"I'm the captain. You're Golden Lion?"
The man's hair was ridiculous. A ship's wheel was stuck in his head. But his presence was heavy.
Luffy touched his hat. His voice was normal. Not afraid.
"Jihahaha! My name isn't forgotten yet."
Shiki laughed. He looked at Luffy differently. The boy knew his name. And he was calm.
Not many could do that.
His eyes stopped on the straw hat. Something familiar. Long ago, someone wore a hat like that.
His head hurt. Thinking about the past always hurt.
"Your name, boy."
"Monkey D. Luffy." Luffy grinned. "The man who will be King of the Pirates."
"Monkey D. Luffy?"
Shiki repeated it. His eyes narrowed.
He spent most of his time in the sky. Planning his IQ scheme. His brain was damaged. But he heard things.
Enies Lobby. Declaring war on the World Government. Surviving a Buster Call. A rookie called Straw Hat.
Big news. Almost as big as what he had done.
He thought it was luck. Boldness. But this boy was the one making waves.
Good. Easier to recruit.
Monkey D.
The name stopped him.
A man in a Justice coat. Black fists. Punching everything. Punching heads.
Everyone on Rocks' ship had felt those fists. Shiki wondered if their bad decisions came from brain damage. Garp's fault.
That man's name. He would never forget.
Monkey D. Garp.
Shiki's face changed. "Garp. What is he to you?"
"My grandfather."
Luffy studied Shiki. "You two know each other?"
Shiki: "..."
Silence on the deck.
Shiki's eyes were wide. His cigar nearly fell. He looked at Luffy. He thought of Garp. Stubborn Marine. Then he thought of Luffy. A pirate. Wanting to be king.
"Puhaha... Hahaha... JIHAHAHAHAHA!"
He laughed until he could not breathe. He doubled over. He held his stomach. He rolled on the deck. Tears in his eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"HAHAHA! This is too much! Garp! The Marine Hero! His grandson is a pirate!"
A pirate who wanted to be king.
This was the best joke since the Great Age began.
If Roger were alive, he would be laughing too.
The crew watched the legendary pirate rolling on their deck. They were confused.
Nami's face twitched. "All these legendary people... are they all like this? Garp was. This one too."
Usopp whispered: "Do you think Roger and Whitebeard were like this?"
"Strange people."
Chopper hid behind Zoro. "He'll get a side stitch. Should I get the first aid kit?"
Luffy was calm. He was used to this. Garp was like this. Shanks was like this.
Shiki laughed for two minutes. He wiped his eyes. He was still smiling.
Garp had chased them for years. Always talking about justice. And his grandson was the opposite.
"I can't wait to see the old man. I'll mock him for days."
He slapped his thigh. He laughed again.
Finally, he stopped. His eyes found Luffy. Something in them. Malice. Excitement.
"Join my crew."
His voice was hard. Certain.
"With me, this sea is ours. The Emperors. Marine Headquarters. Beneath us."
Since Impel Down, his crew had fallen apart. Old comrades dead or gone. No one strong left.
But this crew. Bounty over a billion. The captain called Fifth Emperor. Shiki did not believe that. But they were strong. Famous.
They could be his officers. His sword.
And Garp's grandson working for him? That alone was satisfying.
"No."
Luffy did not think.
"What?"
"I said no."
He looked at Shiki. Not afraid. Judging.
"You lost to my grandfather. Why would I join a crew led by a man who lost to him?"
Shiki: "..."
***
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