Garp stared at Luffy's stubborn face and sighed, helpless.
That kid's been brainwashed by Red-Hair too thoroughly.
Ace spoke up quietly, head lowered. "Grandpa…"
"Hm?" Garp looked at him.
"Are pirates… really evil?"
Garp studied Ace for a long moment, as if seeing someone else behind his face.
Then he sighed again.
"Most pirates are violent criminals," he said slowly. "But… there are a few who go to sea because they're forced to."
"Those people aren't the same."
"But they're rare. Out of a hundred pirate crews, having even one like that is already lucky."
Luffy's eyes lit up instantly. "See?! Grandpa! I told you pirates aren't all bad!"
"BAKA…" Garp covered his face. So you only heard that part…
Makino pointed at Uta's photo again. "Then what happened after that? With Uta?"
Luffy leaned in. "Yeah, Grandpa—what happened to her?"
Garp grunted and continued. "After that, she drifted around. Then she saw a name in the papers."
He tapped the newspaper—right on a skull logo.
Makino blinked. "The 'Soul King'?"
"A skeleton that sings?" Luffy's eyes sparkled. "That's awesome! I've decided—when I have a pirate crew, I'm inviting him!"
The three adults all stared at him like he was hopeless.
Garp continued anyway. "That skeleton… I heard White Ghost pulled him out of Moria's mess, then left him in Sabaody doing concerts."
"Uta went through hell just to reach Sabaody, and for some reason, White Ghost took her in."
"So she stayed there and kept performing."
"Tokikake—Gion's partner—went once. Said her singing was good."
"I've decided!" Luffy planted his hands on his hips, beaming.
Everyone turned. "Decided what?"
"My future crew's musician will be Uta—and that funny skeleton!"
"Ha?" ×3
"IDIOT!" Garp punched Luffy on the head.
"Ow!" Luffy grabbed his head, a fresh bump forming. "I'm rubber! Why can your punches still hurt?!"
Garp blew on his fist. "That's the power of love!"
Then he pointed at the newspaper again. "Also, stop deciding people's lives, Luffy. That girl is traveling with someone terrifying."
He tapped the photo of a handsome, smiling man.
"That one. She's with him."
"Das… White Ghost?" Luffy read the name, squinting at the print.
Garp nodded. "That's the man who beat Kaido in a war in the New World."
The three listeners looked confused, so Garp explained.
"This sea is full of pirates tearing each other apart. Very few make it to the end."
"And the ones who do—who stand on the pirate world's peak—are called the Three Emperors."
"Three Emperors…" Makino repeated softly.
"Yeah," Garp said. "Pirate 'emperors.' Monsters at the top."
"One of them is the man recognized as the strongest in the world—Whitebeard, Edward Newgate."
Ace's hands slowly clenched under the counter, eyes flashing with something unreadable.
"Strongest man… awesome!" Luffy whispered, glowing with excitement.
"Another is Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin. Strongest woman."
"And the last used to be Kaido, the 'Strongest Creature.' But after White Ghost defeated him…"
Garp's mouth twisted. "That title got dragged onto White Ghost instead."
Ace stared at the photo. "So that man… he's as strong as a pirate emperor?"
Garp nodded. "Pretty much."
"After that fight, he hasn't shown his full hand again. But his level is around the Three Emperors."
"Out at sea, people call him…"
Garp read it with clear annoyance.
"Golden Dragon Emperor. Hundred-Beasts White Ghost."
Luffy pulled his straw hat down with a grin. "Heh. I don't care about pirate emperors."
"If he blocks me, I'll just punch him away!"
Ace snorted. "Idiot Luffy, you can't even beat Grandpa."
"But don't worry. I'll beat him first."
"NANI?! No!" Luffy shouted. "I'm the one who'll beat him! I'm the man who'll become Pirate King!"
Garp stared into the void. "Two idiot grandsons…"
Makino looked back at the paper. "Didn't he resign from the Marines?"
Garp nodded while eating. "Yeah. Some special reasons. He left."
"Said he's going to travel the world—first stop: the East Blue."
Then he muttered, annoyed, "Damn brat… young and already touring the world. Makes me jealous."
"Travel the world…" Luffy's eyes shone. "Like a pirate?"
"BAKA!" Garp barked. "Stop projecting your pirate obsession onto everyone."
"He flies an adventurer flag, not a pirate flag."
Makino smiled softly at the photo. "Then maybe we'll see Uta soon."
"I wonder if she'll sing in Goa Kingdom."
Ace and Luffy exchanged a look.
If that man was coming here… then Uta might really be close.
"Hehehe." Ace gripped his pipe. "If he shows up, I want to fight him."
"A pirate emperor's strength… I want to see it."
"Hehehe!" Luffy swung his arms. "I'll punch him away and 'rescue' Uta and that skeleton!"
In Luffy's mind, if Uta and the skeleton were with someone scary, they must be "captured."
Garp could only sigh harder. Even he wasn't sure he could casually crush White Ghost anymore—not with Mythical Zoan power, top-tier Haki, and swordsmanship piled together.
Just then, Garp's aide entered.
"Vice Admiral Garp."
Garp looked up. "What is it, Bogard?"
Bogard pressed his cap lower. "A ship has entered the waters. It looks like the vessel of the former Marine—White Ghost."
Garp's eyes lit up. He'd been talking about that brat seconds ago.
"Ho." He stood. "Let's go see."
Garp headed out first.
Ace and Luffy sprinted after him. Makino followed too, too curious to stay behind.
"SO COOL!" At the harbor, Luffy stared at the massive ship with open awe.
Garp laughed. "That's him. I can feel it."
Makino tilted her head. "Eh? Why did it stop?"
Everyone looked.
Why did it stop?
At the figurehead of the Dragon Emperor, White Ghost stared at the people in the distance and curled his lips into a grin.
"Garp… I finally caught you."
"At Marine HQ we never ran into each other."
"But now? You're not running."
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios