The Demon Pirates—a large and notorious pirate crew on the Grand Line.
They had drawn in countless villains from across the seas…
Each one was a bloodstained butcher, a ruthless criminal whose crimes could fill volumes, yet all of them flocked eagerly to join the Demon Pirates. Together, they pillaged and plundered across the Grand Line, spreading terror wherever their flag appeared.
During this time,
The number of merchant ships lost to the Demon Pirates was already beyond counting.
Their rampage had severely disrupted…
the peace and order of the sea.
It was precisely because of this
that Aokiji had been dispatched in person.
From that alone,
one could imagine just how fearsome and powerful the Demon Pirates truly were.
However—
Vice Admiral Garp wanted his own grandson, Kai, to participate in the suppression of the Demon Pirates?
Aokiji was utterly dumbfounded.
Was he serious?
Just how much did Vice Admiral Garp hate his grandson?
He was sending the boy straight to his death!
"Vice Admiral Garp, you… this…"
Aokiji's face twisted in hesitation, unsure of how to respond.
It wasn't that he refused to help—
but rather that this was trouble.
Facing the Demon Pirates alone would've been a simple task for someone of his caliber.
A straightforward mission, really.
But if he had to bring along a burden… the entire operation would become a nightmare.
A burden meant—
a hostage waiting to happen.
And when that moment came,
Would he save the kid?
Or complete the mission?
If he saved the boy, he might fail the mission.
If he didn't… he'd never forgive himself.
After all—
Hero Garp was Aokiji's lifelong idol.
To stand by and watch his idol's grandson die before his eyes?
Emotionally and morally, Aokiji could never accept that.
In short—
he really didn't want to drag along a liability.
Especially not…
a four-year-old child!
"Vice Admiral Garp, please reconsider," Aokiji pleaded.
"The Demon Pirates aren't like other crews."
"They have over three thousand members!"
"Even for me, I must remain cautious against them. One slip-up could spell disaster."
"Facing a pirate crew that is massive and dangerous, how could I possibly spare attention to protect a four-year-old kid?"
"You're just making my job harder!"
Aokiji's tone was full of helplessness.
The Demon Pirates were no small-time group.
They were an alliance of the Grand Line's most infamous criminals.
Their captain, Demon Oren, was a monster among monsters—
a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user with giant blood, standing six meters tall, his body a fortress of muscle.
Even without his Devil Fruit, Oren was a formidable powerhouse.
To fight such a sea devil, even Aokiji had to treat it as a serious battle.
And after six months of recruiting, the Demon Pirates had grown even stronger.
A congregation of fiends:
—White Wolf Garson, bounty: 30 million Berries.
—Pufferfish Demon Grin, bounty: 38 million.
—Sharpshooter Homa, bounty: 41 million.
…
In short, the Demon Pirates were an assembly of monsters.
Aokiji alone could still handle them, thanks to his Logia powers.
But add one little burden to the mix…
and everything would fall apart.
"Vice Admiral Garp, perhaps you don't realize how strong the Demon Pirates have become," he said earnestly.
"They've been attracting countless powerful pirates. Bounties in the tens of millions are common."
"If I bring your grandson Kai along… I fear I won't be able to guarantee his safety."
"If something happens to him, I'll never be able to face you again."
Aokiji sighed.
Yet instead of anger, Garp burst into roaring laughter.
"Bwahahaha!"
"Aokiji, you little brat, of course I understand your worries!"
"But…"
Garp grinned proudly, his voice filled with pride and conviction.
"I'll tell you the truth—
My grandson Kai is far, far stronger than you imagine!"
"My grandson is the most terrifying monster this sea has ever seen!"
"You think just anyone earns that title from me? Not even you, brat, have ever been called that by me!"
"I can say it with absolute certainty—there is no creature on this sea scarier than my grandson!"
"So rest easy. You think I'd send my own grandson to his death? His safety is the least of your worries."
Aokiji blinked, stunned.
He was certain Garp wasn't joking.
There was no hint of exaggeration in his tone.
With disbelief swirling in his mind, Aokiji turned to look at the boy beside Garp—
a small figure barely reaching his knee.
"The most terrifying monster of the sea…"
"This kid?"
"Seriously?"
"This four-year-old brat?"
Aokiji was at a total loss.
He couldn't even begin to imagine—
how a four-year-old could possibly be deemed the most terrifying monster of the sea.
Even with his vast experience, Aokiji found himself utterly baffled.
What kind of concept was that?
The most terrifying monster of the sea?
Even Sakazuki and Borsalino—monsters in their own right—had never been called that by Garp.
So…
Did this mean the child before him was even more terrifying than them?
Hiss!
Aokiji couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
He didn't dare to imagine further.
"Enough," Garp cut him off brusquely.
"This matter is settled. I won't repeat myself."
The Vice Admiral's word was final.
Even Kai himself wasn't consulted.
Nor did Aokiji's consent matter.
Garp had decided.
And once he did, there was no overturning it.
On this warship, Garp's word was law.
Even a fellow Vice Admiral like Aokiji couldn't defy him.
"This…"
Aokiji could only sigh in silence.
"Bogart," Garp barked,
"relay my orders to the helmsman—change course and head full speed for Flowstream Island!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!"
Bogart, still bandaged from his recent injuries, saluted and hurried off.
And so—
The warship turned its bow toward Flowstream Island, surging forward at full speed.
Their destination:
the Demon Pirates.
Aokiji had no choice but to comply,
swallowing his misgivings like a dumb man choking down bitter herbs.
Could he object?
Hardly.
He didn't dare.
Despite being one of the Marine's top powers,
Aokiji still held a deep-rooted fear of Garp's iron fist—
a trauma etched into his very bones.
Even now, as one of the Marine's strongest,
he still couldn't quite shake that old instinctive dread.
"Vice Admiral Garp's words…" he murmured softly.
"'The most terrifying monster of the sea'…"
"Kai… could you truly be as extraordinary as he says?"
"Let's see for ourselves."
Aokiji's eyes gleamed as he studied the boy.
The more he thought about it, the more his curiosity grew.
"Even Sakazuki and Borsalino never received such praise from Garp," he mused.
"So what kind of being are you really, little one?"
A four-year-old monster?
How powerful could that possibly be?
Aokiji couldn't help but shake his head with a faint smile.
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, a full day had gone by.
Under Garp's command,
The warship had crossed six islands without hindrance, cutting smoothly through the waves.
And finally—
On a bright morning, under the blazing sun,
a massive Marine warship loomed on the horizon.
They had arrived at their destination—
Flowstream Island.
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