Garp's Trolley Problem

After uttering Roger's name, the demon from hell—Douglas Bullet—finally lost all will to resist and fell unconscious.

Leon slowly released his hold on Bullet, his hands supporting the man's body as they began to rise toward the surface.

As one of the few top-tier fighters on the sea who lived solely to grow stronger, Bullet's performance lived up to his reputation.

"Since you'd already left the Roger Pirates, why did you go berserk when you heard of Roger's death?"

"Douglas Bullet, if you can still break out of Impel Down twenty years from now as the story goes..."

"I hope I'll get to face you head-on then!"

"Don't let me down—make sure you take my Atomic Breath straight on! Bullet!!!"

The seawater churned, and everyone on the surface tensed up.

When Bullet's figure surfaced first, Garp immediately raised a fist the size of a sandbag, but Kuzan stopped him just in time.

Leon pushed Bullet's body aside, and the ring of Marine officers on the water's surface blocked out the warm sunlight.

Staring at Garp's weathered face, Leon scratched his head in confusion.

"Are you guys having a meeting?"

"You little brat!"

Garp yanked Leon out of the water, an irrepressible grin spreading across his face, though he tried to hide it under the watchful eyes of his colleagues.

After a moment's thought, Garp brought his still-raised fist down hard on 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 Marine fleet, led by Garp and Sengoku, would escort Bullet directly to Judicial Island for trial.

Garp's Dog Head Warship, heavily damaged, could only be towed by a standard Marine vessel with a rope.

On the deck of the Dog Head Warship, now manned by only a few remaining sailors, three lounge chairs sat neatly arranged.

"50 Beli?"

The seagull perched on the railing nodded.

"I'm a regular here—how about a discount, say 5 Beli?"

Leon held up five fingers. The seagull's face twisted in awkwardness, then it flapped its wings as if to fly away.

"Just 50 Beli."

Kuzan spoke from his lounge chair, his voice steady and assured.

Taking the 100-Beli coin Kuzan tossed over, Leon bought the newspaper and pocketed the change.

"Kuzan, old pal, how much silver do you think ten gold rings and a gold chain would fetch?"

"Huh? Well..."

Kuzan seemed to suddenly recall something, glancing around and coughing wildly.

"Heh, Kuzan, you seem to really like riding that bike. If you ever need a cane, remember to come find me..."

Kuzan scratched his head. Bike? Cane? What was he on about?

Leon picked up the newspaper and flipped it open.

The headline on the front page read:

<"Heir of the Demon" Captured! The Mysterious Rookie of the Marines!!!>

The photo showed a young Marine, wrapped in bandages, floating on the water surrounded by a crowd of Marine officers, with Bullet lying beside him, his fate unknown.

Leon's mouth twitched. Never mind where this photo came from—the headline made it look like Leon had single-handedly taken down Bullet.

"Oh my, my, little Leon, you've made a name for yourself across the sea!"

Kuzan appeared beside Leon out of nowhere and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Little Leon, the papers love to exaggerate, but I think they got one thing right..."

"?"

"The future of the Marines rests on you!"

Kuzan spoke solemnly. Before Leon could respond, Garp snorted from his lounge chair.

Garp rolled over, pulled out some Senbei he'd swiped from Sengoku, and stuffed a handful into his mouth.

"You brats, in my eyes, neither of you comes close to being a good Marine yet!"

Seeing both of them turn their attention to him, Garp's face swelled with the pride of a teacher.

"Don't think that beating a few pirates makes you a good Marine."

"I'll ask you both a question."

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

"Who would you save?"

Looking at the solemn Garp, Kuzan lowered his head and thought for a moment before replying, "I'd get off the ship myself and give it to the old man and the baby."

Kuzan's answer sent Garp into a rage. He shot to his feet and made Kuzan relive the power of the Hero of the Marines' iron fist.

"You fool!"

"That old man didn't have long to live anyway, so you should've left him behind!"

After finishing his lesson to Kuzan, Garp turned his head to look at Leon.

"Leon, boy, what would you do?"

Facing Garp's trolley problem, along with the "correct answer" he'd already given, Leon's expression was unreadable beneath his bandages. His voice was flat as he said, "Can't I just carry the baby and the old man and leave together?"

"Besides, I can swim, so I don't even need the ship. I could even push it along..."

"Hey! That's right!"

Kuzan was also struck with inspiration by Leon.

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

"You bastard!"