"Garp, be honest—what's Straw Hat Luffy to you?" Sengoku asked, his face stern.
"He's my grandson," Garp replied without hesitation.
Sengoku sighed helplessly. He should've known.
Patting his old partner's shoulder, Sengoku reassured, "Don't worry, your grandson's fine." Injured, not dead.
"But," Sengoku's tone hardened, "if you see him, talk some sense into him. Tell him to stop being a pirate." Pirates never end well.
Garp slammed his fist on the desk. "Don't worry, I'll teach that brat a lesson."
Just then, Reno's crew data arrived. "Have a look. That's Reno," Sengoku said, handing the file to Garp.
"This kid, huh?" Garp frowned at Reno's photo. Handsome enough, but could he take a punch?
Flipping through the Reno Pirates' profiles, Garp's eyes widened. Well, damn. Not only were they all women—they were all beauties.
Nami: Navigator of the Reno Pirates, suspected Rumble-Rumble Fruit user. Nojiko: Nami's sister, details unknown. Kaya: Identity unknown. Makino: Identity unknown.
Wait.
Garp rubbed his eyes hard at the last name. "Makino?!"
A memory clicked. Days ago—or sometime recent—Dadan had called him, ranting and raving. Said some kid had stolen Makino away and told him to track her down. He'd thought she was joking and brushed it off. So, the kid who took Makino was Reno.
Great. Another reason to deal with him.
"When did Nature-Type Devil Fruits become so common?!" "Not only two at once, but even the destructive Rumble-Rumble Fruit shows up," Garp said grimly, closing the file.
Sengoku shook his head. "That's what worries me." "If it really is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, we can't let it grow unchecked."
Navy records spoke of a past Rumble-Rumble Fruit user—immensely powerful, single-handedly facing two Navy elites. Their lightning unleashed apocalyptic destruction, reducing miles to rubble. Even against two top fighters, they escaped unscathed, earning fame in a single battle.
Now that the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had reappeared, they had to plan ahead.
"I'm heading to the East Blue," Garp said, standing. Find Luffy. Capture Reno. Two birds, one stone.
Sengoku shook his head. "Garp, intel says Reno uses the Cloud-Cloud Fruit to keep his ship airborne. Your chances of finding them are slim."
Garp, unusually, didn't argue. It was true. Reno could be anywhere by now.
But Sengoku didn't stop him. He knew Garp's main reason was Luffy.
"Issue bounties first. Even if we can't find him, we'll make his life less cozy," Sengoku said, compromising.
Four beautiful crewmates, living in a paradise of affection. Even he was jealous.
"Sounds good. I'll check the East Blue," Garp said, rushing out of the office. He couldn't wait to knock some sense into Luffy's head.
Soon, bounties for Reno and his crew were issued.
…
Baratie, the Sea Restaurant
The most famous restaurant in the East Blue, renowned for its cuisine, drew visitors from across the seas daily. Shaped like a giant ship with fish-shaped bows on either side, it could switch to combat mode if threatened. Few dared cause trouble here.
After a three-day journey, Reno and his crew arrived. To avoid unnecessary attention, he steered the Going Merry to sail on the water as they neared Baratie.
"That's Baratie? It's exactly like the rumors!" Nami said, shielding her eyes as she gazed excitedly from the deck.
She'd heard of the East Blue's wonders and longed to explore, but Arlong's shadow and her money-making grind had kept her tethered. Now, she could finally indulge.
Kaya's eyes sparkled with stars. For someone once confined by illness, every new place was a marvel.
"Look, there's a pirate ship!" Nojiko pointed ahead, surprised.
The girls turned. It was indeed a pirate ship—and a battered one at that.
Seeing the distinctive flag flapping on the mast, Reno's lips curved into a smirk. "That's the Dreadnaught Sabre, flagship of the Creek Pirates, the East Blue's so-called overlords."
East Blue overlords? That sounded impressive!
"Reno, who's stronger—Creek or Arlong?" Nami asked.
"No idea. Both are weak," Reno said with a shrug, adding, "But Creek's bounty is 17 million Berries."
"Tch, only 17 million?" Nami scoffed, brimming with confidence. She'd crushed Arlong, worth 20 million, without breaking a sweat.
"But if Creek's the East Blue overlord, why's his ship such a wreck?" Makino asked, puzzled.
"Probably saw something he shouldn't have," Reno said, chuckling.
Poor saps. They'd set out with grand ambitions, reached the Grand Line, and ran into Hawkeye. One glance too many, and they'd made a formidable enemy. Creek's confidence had shattered.
After docking the Going Merry, Reno waved to the girls. "Let's go. Time to treat ourselves to some fine dining."
The girls cheered, following him toward the restaurant.
The doors were open, and a figure stood at the entrance. As Reno's group approached, the man turned toward the restaurant, laughing like an idiot.
"Hahaha! I've decided—starting today, Baratie is mine! If you don't want to die, you'd better obey!"
…