City Center
The streets were bustling with constant movement, civilians and Marines coming and going, while the distant sound of Water 7's waves blended with the urban murmur. Seated at a simple yet well-positioned table, Tashigi carefully observed the newspaper in her hands. Her eyes moved across each line with growing concern until, unable to hold it in, she let out a long sigh.
"Two of the Four Emperors are going to form an alliance… In four days, the entire New World will change."
She lowered the newspaper slightly, her fingers tightening around the paper more than necessary. The so-called New World, already a chaotic region ruled by the powerful Four Emperors, now seemed on the verge of an even deeper transformation.
If the balance was already unstable before, what would happen when two of those monsters decided to officially join forces?
It wasn't hard to imagine.
The wedding between a member of the Straw Hat crew and Charlotte Linlin's daughter would definitely not be an ordinary ceremony. There was nothing romantic about it in the traditional sense. It was political, strategic, and dangerous.
"I don't even know what to expect from this wedding anymore," Tashigi murmured, adjusting her glasses with an automatic gesture. "What comes after… is what really matters."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"This smells like war."
Beside her, Ain spoke gently, trying to ease the tension that was beginning to form.
"Don't worry so much, Tashigi… Luffy is Mr. Garp's grandson. He doesn't seem like the kind of pirate who would trample others without reason."
But not everyone shared that optimism.
Binz crossed his arms, his expression more serious than usual.
"Maybe… but Mr. Zephyr said last time that Luffy ate the so-called Sun God's fruit. The World Government won't ignore that. There's a good chance this wedding will turn into… a battlefield."
Tashigi narrowed her eyes at the newspaper again.
"That guy announced all of this to the entire world with so much fanfare—what exactly is he planning?"
She muttered almost to herself, as if trying to decipher an impossible riddle.
"And we were even invited to this wedding…"
She let out a weak, disbelieving laugh.
"But at this rate, we won't even make it. Our ship has been delayed for too long."
Even as a relatively small force, the group known as the Neo Marines still carried a certain prestige. Even so, receiving a direct invitation to an event involving two Emperors… sounded completely absurd.
"We need to find another way to get there," Tashigi continued, more resolute now. "That man must be plotting something…"
Then, suddenly—
"It's not very nice to badmouth people behind their backs, glasses girl."
"Ah—AH?!"
The scream escaped before she could stop it.
The voice was far too familiar.
Her heart racing, Tashigi turned abruptly—and there he was. Exactly as in the newspaper photo.
Luffy.
"Y-you…?! How are you here?!"
Luffy simply pulled a chair beside her and sat down as if it were the most natural thing in the world, like he was at home.
"I'm the one backing your patron, you know? Why wouldn't I show up?" he said with a shameless grin. "Actually, why don't you just call me 'dad'?"
Without any ceremony, he began eating the food on the table, completely at ease.
Water 7's cuisine was quite peculiar. One of its most famous dishes resembled a kind of gelatinous meat, with a texture similar to firm jelly, yet incredibly flavorful.
Tashigi's eyes widened to the extreme.
"Is there really someone this shameless?!"
Her face flushed with indignation.
"Pervert!"
Unlike her, Binz reacted immediately, standing up and giving a respectful salute.
"Lord Luffy."
Noticing that Ain was about to stand as well, Luffy casually waved his hand.
"Relax. No need for all that."
His eyes then turned directly to Ain, analyzing her with interest.
"You… you're the user of that regression ability, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Luffy."
Ain raised her right hand, and a soft, peach-colored flame—similar to a will-o'-the-wisp—appeared above her palm.
"Everything I touch regresses twelve years into the past. This also works on living beings. If I touch them multiple times… the target may disappear completely." she explained calmly.
Twelve years wasn't the fruit's absolute limit—just her current one.
The power was simple to understand… and terrifying.
"If someone who is eleven years old is affected by it…" Luffy said thoughtfully.
"…that person disappears immediately," Ain finished.
Luffy fell silent for a moment.
"Did Zephyr ask you to use it on him?"
"I suggested it… but the professor refused."
After a brief moment of thought, Luffy made a decision.
"Use it on me."
"Huh?!"
The surprise was immediate.
But faced with his insistence, Ain stood up, stepped behind him, and placed her hand on his shoulder.
In the next instant, Luffy's body began to shrink.
From a tall young man of around 1.94 meters, he quickly turned into a child of about five years old. His clothes adjusted along with the transformation.
It wasn't just his appearance—his entire physical state had regressed.
"Ah… so cute—"
Tashigi, unable to resist, reached out and poked his cheek.
Luffy cast her a sideways glance.
Even as a child… the pressure in his eyes was overwhelming.
Tashigi froze.
"S-scary…"
she muttered, stepping back.
"Yo, Luffy! You made it— HUH?!"
The door burst open, and Garp walked in—only to burst into laughter at the sight.
"Hahahahaha! I missed this look, you brat! You were exactly like this when you were little!"
Tears streamed down his face from laughing.
Beside him, Zephyr also smiled.
"The fearsome Emperor of the Sea… in this form, you almost look harmless."
Luffy, however, simply narrowed his eyes.
In the next instant, a wave of Haki exploded outward.
His body instantly returned to normal.
Ain's eyes widened.
"I… couldn't maintain the ability…?"
"That's not strange," Zephyr said, nodding. "Strong enough Haki can resist almost any Devil Fruit power. Your ability doesn't erase someone's Haki."
Luffy crossed his arms, thoughtful.
"So that's how it is…"
He looked at Zephyr again.
"If you want to strengthen the Neo Marines… why not rejuvenate yourself?"
After experiencing it firsthand, he understood perfectly.
It wasn't an illusion—he had truly become younger.
But Zephyr shook his head.
"Because it requires constant maintenance from the user. I can't place that burden on my students."
Now it made sense—it was a powerful ability… but costly.
Luffy scratched his chin.
"Maybe it's just a lack of training… or maybe awakening would solve it…"
Then, without warning, he pulled out thirty fruits.
"Eat these. Each one reduces your age by one year."
Garp's jaw dropped.
"Where did you get those?! Do you have more?!"
Luffy laughed.
"They only restore vitality. If the body is aging, it returns to its prime."
Without hesitation, Garp grabbed one and ate it.
Everyone watched closely.
His white hair began to darken slightly.
"…Incredible," Zephyr murmured.
"Hahahaha! I knew I could trust my grandson!"
Garp didn't waste time—he grabbed several and devoured them without ceremony.
In the next instant, his hair turned black again.
His body returned to its peak from decades ago.
BOOM!
A burst of Conqueror's Haki swept through the area.
Everyone was shocked.
Even Zephyr.
"Professor…!" Ain said, hopeful.
"I know."
Zephyr took the remaining fruits.
"Luffy, I won't waste this."
He ate them.
And just like that, the two veterans returned to their prime.
---
(End of Chapter)