The Postwar Aftermath

Young Garp stood at the Port, his military uniform covered in ash and blood.

He watched as the White-Clad Recovery Team carried boxes off the ship.

What are you doing here?

The leading Holy Land official opened the document.

"Take over the site."

Garp stood in front of the dock.

The person has been rescued.

The official glanced at the wounded on the makeshift boat.

"Not necessarily."

Roger walked over from the side, his knife still open.

That doesn't sound right.

The official saw Roger and took a half step back.

"The Roger Pirates must not interfere in the affairs of the World Government."

Roger smiled.

"You didn't ask for my permission before you fired the cannons."

Young Garp pointed to the boxes in the recycling team's hands.

What's inside?

The official closed the document.

"Post-disaster relief supplies."

Garp said.

"Open."

The official looked up.

You have no right to inspect.

Young Garp reached out and lifted the lid of the box.

Inside were a row of medicines and handcuffs, as well as several lists stamped with the Holy Land's seal.

Garp picked up the top list.

"Sample recovery?"

Roger leaned closer to take a look.

"The child's number is also on this."

The muscles in young Garp's face were taut.

They've escaped.

The official said.

"Activity assets need to be registered before return."

Garp grabbed his collar.

"You want to take him back?"

The official was lifted into the air, still gritting his teeth.

"Vice Admiral Garp, please be mindful of your position."

"Your assistance in protecting the Celestial Dragons today will be remembered by the Holy Land."

Young Garp threw him to the ground.

"I'm protecting people."

The official got up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Your file will show that you protected the Celestial Dragons."

"News reports will also be written like this."

In real life, Garp watched this scene with his face completely drained of color.

The question from the Sengoku.

Why didn't you publicly refute it back then?

Garp gripped the brim of his hat tightly.

"I disagree."

The crane asked.

"And then?"

Garp said.

The newspapers were sent out the next day.

Akainu looked at Sengoku.

"Has Marine Headquarters received the original report?"

The Sengoku remained silent for a long time.

"I have received it."

Akainu stared at him.

"Where."

The Sengoku Period.

"Reassigned by the Holy Land."

Steam rose from Akainu's fist.

"Another transfer."

Kuzan spoke into the Den Den Mushi.

"Transferring them away is tantamount to burying them."

Kizaru looked towards the server cluster in the distance on Future Island.

"So we can't let them transfer away again now."

Vegapunk typed out a few lines of commands.

"Sixty-four percent of the information on Azure Jade Scales has been transmitted."

Sabo asked.

Can you accept data from God Valley?

Vegapunk looked up at the Sky Screen.

"It depends on whether it grants the permission."

The Sky Screen brightened.

[The God Valley post-war archives have entered the public release process.]

The Navy Independent Review Group has been granted provisional access.

Sengoku immediately spoke.

"Take over."

Akainu added.

"All backup rooms at headquarters will receive the message simultaneously."

The crane nodded.

"I'll arrange it."

The Sky Screen projection continues.

At the Port, several rescued victims were stopped by White-Clad Recovery Team.

A Buccaneer Tribe child, clutching a wooden sign, hid behind a marine.

Young Marine Bode stood in front of them.

"Vice Admiral Garp said they could leave."

The recycling team leader took out the Holy Land Token.

"The Holy Land says, they cannot."

Bode gritted his teeth.

"I obey the Navy's orders."

The retrieval team leader raised his gun.

"You are defying the Celestial Dragons."

Bode's hand rested on the hilt of the knife.

Young Garp walked over and pulled him behind him.

"I disobey."

The recovery team leader looked at Garp, but hesitated to fire.

Roger whistled from the side.

"The navy talks like that too, huh?"

Garp turned around and yelled at him.

"Shut up."

Roger smiled and took a half step back, but his hand remained on the knife.

The Sky Screen displays text.

[On that day, Garp prevented the recovery of the first batch of samples.]

[However, not all victims managed to escape.]

Screen transition.

Deep inside the island, some people who had not made it to the Port were being pushed back into the train cars by the recovery team.

Some struggled, some called out the names of their loved ones.

A doctor is underlining on the list.

"It can be transferred to subsequent experiments."

"For those with severe bodily damage, clean up."

Bonney covered her mouth, the sound squeezing out from between her fingers.

"There are still people who haven't been rescued."

The bear lowered its head.

"Yes."

Sabo looked at the White Mask.

"You've always known."

The White Mask had its mouth closed.

The dragon's wind swirled the pages of paper in the corridor.

"The God Valley is not the end, but the beginning."

Vegapunk said.

"The samples used in the preliminary tests for the Azure Jade Scales likely came from this group of people."

Kizaru straightened up.

"Doctor, how far has it been transmitted?"

Seventy-nine percent.

"Hurry up."

Kuzan's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

"CP0 is still outside."

Kizaru looked towards the doorway.

"Then let them wait."

The Sky Screen backdrop shifts back to the post-war conference.

One of the young Five Elders sat in a makeshift tent, with naval representatives and Holy Land officials standing before him.

Officials report.

"The island was severely damaged."

"The main force of the Rocks Pirates has been routed."

"The Roger Pirates have withdrawn."

"Vice Admiral Garp's influence on the scene was too great."

The Five Elders raised their eyes.

"Then give him a title."

The official asked.

"What title?"

The Five Elders said.

"Hero of the Marines."

"It says he protected the Celestial Dragons."

"It is written that he defeated Rocks."

"Don't write about the hunting grounds."

"Don't write about experiments."

"Don't write that the Holy Land fleet fired on the evacuation ship."

In reality, Marine Plaza was deathly quiet.

Garp pressed his hat to his chest.

Sengoku closed his eyes, then quickly opened them.

The edges of Akainu's cloak curled up from the heat.

"So the title of 'hero' was just hush money."

Garp opened his mouth.

"I didn't want it."

Akainu looked at him.

You've accepted it.

Garp did not refute.

The Sengoku Period.

"At that time, the Navy needed someone who could contain the aftermath of the Rocks debacle."

The crane asked.

"So you're just going to let him carry this title and remain silent for decades?"

The Sengoku was silent for a moment.

"It was my fault."

Garp turned his head.

"It's not just yours."

Akainu suddenly spoke.

Don't spread the blame.

Everyone looked at him.

Akainu continued.

"The Holy Land tampered with the files; the Navy accepted the results."

"That's responsibility."

Kuzan said this on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

"I agree with what you said."

Kizaru rubbed his temples.

"The headquarters meeting will be very awkward after this trip to Future Island."

The Sengoku Period.

"Then open it."

The Sky Screen brightened.

[God Valley Post-Battle Eradication of the Chain of Responsibility Determination.]

[Primary responsibility: The highest level of power in the World Government.]

[Execution, Holy Land Recovery Team, Inner Court Medical Bureau, Press Control Department.]

[Collaboration with high-ranking naval officials who received falsified and long-unpublished files.]

Garp looked up.

Write my name down.

Sengoku looked at him.

"Garp."

Garp said.

I am alive.

Don't make me hide behind the word "hero".

The Sky Screen shimmered.

[Monkey D. Garp, listed as a person responsible for long silence.]

[It was also confirmed that they rescued 312 victims at the God Valley site, prevented the retrieval of the first batch of samples, and destroyed three Holy Land gunboats.]

Some of the young marines looked up.

"They saved more than 300 people."

Another marine asked.

"Then why punish him?"

The crane gazed at the Sky Screen.

"Saving lives is a meritorious act."

"Silence is a responsibility."

Garp nodded.

"Right."

The Sky Screen continues to fall.

[Punishment: The title of Hero of the Marines has entered a 72-hour public review period.]

[During the review period, no media outlet may describe God Valley's achievements as protecting the Celestial Dragons.]

[Reward: God Valley Victim Rescue List restored.]

[Records of the Roger Pirates' participation in the rescue have been restored.]

In the Sabaody Archipelago, Rayleigh lowered his head and chuckled, wiping the corner of his eye with the back of his hand.

Luffy looked at him.

"Rayleigh, you guys saved people too."

Rayleigh said.

"Some were saved."

Nami asked.

Why don't you say so?

Rayleigh looked up at the Sky Screen.

"A pirate claiming to have saved someone? Who would believe that?"

Robin said softly.

"Now some people believe it."

On the Sky Screen above, the list began to scroll.

One by one, the names were retrieved from their assigned numbers.

Some only have their surnames left.

Some only have nicknames.

Some are still displayed as unknown.

Robin picked up the pen.

"I'll take notes."

Franky raised his hand to wipe his face.

"I remember too."

Chopper said, crying.

"I want to remember that too."

Luffy didn't say anything, he just pressed his Straw Hat down a little.

On Future Island, Bonney looked up after seeing one of the names.

"Dad."

The bear saw it too.

[Buccaneer Tribe child, possibly named Saul.]

The bear's hand stopped in front of the screen.

"My father mentioned this name."

Bonney asked.

Who is it?

"That's what the bear said."

His childhood friend.

The Sky Screen continued to roll.

[Saul's whereabouts are unknown.]

The bear lowered its paw.

"At least the name is back."

The man with the White Mask laughed on the ground.

"What's the use of bringing back the name?"

Bonney turned around.

"You dare say that?"

The White Mask looked at her.

"It's not just the name that's been erased from God Valley."

There's one more thing.

"Vegapunk asked."

"What is that?"

The White Mask closed his mouth.

The Sky Screen immediately lit up.

[A clue to the lost core item of God Valley has been detected.]

[Prepare for the next question.]

In the Holy Land Hall, Saint Saturn rose.

"No."

Imu's voice came from behind the curtain.

What does it want to ask?

Golden Light from the Sky Screen was reflected on all the screens.

[Question: What was the core lost item secretly moved from the scene by the World Government after the God Valley Incident?]

[A, Ancient Energy Experiment Core.]

[B, Records related to Celestial Dragons' National Treasures.]

[C, an infant who should not be in God Valley.]

[D, All of the above.]

In Sabaody, Rayleigh's flask slid from his hand onto the table.

Luffy turned his head.

"Baby?"

At Marine Headquarters, Garp's expression completely changed.

Sengoku stared at him.

"Garp."

Garp muttered a curse under his breath.

"You're going to put this out too?"