Among all the women Rosen had met, none were more beautiful than Hathaway, nor as powerful.
But when he tried to go further last night, Hathaway looked at him with a confused expression, as if to say, I only said I wanted to kiss you. I'm not interested in anything else.
Yet she didn't stop his movements either. She simply watched. She didn't dislike it. Seeing that, Rosen turned his desire into a deep embrace instead.
That was all. Rosen didn't feel awkward. If anything, the way he looked at Hathaway became even gentler. This woman was truly captivating.
After last night, their relationship had indeed grown closer. Yet Hathaway remained independent.
It was as if feelings occupied only a small portion of her life. Though she enjoyed being with him, she wasn't infatuated. At any moment, she knew what she should do and could calmly analyze everything with reason.
"Still nothing." The two stood at the bow of the wreck, watching it drift toward the unknown. They couldn't tell whether they were circling the same area.
So from time to time, they randomly adjusted the ship's direction, keeping it constantly in motion.
"I want to change into a new outfit." Rosen had been wearing the same clothes for days. Though he cleaned them with his sand ability and water, he still felt they weren't complete without sunlight.
"It looks like something's standing on the sea ahead…" Hathaway stared into the mist. Several dark shapes appeared in the distance, as if something were rising from the ocean.
"Another giant Sea King?" Rosen looked up but couldn't see clearly through the fog.
"Let's go take a look."
"Alright."
"They're mountains. Three steep peaks, very tall, on an island ahead."
An island? Both of them brightened. An island meant people might live there. And people meant a chance to contact other islands.
At last, a chance to leave this misty sea.
"Wait, those aren't ordinary mountains. Dodge!" Hathaway's Observation Haki was stronger than Rosen's. She instantly sensed a sonic boom approaching.
A sharp, conical shell streaked toward the wreck, trailing flames. At her warning, Rosen reacted at once. They both leapt aside.
Blindly taking a hit from such an unusual cannon would be arrogance. Avoiding and observing was wiser.
They jumped just as an explosion roared. The wreck was blasted to pieces, flames consuming the debris before it sank.
"What a powerful shot." Rosen was surprised. Watching the wreck destroyed left him slightly displeased. After all, it carried memories of their time together.
"This island is no ordinary place. Look closely…"
They were already close. The island had likely fired upon them after detecting an unknown vessel.
Lowering their bodies, they moved swiftly toward shore. As they neared, they saw this was no normal island.
Before them lay a city of steel. Along the coast were fully metallic ships, their exposed gears suggesting mechanical propulsion. Perhaps they could even operate on land like the ships Whitebeard had used in the war.
But that alone wouldn't have shocked Rosen.
On those ships stood former Shichibukai, the Tyrant, Bartholomew Kuma—no, Pacifistas.
There were many of them.
Besides these advanced vessels were standard Marine and World Government ships. Not many, but their presence was telling.
An island so heavily fortified, technologically advanced, and hidden within the mist—something important had to be here.
Even without thinking hard, Rosen knew this place concealed something vital to the World Government. Such advanced warships hadn't appeared even at Marine Headquarters during the war.
It wasn't that they were useless—far from it. But during the war, the Marines had already deployed fifty warships and held the advantage. More would have been difficult to coordinate. Or perhaps the World Government simply didn't want these technologies exposed.
"Do we land?" Hathaway asked.
Leaving the mist now wouldn't be hard. They could wait for a ship to depart and sneak aboard.
Or they could attack directly. Rosen believed that even if an Admiral-level force guarded the island, the two of them together had a strong chance.
With the seas in chaos, Marine Headquarters and the World Government likely had their forces spread thin. It was unlikely more than two Admiral-level fighters were stationed here.
Still, the sheer number of Pacifistas on alert was astonishing.
The defense was formidable. Even though this place was hidden within the mist and nearly impossible to find without specific means, its security remained tight.
On the towering peaks, Rosen could see giant cannons. Beyond the shoreline stood rows of metallic buildings, reminiscent of the steel safehouses in Landis.
Though different in detail, the resemblance was clear.
"We land. Then we infiltrate and observe. Don't act rashly," Rosen decided. Without intelligence, a direct assault wasn't worth it.
Besides, attacking held little benefit. But since they were here—and something suspicious was clearly happening—they might as well investigate.
"Alright."
…
"What's the situation? Was it an enemy ship?" Sentomaru stood inside a hollowed-out mountain peak, asking the soldier who had fired.
"Captain, there was no return fire. It sank immediately. Likely just another wreck lost in these waters."
The soldier's body was half metal, half flesh. He had nearly died in battle, saved only by the Marine Science Division and a great scientist. Now he lived in this form—but living was enough.
"Stay vigilant. In a few days, I'll leave to formally join the Marines. You'll be in charge here then." Sentomaru nodded and headed toward the conference room.
Today, the Science Division's main base would receive an important figure. Some security responsibilities would soon transfer to him.
After all, Admiral Kizaru had been busy lately.
Magellan, former warden of Impel Down, had been demoted to vice warden after the prison break, with Hannyabal promoted. As vice warden, Magellan had more free time. With Kizaru occupied, he would assume part of the duties here.
Using special currents, departing from Impel Down, passing Enies Lobby, and sailing further, one could enter this Devil's Triangle sea.
After many legendary pirates escaped, Impel Down's defenses were reinforced. The remaining prisoners lacked the strength to escape again.
A vice warden was sufficient now. Besides, Magellan no longer had the face to remain warden.
This time, he came to escort several troublesome ability users from Impel Down to the Science Division, staying for a while before returning.
(End of Chapter)