At the heart of the Grand Line lies Marineford, home to the Navy Headquarters.
In a chamber steeped in traditional Japanese aesthetics, the room brimmed with the Navy's most formidable figures. From the Fleet Admiral to the Admirals, Vice Admirals, and Rear Admirals, the elite of the Navy gathered for a critical meeting.
Standing at the forefront, delivering a briefing with commanding presence, was Major Brannew. Through his sunglasses, he surveyed the assembly of heroes and spoke with unwavering clarity.
The topic at hand: a recent incident in the East Blue that demanded their attention.
"Reports have come in from an auditor dispatched to the East Blue," Brannew began. "As many of you are aware, the front-page story in the recent newspaper covered the so-called 'Straw Hat Crew.' The auditor, while inspecting the East Blue branches, gathered intelligence on them. Allow me to present the findings."
Pasted on a blackboard against the wall were several wanted posters. Brannew's gaze shifted to them as he began his detailed explanation.
"First, this boy, Luffy—the captain of the crew," he said, pointing to a poster. "In the East Blue, where the average bounty is 3 million Berries, he's taken down major players with bounties exceeding 10 million. 'Lion Flash' El Drago, 12 million Berries. Buggy the Clown, 15 million Berries. Don Krieg, 17 million Berries. And the current highest bounty in the East Blue, Arlong the Saw, at 20 million Berries. Luffy defeated them all single-handedly, and in a remarkably short time."
The newly issued wanted poster bore the name Monkey D. Luffy—a pirate unknown to most. His youthful face belied a relentless streak, and though his name stirred faint recognition, his meteoric rise was undeniable. The fact that he'd toppled notorious pirates one after another could not be ignored.
If true, a troublesome sprout had begun to take root.
Brannew gestured to another poster. "Supporting him is the vice-captain, known as 'Paper User' Kiri. He's confirmed to be a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user, manipulating paper. Kiri excels in strategic thinking, guiding Captain Luffy, and has a penchant for destroying Navy warships. Incidents include the damage to an audit ship, the complete destruction of the 8th Branch fleet, and the demolition of a 16th Branch warship, where he also captured a Marine Colonel. Reports indicate he orchestrated the press coverage to amplify their notoriety."
Their audacity was staggering for a crew so new to the seas. A captain who vanquished pirates and a vice-captain who demolished Navy vessels.
The officers, their expressions grim, fixed stern gazes on the two wanted posters.
"That's not all," Brannew continued. "They boldly exposed corruption within the Navy, feeding the story to journalists. This has undoubtedly tarnished our reputation. As you can see in the newspaper photos, they're pictured alongside Arlong the Saw. According to intelligence, they've brought Arlong's crew under their command, flying the Straw Hat flag."
A low groan echoed through the room. Some officers clutched their heads in frustration.
Among them was the Fleet Admiral, Sengoku—the highest authority in the Navy. "They're young, but we cannot ignore pirates with such flair for spectacle," he declared. "Their names have already spread worldwide thanks to the press. Therefore, we're placing a 30 million Berry bounty on Straw Hat Luffy and a 20 million Berry bounty on Paper User Kiri. Additionally, Arlong's bounty will be raised to 30 million Berries. A 30 million bounty for a rookie is unprecedented globally, but it's by no means excessive. We must nip these young sprouts in the bud to prevent their influence from growing."
A sharp slap against the wanted poster punctuated his words. Sengoku's head bowed, his face etched with anguish.
In his mind lingered the words of an old friend: My grandson's become a pirate. I'll be delayed bringing him back. That friend had yet to return.
With a heavy sigh, Sengoku thought, Troublemaker, as always. Always stirring up the worst kinds of problems.
(Between Ace and now this grandson, Garp's family never lacks for headlines. That old fool must've trained him in secret—there's no other explanation for such rapid growth.)
A foreboding chill ran through him, a sensation he'd felt before—when another young pirate, once under his friend's care, had risen to infamy. That rookie had rejected an offer to join the Seven Warlords and become a legend, a name now known to all, the son of an Emperor ruling the seas.
The same unease had gripped Sengoku then, and it gnawed at him now, threatening to unravel his composure.
(Garp's bloodline, huh? I hope it's nothing serious… And who's this man aiding his grandson? Using the press to tarnish the Navy's name while boosting their own—he's no small threat either.)
A headache began to throb. Noticing Sengoku's distress, Brannew paused. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku? Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. Continue," Sengoku replied curtly.
"Yes, sir. While these individuals have made waves in the East Blue, other pirates have risen rapidly in other seas around the same time. Next, I'll report on them—"
As Brannew resumed, Sengoku's gaze lingered on one wanted poster.
