Kael sheathed his sword and turned away from the sinking remains of the ship.
For a moment, he walked toward the railing—
Then paused.
Slowly, he turned back.
"…What are you all gawking at?"
The sudden question snapped everyone out of their daze.
Tashigi straightened instantly.
Kaya blinked, still processing what she had just witnessed.
Nami clicked her tongue, folding her arms.
Mr. 9 flinched.
Vivi quickly looked away.
Kael didn't linger on their reactions.
His gaze shifted toward Nami.
"To Whiskey Peak."
A brief pause.
"Full speed."
And just like that, he turned again and walked off without another word.
Nami stared at his back for a second before groaning.
"…This guy."
She ran a hand through her hair, clearly annoyed.
"Why does he always have to act so cool?"
Despite her complaint—
She moved.
"Adjust the sails!"
The crew responded instantly.
Ropes tightened.
Canvas shifted.
The Sovereign Gale adjusted its course smoothly, cutting through the sea as it surged forward with renewed speed.
Kaya watched the exchange with a faint smile.
"He hasn't changed at all…"
Tashigi remained where she stood for a moment longer.
Her eyes shone faintly.
"…Very soon…"
Her grip tightened just a little.
"I'll reach that level too."
Behind them—
Vivi and Mr. 9 exchanged a glance.
Both pale.
Both uneasy.
"W-Whiskey Peak…?"
They spoke in unison.
Meanwhile—
Kael stood at the railing, the wind brushing against him as the vast sea stretched endlessly ahead.
(Well… that was interesting.)
He exhaled lightly.
Then—
(System.)
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Kael frowned.
(…?)
Then—
A response.
[Host, before you ask anything…]
[I have a question.]
Kael blinked.
(Go ahead.)
A brief pause.
Then—
[Were you aura farming just now?]
Kael froze.
(…WHAT?)
(How do you even know that word?!)
[Our consciousness is merged, remember?]
[Now answer me.]
Kael clicked his tongue.
(Of course not.)
(I was just putting that poor ship to rest.)
[It really looked like you were trying to impress the girls.]
[If yes, then let me tell you—you've certainly succeede—]
Kael's eyebrow twitched.
(I WAS NOT.)
(Now shut up and let's talk about something important.)
[Alright, no need to get angry.]
[Go ahead.]
Kael exhaled slowly.
(I should've gotten a reward from Laboon or Crocus, right?)
[Yes, you did.]
His eyes narrowed slightly.
(Then why didn't you show me the notification?)
[You didn't ask.]
A pause.
(…And isn't it your job to show me automatically?)
[Well…]
Kael's expression darkened.
(What if I forgot?)
(Wouldn't that be a waste?)
[Host, I already knew you wouldn't forget.]
[Our consciousness is mer—]
(Shut up, you lazy bastard.)
A brief silence followed.
Then—
[Host… calm down.]
[Let me make it up to you.]
Kael raised an eyebrow.
(Oh?)
[There's a new function.]
(…New function?)
(Since when?)
[The system can now auto-update.]
[I received a minor update earlier.]
[I was inactive for about two hours.]
Kael blinked.
(…I didn't notice.)
[Of course you didn't.]
[You never notice.]
[I feel like you don't care abou—]
(Stop talking like a hurt wife and explain.)
[…]
[Understood.]
[The new function allows reward merging.]
Kael leaned slightly against the railing.
(Merging… rewards?)
[Yes.]
[I can combine two or more minor rewards.]
[The result is a higher-quality reward from the pool.]
[The more rewards merged, the better the outcome.]
Kael nodded slowly.
(So if you merge Laboon's reward with Crocus'…)
[I can generate a superior item.]
[Correct.]
[Physical stat boosts are excluded.]
(Makes sense.)
A faint smile appeared on Kael's face.
(Alright.)
(Let's see what we get.)
[Initiating reward sequence.]
[Missions Complete.]
[Befriend Laboon.]
[Befriend Crocus.]
[Two Mini Rewards Acquired.]
