A Name That Shook the World

Inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Marine Headquarters.

Sengoku sat silently in his office chair, his expression extremely grim, both hands clenched tightly into fists.

At last, he could no longer hold it in. He slammed a fist onto the desk. How could a wooden desk withstand even a fraction of his strength? With a bang, the tabletop shattered.

Perhaps it was because he had partnered with the carefree Garp for too long. Even as Fleet Admiral, his composure and refinement could not completely suppress his shock and fury.

"They actually succeeded in escaping..."

Sengoku let out a long sigh as powerlessness and helplessness washed over him.

Ye Qiong and the others' successful escape would inevitably greatly diminish Impel Down's deterrence! The World Government's reputation had been utterly disgraced as well!

This era was truly too chaotic.

"This sea is about to gain another peerless figure who will give everyone a headache."

Sengoku shook his head helplessly, feeling a headache coming on. But the matter could no longer be covered up, so they could only announce it to the public and raise the bounties on Ye Qiong and the others.

"The already restless sea is about to become completely turbulent again."

Sengoku pressed his irritated, feverishly aching temples, unable to calm his tangled emotions.

Beep, beep, beep.

He looked down and saw that the Den Den Mushi amid the wreckage of the desk on the floor was ringing.

"Who is this?"

"It's me, Vice Admiral Borsalino."

Sengoku fell silent for a moment. Then, as if his anger had found an outlet, he roared into the receiver, "You bastard! I sent you to deal with the prisoners, so where the hell did you go?! The prisoners have already escaped!!!"

"That kid sent me to a remote island in East Blue..." Borsalino said helplessly.

The next day.

The top headline in every kind of newspaper around the world carried only one story—"Impel Down Prisoner Ye Qiong Escapes, Marines Issue a Bounty of Up to Five Hundred Million!"

The newspapers also printed a photo of Ye Qiong fighting blood-soaked with a sword in hand.

The instant the news spread, the world was shocked.

Within half a day, Ye Qiong's name had spread throughout the seas!

A nobody who had remained unknown for ten years had now become famous across the world in one stroke!

Somewhere in the sky, above the clouds, buildings filled the air.

Those magnificent reinforced-concrete structures floated lightly in the sky, seemingly no heavier than the clouds themselves.

Golden Lion, draped in a mane of golden hair, stood atop one of the buildings. His severed feet had been replaced by two peerless famous swords, and he held the newspaper in his hand without speaking for a long time.

"They really succeeded in escaping?"

His face was full of disbelief.

Only those who had truly experienced a prison break could understand its hardships and difficulties!

Even he had needed to sever both of his own feet and rely on the extraordinary power of the Float-Float Fruit to escape with his life.

And now, a young junior had actually managed to escape as well while bringing several prisoners with him?

"Has this world gone mad?" Golden Lion muttered to himself.

New World, aboard Whitebeard's fleet ship.

"Hahahahaha!"

Whitebeard threw back his head and laughed while holding the newspaper, drawing the attention of several nearby division commanders.

"This kid called Ye Qiong is quite something!" Whitebeard remarked before taking a swig of wine.

The division commanders stared at Whitebeard in shock. They had not expected their old man to rate Ye Qiong so highly.

"Old man, didn't that kid just escape with a few prisoners? Whether he's really that impressive is still uncertain," said Blackbeard, commander of the Fourth Division.

"Can't you see it yet?" Whitebeard shook his head, raised his large bowl, and drained it in one gulp. Smiling, he said, "That kid's first-ever bounty is as high as five hundred million. While that doesn't necessarily represent his personal strength, it shows just how deeply the Marines fear him. He's quite a remarkable figure."

"I see."

The other division commanders nodded in agreement.

"Hahaha, that kid is worthy of being my, Whitebeard's, son!"

Whitebeard burst into laughter again.

East Blue, Foosha Village.

"Now the sea has gained another unruly troublemaker."

Garp sighed after reading the newspaper.

"Stinky old man, who is this person?"

Ace, beside him, leaned his young head closer and pointed his childish finger at Ye Qiong's photo in the newspaper.

"Hmm, his name is Ye Qiong. An Impel Down escapee," Garp answered subconsciously. When he realized it was Ace, he immediately cursed, "Brat! What do you know?!"

"Stinky old man! Who are you calling a brat?!" Ace snapped angrily.

"I'm calling you one!"

"I'm going to become a pirate!"

Hearing that, Garp smacked Ace on the head with a fist. A bump instantly rose from Ace's scalp.

"You have to become a Marine in the future!"

Garp's spit flew everywhere.

"No! I'm going to be a pirate!"

Ace clutched the bump on his head with both hands and darted away with a stubborn look on his face.

East Blue, Shimotsuki Village, inside Koshiro's swordsmanship dojo.

Zoro, only around six years old, held a wooden sword as he sparred with Kuina, who was one or two years older than him.

"Zoro, here I come, okay?"

Kuina raised her wooden sword and bent her body slightly.

"Come at me, Kuina! I'll definitely defeat you!"

Zoro's childish face was filled with stubborn determination.

Step!

Holding her wooden sword, Kuina burst forward at high speed. Zoro hurriedly raised the wooden sword, nearly as tall as he was, to block.

After exchanging several sword forms, Kuina seized the opening in Zoro's defense. As she withdrew her sword, she shifted her footing and slashed Zoro across the lower abdomen, knocking him to the ground.

"Convinced now? How many times have you lost to me this time?"

Kuina pointed her wooden sword at Zoro on the ground, her short-haired little face full of teasing.

"I won't admit defeat! One day, I'll defeat you, Kuina!"

Zoro gritted his teeth. The blow to his lower abdomen hurt so badly that cold sweat seeped from his forehead, yet he still stubbornly refused to surrender.

"Whatever. You're so weak that you'll never be able to defeat me."

Kuina could do nothing about him and left dismissively. As she put down her wooden sword, she happened to notice the newspaper on the table.

"Huh? Ye Qiong..."

Kuina looked at the unfamiliar yet familiar name in the newspaper, recalling something. Suddenly, she cried out and rushed straight out of the dojo with the newspaper in hand.

"Kuina! I'll definitely defeat you!" Zoro climbed to his feet behind her and shouted.

On the village shore.

Robin sat leisurely by the shore, brilliant sunlight bathing her graceful figure wrapped in a long dress. Her wheat-colored skin had lost none of its luster and instead looked all the healthier for it.

The sea breeze stirred her smooth purple hair, letting it drift freely down to her waist, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

Tilting her head, she quietly gazed at the glittering sea with eyes like emerald lakes. Her gaze extended toward the deep-blue horizon where the sea met the sky, and longing rose within her like water.

"If you don't come find me soon, my hair will be long enough to wrap around my waist."

Robin murmured to herself, running a hand through her long purple hair.

She had kept this purple hair for someone.

If that person never came to find her, then it would have no value at all.

"Robin! Robin..."

A voice called out from afar, gradually becoming clearer. It was familiar and childish—Kuina.

Robin turned around. The sea breeze swept past, setting her skirt and purple hair flowing. Under the dazzling sunlight, she was beautiful beyond words.