Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Since the collapse of the Rocks Pirates, the seas hadn't grown any quieter. In fact, the workload for the Marines had doubled. The surviving executives of the Rocks Pirates were establishing their own crews, fracturing the New World into chaotic territories.
"Report!"
A messenger stood at attention outside Fleet Admiral Kong's office.
"Come in!"
Kong was currently in a high-level briefing with Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, and Vice Admiral Tsuru. He gestured for the messenger to enter.
"Reporting to Fleet Admiral Kong! Admiral Sengoku! Vice Admirals Garp and Tsuru!"
The messenger saluted crisply. His eyes, however, lingered on Garp with unhidden fervor and hero-worship.
Garp rubbed the back of his neck, letting out an awkward, forced laugh.
As the target of the World Government's massive propaganda machine, Garp was furious about his current status. He couldn't tell anyone the truth about God Valley—that they had protected the Celestial Dragons and that Roger was involved. He was forced to stomach the title of "Marine Hero" in bitter silence.
"Report," Kong ordered, bringing the room to order.
"Sir! The pirate you specifically flagged for high priority—Atlas D. York—has surfaced in the South Blue!"
"He appeared in the Sorbet Kingdom. According to reports, his crew massacred a large number of local nobles, plundered the national wealth, and plunged the kingdom into chaos."
The messenger stepped forward, handing a thick dossier to Kong. "Here is the detailed intelligence, sir."
Kong opened the file. His already stern face darkened like a thundercloud.
He didn't say a word. He simply handed the file to Garp.
"Garp. Read this."
Garp took it, looking bewildered. He knew York was dangerous, a 3-Billion Berry monster, but in Garp's eyes, York wasn't Roger. He wasn't his primary target.
But as Garp read the names listed under York's crew, his eyes bulged out of his skull.
"DRAGON?!" Garp roared, the veins on his forehead popping. "How the hell did that brat get involved with York?!"
Sengoku and Tsuru flinched in surprise.
Seeing that Garp was about to detonate, Kong quickly waved the messenger out. The smart Marine saluted and bolted from the room.
The heavy oak doors clicked shut.
"THAT SCOUNDREL DRAGON!!" Garp bellowed, slamming his fist onto Kong's desk, cracking the mahogany. "He deserves a beating! Deserting his post is one thing, but running off to join a pirate crew?! And York's crew at that?!"
Garp turned to Kong, his eyes blazing.
"Kong! Give me the order! I'm going to wipe out York's crew and drag that idiot boy back here by his ears!"
Kong sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Garp, calm down. Let Sengoku and Tsuru read the report. They have more tactical sense than you."
"Hmph!" Garp snorted angrily, shoving the file into Sengoku's chest.
Sengoku read the report rapidly, his expression shifting from shock to deep contemplation. He handed it to Tsuru without a word.
Once Tsuru finished, Kong looked at Sengoku.
"These past few years, I've had you investigate York's background," Kong said. "Have you found anything?"
Sengoku nodded slowly. The room grew quiet.
"I have."
"York's full name was originally just Atlas York. He hails from the Ceramic Kingdom in the West Blue. He doesn't possess the 'D' initial by birth, nor does he have any special racial lineage. He was a completely ordinary child."
Sengoku took a breath, the weight of the past heavy in his voice.
"Fifteen years ago... the Celestial Dragons held a 'Summer Camp' event in the Ceramic Kingdom."
Garp's head snapped up. Before God Valley, he hadn't known exactly what a Celestial Dragon "Summer Camp" entailed. But after witnessing the native hunting games on God Valley, he knew exactly what Sengoku meant.
"Hmph!" Garp looked away, his jaw clenched tight. "Another massacre caused by the World Nobles."
Sengoku closed his eyes. "At the time, I was a Vice Admiral responsible for maintaining the perimeter around the island. By chance, I discovered a boy who had stowed away on my warship."
"He told me his name was Atlas York."
Sengoku looked at his hands. "He was just a kid. And given what I suspected was happening on that island... I took pity on him. After the 'event' ended, I secretly placed him in a nearby affiliated country to live peacefully."
"So," Tsuru murmured, folding her hands. "When York first made a name for himself in the Rocks Pirates a few years ago, you felt a sense of familiarity, but couldn't place it."
Sengoku nodded.
Garp scoffed loudly. "Do you regret it now, Sengoku? Regret not strangling that kid when you had the chance?"
Sengoku's brow furrowed, a flash of righteous anger in his eyes.
"Garp! We've been comrades for decades. Do you really think I'm that kind of person?!"
"Even if I knew what he would become, I would never execute an innocent child!"
Garp rolled his eyes. Sengoku's "Absolute Justice" had its blind spots. If he had known York would grow up to possess a 3-Billion Berry bounty and plunge the world into chaos, Sengoku would have absolutely nipped the threat in the bud.
"Enough," Tsuru interrupted, her calm voice cutting through the tension. "Arguing about the past is meaningless. It only wastes our time. The problem now is how to deal with the 'Lord of Corruption'."
"I already told you!" Garp cracked his knuckles. "Send me! My idiot son deserted at God Valley, and now he's rolling with York. I'm going to personally capture him and smash York into the dirt!"
Kong nodded slowly.
"Alright. Given your emotional investment, it's a risk. But you are also the best choice. With your current strength, handling York won't be an issue."
Kong looked at the file. "More importantly, Garp, your Haki is absolute, and you are immune to the charms of that woman, Shakky. If you bring York down, it will only solidify your standing."
"However," Kong added, raising a finger. "To ensure absolute victory, Tsuru will accompany you."
Garp blinked, looking at the Great Staff Officer.
"York's Devil Fruit ability is too insidious," Kong explained. "It targets desires and corrupts the mind. But Tsuru's Wash-Wash Fruit cleanses evil and impurity from the soul. Theoretically, she is his natural enemy. Acting together, you can neutralize him completely."
Garp hesitated, then nodded. He valued the lives of his Marines above all else. Having Tsuru there to "wash" any soldiers corrupted by York's power would prevent a massacre.
"Excellent," Kong declared, slamming his hand on the desk. "It's decided. Garp, Tsuru! You will lead a fleet to the South Blue. Capture the Crimson Harvest Pirates!"
The First Half of the Grand Line (Paradise).
The Alabasta Kingdom.
Just as the Marine Headquarters finalized their massive deployment to the South Blue...
They were already too late.
Thousands of miles away, the Crimson Harvest Pirates' warship docked quietly at a bustling desert port.
Using Kaido's Flame Clouds, York had entirely bypassed the Reverse Mountain and the conventional ocean currents. They had flown straight over the Calm Belt.
The Marines were hunting ghosts in the South Blue.
Atlas D. York had already entered the Grand Line.
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