[Merging Rewards…]
A brief pause—
Then—
[Ding.]
[Congratulations, Host.]
[You have received—]
Kael's eyes shifted.
A flicker of surprise appeared.
"…Oh?"
His gaze lingered for a moment longer.
A faint glint passed through his eyes.
(This… is better than I expected.)
Far away from the Grand Line's restless waves—
At the very heart of Marine power—
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford—
A tense meeting was underway.
Or at least—
It should have been.
"Garp."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku frowned deeply.
"There is an important matter to discuss."
"Will you please behave?"
Across the room—
Monkey D. Garp continued stuffing his mouth with senbei, crunching loudly.
He paused for a second—
Then resumed eating.
A vein popped on Sengoku's forehead.
"GARP!!"
Garp quickly swallowed, then grinned.
"Gahahaha! Sengoku, calm down."
"You might get a heart attack."
"You—!!"
Before Sengoku could explode further—
Tsuru sighed, rubbing her temple.
"When will you two old geezers stop acting like children?"
Garp burst into laughter.
"You're an old geezer too, Tsuru-chan!"
"Gahahaha!"
Tsuru's brow twitched.
"Garp… you…"
Nearby—
Kuzan sat with a helpless expression, clearly used to this chaos.
Meanwhile—
Borsalino leaned back casually, amused.
"My, my… what wonderful bonding…"
Sengoku shot him a sharp glare.
"Enough jokes, Borsalino."
"Where is Sakazuki?"
"Why is he not present?"
Kizaru shrugged lazily.
"Oooh… no need to get angry, Sengoku-san."
"Sakazuki is in the New World."
"Monitoring pirate activity, as ordered."
Sengoku nodded.
"I see."
Then—
His expression hardened.
He reached into his desk, pulled out two bounty posters—
And slammed them down with a sharp thud.
Silence fell—heavy enough to suffocate the room.
"The reason I called this meeting…"
"…is these two pirates."
He picked up the first poster.
Held it up.
"Monkey D. Luffy."
"40 million."
"Began his journey in the East Blue just weeks ago."
"Since then—he has defeated pirates like Buggy the Clown and Don Krieg."
"And attacked the 153rd Marine Branch at Shells Town."
The officers listened intently.
Tsuru's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Monkey D.?"
Her gaze shifted—
Toward Garp.
Garp grinned widely.
"Yep! That's my grandson!"
"Looks like he caused quite a stir!"
"Gahahaha! 40 million already?!"
"As expected of my grandson!!"
Silence.
Everyone stared at him.
Stunned.
Sengoku snapped.
"SHUT UP, GARP!!"
"Your grandson is a criminal now!"
"Do you understand what that means?!"
Garp scratched the back of his head, still smiling.
"Gahahaha…"
The room collectively gave up.
Sengoku groaned, placing Luffy's poster down.
Then—
He picked up the second one.
His tone turned colder.
"…The real reason we're here."
He held it up.
"Kael Sylvarion."
"80 million."
That number alone—
Shifted the atmosphere.
Tsuru frowned deeply.
"40 million was already excessive…"
"But 80…?"
"From East Blue?"
Even the high-ranking Marines stirred.
All—
Except Kuzan.
Sengoku continued.
"This swordsman has already defeated Kuro."
"Destroyed Arlong and his entire crew."
"Attacked the 16th Marine Branch near the Conomi Islands."
A pause.
Then—
"He killed both Arlong… and the Marine Captain."
"On the same day."
Silence pressed down again—thick and heavy.
"And he did it…"
"…alone."
The weight of that statement settled into every corner of the room.
Then—
Garp suddenly stood up.
"Damn brat!!"
"How dare he steal my grandson's spotlight?!"
"I'll find him and beat him myself!"
Everyone froze.
Tsuru slowly turned.
"…That's what you're worried about?"
"GARP!!!" Sengoku roared again.
Garp paused—
Then laughed awkwardly.
"Gahahaha… my bad."
"I'll stay quiet."
He sat down, completely unbothered.
