Garp took Luffy to a room high up in Marineford, quiet and far from the main commotion.
It was the personal office of the Marine hero.
As soon as the door closed behind them, the sound of the city vanished.
Luffy entered without ceremony, as if he were returning home. He already knew what his grandfather wanted.
Since their last meeting in Loguetown, a lot had changed — and Luffy was sure that Garp must have discovered something about his Devil Fruit.
Garp turned around, ready to ask:
"Luffy, about your—"
But Luffy was quicker.
"Gramps… How did the Marines find out that Ace is the son of Gol D. Roger?"
Garp stopped mid-sentence.
For a second, he just stared at him. That had come out of nowhere.
After a long silence, he let out a heavy sigh.
"…Two years ago, that idiot made a name for himself as the captain of the Spade Pirates. 'Fire Fist Ace.' His name began circulating rapidly, and the government grew wary. Portgas D. Ace."
"The problem was the 'D'. The surname. The government launched an investigation immediately."
Garp walked over to the window, gazing at the sea as if seeking strength in its depths.
"Twenty years ago… there was a woman named Portgas D. Rouge. She lived on an island in the South Blue called Baterilla. She was pregnant. When CP began digging into Ace's past, they connected the dots too quickly…"
"So it was true…" Luffy muttered.
Garp had never told him that. Had never even mentioned Rouge's name before. But now, he wasn't hiding anymore.
"CP-0 finished the report in record time. Ace was already under suspicion. The connection to Rouge… to Roger… became inevitable. When Sengoku pressed me about it, I couldn't deny it. Even if I tried, the facts were already on the table."
He turned back, facing Luffy with a weary look in his eyes.
"The government hadn't noticed Ace's birth at the time. Rouge hid her pregnancy for too long. But once they placed her name next to his… the truth became clear."
Luffy clenched his fists, thoughtful.
"…Two years ago… The government tried to make Ace a Warlord, didn't they?"
Garp nodded slowly.
"It was a trap. They wanted to keep a close eye on him. And if he refused, they already had evidence to act."
He then looked straight at Luffy.
"You want to save Ace, don't you?"
Luffy furrowed his brow and shook his head firmly.
"No. He told me he had his own journey. I… won't interfere. And now I'm a Warlord. A 'model citizen,' hahaha! When Hancock turned down Momonga's invitation, I was the one who made her change her mind. I did my part."
"Hahaha! Sengoku knows that." Garp burst out laughing. "He even praised you in front of the other officers. Said that if all the Warlords were like you, the Marines would have fewer headaches."
Luffy scratched his neck awkwardly.
"But… they don't know about my connection to Ace?"
"As far as I know, no," Garp replied, more seriously. "Sengoku knows that you and Ace were raised by me. But he doesn't know that you're sworn brothers."
Luffy leaned back against the wall, confused.
"That doesn't make sense… Why didn't they investigate further? They're the World Government, right?"
"Maybe they didn't connect the dots. Or maybe… they preferred not to see. You two are both troublesome pirates, but each in your own way."
Garp suddenly raised his fist, as if to deliver his famous grandpa punch.
But at the last moment, he stopped.
"You've grown up, Luffy. It's no longer appropriate to beat you up like before."
"…"
(That was a good one, Gramps… but you're only saying that because you can't beat me anymore.) Luffy laughed mentally.
"Anyway," Garp continued, sitting back down on the couch, "All Sengoku knows is that you two worked together in Alabasta to bring down Crocodile. That's it. The rest… well, keep it to yourselves. Do what you think is right."
He poured himself some tea and took a long sip.
His position as Vice Admiral prevented him from acting.
But as a grandfather, he couldn't stop Luffy either.
"So, is that what you're going to do?"
"You just said I could do whatever I want."
"You little brat… so you are going to try to save that idiot Ace!"
"Hey! That's not fair, Gramps! You're manipulating me!" Luffy laughed, crossing his arms.
"Hahahahaha! In the end, the decision was always yours."
Garp laughed again, but soon his expression turned somber.
"Luffy… about your Devil Fruit…"
Luffy went quiet for a moment, then said:
"You really want to know, Gramps? It'll only make you even more upset."
"Don't be ridiculous. As your grandfather, I have the right to know. And maybe the duty, too."
Luffy looked at him for a moment… and then smiled.
"Alright then. I'll tell you everything I know."
---
Shortly after – Marine Headquarters, Conference Room
The six Warlords of the Sea were seated around an imposing round table, each one with their own unique presence — some with lazy expressions, others sharp and attentive. Several Vice Admirals stood guard around the room, all in absolute silence.
The sound of firm footsteps echoed.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku entered the room with an air of authority, accompanied by Tsuru, the veteran strategist, and Garp, wearing a more serious expression than usual.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Sengoku walked to the head of the table and sat down calmly, crossing his arms with a faint smile.
"It's rare to see so many heroes of the sea gathered like this…" He paused, then added with sarcasm, "No, let me correct that. This looks more like a meeting of the scum of the seas."
"Fufufu… What a kind compliment, Admiral." Doflamingo chuckled with a wicked smile.
Sengoku's smile disappeared.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
"…Let's begin the meeting."
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."