Pirates Who Could Not Become Marines—What Freedom Did They Have?

"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a Marine admiral. I've been working hard these past years too."

But Zephyr wore a sly expression, a stark contrast to the stern demeanor of an old Marine like him.

Shanks nodded blankly. So Marine admirals had such formidable intelligence networks?

"Go on."

"Oh, right."

Shanks straightened up. He did not know why he felt like a student in front of Zephyr, but as a junior, perhaps that was only natural.

"Where should I begin? Let's start from before the World Government was founded."

"Eight hundred years ago, there were already legends of Sun God Nika. Some said he was a warrior who brought liberation, while others said he was a warrior who brought destruction. He once fought the War God of the Giants, so let's call him the First Nika for now.

"In short, that First Nika was incredibly powerful—so powerful that nearly all the legends of that era revolved around him.

"Later, for reasons unknown, that Nika transformed into a Devil Fruit—the Nika Fruit.

"Eight hundred years ago, there was a man named Joy Boy. He was the user of the Nika Fruit and the greatest enemy of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. He came within a hair's breadth of overthrowing the Celestial Dragons' rule, but ultimately failed.

"That so-called One Piece was, in fact, the gift Joy Boy left behind.

"Of course, Captain Roger told me that. I've never seen the One Piece myself, so I truly don't know what it is.

"In any case, over these eight hundred years, the World Government had been searching for the Nika Fruit. Yet that fruit seemed to possess a will of its own and had never been found.

"It was said that to conceal itself, the Nika Fruit only possessed the Rubber Ability before awakening. Only after awakening could it reveal its true form.

"Captain Roger said that when they reached the One Piece, they had arrived too early. I don't know whether that 'too early' referred to the Nika Fruit or something else.

"In any case, Joy Boy's legacy is there at the One Piece."

At that, Shanks paused. Garp's brows had already knitted tightly together, while Zephyr's expression remained hidden behind his sunglasses.

The Nika Fruit was, in a sense, Captain Roger's final wish. He had wanted his child to see a sight he himself had never seen.

But it was only a final wish. Captain Roger hoped his child would obtain the One Piece, but hope did not mean there was only one possibility.

With a single call to seek it, Roger had given every pirate a goal.

Shanks had merely wanted to lend his captain a hand and see whether his captain's child—his "younger brother"—was that person.

But now, Shanks had never expected that person to be Garp!

Strangely enough, it made sense. After all, Garp and Captain Roger had battled each other their entire lives.

It was said that when they retreated back then, Captain Roger and the others had not forgotten to take Garp with them.

Since that was the case, Shanks was willing to share some intelligence with these two old seniors.

After all, Garp had already eaten the Nika Fruit. Even if he wanted to keep acting like an obstinate old fool, the World Government would no longer tolerate him.

Shanks had his own little calculations as well.

He had become a pirate because he had inherited Captain Roger's freedom, but what Shanks truly wanted was to break free from the "bloodline" he carried.

"Enemies understand each other best. So, by chance, I infiltrated Mary Geoise, obtained information on the Nika Fruit, and escaped.

"Originally, I had planned to let the captain's son try it. I never expected it would be you, Mr. Garp."

Shanks shook his head, his final words faint and distant.

Garp, meanwhile, was nearly overwhelmed by the torrent of information, his head spinning.

"Hey, Zephyr, what was this brat talking about? Why can't I understand any of it?"

"He said that the One Piece Roger found was left behind by Joy Boy, a former enemy of the World Government. Joy Boy was the previous user of the Nika Fruit, and now you possess Joy Boy's Devil Fruit ability."

"Uh..."

Garp blinked blankly, finally realizing the severity of the situation.

By that logic... he was now the World Government's great enemy!?

"Puhahaha!" Garp burst into laughter. "Interesting! This is truly interesting!"

Zephyr smiled. "It is indeed interesting. I never imagined that just as I was planning to turn my back on the World Government, I'd encounter something like this."

"What!" Shanks became alert.

"Turn your back on the World Government!?" Garp's laughter abruptly vanished as he looked at Zephyr. "Hey, Zephyr, don't tell me you..."

"Garp, the World Government cannot bear the banner of justice. If that is the case, why can't we truly raise the banner of justice ourselves?"

Zephyr's words stopped Garp cold, leaving him speechless and deep in thought.

"Justice... justice..."

Shanks blinked in confusion, looking from Garp to Zephyr. Wild joy surged within him before he forcefully suppressed it.

"Senior, are you two planning to set sail and become pirates?"

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

Garp and Zephyr instantly refuted him, spraying Shanks with spit.

"Ahaha." Shanks awkwardly wiped his face. What a pity...

"What I want to establish is a new Marine force—the Neo Marines. A force that can truly carry out justice upon these seas and bring all evil to justice."

"Originally, I planned to work on it myself for a while and tell you once I had achieved some results. But now seems like exactly the right time."

"Garp, do you want to do something great with me? Your identity is rather difficult to explain now~"

Zephyr teased him, making Garp grind his teeth.

"Zephyr, you bastard... Let me think about it for a few days."

"That's fine." Zephyr nodded. It would not be easy for Garp to turn his back on the convictions he had upheld for decades. If only he could let Garp see the future too.

Wait, this seemed...

Zephyr had an idea, then turned his gaze toward the still somewhat awkward Shanks.

"Hey, kid. Are you interested in becoming a member of the Neo Marines?"

"Huh? Me?"

Shanks pointed blankly at himself.

"Um, Mr. Zephyr, I'm a pirate."

"I know. But I also know that pirates differ from pirate to pirate, just as Marines differ from Marine to Marine.

"Someone once told me that it was necessary to unite every force that could be united.

"Besides, why did you become a pirate?"

"Um, freedom?"

Shanks answered weakly. In truth, he did not dislike the idea of justice. After all, he had inherited one thing from Captain Roger—never harm civilians.

"Then what freedom could a pirate who cannot become a Marine possibly have?"

Zephyr's words sent Shanks's mind into a frantic whirl.

He thought and thought again, but Shanks still could not quite understand the meaning of those words.

"Mr. Zephyr, could you say that again?"

"How can a pirate who cannot become a Marine be called free?"

Shanks fell silent. He thought again, fell silent again, and then said nothing for a long while.

"Wait!"

But at that moment, after hearing Zephyr's words, Garp had a flash of inspiration.

"Zephyr, you mean I can be a Marine and also be a Neo Marine, right?"

"Of course."

Zephyr nodded with a smile. His old friend was exceptionally quick-witted when it came to this sort of thing.

"Then there's no problem. Zephyr, I'll join your Neo Marines."

Garp's familiar hearty laughter returned. Wouldn't it have been simpler to say so from the start?

Then the two old men turned their gazes toward Shanks.

"Kid, what do you say now?"

"Um." Shanks raised his hands in surrender. "Let's make this clear first. I can be a pirate and then join the Neo Marines too, right?"

Zephyr nodded. "For now, yes. But in the future, the title of 'pirate' may need to change."

"I see..." Shanks smiled, then quickly nodded. "All right, then."

"If I don't do it, you might beat me up badly, right?"

Shanks was slightly troubled, but he did not feel much resistance. After all, what Zephyr wanted to do aligned with his own goals.

Zephyr nodded. This kid was not foolish either.

"Now there's only one thing left. Red-Haired brat, you said you wanted Roger's son to try the Nika Fruit. Then why did you come to Foosha Village? Isn't this Garp's hometown?"

Though he seemed to be asking Shanks, Zephyr's eyes were fixed on Garp.

Garp froze, instantly breaking out in a cold sweat.

Oh no!