"What? He escaped!?"
"Could he have already entered the Grand Line!?"
Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku received news about Natsuya once again, and his expression immediately changed slightly.
Naturally, Garp's involvement could not be hidden from him. After receiving the report, Sengoku could not help but change color.
Clearly, that old man Garp had paid lip service while defying orders and had not taken the mission he assigned seriously.
But even so, Natsuya managing to escape from Garp's grasp still came as an enormous surprise to him.
After all, in Sengoku's view, even if Garp had not been completely serious, dealing with Natsuya should not have posed any problem.
Yet the final outcome was this!
However, after learning the detailed intelligence, Sengoku understood somewhat.
It turned out that the abilities of Natsuya's Door-Door Fruit were even stranger than any of them had imagined!
Spatial transfer, effects similar to Observation Haki, nearly invincible defense.
And that method of repeatedly skyrocketing his strength!
All of those were effects the Door-Door Fruit could produce!
"The Door-Door Fruit..."
Thinking of this, Sengoku narrowed his eyes.
If he had previously only felt that Natsuya might become a major threat, then now, he could be completely certain!
In the future—no, Natsuya was already a major threat now!
At any moment, he might erupt and inflict irreparable, devastating losses upon the Marine Government and the World Government!
With that thought, Sengoku hurriedly asked his subordinate, "Check whether any Admirals are carrying out missions near the Grand Line entrance on the East Blue side!"
Yes, he intended to dispatch a Marine Admiral and directly suppress Natsuya.
Garp was unreliable, but if it was an Admiral, even Kizaru, who loved slacking off the most, should be able to handle it.
But then, his subordinate gave an unexpected reply.
"Reporting to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, none of the three Admirals are nearby, but..."
Sengoku immediately asked, "But what?"
"But there is a Shichibukai nearby."
A Shichibukai!?
Sengoku narrowed his eyes.
"Who is it? Notify him immediately."
While Sengoku was making those arrangements...
Just as they had expected, Natsuya appeared in the Grand Line.
After escaping with Nami, he had immediately used the Different Dimension to find Momoo, then had Momoo pull their ship directly into the Grand Line.
At the time, Nami had let out a huge sigh of relief.
Because she discovered that Natsuya was not completely stubborn.
Once he understood that he could not defeat his opponent, he would run away too!
But Nami quickly became tense again.
Because after giving Momoo its orders, Natsuya had fallen unconscious.
In the days since entering the Grand Line, he had not woken up at all!
Without a doubt, this was the aftermath of Natsuya activating the Eight Inner Gates this time!
The backlash this time was far stronger than before!
The reason was that he had used the Gate of Hurt in battle for the first time!
While it had caused his strength to soar again, it had also inflicted greater damage upon his body!
Furthermore, the fact that his opponent had been Garp was also a crucial factor.
The punch Garp landed on Natsuya had not fully healed, and now it erupted alongside the backlash of the Eight Inner Gates!
Thus, after forcibly enduring long enough to escape Loguetown, Natsuya finally could not hold on any longer and fell unconscious.
During the past few days, Nami had been the one holding everything together.
But she was ultimately only an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl. With Natsuya unconscious and his fate unknown, her state of mind was easy to imagine!
Fortunately, Momoo's company and help had allowed Nami to overcome many difficulties.
But the reason the Grand Line was called the graveyard of pirates was precisely because of its dangers and unpredictability!
Just like on this day, as Nami guided the pirate ship across the sea, a massive fleet suddenly appeared ahead!
"What!?"
Nami was greatly startled.
What she feared most now was neither terrible weather, storms, nor sea beasts.
What she feared most was encountering other pirates!
Because Natsuya was the only one among them who could fight, yet he was still unconscious!
As for Momoo, forget it.
This fellow had been fairly capable in the East Blue, but after arriving in the Grand Line, it had truly become nothing more than a ship-puller.
More importantly, the fleet ahead was well-equipped and had numerous ships. One glance was enough to tell they were not to be messed with.
Even if Momoo attacked, it would probably be useless.
Realizing this, Nami did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately shouted at Momoo.
"Momoo, turn around! Get away from those people!"
Momoo was timid too. Hearing Nami's words, it could not have wanted anything more and hurriedly turned around.
Splash—
The seawater churned as Momoo turned, about to pull the pirate ship away.
But at that moment, its massive body suddenly froze stiff.
"Momoo? Why did you stop!?"
Nami was still watching the fleet when she suddenly noticed in surprise that Momoo had stopped moving.
As she asked, she instinctively turned her head.
Then an eerie figure entered her field of vision!
On the sea ahead, there was a small boat shaped like a coffin.
Standing atop it was a gentlemanly man dressed as a swordsman, holding Yoru in his hand, with eyes like those of a hawk.
A lonely little boat on the vast ocean, and a swordsman with hawk-like eyes—there could not have been a stranger sight!
Of course.
What was strangest was that Nami discovered obvious fear on Momoo's face, with cold sweat pouring down its forehead!
It was afraid!?
Realizing this, Nami's heart tightened.
Just then, the pirate fleet also spotted the swordsman and began cursing him loudly from afar.
"Damn it, it's Dracule Mihawk!!"
"That guy just won't leave us alone!!"
"Dracule Mihawk, don't think we're afraid of you just because you're a Shichibukai!"
"Admiral Don Krieg is right! We'll blast him to death with our cannons!"
As the curses rang out, the pirate fleet launched an attack without hesitation!
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
A series of explosions erupted as countless black cannonballs shot through the air!
Nami's expression changed drastically.
That pirate fleet had actually included their pirate ship within its attack range!
But just as Nami had no idea what to do, the man with hawk-like eyes suddenly swung Yoru in his hand!
In that instant, azure light blazed!
A vast azure slash swept forth as though it were splitting heaven and earth apart!
Nami instantly stood dumbfounded.
Every cannonball fired by the pirate fleet was cut down by the torrent of sword light!
What astonishing swordsmanship was this!?
"Wait, this man is..."
At that moment, Nami suddenly realized the man's identity!
If she had not misheard earlier, the people in that pirate fleet had clearly mentioned a Shichibukai!
Combined with this earth-shattering swordsmanship, Nami immediately thought of someone.
That's right, one of the renowned Shichibukai!
And this man should be Dracule Mihawk, one of the Shichibukai!
Nami was utterly shocked. She had not expected to encounter such a major figure so soon after entering the Grand Line!
Before you continue