In the top-floor room of the Marine Headquarters main building, Sengoku stared at the scene before his desk.
"Please grant your permission, Grandfather!"
"Who are you calling 'Grandfather'?"
On one end of a long sofa, Hancock was perched on Luffy's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck as she shouted.
On the opposite sofa, Garp answered with an angry look, and at his side, Tsur held a teacup, watching the situation with apparent interest.
Luffy, the one at the center of this situation, buried his face in Hancock's ample chest, wearing an uncomfortable expression as he kept his mouth shut, just as Sengoku spoke up.
"So, Luffy…if I understand correctly, about a month ago you got close with those Alliance guys while saving the Kusa Pirates, and you two started dating…is that what you mean?"
"That's not what's going on."
"What do you mean, Luffy! I vowed to give you everything…!"
"Since when did I say I accepted that?"
"Anyway, I called you here because some anonymous fools reported their suspicion of you and Boa Hancock sneaking around together, and I needed an explanation…but I never imagined you two stuck together for such a reason."
"She's the one who's been following me around…anyway, that's what happened."
Thud!
As soon as Luffy answered, Garp smashed the table with his fist and rose from his seat.
"I've heard enough, Sengoku! Expel that woman from the Warlords of the Sea, arrest her, and throw her in Impel Down!"
"What's with smashing the table and this tantrum, Garp! And the Warlords' seats aren't under my jurisdiction!"
"Why's the Fleet Admiral such a dead weight?!"
"What?! After all these years I've been cleaning up after your messes, you say that!?"
Tsuru set her teacup on the table and replied.
"What's there to complain about, Garp? Hancock doesn't seem like such a bad pick, does she?"
"From the start, the Kusa Pirates never harmed civilians. The only targets we pillaged were other pirates, World Government affiliates, and our own Navy ships."
"Alright, fellow pirates, but isn't it wrong to pillage the ships of affiliate nations and our own Navy?"
"According to our investigation, in the affiliates' case, the prince aboard ordered Hancock to become his concubine, threatening to kill his men if she refused."
"Our Navy tried to punish the Kusa Pirates for plundering that affiliate's ship, but instead got plundered themselves, isn't that so, Luffy?"
'Exactly. I spared them because I knew that.'
'If that hadn't been the case, I wouldn't have helped them at sea in the first place. I forgave them because they were worthy of it.'
'Grandfather never said to forgive just anyone when he was young, either.'
'Think about the number of people that same grandfather beat to death—there's your answer.'
"Right… I'm aware of that, Ms. Tsur."
"That's right. Our Kusa Pirates never touch civilians, and the ones who were captains—and emperors—before I took the helm were the same!"
"In Hancock's case, it was especially remarkable."
"Unlike the previous Emperors, thanks to her ability to immobilize opponents with her power, there were almost no casualties on the ships she plundered."
"Naturally, I don't mess with the weak."
Hancock said, locking eyes with Luffy, her face drawing closer.
Luffy, feeling overwhelmed, pulled his face back, and watching that, Tsur continued.
"The soldiers of our Navy and the affiliate's troops weren't seriously hurt… but that affiliate's prince, we did kill him."
"He wasn't weak, after all!"
"I wish that prince had shown such flexibility with his power… but in any case, by your standards, she's not such a bad kid either, right?"
"Still, I hate pirates!"
"If I were looking for a bride for my grandson, there'd be beautiful girls lined up throughout the Marine Headquarters, yet you want that boisterous girl instead?!"
"Grandfather, this granddaughter-in-law will change into any form you wish to satisfy you!"
"You think I've forgotten that sorry sight I saw last time?!"
"Then what do you suggest I do?!"
"Look at that! She can't even take a simple remark without snapping back!"
"What do you think, Luffy? Granted, you're fifteen this year and Hancock's twenty-two, so the age gap is a bit…"
"Quiet, Tsur! Age differences mean nothing where love is concerned!"
"Yes, Ms. Tsur, at least I know that Hancock is not such a bad girl."
"So, even if she clings to me like this…"
"I am allowed to be by your side, huh!"
Wrapping one arm around Luffy's neck on his lap, Hancock said that and hugged him even tighter.
The embrace pressed her ample chest, accentuated by the low-cut outfit, against Luffy's face.
"Ah! Get off of me!"
"Luffy… you're not going to abandon me, are you?!"
As Luffy pushed her away and said that, Hancock slowly tumbled sideways onto the floor.
She then wiped the dry skin around her eyes with the back of her hand, though there were no tears to clear away.
"Ah… so I really am the tragic heroine I read about in books."
"You didn't even shed a single tear—why are you wiping your eyes?"
"It's still fine. I will gaze only upon you until I grow old and die…!"
"Hey, why are you acting like this toward me when we just met…!"
As Luffy rose from the sofa and bent down to speak to her, Hancock reached out from the floor and grabbed the hem of his coat.
Pulling herself closer, Hancock wriggled into Luffy's arms with one of his legs bent, meeting his eyes as she spoke.
"Because you saved me."
"...!"
Hancock leaned in close to Luffy, her eyes filled with allure, and whispered,
"You've made it so that no one but you can satisfy me, so you better be prepared, Luffy."
"I will also enchant you so that no other woman can satisfy you… look forward to it."
Watching them whisper things meant for only each other's ears, Tsur wore a pleased expression, while Garp's face was filled with irritation.
With his face flushed, Luffy pushed Hancock's shoulders away with both hands.
"S-stop clinging to me!"
"Kyaa! You're so rough~!"
