Chapter 57 – Arrival at the Turning Point
Two ships flying the World Government's emblem loomed ahead, both nearly identical in shape to standard Navy warships. But one look inside would tell you these vessels weren't meant for battle.
Their interiors were lavish—marble flooring, golden trims, and silk drapes—more suited for royalty than marines.
The man aboard one of them wasn't some average bureaucrat. He was Spandine, former Director of CP9. And buried deep in his past was a dark secret… connected to Tachibana Kyūjō.
Right now, however, Spandine wasn't acting like the arrogant man he usually was.
A Den Den Mushi sat in his palm, its shell vibrating with a chilling hum. And on the other end of the line was someone with power far beyond his own.
Someone who made Spandine—despite being out in distant East Blue—too scared to even stand upright.
As soon as the conversation ended, he gently closed the Den Den Mushi, wiping the cold sweat from his brow.
"…Let them pass," he muttered.
He immediately barked new orders to his crew. The World Government ships began to shift course, clearing the path for the warship rapidly approaching from behind—
—the Azure Dragon.
— — —
Onboard the Azure Dragon, Tachibana Kyūjō stood calmly at the bow, wind brushing past his hair as he looked forward.
Thanks to his Kenbunshoku Haki – Infinity Mode, he had already overheard the entire conversation from Spandine's Den Den Mushi.
He turned slightly and tugged at the sleeve of the legendary man beside him.
"Gramps Garp, wait a second," he said with a small smile. "Looks like they're about to move."
"Hmph!" Garp grunted, eyes glaring with the intensity of a cannon barrel aimed dead ahead.
He stared down the two World Government ships like he was trying to sink them with nothing but his gaze.
Seeing that, Kyūjō let out a light chuckle. "Easy, old man. You'll give yourself a stroke."
"We're already moving at top speed anyway. Besides..."
"The Red-Haired Pirates might be infamous, but they're not known for hurting the weak or raiding villages, are they?"
"I doubt anything's happened to Windmill Village."
Garp said nothing at first.
He was quiet—frustrated, not because he doubted Shanks, but because his grandson was involved.
Still, Kyūjō's words made sense.
"…You're right," Garp finally muttered. "Shanks isn't the kind of man to do something that low."
But before he could finish his thought—brrring!
The familiar screech of a Den Den Mushi cut through the air.
Garp yanked it from his pocket and answered in his usual booming voice.
"Hello?! This is Garp—!"
But he was immediately cut off by a panicked voice.
"Garp! It's me, Woop Slap!" cried the elder from Windmill Village. "Luffy—your grandson—he's just been taken by pirates!! Come back immediately!"
In the blink of an eye, the Den Den Mushi was crushed in Garp's hand.
Crack. Shatter. Silence.
A low rumble echoed above.
The clear sky turned black in seconds. Clouds twisted together, and lightning flashed across the horizon.
Everyone on the Azure Dragon knew, without a word being spoken—Garp was furious.
"…Kyūjō, you heard that too," Garp said, voice low and deadly calm. "The village isn't far. I'll go first."
He slammed one foot down on the deck.
And then—boom—his body shot skyward like a cannonball, tearing into the sky using Geppo, the Moonwalk technique.
But it didn't stop there.
As he rose into the clouds, he reeled back his arm. His fist glowed a dark steel, coated in Armament Haki.
Then—
BOOM.
With a single punch, he shattered the clouds above.
A massive gust of wind tore across the skies, the sheer pressure enough to scatter every cloud within a ten-kilometer radius. The sun burst through the sky, as if fearing to hide from Garp's wrath.
Still airborne, Garp twisted mid-air and slammed his fist downward toward one of the World Government ships below.
Seconds later—
CRASH.
A massive shockwave struck.
The warship flipped like a toy and sank instantly beneath the waves, unable to withstand the impact.
Up in the sky, Garp hovered like a thunder god. A beacon of fury and righteousness.
And then—he was gone.
Vanished into the wind.
Even Tachibana Kyūjō could only stand in stunned silence.
"…Shanks," he muttered. "Since when did you start kidnapping Luffy?"
"Is this… part of the original story?"
"Did Oda-sensei just never draw this scene…?"
"Or is this one of the consequences… of all the changes I've made?"
His thoughts swirled with confusion and unease.
— — —
Back on deck, Amos—Kyūjō's loyal vice commander—approached with urgency.
"Vice Admiral Seiryu, one of the Government ships is requesting rescue support. Shall we assist?"
Kyūjō tilted his head, confused for a moment.
Then, in the most innocent voice possible, he asked:
"Rescue? What rescue?"
"The sky's clear. Beautiful weather. No storms. What disaster are we even talking about?"
"We'd only be wasting time. Let's continue our journey."
"Full speed ahead—toward our main objective."
Amos gave a sharp salute, lips curling into a smirk. "Understood, Vice Admiral!"
— — —
Far behind them, in the middle of the sea, a soaking wet Spandine screamed into the void.
"DAMN YOU! That ship had all the treasure I spent years collecting!"
Every last coin, gem, and artifact he'd hoarded through bribes and backroom deals—gone in a flash.
He'd only come to East Blue because a mysterious higher-up had forced him to take on a mission he couldn't refuse.
He thought it'd be simple.
But then Garp showed up.
Not only did the old monster destroy his ship...
...he'd obliterated his retirement dream in one punch.
And the Azure Dragon? Instead of helping?
They pretended not to notice and sped away even faster.
With a ship that size, they could've saved the treasure with ease. Just deploy a few divers, hook a few chains, and lift it.
But instead?
They booked it.
"AAAAAGH!!" Spandine roared, fists clenched, face purple with rage.
No one heard him.
The sea offered no sympathy.
— — —
Two hours later, the Azure Dragon arrived near the shores of Dawn Island, home to Windmill Village.
Standing on the dock was an old man, waiting quietly.
Kyūjō leapt from the ship and landed beside him.
"You're the one Garp sent to receive us?" he asked politely.
The man gave a slow nod.
"I'm Woop Slap. Mayor of Windmill Village."
"Garp already took the village's small boat and went after the pirates."
"He told me to inform you—head to Loguetown immediately and block the pirates' route. Don't let them take Luffy into the Grand Line."
Kyūjō nodded, though a flicker of disappointment passed through his eyes.
He had hoped to stop here and meet Ace—just once.
"…Guess I'll come back later," he muttered to himself.
The Azure Dragon was fast enough to reach Loguetown before Red-Hair Shanks anyway.
But even as he boarded the ship again, one question still burned in his mind.
What was Shanks thinking?
Why… would he dare kidnap the grandson of the Navy's Hero?
Kyūjō couldn't understand it.
Not yet.
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