Luffy's wanted poster quickly spread across the world through the World Economy News Paper. The bounty was set at an astronomical three billion Belly—personally determined by Fleet Admiral Carl.
What the world didn't yet realize was that this bounty wasn't just for the so-called Straw Hat Luffy, but also for the entity residing within him—Joy Boy.
Until now, Luffy had merely been seen as one of the infamous Supernovas. After his disappearance from Sabaody Archipelago, he had been absent from the world stage for nearly two years. Were it not for this sudden wanted poster, many might have forgotten him altogether.
This single poster thrust Luffy back into the global spotlight.
The bounty notice accused him of committing heinous crimes—namely, that as the grandson of Vice Admiral Garp, he had colluded with the Revolutionary Army and launched a secret operation in the East Blue that threatened world stability. It was during Vice Admiral Garp's vacation in the East Blue that he discovered Luffy's whereabouts and engaged in a fierce battle with him.
Despite their familial bond, Vice Admiral Garp did not waver. He led a small unit of Marines, fighting until the very last moment. Ultimately, he succumbed to exhaustion and perished.
Having served in the Navy for decades, Vice Admiral Garp was undoubtedly a heroic figure of the Marines!
The moment the bounty was announced, Marine Headquarters mobilized a fleet more formidable than a standard Buster Call. The fleet had already departed the Grand Line, heading directly for the East Blue.
...
East Blue
The island where Foosha Village was located had been completely surrounded by a vast number of Marine battleships. A suffocating tension filled the air, and the sheer pressure was overwhelming.
A massive battleship, the largest of them all, slowly docked. From within, an organized line of Marines, each clad in the signature justice cloak, disembarked in a disciplined procession, forming two parallel lines to create a human corridor.
The village chief, Woop Slap, along with the other villagers, rushed to the scene. Upon witnessing such an imposing display of force, they couldn't help but swallow nervously.
A hushed silence enveloped the shoreline, only broken when a man and a woman descended from the ship, walking side by side.
The gathered Marines immediately snapped to attention, saluting in unison. Woop Slap rubbed his eyes vigorously, and when he finally got a clear look at the man leading the way, his pupils contracted, and he stammered in disbelief,
"T-That's the Fleet Admiral! Unbelievable! He actually came in person!!"
The villagers stood frozen in shock, unable to process the reality before them. After all, they were now face-to-face with a figure of legend.
Among them, Makino's eyes widened as she murmured,
"That's the Fleet Admiral? He looks so young… and why does he seem…"
She suddenly caught herself, hastily covering her mouth and lowering her head, afraid to speak further.
Not that it mattered—no one was paying attention to her at the moment. All eyes were fixed on Carl, so much so that his companion, a strikingly cold and elegant female officer, was almost entirely overlooked. However, the epaulets on her Marine cloak clearly signified her rank—an Admiral!
And everyone knew that among the Admirals, there was only one woman—Admiral Hakutsuru Lucia.
Lucia walked precisely one step behind Carl, following him like a shadow. Her restrained presence made it difficult for onlookers to register her true status, making her appear more like a dedicated bodyguard rather than an Admiral of the Marines.
Carl strode forward, coming to a stop before Woop Slap and the gathered villagers.
At this distance, Woop Slap could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from Carl. It was an oppressive force, like a towering mountain bearing down upon him.
Carl's aura embodied the supreme dignity of the Celestial Dragons and the commanding presence of a Fleet Admiral—his very existence exuded absolute authority.
He looked down at Woop Slap and spoke in a calm, yet authoritative voice,
"You are the village chief of Foosha Village, Woop Slap, correct?"
Woop Slap, already drenched in cold sweat, managed to nod and reply in a trembling voice,
"Yes! I am Woop Slap!"
Carl gave a slight nod before continuing,
"Good. Take me to the site of Vice Admiral Garp's battle."
At the mention of Garp's name, sorrow washed over the faces of the villagers. Carl noticed the shift in their expressions, and after a brief pause, he sighed softly and said,
"I may have startled you earlier. There's no need to be afraid—I am here merely to confirm something."
A young man in the crowd hesitantly gathered his courage and asked,
"F-Fleet Admiral, may I ask… where is Vice Admiral Garp's body? We would like to hold a funeral for him…"
Carl turned to the young man and replied,
"Your sentiments are appreciated. However, he has already been laid to rest at Marine Headquarters, with the consent of his closest friends. I believe that for Vice Admiral Garp, Marine Headquarters was his true home."
Upon hearing this, the villagers lowered their heads, their silent grief punctuated by occasional sobs.
Carl's gaze briefly lingered on Makino, who stood among the villagers, before he turned back to Woop Slap and said,
"Lead the way."
Under Woop Slap's guidance, Carl and the Marine officers arrived at the site of Garp's final battle.
The battlefield was utterly devastated. The ground was scarred with deep fissures, and much of the surrounding forest had been reduced to rubble—a testament to the ferocity of the battle that had taken place.
Carl stepped forward, placing his foot on an intact patch of earth. Applying slight pressure, he could feel an unusual resilience beneath him. Lowering his gaze, he muttered,
"So it really was him… Has he already reached this level?"
Though others could not perceive it, Carl could clearly sense the presence of a lingering white mist—an aura known as the "Nika Essence."
Closing his eyes, Carl allowed a subtle black glow to envelop his body. An invisible force extended outward, drawing in every trace of the Nika Essence until it had been completely absorbed.
As the essence vanished, the earth beneath Carl's feet hardened, returning to its natural state.
During his twenty-two years of slumber, Carl had been tormented by the remnants of the Nika Essence within him. It had taken him an enormous effort to purge it entirely.
And now, even this residual essence was no longer a threat to him.
Carl slowly raised his right hand, where a vortex of darkness formed in his palm. From its depths, a brilliant white sphere emerged, pulsing restlessly, struggling against the pull of the abyss.
Carl fixed his golden eyes—now dark as twin black holes—on the sphere.
With a firm grip, he crushed it. The sphere exploded into wisps of black mist before dissipating completely.
Lowering his hand to his side, Carl narrowed his eyes and murmured,
"The next time we meet… should I call you Luffy? Or Joy Boy?"
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+210 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg