The New World, Grand Line
At this moment, the Red-Haired Pirates were all hands on deck, sailing toward the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates. Along the way, the crew kept their eyes fixed on the heavenly screen. The revelations displayed there had stunned everyone.
As one of the central figures in the story, Shanks was receiving the same level of attention as Buggy. The crew surrounded him, bombarding him with questions.
"Captain, is that ridiculous clown really your fellow apprentice on the Pirate King's ship? Is everything on that screen true?"
Shanks smiled faintly.
"Most of what it says is true. I just didn't expect it to be exposed like this."
He paused, then added thoughtfully:
"But when it comes to Buggy's strength… something feels off. Back then, he never showed that kind of talent."
It had been over twenty years since he last saw Buggy. On Roger's ship, Buggy had never been his match—but anyone who sailed with the Pirate King was no ordinary person.
Shanks reached into his coat and pulled out a Vivre Card, one he had kept for over twenty years.
"This is Buggy's vivre card," he said.
"That guy always had unusually good luck. During the battles we went through together, it showed time and again. Maybe, just like the screen says… his Observation Haki brings him that luck."
Benn Beckman toyed with his rifle, a spark of interest in his eyes.
"If we run into Buggy again, Captain… I'd like to test him myself. See if he's really as strong as they claim."
Lucky Roux chimed in with a grin:
"Back in the East Blue, if you had invited Buggy to join us, Captain… maybe he would've said yes."
The crew fell briefly into thought.
They had all witnessed the moment Shanks passed the straw hat to Monkey D. Luffy.
Now, it seemed they had witnessed the passing of Roger's will itself.
But they also understood something else—
Shanks admired Gol D. Roger…
Yet he never wanted to become Roger.
He wanted to walk his own path.
After entrusting the straw hat, Shanks had continued sailing with his current crew, fighting his way through the seas for years—until he stood at the very top.
"Luffy…" Shanks chuckled softly.
"With that reckless personality of his, the first thing he'll say is definitely 'I'm going to be King of the Pirates.'"
He laughed.
"Even Buggy, no matter how dense he is, would recognize that hat. With Buggy's current strength… he wouldn't harm Luffy."
There was warmth in his expression.
In that boy, he saw Roger's shadow.
Losing an arm in the East Blue for that future…
Was worth it.
"Since Buggy's in the East Blue, keeping an eye on Luffy…"
Shanks's expression gradually turned serious.
"What I'm more worried about now… is Ace."
His fingers brushed the three scars over his eye—
A wound left by Marshall D. Teach.
"Ace is no match for that man."
"Notify everyone—full speed ahead."
"I need to meet Whitebeard as soon as possible."
Everything—
Was for Ace.
For the only son left behind by Roger.
The cheerful atmosphere on the ship instantly turned heavy.
Meanwhile, in Loguetown, the Marines were facing a different kind of pressure.
What was once considered the weakest sea—
Now had to confront a known future powerhouse.
Morale was on the verge of collapse.
Not everyone had the courage to face a man who had hidden his strength for over twenty years.
At that moment, Marine Captain Smoker received a call via Den Den Mushi.
"I am Sengoku," came the voice of Sengoku.
"Smoker—you don't possess Haki. You are not Buggy's opponent."
"Do everything you can to protect the Marines in Loguetown."
"I've already dispatched Admiral Sakazuki as reinforcements."
Smoker frowned.
"Sengoku, don't be misled by that screen."
"I've chased Buggy before. Aside from his luck, he's no match for me."
"I can handle him alone."
On the other end, Sengoku's face darkened with anger.
"Don't act recklessly!"
"What the screen revealed about Garp… is true."
"Roger turning himself in—this is top-level classified information. Only a handful of people know."
"And I trust none of them would leak it."
"That means—Buggy's strength must be reassessed."
"…Understood," Smoker replied.
"I'll wait for Admiral Sakazuki."
But deep down—
He trusted his own judgment more.
Buggy could not be allowed to escape today.
After hanging up, Smoker turned to his men.
"I'm going to capture Buggy."
"Tashigi—you're coming with me."
"I'll personally expose the lies of that screen."
"Captain, you can't!" the Marines protested.
"If you lose—Loguetown will be destroyed!"
"We should wait for Admiral Sakazuki!"
"We don't even have Haki—we can't fight him!"
Smoker didn't waver.
"Until the Admiral arrives, I am the highest authority here."
"No one interferes with my actions."
He grabbed Tashigi.
"Stay close."
"We're heading to that tavern."
"We'll throw the Buggy Pirates straight into prison."
His lower body turned into white smoke.
With a burst of speed, he shot into the sky—carrying Tashigi with him.
In an instant, they broke past the Marines trying to stop them and flew toward Buggy's location.
Back at Marine Headquarters—
Sengoku slammed down the Den Den Mushi, his face grim.
He walked toward his old friend.
There stood Monkey D. Garp—
Casually stuffing his mouth with rice crackers.
"Vice Admiral Garp," Sengoku said coldly,
"I'm asking you as Fleet Admiral—what exactly did you talk about with Roger in prison?"
"Don't play dumb with me."
Garp's heart skipped a beat.
But his face showed nothing.
"What are you talking about?"
"You think I'd agree to anything a pirate says?"
"I'm a Marine hero!"
Then—
He casually reached into Sengoku's drawer… and grabbed more snacks.
Sengoku's eye twitched.
He knew Garp too well.
"Even if you fool me—do you think you can fool the Five Elders?"
"You damn troublemaker… always causing me headaches."
BAM!
Sengoku kicked Garp clean across the room.
"How many times have I told you—stop stealing my rice crackers?!"
Garp rolled on the ground, then got back up as if nothing happened.
Even though the crackers were covered in dust—
He still stuffed them into his mouth.
"Like I said—I didn't agree to anything."
"Even if the Five Elders ask me, my answer will be the same."
Because no matter what—
He would never betray Ace.
Even if that grandson wasn't related by blood…
After all these years—
He was family.
And Garp would never admit—
That Ace was the Pirate King's son.