(That hair color… it's unsettling. But no, it couldn't be.)
Was his unease solely due to his friend's grandson turning pirate? Or was there another cause?
Careful to conceal his turmoil, Sengoku sighed once more, the weight of his burdens pressing heavily.
2
A newspaper from days prior and a freshly issued wanted poster lay before him.
Both were rich with sensational details, fueling endless chatter among the masses. The East Blue was abuzz with talk of Straw Hat Luffy.
A rookie with a 30 million Berry bounty from the outset, leading a crew that included Arlong the Saw—the East Blue's former top bounty. Such a story was rare and captivating.
But not everyone found it entertaining.
At a certain Marine branch, in a hospital room, Bogard sat on a bed, his expression stern. Beside him stood Garp, his face equally grave.
"Hmm…" Garp muttered.
"It's clear now," Bogard said. "Their clashes with us haven't leaked, but their intent to challenge the Navy and rise as pirates is undeniable. The wanted posters are out. Bringing him back to become a Marine is, frankly, impossible. Especially with what Fleet Admiral Sengoku might say."
"That blasted Luffy! Why's he so stubborn? Who does he take after?" Garp growled.
"You," Bogard replied flatly. "I can't think of anyone else."
Bogard, who should've been incapacitated by a gaping chest wound, spoke with surprising ease. His recovery was nothing short of miraculous, and he could now walk unaided.
Dressed in light patient attire but still wearing his hat low, Bogard fixed a stern gaze on Garp, who grumbled in dissatisfaction.
"They destroyed the 16th Branch's warship, roughed up Colonel Nezumi, and exposed his ties to pirates in a blazing headline," Bogard continued. "This is tantamount to a declaration of war against the Navy. They even burned our ship's flag. If this gets out, neither the Fleet Admiral nor those above him will stay silent."
"Hmph. Is convincing them out of the question? He's my grandson, after all," Garp ventured.
"No chance. It won't work," Bogard shot back.
"Grr! It's all that red-haired scoundrel's fault for leading him astray!" Garp fumed.
"We should return to headquarters," Bogard advised. "There's nothing more we can do here."
Reluctantly, Garp set the newspaper down, his shoulders slumping. "No helping it, I suppose… With a wanted poster out, there's no turning back. He's a full-fledged pirate now."
"Exactly," Bogard agreed. "I understand your concern, but all we can do is hope."
"If only he'd become a proper Marine, some lives could've been spared," Garp murmured, his voice tinged with sorrow.
Bogard lowered his gaze, understanding Garp's heartache. His friend feared for his grandson, whose brother had already soared to infamy at breakneck speed, now beyond return. If the world learned the truth, it would never forgive him.
Seeing Garp's rare vulnerability, Bogard couldn't help but feel sympathy after their long years together.
At least Garp had hoped to save his blood kin. But reality had diverged from that dream, and there was no undoing what had happened.
A somber silence settled over the room.
The mood was broken by a knock at the door, followed by a polite "Excuse me" as it opened.
Enter Koby and Helmeppo, both from Garp's unit. Though recovered from earlier injuries, their recent training with Garp had left them bandaged and bruised, their appearances a mess.
"Excuse us, Vice Admiral Garp. You called for us?" Koby said.
"Ah, you're here!" Garp exclaimed. "Take a look at this—my grandson! A 30 million Berry bounty right out of the gate. Impressive, right? That's my boy!"
"Huh?!" Koby gasped.
"Vice Admiral, weren't you just moping?" Helmeppo asked, bewildered.
Garp's sudden cheer and proud grin caught them off guard. Far from dejected, he sounded like he was boasting. Bogard sighed, scolding him, but Garp paid no mind.
Handed the wanted poster, Koby and Helmeppo stared in shock before scrambling to examine it.
"Wha—?! L-Luffy's a wanted man?! And 30 million Berries?!" Koby stammered.
"No way! The East Blue average is 3 million! That newspaper was right—he's the real deal! But this high a bounty right away?!" Helmeppo exclaimed.
"Bwahaha! That's my grandson for you!" Garp roared, puffing out his chest with pride.
"Vice Admiral, honestly…" Bogard muttered, exasperated.
Koby and Helmeppo gawked at the poster, their excitement palpable. Garp beamed, unabashedly proud, while Bogard grumbled at the absurdity of a Marine praising a pirate.
As the room grew lively, another knock sounded, and the door opened to reveal a short-haired woman wearing glasses and carrying a sword.
