled with disbelief.
"However," Sengoku continued calmly, "We can confirm one thing: this state has a time limit. Approximately..."
He closed his eyes, carefully piecing together the details from their intelligence reports.
"...three hours. Once this power is activated, he maintains it for no more than three hours before reverting to his normal level."
Thanks to detailed records from the two prior confrontations, the Marines had thoroughly dissected Rojen's condition. Their efficiency in gathering, processing, and analyzing battlefield data was both astonishing and unsettling.
There was a reason the Marines could keep the pirate world in check. Their strength wasn't just physical, it was strategic, methodical, and absolute.
"That concludes our assessment of Rojen's basic combat profile," Sengoku said, opening his eyes. "As for other aspects, his origins, the true source of his abilities, we lack sufficient intel. We'll need to proceed cautiously and investigate further, step by step."
"Moving on to the Pirate King's wife..."
His tone shifted slightly.
"It has been confirmed, she gave birth. However, she is currently with Rojen. Given the protection surrounding him, apprehending her is nearly impossible at this time. For now, we will set this issue aside."
He paused, then added with gravity,
"And finally..."
The air in the room grew tense.
"The matter of the four thousand Marine defectors under Glans."
Before Sengoku could elaborate, Commander-in-Chief Kong raised his head, his authoritative voice cutting through the room.
"I'll take this part."
The room fell silent as Kong spoke with unwavering authority.
"Send agents immediately. Begin tracking their movements and initiate diplomatic contact."
"If they're willing to return, we'll grant them amnesty and restore their ranks. The sins of the past will be forgiven."
He paused, then his gaze turned sharp, his tone ice-cold.
"But if they refuse..."
"Mobilize a large-scale force."
"Exterminate them."
His words struck like cannon fire. Ruthless. Absolute.
This was the Marine justice of this era, unyielding and uncompromising.
(End of Chapter)
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