The Fuse That Would Topple the Entire World Order

"Uncle, where are we? I remember we got eaten by a giant whale."

When the old man ignored him, Luffy leaned in to look at the newspaper.

"We're inside the whale's stomach."

But before the old man could finish, Luffy snatched the newspaper and stared at it, eyes wide.

"Ace?"

His eyes lit up when he spotted a familiar figure among the people in the paper.

He hadn't expected to see Ace in the news.

"You know him?"

Croccus looked at Luffy from his hammock, slightly surprised.

"Yeah. I'm his younger brother."

Luffy puffed out his chest proudly.

"You're his brother?"

"Monkey D. Luffy? Your grandfather's that old geezer Garp, and your father is Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army?"

Croccus sprang to his feet. The newspaper clearly quoted the words of the Gold Emperor.

Was it really necessary for things to get exciting this quickly?

In the middle of nowhere, he'd only just learned about his captain's bloodline, and now the captain's younger brother had shown up?

"How do you know my name?"

"That's right! I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the man who's going to become the Pirate King!"

"But you know my grandpa?"

"I don't know what my dad's called."

Luffy excitedly recited his catchphrase, then scratched his head, puzzled.

This uncle knew his old man.

As for his dad, what was his name again?

Whatever. He couldn't remember.

But he sure missed Ace!

He hadn't seen him in years.

Still, he believed they'd meet again someday. When that happened, he'd be the first to become the Pirate King.

Croccus was stunned.

Maybe it was just his imagination, but he saw a trace of his captain in the boy.

That conviction, that smile, that freedom—they were all so much alike.

"What's in the news? Let me