Garp's Trolley Problem

After saying Roger's name, the devil from hell—Douglas Bullet—finally lost the ability to resist and passed out.

Leon slowly released his hold on Bullet, bracing both hands against his body as they began to surface.

As one of the few top fighters on the seas whose sole purpose was to grow stronger, Bullet had certainly lived up to his reputation.

"If you'd already left the Roger Pirates, why did you go berserk after learning of Roger's death?"

"Douglas Bullet, if you manage to escape Impel Down twenty years from now, just like in the story..."

"I hope I'll get to face you in a proper fight!"

"Don't disappoint me! Make sure you take Atomic Breath head-on! Bullet!!!"

The water churned, and everyone on the surface immediately tensed.

When Bullet's figure surfaced first, Garp instantly raised his sandbag-sized fist, but Kuzan stopped him in time.

Leon pushed Bullet aside. The circle of navy officers around the water blocked out the warm sunlight.

Looking at Garp's old face, Leon scratched his head in confusion.

"Are you guys having a meeting?"

"You little punk!"

Garp hauled Leon out of the water, unable to keep the smile off his face. But with his colleagues watching, he couldn't let himself show too much.

After a moment's thought, Garp brought down the fist he still had raised, delivering a hard blow to the top of Leon's head.

"Damn you, Leon! You nearly sank my ship!"

The operation to capture former Pirate King crew member Douglas Bullet had finally come to a successful close.

The navy fleet, led by Garp and Sengoku, would escort Bullet straight to Judicial Island to stand trial.

Since Garp's Dog Head Warship had been badly damaged, a standard navy warship had to tow it through the sea with a rope.

On the deck of the Dog Head Warship, now manned by only a few navy sailors, three deck chairs sat in a neat row.

"50 Beli?"

The seagull perched on the railing nodded.

"I'm a regular customer. Give me a discount—how about 5 Beli?"

Leon held up five fingers. The seagull gave him an awkward look, then flapped its wings as if to take off.

"Just pay the 50 Beli."

Kuzan spoke from his deck chair, his voice steady and confident.

Leon took the 100-Beli coin Kuzan tossed him, bought the newspaper, and pocketed his change.

"Big Bro Kuzan, how much silver do you think I could get for ten gold rings and a gold necklace?"

"Hm? Well..."

Kuzan seemed to suddenly think of something. He began looking around and coughing furiously.

"Heh heh, Big Bro Kuzan seems to like riding bicycles. If you ever need a cane, remember to come to me..."

Kuzan scratched his head. What was all this about bicycles and canes?

Leon picked up the newspaper and opened it.

The headline on the front page read—

"'Heir of the Demon' Captured! Mysterious Rookie of the Marines!!!"

The photo showed a young marine, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, floating on the water under the gaze of a group of navy officers. Bullet lay beside him, his fate unknown.

Leon's mouth twitched. Never mind where they'd gotten the photo—what kind of headline was that? It made it sound as if Leon had taken Bullet down all by himself.

"Well, well, Leon, you've made quite a name for yourself across the seas this time!"

Kuzan had appeared beside Leon at some point and patted him on the shoulder.

"Leon, the newspaper does like to exaggerate, but I think there's one thing it got right..."

"?"

"The navy's future rests on you!"

Kuzan spoke with grave sincerity. Before Leon could reply, Garp snorted from his deck chair.

Garp rolled over and pulled out the rice crackers he'd swiped from Sengoku, stuffing a mouthful into his mouth.

"You brats are still a long way from being good marines, as far as I'm concerned!"

Seeing both men turn to look at him, Garp wore the proud expression of a teacher.

"Don't think that defeating a bunch of pirates makes you a good marine."

"I have a question for you."

"If a baby and an old man were trapped on an island, and you had a small boat that could carry only two people..."

"Who would you save?"

Watching the serious Garp, Kuzan lowered his head and thought for a moment before answering, "I'd get out of the boat and give it to the old man and the baby."

Kuzan's answer sent Garp into a rage. He sprang up and gave Kuzan a reminder of the power of the Hero of the Marines' Iron Fist.

"You idiot!"

"That old man doesn't have long to live anyway, so you should leave him behind!"

After lecturing Kuzan, Garp turned to Leon.

"What would you do, Leon?"

Faced with Garp's trolley problem—and the "correct answer" he'd already given—

Leon's expression was hidden beneath his bandages. His voice was calm as he replied, "Why can't I carry the baby and the old man together?"

"Besides, I can swim, so I don't need to ride in the boat. I could even push it along..."

"Oh! Right!"

Leon's words inspired Kuzan, too.

"I could just freeze the entire sea..."

"Idiot!"