Shiki Escapes, Garp Sets Out

Over the sea, news birds soared freely through the sky.

Not long after the Buster Call ended, Morgans, the owner of the world's largest newspaper, immediately printed the papers after receiving the news.

As for the Navy's dignity, he did not care in the slightest. All he cared about was whether there was any major news!

With Roya's story included, he already had two pieces of news enough to drive the seas mad!

At that moment, an uproar had already swept across the seas!

The first was that Roya, who had wiped out a Buster Call with a single sword strike, now had a terrifying bounty of three billion Belly. This was only his second bounty.

However, compared to before, Roya's strength had truly entered the sights of those big shots this time.

After all, not just anyone could wipe out a Buster Call with one slash.

As for the second piece of news, Golden Lion Shiki had escaped from Impel Down, the prison said to be impossible to escape from!

He had broken Impel Down's decades-long record of no successful escapes.

These two incidents had left both the Navy and the World Government humiliated.

This was a genuine slap in the face—two slaps in a row. The entire Navy and World Government were eager to restore their dignity.

For a time, the seas became even more chaotic.

West Blue, Ohara, within the Tree of Knowledge.

Roya had already been there for a day. He held little Robin in his arms as he read the newspaper.

When he saw the news about Golden Lion, an electronic voice sounded in his mind.

[ Ding, check-in mission issued: Merveille. Reward: one random Zodiac Talisman. Time limit: five days! ]

As the system's electronic voice faded in Roya's mind, his eyes narrowed slightly.

If Roya remembered correctly, after Golden Lion Shiki escaped from Impel Down, he had gone to this place.

He wanted to use the IQ Plants there, which could drive animals berserk, to rule the world once again.

Robin sensed the change in Roya's aura and immediately asked, "Big Brother Roya, what's wrong?"

Hearing Robin's words, Roya's lips curved slightly as he said, "Robin, I have something to do. I may have to leave Ohara for a while."

Olvia was beside them, and she had heard Roya's words as well.

"Roya, where are you planning to go? Is there anything I can help with?"

Roya lifted Robin from his lap and said to Olvia, "Olvia, do you know Merveille?"

"Merveille..." Olvia softly repeated the name, and then her eyes suddenly lit up.

"I know that place. I visited that island when I was investigating Poneglyphs. Although I didn't leave behind an Eternal Pose, I know how to get there! And the villagers of Merveille are especially hospitable."

After saying that, Olvia added, "Roya, wait here for a moment. I'll draw you a rough sea chart. I hope it will be useful to you."

Robin watched her mother run toward the nearby table, then looked back at Roya.

Though she could not see the face hidden beneath his cloak, Robin was deeply reluctant to see him leave, just as she had been when her mother left.

"Big Brother Roya, will you come back again? When will you return?"

Robin clutched Roya's cloak, tears already welling in her eyes as though they could spill over at any moment.

"I'm only leaving for a while. If I have time, I'll come back to see you, Robin. If you promise me that you'll properly train your Devil Fruit ability, then once you're grown up, you can sail out to find me. We can experience the wonders of the sea together!"

"Big Brother Roya, you said that. You can't lie to me."

"I won't lie to you."

"Then let's make a pinky promise."

Robin held out her finger.

Roya held out his as well. Their little fingers hooked together, then their thumbs rose and pressed against each other. Robin then said, "For a hundred years, no changing!"

"Mm. It won't change."

After Roya and Robin made their promise, Olvia returned with the sea chart she had just drawn and handed it to Roya.

"Roya, Ohara will always welcome you!"

"Mm."

Roya accepted the sea chart and gave a soft acknowledgment before leaving the Tree of Knowledge.

As he left the Tree of Knowledge and headed toward the edge of the island,

without realizing it, quite a few people had gathered behind him.

They had all come to see Roya off. It was because of him that this island had been able to survive.

He was the savior of this island!

Roya looked at the people, and his heart stirred.

When Roya reached the outskirts of the island, he slowly turned around.

His departure still carried some risk. Although Roya knew that the Navy would not make another move against Ohara anytime soon, it was better to be safe.

With that thought, Roya rapidly formed hand seals.

"Wood Release—Deep Forest Emergence!!!"

As Roya pressed both palms to the ground, the immense vitality produced by Wood Release surged underground.

The roots of the Tree of Knowledge burst forth again, becoming even thicker as they intertwined and encircled all of Ohara.

Roya left only several entrances and exits, turning Ohara into a place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Only after finishing all this did Roya return to his ship and sail toward Merveille.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed. A dog-headed warship and two ordinary warships sped across the sea.

A tall, broad-chested, muscular old man stood on the deck of the dog-headed warship.

His gaze seemed to cross the vast sea and see Golden Lion Shiki fleeing in panic. He said in a deep voice, "I never expected Golden Lion Shiki to cut off his own legs to escape from Impel Down. He must have planned this long ago."

"Vice Admiral Garp, according to the intelligence provided by the World Government, Golden Lion Shiki appears to be sailing toward an island called Merveille."

A colonel spoke to Garp.

"Merveille? Then our direction is correct. Continue ahead at full speed. We must lock Golden Lion up again and eliminate any future trouble!"

"Yes, sir."

Just as Garp gave the order, the navigator aboard the ship said to him, "Vice Admiral Garp, a ship has been spotted ahead. It has no pirate flag, and there is only a cloaked person standing on the deck."

Garp frowned when he heard the navigator's report.

He knew that a mysterious cloaked person had appeared on the seas recently, opposing the Navy at every turn.

Thinking of this, Garp decided to go take a look first. If it really was that mysterious person, he could conveniently complete another mission as well...