Sengoku exhaled slowly.
Then continued.
"The most shocking report…"
"…is from Baratie."
He paused—
Then spoke clearly.
"This Kael… clashed with Dracule Mihawk."
Silence.
Even the air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Kizaru spoke first.
"My, my…"
"How scary…"
"Kids these days…"
Tsuru frowned sharply.
"…Clashed with Mihawk?"
"How?"
Sengoku replied.
"It was described as 'nothing serious.'"
"Mihawk initiated the spar."
"They exchanged several blows."
Tsuru's eyes widened.
"Nothing serious?!"
"A rookie surviving even a single exchange with Mihawk is already unbelievable!"
Sengoku nodded.
"Exactly."
"And yet…"
"He walked away with only minor injuries."
"What?!"
Tsuru and Garp reacted at the same time.
Kizaru raised his hands slightly.
"My, my—"
"Borsalino!!"
"…I'll be quiet."
Sengoku continued.
"These two—Luffy and Kael—"
"Have the highest recorded first bounties in the Four Seas."
Tsuru narrowed her eyes.
"…Higher than…"
Sengoku cut in.
"I know."
"But Boa Hancock and Nico Robin were exceptions."
"These two…"
He slammed Kael's poster beside Luffy's again.
"…earned theirs."
His gaze hardened.
"Especially Kael Sylvarion."
"He is extremely dangerous."
A pause.
"They have likely already entered the Grand Line."
The room turned completely serious.
"Keep a close watch on all their movements."
The Marines standing behind saluted instantly.
"YES SIR!!"
Even the elites—
Garp.
Tsuru.
Kuzan.
And even Kizaru—
Nodded.
But not all thoughts were aligned.
Garp leaned back, cracking his knuckles.
Luffy…
You idiot grandson…
You still became a pirate… just like that damn Red-Haired…
A grin spread across his face.
Next time I see you…
You're getting a proper 'Fist of Love.'
Meanwhile—
Kuzan's gaze drifted slightly.
Calm.
Curious.
Kael-kun…
A faint smile formed.
Let's see what kind of man you really are…
His eyes sharpened just a fraction.
You want me to stand beside you?
Then show me.
Show me your resolve.
Outside—
The sea around Marineford remained calm.
But the storm had already begun.
On a remote island, far from Marine eyes—
A lone figure arrived.
Calm.
Silent.
In his hand—
Two folded bounty posters.
The moment he stepped onto the shore—
Someone spotted him.
And panicked.
"T-That's—!!"
The man turned and ran without a second thought.
Moments later—
He burst into a gathering.
"BOOOOSSSSS—!!!"
Several pirates turned sharply.
At the center—
Sat Shanks.
Relaxed.
Yet—
Dangerous.
The messenger dropped to his knees, trembling.
"Boss! That Haw—"
His voice died instantly.
A presence.
Right behind him.
Cold.
Sharp.
Unmoving.
Fear gripped his spine.
Then—
Shanks spoke, casual as ever.
"Yo… Hawkeyes."
"Long time no see."
He leaned back slightly.
"I'm not really in the mood today."
"You here for a match?"
Behind the trembling man—
Dracule Mihawk stood, expression unreadable.
He scoffed lightly.
"I have no interest in challenging a one-armed man."
A brief pause.
Then—
"However…"
"I came across something… interesting."
He pulled out one of the posters.
Unfolded it slowly.
"And it reminded me… of something you once mentioned."
Shanks' gaze sharpened slightly.
"A small village."
"An amusing little brat."
The poster turned—
Facing him.
Monkey D. Luffy.
40,000,000.
Silence.
Then—
Shock rippled through the crew.
They leaned forward, eyes wide.
"No way…!!"
Shanks didn't move.
Not at first.
Then—
A slow smile spread across his face.
Wider.
Brighter.
Filled with something deeper.
"So…"
His fingers tightened slightly around the poster.
"You've finally set sail…"
His eyes gleamed.
"Luffy."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
Excited.
Proud.
"…You've come."