Yoriichi Tsugikuni was the kind of person who, at times, felt an inexplicable sense of responsibility welling up inside him.
He stood by the sea for a long time. Just as he steadied his emotions and prepared to leave, a flash of white suddenly appeared on the distant ocean.
Moments later, a mast rose above the horizon. Soon, a flag bearing the image of a seagull came into view.
A massive deep-blue dog-headed warship was speeding toward the island where Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood.
"MARINE."
"The Navy…"
"And that figurehead… is that Garp's ship?!"
Just like the justice-bringing heroes who always arrive late in every story, the Navy warship finally appeared — after the tragedy had already unfolded.
After some time, the ship drew closer.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni watched carefully, pausing where he stood instead of leaving.
"Well, well…"
"They really went too far this time."
"To think someone like this would appear in the East Blue."
Out at sea, Garp's warship approached Dragon's Roar Island at high speed. Even from several hundred meters away, Garp noticed the red-haired boy standing on the cliff. His Observation Haki spread outward, sweeping toward Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
"I won't allow a bastard like this to disrupt the peace of the East Blue!"
As he spoke, Garp loosened his tie, grabbed the white Justice coat draped over his shoulders, and tossed it aside. Bending his knees slightly, he leapt.
Though the ship was still hundreds of meters from shore, he launched himself straight toward Dragon's Roar Island.
"Vice Admiral Garp!" his adjutant called from behind, but Garp ignored him. In the blink of an eye, he had become a small dot racing toward the cliff.
"Something's coming?!"
Sensing the disturbance, Yoriichi Tsugikuni raised his head.
A tiny black speck streaked through the sky toward him. Within moments, he recognized the man.
"It's Garp!"
"And he looks middle-aged?!"
The sight of Garp's full head of black hair surprised him. But in the next instant, Garp drew back his fist midair, gathering power. Dense black lightning crackled around it.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni's expression sharpened instantly. He flung aside his scabbard, drew his sword, and shouted,
"I'm a civilian — not a pirate!"
Though his voice wasn't loud, Garp clearly heard him. Yet the rugged Marine only broke into a wide grin.
In the blink of an eye, Garp closed the distance, his fist wrapped in overwhelming Haki as it smashed toward Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni reacted instantly. With a single breath, flames coiled around his blade as he thrust forward.
Sun Breathing — Seventh Form — Solar Pierce!
Garp didn't dodge. His lightning-wreathed fist slammed directly into the sword's tip. An enormous force surged through Yoriichi Tsugikuni's arms.
The next moment, his strength gave out. The blade veered aside, leaving his guard wide open.
His physical strength simply couldn't compare to Garp's.
Garp broke through his defense, his massive fist striking Yoriichi Tsugikuni square in the chest. His breath stopped, his vision went dark, and he lost consciousness instantly.
BOOM!
Yoriichi Tsugikuni slammed into the ground, knocked out cold.
Garp walked over and looked down at him.
"A kid… wearing animal hide, barefoot too."
"That Conqueror's Haki earlier must've just awakened — scattered, unfocused. A rookie."
"His swordsmanship is good. He's probably not from this island."
"A civilian, huh? Hahaha!"
"With reflexes like that, you can't exactly call him harmless."
Garp examined Yoriichi Tsugikuni's clothes and laughed, recalling what the boy had said. Although he suspected Yoriichi Tsugikuni might be responsible for the devastation, he hadn't struck to kill.
At the last moment, Garp had held back, only knocking him unconscious.
He grabbed the animal hide and pulled Yoriichi Tsugikuni up, slinging him over his shoulder. Picking up the sword, he headed toward the ruined town.
Carrying Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Garp walked through the town and soon reached the battlefield.
The gruesome scene darkened his expression.
After carefully inspecting the Marines' fatal wounds, his expression softened slightly. He glanced at the unconscious boy on his shoulder and turned back toward the cliff where he had landed.
By the time Garp finished his inspection, his warship had arrived at Dragon's Roar Island. Marines were gathering on the cliff, forming ranks. Seeing Garp approaching with a "wild-looking" red-haired boy over his shoulder, the adjutant hurried forward.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
"Who is this…? What happened to him?"
At Bogard's question, Garp casually tossed Yoriichi Tsugikuni toward him, along with the sword. Bogard instinctively caught both, looking puzzled as he waited for an explanation.
"Take the kid and his sword aboard."
"The battlefield is over there. The E-23 unit is likely wiped out. Collect our comrades' bodies and send them home for burial."
"Search the town carefully. Sweep the entire island for survivors."
"Report anything you find immediately."
Bogard straightened and acknowledged the orders. Looking down at the red-haired boy in his arms, he couldn't help but ask,
"Vice Admiral Garp, who is this boy?"
"The Conqueror's Haki earlier… was that him?"
Garp picked his ear casually and replied,
"Him? Let's call him a survivor for now."
"You're right — that burst of Conqueror's Haki was probably his."
"Seems like it awakened by accident."
"Now get moving."
"There's a pirate crew stirring up trouble in the East Blue — and now that I've run into them, I won't let them go!"
Garp clenched his fist, the joints cracking loudly. With their orders given, the Marines began moving efficiently.
For all his quirks, Garp's subordinates were highly capable. Soon, Marines spread across the island to conduct a full search.
Year 1497 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
An unprecedented atrocity struck the East Blue.
Hundreds of Marines from Unit E-23 were annihilated while attempting to subdue a pirate crew on Dragon's Roar Island. Thousands of island residents were killed, and all the women and children were abducted.
Vice Admiral Garp, returning from leave and heading back to Marine Headquarters, happened to encounter the pirate crew responsible.
He struck without mercy.
That battle set the sea ablaze, flames lighting up half the sky.
All the captured women and children of Dragon's Roar Island were rescued.
Afterward, Garp's warship returned to Marine Headquarters. Compared to when it first set sail, however, the crew now included one additional passenger — a red-haired boy.