Chapter 21 — The Man Who Couldn't Return Home
"Shinji!"
At the original eye of the storm, Koby, Helmeppo, and the others were already waiting.
They were covered in injuries—some minor, some serious.
The moment they saw Shinji Ikari appear, everyone finally relaxed.
One after another, they collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily.
In the past few days they had fought battle after battle, never getting the chance to truly rest.
Shinji walked over and unfolded the real treasure map he had taken from Lola.
When he turned it over—
A long passage of text appeared on the back.
"White Sea… the home I can never return to.
I don't remember the exact day I fell from the sky.
Perhaps my greatest luck was simply that I didn't die.
On an island I discovered this strange shell.
It can store an enormous hurricane and release a power even greater than a Burst Dial—but it requires a long time to charge.
At first I thought I could use it to replace God.
But an accident caused me to fall from the White Sea.
Again and again I tried to ride the storm back to the sky, back to the White Sea—back to my homeland.
But every attempt failed.
Each time I only ended up battered and older.
I have wings.
People here can't believe it.
Whenever I talk about the White Sea, about my home, they only laugh.
Yes… I have wings.
But I cannot fly.
I cannot cross the sky to return home.
—A man who could not go home."*
"…A story about wanting to return home," Shinji said quietly.
"It's also the story of a man's entire life."
Koby sat beside him, bruised and exhausted.
"So the sky is called the White Sea?"
"That means there are really people living there… with wings?"
Jack laughed awkwardly.
He had lost one of his front teeth during the battle.
It looked like he would have to visit a naval base—or perhaps headquarters—to fix it.
"I heard that Vegapunk created medicine that can regrow teeth," he said.
"I wonder if it really works."
Helmeppo shook his head.
"It's unbelievable… that guy's knife was too fast."
He still couldn't believe he had survived.
Among the group, he had suffered the worst injuries.
"Nothing is impossible," Shinji replied calmly.
"The White Sea exists."
"Some people really do have wings."
"And even powerful enemies can be defeated."
"When you're young… nothing is impossible."
It sounded almost like a conclusion.
Everyone closed their eyes for a moment, simply grateful to still be alive.
Then—
They heard footsteps approaching.
Orderly, heavy footsteps.
After a moment, they stopped.
One final step followed.
"Did you idiots ruin the island's once-every-three-years spectacle?!"
The voice was thunderous.
Vice Admiral Garp.
Everyone jumped to their feet instantly.
As soon as Shinji opened his eyes, he saw the others looking at him with clear admiration.
"You sold me out?" Shinji muttered helplessly.
These same people had been fearless when facing pirates.
But the moment Garp appeared, they all looked terrified.
"Here."
Shinji handed the Storm Shell and the treasure map to Garp.
Garp glanced at them.
His expression changed slightly.
"So that's how it is," he said.
"This pirate planned to rise using something like this?"
"If someone only relies on external power… how could they ever become truly strong?"
To Shinji's surprise—
Garp handed the Storm Shell and the map right back to him.
"You keep it."
"…Shouldn't this be turned in to headquarters?" Shinji asked.
"You'll handle it better."
Garp gave no further explanation.
He simply turned and began walking down the mountain.
The adjutant stepped forward and explained.
"While you were fighting, we captured three members of the Lola Pirates."
"Before they were caught, they managed to send information to Hidden Dragon Island."
"Hidden Dragon Island?" Shinji repeated.
Koby and Helmeppo looked confused.
The adjutant continued.
"Hidden Dragon Island, Summer Island, and Storm Island were originally all controlled by Lola."
"According to our intelligence:
Summer Island produces important minerals
Storm Island serves as a transfer station
Hidden Dragon Island is their main base
"They manufacture weapons there and sell them through underground markets across the Grand Line."
He paused before adding something more troubling.
"We also discovered that another shipment of weapons was meant to be delivered to the Kingdom of Alabasta."
"And they've been developing a powerful explosive for years."
"One shot could destroy entire groups of people."
The adjutant sighed.
"At the worst possible moment, Hidden Dragon Island has already received news."
"They're preparing for war."
"The pirates there are desperate criminals. If necessary, they might even destroy the entire island."
"Nearly one thousand pirates are gathered there."
"They once followed Lola, but in reality they only obeyed because he defeated them."
"Now that Lola is dead, if we don't act quickly, those pirates will scatter across the seas with large amounts of weapons and explosives."
Everyone fell silent.
Lola alone had commanded dozens of pirates.
But behind him—
There was an entire network of weapons production.
No wonder he had been obsessed with obtaining the Storm Shell.
Shinji realized something.
He had stumbled directly into the center of a massive conspiracy—
And killed the boss by accident.
But now the real danger remained.
A thousand pirates.
Even for the first half of the Grand Line, that number was terrifying.
Shinji thought quietly:
Why do so many pirates return from the New World only to become tyrants in weaker seas?
Crocodile had tried to seize Alabasta.
Gecko Moria ruled over Thriller Bark.
And Lola had built an underground empire across three islands.
"Let's go," the adjutant said.
"You'll have to rest on the ship."
"Our next destination is Hidden Dragon Island."
"We must destroy those lunatics before they leave their nest."
His sunglasses glinted sharply.
It was clear he was ready for battle.
Shinji and the others slowly stood.
Even walking was difficult with their injuries.
As they followed Garp down the mountain—
The bold word Justice on the back of his cloak seemed unusually bright.
At that moment, Shinji realized something.
Everything had been under control from the beginning.
Even though Garp looked careless—
He had been watching everything.
During the battle on Storm Island:
Koby had finally mastered Shave.
Helmeppo's swordsmanship had improved dramatically.
The entire squad had grown stronger.
"Kinda crazy, huh?" Koby whispered, nudging Shinji.
"If Lola's crew told the pirates on Hidden Dragon Island about the Storm Shell, they'll soon know who defeated him."
Shinji froze.
"…Wait."
That meant—
Once Marine Headquarters announced Lola's defeat—
Everyone would know who had killed a pirate worth over 500 million Berries.
And they would know who possessed the Storm Shell.
Storm Island itself would remain safe.
But the danger would shift somewhere else.
"To me?" Shinji said blankly.
He walked toward the harbor with a tired sigh.
"I've been tricked."
Along the road, civilians stared at him with admiration.
Especially those rescued earlier from Summer Island.
It wouldn't be long before Shinji's name spread across the Grand Line.
And with it—
The legend of the young Marine who defeated Lola the Fixer.
(End of Chapter)
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