Luffy's bounty poster spread across the world at astonishing speed through the World Economic Journal. The reward attached to his name reached a staggering three billion Berries, a figure personally approved by Fleet Admiral Lloyd.
No one yet realized that this bounty was not solely for Straw Hat Luffy, but also for the existence of Joy Boy that resided within him.
Before this, the impression Luffy had left on the world was merely that of a rising rookie pirate. After the Paramount War, he had vanished from public sight for nearly two years. If not for this newly issued bounty, many people would barely have remembered him.
This bounty announcement thrust Luffy back into the center of global attention.
According to the official report, as the grandson of Vice Admiral Garp, Luffy had secretly cooperated with the Revolutionary Army and carried out activities in the East Blue that endangered world stability. Vice Admiral Garp, who happened to be in the East Blue at the time, discovered their location and engaged them in a fierce battle.
During the conflict, Vice Admiral Garp showed no hesitation despite Luffy being his grandson. He led a small contingent of Marines into battle and fought until his final breath, ultimately collapsing from exhaustion.
Vice Admiral Garp, who had devoted decades of his life to the Marines, was hailed as a true Marine Hero.
At the same time the bounty was released, Marine Headquarters had already assembled a massive fleet, one whose scale surpassed even that of a Buster Call. The fleet departed from the Grand Line with its destination set for the East Blue, one of the Four Blues.
East Blue.
The island where Foosha Village stood was completely surrounded by warships from Marine Headquarters. Countless vessels covered the sea, creating a suffocating atmosphere filled with tension and authority.
A colossal warship slowly approached the shore and docked.
Soon afterward, rows of Marine soldiers wearing justice cloaks disembarked in perfect order. They split into two columns, forming a ceremonial pathway stretching from the ship to the village.
After hearing the news, Village Chief Woop Slap and the villagers of Foosha Village hurried to the shoreline. The sight before them caused many to unconsciously swallow nervously.
The beach fell silent.
Then two figures slowly descended from the warship, one man and one woman.
The Marines instantly saluted in unison.
Woop Slap rubbed his eyes repeatedly. When he finally saw the face of the man at the front, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Th, that's Fleet Admiral Lloyd! Unbelievable! He actually came here himself!"
The villagers were equally stunned.
To them, this was a legendary figure who normally existed far beyond their reach.
Within the crowd, Makino stared with widened eyes.
"So that's Fleet Admiral Lloyd? He looks so young, and he's..."
She abruptly stopped herself, covering her mouth before lowering her head.
At that moment, nobody paid attention to her reaction.
Everyone's gaze remained fixed on Lloyd.
Even the cold and beautiful woman standing beside him was largely ignored.
However, the insignia on her cloak clearly revealed her rank.
She was an Admiral.
And throughout the Marines, there was only one female Admiral.
Admiral Nightingale Lucia.
Lucia remained exactly one step behind Lloyd, following him closely. Her posture made it difficult for anyone to notice her prestigious status. To most observers, she appeared more like a loyal and capable bodyguard.
Lloyd walked to the front of the assembled Marines.
He turned his gaze toward the villagers before calmly making his way toward them.
Only after stopping directly in front of Woop Slap did he halt.
At such close proximity, Woop Slap could fully experience the overwhelming pressure emanating from Lloyd.
The noble bearing of a Celestial Dragon and the authority of a Fleet Admiral blended perfectly within him.
Lloyd looked down at the village chief.
"You are Woop Slap, the chief of Foosha Village, correct?"
Already drenched in sweat, Woop Slap quickly nodded.
"Y, yes, Fleet Admiral Lloyd! I am Woop Slap!"
Lloyd gave a slight nod.
"Good. Take me to the place where Vice Admiral Garp fought."
The moment Garp's name was mentioned, sorrow appeared across the faces of the villagers.
Lloyd noticed the change immediately.
After a brief pause, he spoke in a softer tone.
"It seems my arrival has frightened you. There is no need to be afraid. I am only here to confirm something."
A young villager gathered enough courage to speak.
"Fleet Admiral Lloyd... where is Vice Admiral Garp's body now? We wanted to hold a funeral for him..."
Lloyd shifted his gaze toward the young man.
"On behalf of Vice Admiral Garp, I appreciate your feelings. However, he has already been laid to rest at Marine Headquarters. This decision was agreed upon by those closest to him. For a Marine like Garp, there is no more fitting resting place."
The villagers lowered their heads.
Quiet sobs could be heard among the crowd.
Lloyd's eyes briefly swept over Makino, who stood with her head lowered as tears rolled down her cheeks.
He withdrew his gaze immediately.
"Let's go."
...
Under Woop Slap's guidance, Lloyd and the accompanying Marines arrived at the battlefield where Garp had made his final stand.
The surrounding landscape had been utterly devastated.
Deep scars covered the earth, while vast sections of the nearby forest had collapsed. Even after some time had passed, traces of the battle's terrifying intensity remained visible everywhere.
Lloyd slowly stepped onto a relatively intact patch of ground.
Applying a small amount of force with his foot, he felt a strange elasticity beneath him.
His eyes lowered slightly.
"So it really was him. Has he already reached this stage?"
The others could sense nothing unusual.
Yet Lloyd clearly perceived a peculiar substance lingering throughout the area.
It resembled drifting white mist.
Nika's aura.
With a single thought, a faint layer of black energy enveloped Lloyd's body.
An unnatural attraction spread outward from him.
The Nika aura scattered throughout the surroundings began flowing toward him, gathering from every direction before being completely absorbed.
As the final traces vanished, the ground beneath his feet lost its unusual elasticity and returned to its original state.
During the twenty-two years Lloyd spent asleep, he had suffered greatly from the influence of Nika's aura within himself.
He had invested immense effort into eradicating it.
Now, however, such a level of Nika's aura posed no threat whatsoever.
Lloyd slowly raised his right hand.
A dark vortex materialized in his palm.
From within it emerged a dazzling sphere of white light.
The glowing sphere seemed alive, pulsing violently as though attempting to escape the darkness restraining it.
Lloyd stared directly at it.
His golden eyes gradually turned pitch black, resembling two slowly rotating abyssal voids.
Moments later, he closed his hand.
The sphere instantly exploded.
The white light transformed into wisps of black smoke that drifted upward before disappearing completely.
Lowering his hand to his side, Lloyd narrowed his eyes.
His quiet voice echoed across the ruined battlefield.
"The next time we meet... should I call you Luffy, or Joy Boy?"