Chapter 20: The Admiral Didn't Come, Whitebeard Did
"Extra! Extra! Big news!"
"'Vicious Criminal' Rono has caused another huge incident!"
"Really? What happened?"
"On Jaya Island in the Grand Line, Rono captured a Celestial Dragon!"
"What? He took the initiative to capture a Celestial Dragon?"
"That's right! The Celestial Dragon he captured... his fate is unknown!"
"Following the Heavenly Tribute incident, he has now captured a World Noble!"
"Two consecutive incidents, both big enough to shake the world! Aren't the World Government and Marine Headquarters going to go crazy?"
"Exactly! I heard the World Government has already dispatched an Admiral to find the Celestial Dragon!"
"How terrifying! To have such thunderous methods at such a young age!"
"His bounty is probably going to rise again."
The above conversation was happening all over the world.
After all, news as big as capturing a Celestial Dragon spread as fast as a virus.
In fact, just as Rono hung the Celestial Dragon on the clock tower, the pirates of Mock Town couldn't help but spread the news.
Of course, Rono didn't stop them. He even hoped these pirates would shout as loudly as possible.
This way, it would attract the Marines' attention and draw in a Marine Admiral!
He could also grow quickly by fighting an Admiral-level powerhouse.
Once the news broke, the whole world was once again shaken by Rono's actions!
After all, directly hijacking a Celestial Dragon... there weren't many madman pirate crews in the world who would do that!
Aside from the Rocks Pirates, only Rono dared to do so!
What's more, he was a rookie. This alone was enough to make the world refresh its understanding of Rono once again!
"Vicious Criminal"—a name well-deserved!
At this very moment, on a cerulean sea.
A warship was sailing slowly.
On its tall mast hung the "Marine" flag, symbolizing justice.
Combined with the giant dog-head figurehead carved on the bow.
It was clear at a glance: this was the warship of the man who made countless pirates on the seas tremble in fear, the Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, Admiral Candidate—
"Iron Fist" Garp!
On the deck, the "Justice" coat on Garp's back snapped in the wind.
The word "Justice" fluttered with the sea breeze.
Unlike his usual sloppy appearance, Garp was currently staring at the distant sea with a gaze as sharp as a torch.
No one knew what he was thinking.
"Vice Admiral Garp... a c-call... from Admiral Kong."
Soon, a Marine beside him brought a Den Den Mushi to Garp.
The Den Den Mushi's appearance had Admiral Kong's obvious trademark—the inverted "mountain" shaped mustache on his chin.
Without hesitation, Garp answered the call.
"Garp, have you found Rono?"
As soon as the call connected, Kong's urgent voice came from the other end.
The Den Den Mushi directly projected Kong's tense expression.
"Not yet, but I'm close."
"I heard from nearby Marines that he seems to have entered the Grand Line and stopped at Jaya Island."
"Why are you calling at this time? Did something happen?"
Seeing this, Garp also had a bad feeling.
Usually, he only saw Admiral Kong with such a serious expression when something world-shaking had occurred.
"Rono did indeed go to Jaya Island. And... he captured a Celestial Dragon!"
"Steel Bone" Kong spoke extremely quickly.
"What?! Captured a Celestial Dragon!"
Garp was stunned. He captured a Celestial Dragon in such a short time!
Rono's methods are sharp!
Every move hits the target!
From the moment he set sail, he must have been targeting the Celestial Dragons.
Now, in less than a week, a Heavenly Tribute incident, and now this Celestial Dragon incident!
What made Garp most uneasy was: How did he find the Celestial Dragon's location?
"Fortunately, we haven't received news of the Celestial Dragon's death. Rono has a blood feud with the Celestial Dragons. After capturing one, he probably won't kill him so quickly."
"Therefore, you must find him as soon as possible, rescue the Celestial Dragon, and kill Rono on the spot! Otherwise, the future trouble will be endless!"
"Steel Bone" Kong's tone suddenly became severe.
Too terrifying!
This rookie is too terrifying.
He has been at sea for less than ten days and has already caused two world-shaking incidents!
Hijacking the Heavenly Tribute was one thing.
This time, he actually captured a Celestial Dragon, whose fate is unknown!
When the Five Elders heard the news, they immediately issued a kill order, demanding Kong to dispatch an Admiral to annihilate Rono!
The even more terrifying point was that Rono wasn't even 18 years old!
To have such powerful strength at such a young age!
This child absolutely cannot be allowed to live!
"Garp, are you listening?"
Seeing Garp not answering, "Steel Bone" Kong asked hurriedly.
"Admiral Kong, I'm listening!"
After a long silence, Garp's reply finally came from the other end.
"You must understand the severity of this matter!"
"According to my intelligence, Rocks has already dispatched his 1st Division Captain, Whitebeard, to find Rono!"
"He's trying to recruit him!"
"Both of them have a deep-seated hatred for the Celestial Dragons. With Rono's current strength, if he's allowed to grow for a few more years..."
"The consequences will be beyond our imagination!"
"Steel Bone" Kong's tone was extremely grave!
Obviously, such a thing absolutely could not be allowed to happen!
The Rocks Pirates were already a massive headache!
Even with the current powerhouses in the Rocks Pirates, the Marines had to dispatch the vast majority of their high-end forces just to barely suppress them!
If a genius like Rono was allowed to join them, the Marines might really be unable to suppress the Rocks Pirates anymore!
"Alright, I understand, Admiral Kong. I will definitely complete the mission."
Garp hung up the phone, his expression exceptionally complex!
Garp didn't find Rono evil.
After all, Rono hadn't harmed any civilians so far.
His capture of a Celestial Dragon, in Garp's eyes, was even an act of ridding the world of a pest and upholding justice for the Marines.
After all, the things the Celestial Dragons did were ten times more evil than any pirate!
However... if he was going to join the Rocks Pirates, Garp had to intervene.
Just as Admiral Kong said, the current Marines could still *barely* suppress the Rocks Pirates.
But once Rono joined, the balance between the two great powers would be broken!
"Jaya Island, is it?"
Garp then checked the Log Pose and found that Jaya Island was not far away.
"I'll go on ahead. You all follow!"
Immediately, Garp went to the top of the warship, leaped off, and used Moon Walk to fly away.
Leaving behind the dumbfounded Marines.
At the exact same time Garp set off.
Jaya Island. At the port, many pirates were acting as lookouts.
They had witnessed Rono treat the World Noble Celestial Dragon like a pig or a dog.
And after doing all that, Rono had no intention of running. Instead, he stayed on Jaya Island to wait for the Marine Admiral!
Only then did these pirate lackeys realize what a *true* pirate was!
Compared to Rono, they were just playing pirate games!
Thus, these pirate lackeys all knelt and begged to join Rono.
However, Rono refused them one by one.
The pirates in the first half of the Grand Line, Paradise, were all too weak. His future opponents were the World Government and Marine Headquarters.
Weak companions would only be a burden!
These pirate lackeys weren't discouraged. They spontaneously acted as lookouts for Rono, trying to impress him into taking them as crewmates.
"A... a ship is coming!"
Some sharp-eyed pirates discovered a ship sailing toward Jaya Island.
"Is it the Marine Admiral?"
"No... it's not!"
"It... It's...!"
The pirate lackey who saw the incoming person was trembling so hard he could barely speak!
"Who is it already!"
"It's... the 1st Division Captain of the Rocks Pirates, 'Whitebeard' Edward Newgate!"
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