The True Strongest in the World!

"What, what?!"

Bullet had just swiftly rolled over and gotten to his feet when he heard Garp's words.

His entire body froze instinctively, and even his pupils began to tremble.

"Betrayed by adults as a child, betrayed by friends after growing up, and now even Roger—the first person to truly accept you, the first to defeat you—is gone. You've lost your goal in battle, lost your direction in life..."

"You're lonely and lost, aren't you?"

Garp made no move to pursue him. He merely stood there, pitying the child before him who had walked down a path of no return.

Bullet had once yearned for glory, valued his companions, and after meeting Roger, had even found a purpose in life. Yet reality had cruelly battered him time and again, forcing him into what he was now.

Someone who trusted only himself, lived only for himself, and was willing to face everything alone.

The current Bullet was nothing more than a bewildered monster!

"Cough, cough... You... you..."

Bullet trembled all over, completely dumbfounded. He did not even bother wiping away the blood he coughed up at the corner of his mouth.

He only felt that every word Garp spoke was crueler, heavier, and more painful than that punch from before. Nearly every sentence struck fiercely at his heart.

It felt as though something buried in the deepest part of him had been ruthlessly dug out and exposed beneath the blazing sun.

"Shut up!!!"

Bullet roared at Garp hysterically.

At the same time, he went berserk once more. Every ounce of power within him surged like a tsunami as he charged forward with all his might.

"You know, child, I sincerely hope that you can meet someone who will truly accept you again."

"But for now, you need to calm down first!"

As Garp spoke from the bottom of his heart.

One large and one small fist, both equally dark and hardened, each wrapped in Haki and power compressed to the limit, collided head-on in midair.

[BOOM------]

The blue-black shockwave and the pure black shockwave crushed against each other in the field. But the instant the pure black wave bore down like a mountain over the other, an incomparably dazzling burst of light exploded.

This time, the ground beneath their feet could no longer hold.

Under the violent pressure, the entire stretch of earth was lifted like a rolling wave.

Buildings, corpses, even tree roots were ripped from the ground by the storm and hurled heavily into the vast ocean in the distance.

Two days later.

The ringing of a Den Den Mushi echoed within the Moon Chamber, deep inside Pangaea Castle in Mary Geoise.

"Lord Imu, Douglas Bullet has been personally defeated by Garp and imprisoned in Impel Down's 'Level 6 Infinite Hell.'"

After hearing the report, Imu was not surprised in the slightest. He replied calmly, "Good. Then proceed as instructed."

"Yes, as you command!"

He placed the receiver back onto the Den Den Mushi's shell.

Imu then had the Projection Den Den Mushi connect to Impel Down's surveillance system.

Very soon, a high-definition virtual projection appeared in the space before him.

The image showed Bullet lying on his back on a cold, gloomy floor, his hands and feet shackled.

He wore a black-and-white prison uniform, but his bruised and swollen face left him with no dignity to speak of.

"This guy has potential."

Imu's gaze was likewise filled with appreciation for talent.

But he also knew that Bullet's personality was far too extreme. If he was not properly trained, he would be difficult to use effectively.

One misstep, and he would wound his own master.

Fortunately, Imu was a transmigrator and understood something of what Bullet was thinking.

Coupled with his own strength and influence, there was no harm in trying to wield this peerless double-edged sword.

Still, much like Golden Lion Shiki, Bullet could not be used directly just yet.

He would have to be locked up for at least two years to grind down his temperament. No matter how fine a sword was, it still had to be obedient.

Just then, Bullet in the high-definition projection suddenly spoke.

"Who's there?"

Though he could not see the person outside the Cell while lying on the floor.

His Observation Haki could still sense the other party's presence.

And it was powerful.

"I am here on behalf of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government. As for my name, there is no need for you to know it."

"Hmph, a lackey of those Celestial Dragon trash? What a pathetic bastard." Bullet sneered as he stared at the pitch-black ceiling.

Yet the shadow outside the Cell showed no intention of refuting or rebuking him, which surprised Bullet somewhat.

"The higher-ups sent me to ask you one question. Are you willing to accept this?"

Bullet frowned but said nothing, responding with silence. The shadow did not mind his attitude and continued.

"You were defeated by Roger. Roger is dead, and you will never have another chance to surpass him. This time, you were defeated by Garp, but he is still alive. Are you willing to waste away in this sunless abyss of the sea, squandering your talent every moment of every day?"

Anger appeared on Bullet's face. How could he accept it? How could he possibly be willing?!

"What, from the sound of it, the Celestial Dragons want to let me out and have me be their dog?"

"Do you still remember your ambition?" the shadow asked.

The strongest in the world!

Those four words immediately surfaced in Bullet's mind.

"The World Government controls the highest authority on this planet."

"It has the best training resources and the greatest number of top-tier powerhouses. Don't you want to challenge a Navy Admiral with your own hands, or fight Garp again in the future?"

"It can even give you the greatest wars, ensuring that you will never lack battles. Most importantly, all of it is legal."

"For you, isn't this the best shortcut to becoming the strongest in the world?"

Every word spoken by the shadow echoed endlessly through the Cell, and Bullet's pupils shook instinctively.

Because he felt that it actually seemed to make sense.

But after growing accustomed to trusting no one and wanting only to fight alone, he found it difficult to convince himself to join the World Government and obey the Celestial Dragons' orders.

"You're hesitating."

"And the reason you're conflicted is that you would have to obey the Celestial Dragons you despise, correct?"

Bullet remained silent. Or rather, he tacitly admitted it.

"But what if I told you that you would only need to obey one person? The orders of a man who could truly be called the strongest in the world?"

"What? The true strongest in the world?!" Bullet was stunned.

"Don't joke with me. How could the World Government possibly have someone like that? Since Roger died, the only man on the seas qualified to contend for the title of strongest in the world is Whitebeard, with his monstrous strength!"

"Heh, then let me tell you this: neither the Whitebeard you speak of, nor Garp, who just defeated you, nor even Roger before them, was a match for that man. They were far inferior. So, are you interested in seeing him for yourself?" the shadow said with a laugh.

"That's impossible!" Bullet said through gritted teeth as he lay on the ground.

"Whether it is possible or not, you can see it with your own eyes. But first, you must get out of here."

"Fine!"

"I agree. Let me out. If such a person truly exists, I'm willing to join the World Government!"

"Very good. However, you cannot leave yet. You do not understand the value of freedom now, nor would you cherish any of this. Take your time and experience what it feels like for each day to stretch into a year. I'll return in perhaps a year or two..."

The Cell fell silent once more, but Bullet's ragged breathing continued for a long while. His bloodshot eyes were filled with resentment and fury.

Outside, just as the shadow turned around, a man in a black suit approached and respectfully lowered his head.

"My lord, shall we remove the Soundproof Domain?"

"Mm."

Looking around.

A faint purplish glow could be seen covering Bullet's Cell and several meters of space outside its door.

This chapter was originally scheduled for 12:10 a.m. tomorrow, but I released it early to see how things go. If it gets more bookmarks at this time, I'll post at this time from now on.