On the other side.
The Paradise Sea, on the deck of a small sailboat.
Garp froze for a moment.
"Nami? I know you, I've heard your name from Luffy. Luffy is in your care."
"…!"
Nami's heart skipped and she said a little shyly, "It's nothing, really—it's because Luffy has helped me a lot, Grandpa Garp. What could I possibly do for you?"
"Just call me Grandpa. No need to be so formal."
Garp said casually. Before the Summit War, he had asked his grandson about his companions, and of course he was no stranger to Nami and Vivi—the two "daughters-in-law."
"Yes… Grandpa. Grandpa." Nami called out cautiously, feeling oddly happy.
"Hahaha." Garp laughed, then stopped teasing her. "Pass the den-den mushi to Luffy. I've got important business with him."
"Yes, sir."
Nami stood at once, walked onto the deck, and spotted Luffy. She turned toward the Merry and shouted: "Luffy, it's your grandpa!"
As she spoke, she tossed the snail over to Luffy.
Seeing him wearing only shorts, she felt a twinge of regret.
Why was this idiot being so honest!?
If he said "no cheating," then he really didn't cheat.
With Luffy's cunning and experience, if he wanted to cheat, they'd never have caught him!
"Grandpa?"
Luffy reached out and caught the snail, asking directly: "Grandpa, you're the one calling me—what's going on?"
"Luffy, are you in the New World?"
"Yeah, I just left Fishman Island not too long ago."
"Be careful. The God Knights have their eyes on you. But for now, they're tied up targeting the Revolutionary Army and Morgans, so not many of them are willing to chase you." Garp warned.
Luffy grinned. "Don't worry, Grandpa. They won't find me for now. So what else is there?"
"Luffy, I've left the Marines. I'm forming a New Marine with Zephyr."
"I just saw the news about that."
Garp chuckled. "That's right. Luffy, we're planning to build some battleships at Water 7. You've got that golden ship, don't you?"
Luffy immediately realized—he wanted money!
The cost of battleships was sky-high, completely different from ordinary vessels.
"Luffy, lend me some money. I want you to be an Admiral!" Garp pitched it instantly, like a businessman trying to reel in an investor.
"Huh?"
Luffy burst out laughing. "Me? A pirate, becoming an Admiral in your New Marines?"
"Hahaha, you don't want to?"
"Nope. Admiral doesn't suit my status!"
Luffy laughed, then shouted to Nami: "Nami! How much gold do we have?"
Since Grandpa was starting up a business in his old age, of course Luffy had to support him.
"Gold? Back in Water 7, we remodeled the Ark Maxim. We can use over a thousand tons of gold now."
Over a thousand tons—that meant over a trillion berries.
"Grandpa, I'll give you ten tons of gold. I'll give you more when you've proven yourself and shown a good outlook." Luffy laughed.
---
On the other side.
Both Garp and Zephyr were stunned.
"Your grandson is filthy rich!" Zephyr couldn't help but exclaim.
He'd served the Marines all his life, yet wasn't half as wealthy as this pirate.
"Hahaha, just as expected of my grandson."
Garp grinned proudly. "Luffy, then send the money. I'll be waiting for you at Water 7."
But Luffy suddenly remembered something and said:
"By the way, in about half a month, Shiki the Golden Lion will launch an attack on the East Blue. Grandpa, head to Loguetown and wait for me there. If you encounter him, stop him. He wants to destroy the East Blue."
Hearing this out of the blue, Garp's face grew serious.
He didn't doubt the truth of the information—he naturally trusted Luffy's words.
"I understand. Zephyr and I will head there at once. Don't worry!"
"Oh, and apologize to Zephyr for me. I didn't mean to hit him during the Summit War."
With that, the call ended.
Garp hung up the snail and turned to Zephyr.
"What do you make of that?"
"True or not, we must go! We're the New Marines—it's our duty to protect the people! If the Marines can't protect them, we will!"
Zephyr said with a grave expression. "I don't know if we can make it in half a month, Garp. Let's head straight there instead of stopping at Water 7."
The two veterans and their group of ex-Marines set out for the East Blue, full of spirit.
Ain sighed and muttered to Tashigi beside her:
"Professor really knows how to stir up trouble. They seriously want to make a pirate an Admiral?"
"It was just a joke…"
Tashigi pushed up her glasses, but her tone wasn't too confident. "It should just be a family joke. Garp… Mr. Garp wouldn't actually do something like that, right?"
The two Marine women exchanged glances and fell silent.
---
Time flew by, and a week later—
New World, Elegia.
The island was blessed with mountains, clear waters, and beautiful scenery.
Once the world's capital of music, it had been a place of great prosperity.
To the southeast of the main island lay another small satellite island. Once home to a massive concert hall, it now stood in disrepair.
In its port towns, collapsed buildings could be seen everywhere. Even after ten years, the ruins still told the story of that year's tragedy.
Hundreds of thousands of people had died overnight!
Beyond the ruined city lay a plateau. A winding Z-shaped road led up to the old castle.
The castle too was somewhat dilapidated, but because it remained inhabited, it had been cleaned and repaired over the years, looking much better than the ruined city below.
---
At that moment, inside the castle's music hall.
The sound of a piano echoed through the empty chamber.
The birds outside seemed drawn to the natural melody, perching on branches and fluttering their wings in rhythm with the music.
[The new era is the future]
[Everything in the world, it all changes…]
The singing was cut short.
The girl seated at the piano puffed out her cheeks with a sigh. "I still feel like something's off… ahhh, so boring. Luffy, give me more inspiration~!"
Her gaze shifted to a newspaper pinned on the wall.
It was a photo from before Luffy had become a Warlord.
Since then, no News Coo had ever come this way again.
So dull…
Uta stared at Luffy's image on the paper.
Counting the years, it had been ten years since she'd last seen him—and she had no idea what had become of him after the great battle.
Had he reached the New World?
Would he drift to this island like a lost News Coo?
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed.
The music hall doors burst open with a bang.
Uta looked up in surprise. "Gordon?"
Gordon was drenched in sweat, panting heavily. "Uta, hide quickly! A fleet—a pirate fleet is headed for this island!"
"Someone's coming?!"
Far from afraid, Uta's rabbit ears—one red, one white—stood upright in excitement.
"Six pirate ships! All of them flying the same flag. Yes—that's the Straw Hat pirate flag on your wall!"
Gordon glanced at the wall behind the piano, recognizing the Straw Hat Luffy from the old Warlord news.
At that moment, Uta's pupils widened, her body trembling slightly.
Were there really gods in this world?
If the gods hadn't heard her voice, something this miraculous could never have happened.
"U-Uta?"
Gordon stood stunned as the girl bolted from the music hall like a gust of wind.
---
At the same time.
Straw Hat Fleet.
Luffy stood on deck with a wide grin. "We finally made it."
[You've sailed the New World for 7 days]
[Reward: 7,000 Adventure Coins]
[You've arrived at the new island Elegia]
[Reward: 10,000 Adventure Coins]
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."