Spotting her, Garp snatched the poster from Koby and Helmeppo, eagerly showing it off. "Hey, Master Chief! Tashigi, right? Look at this—my grandson! 30 million Berries on his first bounty. Not bad, eh?"
"Y-Yes? Your grandson… a pirate?" Tashigi replied, stunned.
"Don't mind him," Bogard interjected. "Vice Admiral, you can't just go bragging about that."
"What's the harm? It's the truth! No need to hide it," Garp retorted.
"It's exactly the kind of thing you hide," Bogard snapped. "A Marine's kin turning pirate is a scandal. If you weren't a hero, you'd be facing a court-martial—especially after letting Morgan escape."
"Bwahaha! I'd welcome a court-martial!" Garp laughed. "The Navy's too weak to judge me. If they can't catch or exile me, they'll never foster new strength. Right, Bogard?"
"Good grief…" Bogard sighed.
Tashigi stood dumbfounded, caught up in the chaos. Remembering her purpose, she hurriedly spoke up. "Um, Vice Admiral Garp, there's a communication from headquarters."
"Eh? Probably Sengoku again. Tell him I'll be back soon, so he can relax," Garp said dismissively.
"That won't do, sir. They insisted you respond immediately," Tashigi pressed.
"Tch, they're onto me," Garp muttered.
"Go already. We're setting sail tomorrow," Bogard urged.
"You sure you're up for it?" Garp asked.
"I can walk, at least. Though I took quite a hit this time…" Bogard admitted.
"No choice, then. I'll go have a chat," Garp said, following Tashigi out of the room.
Koby and Helmeppo were left stunned, reeling from Garp's whirlwind demeanor. Bogard, long accustomed to it, clutched his head and pulled his hat lower, exasperated.
3
A soft chuckle escaped Wendy as she scanned the newspaper's front page. Her adjutant sighed quietly beside her.
It wasn't an article to celebrate, yet her delight marked her as a troublesome figure.
"Well done, those kids. They really pulled one over on us," Wendy said, grinning.
"I don't think this is something to be pleased about," her adjutant replied.
"I'm not pleased. I'm shocked, I'll have you know," she countered.
"It doesn't look that way at all," he said dryly.
"They went out of their way to call in a reporter and get this published. No wonder their names are spreading. It's bold, even if you think of the idea," Wendy mused.
"You are enjoying this," her adjutant accused.
She was practically glowing—her brightest mood in recent memory. Her adjutant, knowing her well, couldn't suppress another sigh.
"This is getting out of hand," he said. "On top of your fixation on him, your family just wrecked Vice Admiral Garp's ship. Do you know how much trouble that's caused?"
"Garp's no different, running around for his grandson," Wendy shot back.
"Even so, kicking Rear Admiral Bogard is unacceptable. He's an ally," her adjutant pressed.
"But Xiao doesn't listen to me either," Wendy said. "Grandpa raised him, so it's his responsibility. Tell Xiao directly—or Grandpa, for that matter."
"They're your family," her adjutant retorted.
"True, but they don't listen," she said with a shrug.
"Ugh, why is the Navy full of troublemakers?" her adjutant groaned, rubbing his temples.
Wendy set the newspaper on the table, smiling at his frustration. "This is tame compared to Marines who commit corruption, don't you think, Colonel?"
Her gaze shifted to the man across the table—Colonel Nezumi, his face pale as death. Caught by the auditors, he had no escape.
It was over.
Trembling, Nezumi couldn't muster a word.
"You've been living large, but the bill's come due," Wendy said. "After this kind of exposure, there's no going back. You slipped up, didn't you?"
"I-I, uh…" Nezumi stammered.
"We were already investigating you," Wendy continued. "We'd have caught you eventually, but they beat us to it. Feels like they stole our thunder, doesn't it?"
"It's not 'feels like'—they did," her adjutant corrected. "Because you were dawdling."
"Hmph, you're awfully harsh today. Are you mad?" Wendy teased.
"Of course I am," he snapped.
To Nezumi, their casual banter was a nightmare. Ruin was the only word in his mind. Wendy's gentle smile belied her intent as she sat before him.
"Anyway, I'll hear all your excuses," she said. "We've already gathered the evidence and the villagers' testimonies. Lie, and we'll know. So think carefully before you speak."
Her smile was warm, but her eyes glinted with steel—a testament to her prowess as an auditor. Her youth belied her rank, earned not through connections but through undeniable achievements.
No one in the Navy had ever hidden corruption from Wendy or her clan.
"I'm not letting you slip away," she said cheerfully. "Big sister's going to wring you dry."
Nezumi's face drained of color, and, reaching his breaking point, he slumped over, unconscious.
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