"Don't bewitch my grandson!"
"Just let it be, Garp. Luffy should enjoy his youth too."
"If you're not going to help, zip it, Tsur!"
While Hancock and Garp continued their battle of wills, Luffy walked over to Sengoku's desk and received a document.
"Luffy, on this mission you'll be monitoring the pirate crews under Emperor Kaido's command in the area marked here."
"All the Emperors operate in the New World, right? Why would their underlings be active here in the first half of the Grand Line, not in the New World?"
The Great Pirate Era began when countless people took to the seas in search of the One Piece, following the Pirate King's final words, shaking the World Government's control over the seas to its core.
After the chaos in the latter half of the Grand Line, where the One Piece is said to be hidden, subsided somewhat, the pirates who wrested supremacy in the New World from the World Government came to be known as the Four Emperors of the Sea.
'Whitebeard—Edward Newgate.'
'Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin.'
'Red Hair—Shanks… a man of my acquaintance.'
'And the last one is the pirate Kaido, who would come to bear the title 'King of the Beasts.''
"Recently, the movements of Kaido's Beast Pirates have been unsettling. Intelligence reports that he's recruiting anyone strong without question, offering them a place under his banner."
"From our investigation of the remnants of the Alliance you and Boa Hancock fought, it turns out the Alliance was formed with the sole purpose of joining Kaido's ranks."
"Trying to build power here, outside the New World… that's suspicious."
"In any case, unlike the New World—which is the Emperors' battleground—this first half of the Grand Line is home to the Marine Headquarters, so allowing an Emperor to grow his forces here would be a disgrace to the Marines' honor."
"Your primary role will be surveillance, and the local Marine branches will take the lead, but since this mission is of great importance, you'll be deployed as an inspection unit as well."
"You've taken into account the potential for combat scenarios."
"I hope it doesn't come to that…but we must be prepared."
"Yes. I will carry out the mission at the designated location."
"We're lucky your adversary isn't your benefactor, the Red Hair, right?"
"…He's that fool who does nothing but go on picnics and drink with his crew, isn't he?"
"Instead of worrying about someone like him, focus on the other Emperors."
"Don't show such an obvious reaction on your face, or you'll end up torn to pieces by the others."
"…I'll proceed with the mission."
'That sly old coot never knows how to give advice nicely.'
"I'll come along too, Luffy!"
"Don't follow me, Hancock. This is my mission."
"By the way, how long will you stay here? Aren't you going back to Amazon Lily?"
"Then I'll come back once more after the mission's over! I promise!"
"…Fine, do that."
With that, Luffy lightly jumped onto the windowsill of the Fleet Admiral's office in a single motion,
"Use the door to leave, Luffy! Why the window again…!"
"It's more convenient. I'm heading out!"
Wrapping himself in Haki, Luffy leapt into the air.
He then rocketed vertically toward the harbor, while countless Marines on the ground looked up at him.
"Where are they… ah, there they are."
Luffy landed on the deck of a warship moored at the far end of the Marine Headquarters harbor.
The ship stretched over a hundred meters in length and about thirty meters in width—a massive battleship.
The first thing Luffy saw on the deck was a man hanging from the end of a thick rope rigged like a makeshift fishing line off the stern of the vessel.
"S-s-save me!"
"You're here, Luffy!"
"Didn't I tell you not to fool around here? You know folks keep staring at this."
"Hahaha! Are either you or us the type to care about that?!"
"Yeah, that's true."
"By the way… are you really not going to help me meet the Kusa Pirates?"
"Is that something I can assist with? Considering what you lot get up to…"
Aaaaargh!!!
As Luffy replied, a scream rang out from within the ship.
But Luffy's expression showed no surprise; suddenly, a man burst out from the door of the cabin he had been looking at,
"Gehhh! A real human body… L-Luffy!"
"Coby, did you get out of the torture chamber?"
"Ah, yes… that's right."
"We're not the type to torture just anyone. You need to get used to it."
"…I'll keep that in mind!"
"Smoker's… over there."
Luffy passed by Coby and climbed the stairs to the second deck.
There, Smoker was standing at the far edge of the deck, reviewing the documents in his hand.
"What are you doing here?"
"I figured it was about time you showed up, so I was checking whether the sea's calm or not."
"Thanks to your ability, we don't have to worry about getting caught in storms. That's really great."
"What's the mission?"
"A mission combining combat and surveillance; our targets are those looking to join Kaido's ranks."
"We'd better brace ourselves… Heave up the anchor!"
"Understood!"
"Let's go have a match!"
"Woooaaaah!!!"
As Smoker shouted, the anchor was raised and the sails unfurled.
Watching the cheering crew, Luffy smiled faintly.
In his expression was the confidence that, no matter what happened, as long as he and them were together, they could overcome it.
It had to be that way.
****
"Is that all you've got, Garp's grandson?"
Under the red sky, black smoke rose from the grasses and trees engulfed in flames.
On the ground lay the bodies of Marines, their uniforms torn or singed by fire, and broken guns and weapons scattered around them.
Amidst that hellish scene, Luffy—who had been leading them—lay sprawled on the ground, then lifted his head toward the booming voice from the sky,
"Kaido…!"
The serpentine creature Luffy looked up at stretched for tens of meters, its body covered in blue scales and outfitted with four limbs.
On its head sprouted four yellow horns, each slightly curved, and from the crown down its back to the tail grew a black mane.
With its elongated face, sharp teeth, and vertical-pupil golden eyes, the creature hovering in the sky was the very dragon of legend.