First Meeting with Dragon

"Hmm, who are you?"

The moment Zero stepped onto the rooftop, a man in a gray robe appeared before him. He asked curiously, but upon seeing the dark red markings on the man's face, an image in his mind overlapped almost perfectly with him.

"Dragon!"

"You actually know me?"

There was some confusion in Dragon's voice.

He had mainly been active in the New World and had not visited the East Blue in a long time. How did this man know about him?

"Um, the son of Marine hero Garp, Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army in the New World. How could I not know you?"

Dragon was astonished once more. Not only did Zero know his name, but he even knew his background so well. Just who was this man—

"Don't worry. I'm Luffy's companion now, not your enemy. You can trust me."

"Hahahaha!"

Hearing Zero's answer, Dragon burst into laughter before continuing, "Interesting, what an interesting fellow! Luffy actually found someone like you as a companion. He really is my son! Hahahaha!"

Zero had thought the Dragon in his impression should have been a very serious man, but whenever the topic turned to Luffy, he became spirited and animated in a way no one could have imagined.

So, Zero began telling Dragon about Luffy, mentioning the many adventures he and his companions had gone through lately. As they grew more engaged, the two simply sat down, ignoring the Marine troops still patrolling below.

"Kid, I really admire you. How about joining the Revolutionary Army and overthrowing the World Government's rule with us?"

Dragon's sudden invitation caught Zero off guard. He could not stop complaining inwardly. As expected of Luffy's father. He could so casually bring up something that would scare an ordinary person away. People who did big things really did think differently!

Still, if Luffy found out that his father was trying to poach his companion, he would probably be the first to jump out and refuse!

Though countless thoughts ran through his mind, Zero still rejected Dragon's invitation immediately.

"No, thanks. I just want to be a small-time pirate. As for the Revolutionary Army and all that, I don't have any such plans for now. Still, thank you for the invitation, Mr. Dragon!"

The moment he finished speaking, he suddenly regretted it a little.

One of his main quests was to reach a bounty of ten billion. Joining the Revolutionary Army might have given him a chance to achieve it, but then he remembered that another main quest was to help Luffy become the Pirate King. He could only helplessly accept the fact that he was not fated to join the Revolutionary Army.

Hearing Zero refuse him like that, Dragon did not force him to join the Revolutionary Army.

"Hahaha, if you won't join, then there's nothing I can do. I have a feeling you'll become someone extraordinary in the future. What a pity!"

"You're exaggerating, Mr. Dragon!"

"Still, Luffy really has you all to thank for looking after him, and thank you for staying by his side. If you ever get the chance to visit the Revolutionary Army headquarters, I'll be waiting for you in the New World!"

"Definitely next time!"

"Hahaha, then it's settled!"

Zero was just about to nod when he spotted a swaying figure on the execution platform, which had been empty moments ago. Judging by the outfit, it seemed to be Buggy the Clown, and the other person was—

Luffy!

Time returned to a few minutes earlier.

Luffy had followed his windblown straw hat onto the execution platform and was admiring the view the Pirate King had seen just before his death.

Unexpectedly, Alvida, whose figure had changed drastically after eating the Slip-Slip Fruit, appeared there as well. Not only did she knock out the Loguetown police officers who were about to arrest Luffy with her spiked club, but she also threatened Luffy to become her man.

Naturally, Luffy refused Alvida.

The next moment, a group of pirates wearing gray robes stepped forward. They were Buggy the Clown and his pirate crew, whom Luffy and the others had defeated before!

They had come here with the same goal: to take revenge on Luffy!

After that, Luffy was captured. Pirate Cabaji appeared behind him and, before Luffy could react, used some sort of clamp made from an unknown material to firmly pin him to the execution platform!

"Luffy!"

Zero shouted Luffy's name and prepared to go down and rescue him.

But before he could take a step, Dragon spoke to stop him. "Wait. There won't be any problem."

Seeing Dragon's serious expression, Zero calmed down somewhat. He also recalled the chain of events that would take place in Loguetown, so he took a deep breath and did not rush out in the heat of the moment.

"If anything happens later, I'll still make a move!"

"Don't worry!"

As he spoke, Dragon turned his gaze back toward Luffy, whose life was hanging by a thread on the execution platform. Beside him, Zero noticed that the sky had suddenly turned gloomy.

Is that a Devil Fruit ability?

Zero wondered inwardly.

Afterward, Roronoa Zoro and Sanji also arrived at the execution ground, preparing to save Luffy. However, they were blocked by numerous pirates, and the closer they got to the execution platform, the more resistance they faced.

Seeing that he seemed unable to escape death today, Luffy suddenly smiled at everyone under such circumstances. "Sorry, I'm going to die!"

The moment his words fell, just as Buggy the Clown swung down his long blade, Zero saw a flash of blue light in Dragon's eyes.

Crack!

A bolt of thunder appeared out of nowhere and descended from the sky, striking Buggy the Clown and setting the execution platform ablaze. Before long, the burning platform collapsed with a tremendous crash!

Then, amid everyone's shocked stares, Luffy walked out unharmed. There was no relief at having survived a disaster on his face, as if everything that had happened had been no big deal!

Seeing things develop to this point, Zero no longer hesitated. He nodded to Dragon and jumped down from the rooftop. Dragon silently watched Zero reunite with Luffy and the others, no one knowing what he was thinking.

At that moment, countless Marines suddenly poured out from the surrounding alleys, as though they had been lying in ambush for a long time. In an instant, they surrounded all the pirates there, including Luffy's group of four.

Seeing Luffy roll up his sleeves to fight the Marines, Roronoa Zoro was about to tell everyone to hurry to the harbor so they would not miss the ship when he felt an astonishing aura suddenly erupt from Zero!

Boom!

The air seemed to freeze in an instant. An oppressive presence abruptly spread through the crowd. They first felt their bodies stiffen without warning, as though a man-eating beast stood before them. Then they fell in droves, their eyes vacant, clearly having lost consciousness.

"This will make running faster! What are you waiting for? Go!"

Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, and Sanji were still staring blankly. Only after Zero reminded them did they follow him and sprint toward the harbor.