Although heavily injured, Leno's clash with Garp had not been without gain.
Setting aside the improvement in his combat experience—
the newly developed technique, tested in real battle, had displayed power far beyond his expectations.
His control over his Devil Fruit ability had also deepened significantly.
But the greatest harvest from fighting "Garp the Fist" wasn't any of that—
it was the three types of Haki.
Especially Conqueror's Haki.
"Thanks to you, Garp…"
Leno recalled the sensation from their battle, a cold smile curling at his lips.
He slowly raised his hand.
Around his fist, a flicker of dense black-red lightning-like aura flashed briefly.
It was the embryonic form of Conqueror's Haki coating he had just grasped!
"Conqueror's coating… I can barely use it now."
Unfortunately, he had only awakened Conqueror's Haki recently.
In sheer quantity and accumulation, he was nowhere near Garp's decades of mastery.
Reaching the level of those old monsters was still far off.
But every journey began with the first step.
The key trick to Conqueror's coating—
he had already figured it out.
What remained was time, refinement, and relentless real combat.
Honestly, Garp was quite considerate.
Even while trying to kill him, he'd still taken the time to demonstrate the essentials of Conqueror's coating.
He was so thoughtful, Leno could almost cry.
"Next… I need to refine that move…"
Leno pondered.
"'Annihilation of All Phenomena'… The name is a bit undeserved right now."
At his current level, forget annihilating all phenomena—
fully decomposing even a single material into molecular form was still extremely difficult.
But if he continued down this path of decomposition and shattering—
the Chop-Chop Fruit's potential would be unimaginable.
Then he recalled the earlier discussion about needing a ship's doctor.
"We really do need a reliable doctor…"
He sighed.
A position tied directly to life and death had to be someone he absolutely trusted.
But in this vast sea—
someone highly skilled in medicine, trustworthy, and ideally capable of self-defense or self-healing—
that was far too rare.
Fatigue washed over him like a tide.
The intense battle with Garp had drained his body and mind.
With those thoughts swirling, Leno drifted into deep sleep.
Seeing this—
Domino, Robin, Kalifa, and Alice, who had been guarding nearby, all let out quiet sighs of relief.
They carefully tucked him in, then tiptoed out of the room to rest themselves.
————
————
Leno might have found calm—
but the aftermath of his battle with Garp was anything but calm.
Inside the World Economy News airship—
Morgans was excitedly urging his staff to work overtime.
By tomorrow morning—
this explosive news would spread to every corner of the world!
"The King of News! I truly deserve the title!"
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
A high-level meeting more solemn and serious than any before was underway.
Unlike previous sessions—
every officer present wore a grave expression.
Before this—
Leno had merely been viewed as a troublesome defector.
Just a former Headquarters Vice Admiral.
But now?
Everything was different.
A Leno who could withstand Garp's full-power attack—
and even knock him into the sea—
was no longer someone to dismiss.
His growth rate frightened them.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, seated at the head of the table, scanned the assembled Marine leaders.
He spoke in a low voice.
"Everyone's here."
"Then let's discuss it. What should Leno's bounty be set at?"
"The World Government has issued a strict order. He must be captured alive and delivered to Mary Geoise."
Silence lingered in the conference room.
"Dispatch a large-scale force to hunt him down!"
Vice Admiral Onigumo slammed a palm onto the table, murderous intent in his voice.
"Since he's become a pirate, he's a criminal!"
"His former Marine status is no excuse for leniency. He abandoned justice—justice should show him none!"
Beside him, Vice Admiral Doberman stroked his chin and nodded in agreement.
"Onigumo is right. Leno's threat level is completely different from before. He must be given the highest-tier bounty and pursuit!"
Others began voicing their opinions as well.
For the hawkish officers, the stance was crystal clear.
No matter how many merits Leno once earned in the Marines—
the moment he abandoned justice
and became pirate scum on the seas,
he had to be eradicated with thunderous force!
The neutral faction remained silent.
Their gazes shifted toward the doves, waiting for their position.
As for the doves—
their emotions were the most complicated.
Many of them had once been on good terms with Leno.
Some even knew bits and pieces about why he had defected and become a pirate.
Understanding was one thing.
Reality was another.
Leno had undeniably chosen a path completely opposed to the Marines.
And besides—
one Leno weighed far less than Garp.
There was no real dilemma in comparison.
The most senior among them, Staff Officer Tsuru, finally spoke.
Her voice carried a heavy weight.
"Put Leno on the wanted list… according to the highest standard."
"…Let this serve as a warning to future generations. So the Marines will not see such…"
She paused briefly before continuing,
"…traitors who abandon justice."
When she finished speaking,
her figure seemed to stoop even more, as if she had aged years in an instant.
Several officers glanced at Tsuru in surprise.
They hadn't expected someone who once looked after Leno so closely to make such a resolute decision.
But once the decision was made—
there was no point in hesitation.
Sengoku slammed his palm onto the table, voice firm and decisive.
"Very well! Effective immediately, issue full-scale warrants for all members of the 'Leno Pirates'! Their bounties… will be drafted at the highest specification!"
————
————
The next day—
the uproar over Leno killing a Celestial Dragon had yet to subside.
Then came another bombshell.
Newspapers and wanted posters spread across the seas like wildfire!
Countless eyes were drawn to them.
Of course—
many had expected this outcome.
Kill a Celestial Dragon and not be wanted?
As if that were possible.
First Half of the Grand Line.
On a certain island—
Domino, Robin, Kalifa, and Alice were resupplying medicine and provisions.
They clearly overheard the surrounding crowd's chatter.
"Sigh, that Leno guy—he really lives up to the name 'Fallen One'!"
"Right? A perfectly good Marine Vice Admiral, and he just had to become a pirate!"
"With his kind of strength as a pirate, he'll be a hundred times more brutal than the others!"
"Exactly! And he even took in the 'Devil Child' as a crewmate. What kind of good person would do that?"
"That's not all! I heard there's a former CP9 agent in his crew too!"
"Terrifying! And a former female guard from Impel Down! Completely fallen!"
Nearly every voice carried condemnation or bewildered outrage.
Kalifa, Robin, and Domino exchanged glances.
They quickly gathered what they needed, bought the latest newspaper and wanted posters,
and hurried toward the harbor where their ship was docked.
Unfortunately—
their distinctive appearances and bearing still drew attention.
A few sharp-eyed locals who had just finished reading the paper recognized them.
"Th-Those women! They look like members of the Leno Pirates from the paper!!"
"Quick! Notify the Marines! Inform the World Government!"
"Run! Pirates are here!"
The once-bustling marketplace fell into stunned silence—
then erupted into chaos as people scattered in panic.
This—
was how ordinary civilians truly reacted to pirates.
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