A New Mission: Summon the Shichibukai!

"Aaaah!"

"Grandpa, stop hitting me!"

Luffy's bloodcurdling screams rang out across the warship.

Garp's fists, wrapped in Armament Haki, rained down on Luffy.

In the blink of an eye,

Luffy's head had swollen up like a pig's.

"Grandpa!?"

When Nami, Robin, and the others heard Luffy call Garp Grandpa, they all looked shocked.

So?

The man who had sent people to arrest them was Luffy's grandfather?

"You little brat, you've finally fallen into my hands today. From now on, you'll have plenty of time to reflect in Impel Down!"

After giving Luffy a good beating, Garp finally felt better.

He had decided to lock Luffy up in Impel Down.

Once he had properly taught Luffy a lesson and changed his mind about becoming a pirate, he would find a reason to reduce his sentence and have Sengoku release him.

"Boka, take him away!"

"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!"

Boka gestured for the others to take Luffy and his companions away!

They were locked in a cell.

Nami came over.

"Luffy, is that Vice Admiral really your grandfather?"

"Yeah!"

Luffy had a bunch of bumps on his head and could barely speak clearly.

Nami's eyes lit up.

"Then can't you beg your grandfather to let us go?"

"No way. My grandpa's the kind of ruthless guy who threw me into a forest full of wild beasts or tied me to a balloon and sent me flying into the sky, leaving me to fend for myself!"

Luffy recalled his childhood experiences.

Hearing this,

Nami froze.

She couldn't believe a boy's own grandfather could do such things.

If he was that harsh with his own grandson, then what would he do to them...

The mere thought made Nami tremble. She didn't dare bring it up again, afraid that she might anger Luffy's grandfather and, in a fit of rage, he would throw them into the sea to feed the fish.

Being locked in prison was no fun either, but at least they were still alive.

In an office aboard the warship,

Aokiji sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, wearing an eye mask as he rested.

Garp, meanwhile, was reporting to Sengoku.

"Hey, Sengoku, we've caught that good-for-nothing brat Luffy. Feng Lei deserves all the credit this time."

"Make sure you give him credit for it!"

"Surely you should give him a position with real authority, at least?"

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku was silent for a moment.

"There's no hurry with that, Garp. There's something else I need to discuss with you."

"Oh? What is it?"

Garp was somewhat displeased.

His disciple had captured the criminals who had wreaked havoc at Enies Lobby. Surely he deserved to be made a Rear Admiral, at the very least?

Sengoku seemed to hear the displeasure in Garp's voice.

He explained, "This achievement is significant, but it's still not enough for the position I intend to give him. That's why I plan to have him summon the Shichibukai!"

"Summon the Shichibukai?"

Garp was taken aback.

"Is he the right person for that?"

Until now,

Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals had always been responsible for summoning the Shichibukai.

The Shichibukai were powerful, so the World Government always sent a Vice Admiral to lead the mission as a sign of respect.

In principle,

Feng Lei's status as a [Special Recruit] put him on the same level as an Admiral Candidate, but he still had no real authority.

Given how arrogant the Shichibukai were, there would likely be plenty of trouble.

"The Five Elders gave me orders to transfer Feng Lei to Mary Geoise, where he would serve under them."

Sengoku slowly explained the reason.

"You know what the Five Elders are like. They won't tolerate anyone defying them."

"After thinking it over, the only way I can avoid their transfer order is to give Feng Lei an important mission."

Hearing this,

Garp finally understood and gave a displeased snort.

"Those old fellows really do think too highly of themselves!"

"In that case, let him go!"

In the end,

Garp agreed and asked, "Which one is he going to summon?"

"Amazon Lily Island. He'll summon the Shichibukai: the Empress, Boa Hancock!"

"That woman's not easy to deal with!"

When Garp heard it was Empress Hancock, his expression turned serious.

Her strength aside, she had an even more peculiar personality.

In particular,

Boa Hancock was known as the most beautiful woman in the world, and almost no man could resist her charm.

Feng Lei was young and full of vigor. If he fell for her charms...

"The other Shichibukai have already been accounted for. If he doesn't want to be transferred away by the Five Elders, this is the only way."

Sengoku spoke slowly.

"Once he completes this mission, I'll have reason to appoint him a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral. Then I'll arrange for him to serve as a base commander at another branch. That way, the Five Elders won't have sufficient grounds to transfer a Vice Admiral with real authority who commands a branch!"

"Do as you say, then."

Garp relented.

Especially after hearing that Feng Lei could become a Vice Admiral once he completed the summoning mission.

He could even be transferred to a branch to take command.

After all,

Feng Lei was only in his teens!

At this rate, becoming a Marine Admiral would by no means be the end of the road for him.

Could Sengoku be grooming him to become the next Fleet Admiral?

The thought put Garp in high spirits.

Beside him, Aokiji, who had been resting with his eyes closed, was also shocked after hearing Sengoku's arrangements.

The Five Elders wanted him?

And had Feng Lei apparently refused?

Otherwise, Sengoku wouldn't have made such careful arrangements.

Especially promising him the position of Vice Admiral.

A Vice Admiral in his teens?

There had never been one in the entire history of the Marines, had there?

If it really happened, Feng Lei's name would surely resound across the seas.

Meanwhile,

In the training room, Feng Lei was working on his progress in learning Ice Release.

"Secret Ice Release technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

In an instant,

The moisture in the air condensed into dozens of enormous ice mirrors that filled the entire training room.

Feng Lei moved and teleported at high speed between the ice mirrors. Every surface seemed to contain a person, and whenever he wished, he could charge out of any mirror to attack.

"As expected of a Ninjutsu that can control the elements!"

"Even with Observation Haki, there wouldn't be time to react!"

Although Observation Haki could predict an attack, human reactions had their limits. Movement and attacks that were too fast simply couldn't be defended against.

[Ice Release: (mastered)]

The data on the system panel changed.

After that,

Feng Lei used Ice Release's ability to control the elements to start imitating Aokiji's skills.

A great surge of cold erupted from Feng Lei's body and swept across the room like a tsunami.

In an instant,

A thick layer of ice covered the entire training room, producing the same effect as Aokiji's Ice Time Capsule.

"Just as I thought, it works!"

Seeing this,

Feng Lei was delighted.

With this,

Even though he hadn't eaten the Ice-Ice Fruit, he could still use Aokiji's fruit abilities through Ice Release.

The trip to capture Luffy and his companions had brought Feng Lei considerable gains.

First, the Sharingan could control Chopper.

Did that mean that, with enough ocular power, it could control a Mythical Zoan?

Then there was Ice Release, which could produce the same effects as the Ice-Ice Fruit.

Either one was a tremendous boost to Feng Lei's strength.

Just as Feng Lei was immersed in his delight, Garp's voice suddenly rang out.

"You brat Feng Lei, stop training at once and go to Amazon Lily to summon the Shichibukai!"