Pirate: A Family Slaughtered, Every Celestial Dragon Must Die!

The CP0 agents showed no anger at being insulted by a Celestial Dragon.

They had been brainwashed since childhood. Defying a Celestial Dragon was unthinkable.

Even after being struck and cursed, the CP0 agents remained determined to get the Celestial Dragon to safety first.

This place was far too dangerous.

"Trying to run?"

Rono swept his Observation Haki over the three CP0 agents before him. The strongest was only at Vice Admiral level; the other two were at Rear Admiral level.

He flashed in front of one CP0 agent, drew Kotetsu, and struck just once!

Slash!

The man's head hit the ground!

The other Rear Admiral-level agent never even reacted before Rono cut him down too.

With Rono's current strength, taking down someone at Rear Admiral level in one strike was child's play.

"Damn you! Do you know what happens to someone who kills a Celestial Dragon?"

The last CP0 agent, the one at Vice Admiral level, tried to threaten him.

"Heh. What happens? Go on, tell me."

Rono raised Kotetsu and let his killing intent flare.

Madman!

The CP0 agent cursed inwardly. Threats like that meant nothing to Rono.

For a pirate with a 500-million-berry bounty, being hunted by a Marine Admiral was practically routine.

He didn't care about the consequences!

"Saint Charlos, run! I'll buy you time!"

The CP0 agent resolved to give the Celestial Dragon a chance to escape.

But with his strength, he couldn't hold out against Rono for more than a few minutes.

Sure enough, two minutes later, the final CP0 agent was dead!

With that settled, Rono strolled over to Saint Charlos.

Charlos had already fainted from fright.

"Find me some rope and a Cross."

Rono addressed the pirate lackey nearest him.

"O-oh, all right. I-I'll get them right away!"

The pirate had no idea what Rono intended, but after seeing what he could do, obeying seemed safest.

Rope and a Cross were brought over in no time.

A few minutes later, a Celestial Dragon hung from the highest point in Mock Town: the Bell Tower.

Both his hands and feet had been cut off.

The pirates there exchanged uneasy looks.

After doing something this outrageous, wasn't Rono going to flee?

For all they knew, a Marine Admiral was already on the way.

They had no idea that Rono intended to stay right there and wait for one!

The Admiral Didn't Come—Whitebeard Did

"Extra! Extra! Huge news!"

"The Most Evil Criminal, Rono, has done it again!"

"Really? What did he do?"

"Rono captured a Celestial Dragon on Jaya Island in the Grand Line!"

"What? He went after a Celestial Dragon himself?"

"That's right! No one knows whether the one he captured is alive or dead!"

"After the Heavenly Tribute incident, he's captured one of the Celestial Dragons!"

"Two world-shaking incidents in a row! The World Government and Marine Headquarters must be losing their minds!"

"They are! I hear the World Government has already sent an Admiral to find the Celestial Dragon!"

"That's terrifying. He's so young, yet so ruthless!"

"His bounty will probably go up again."

Conversations like these were taking place across the world!

News that someone had captured a Celestial Dragon spread like wildfire.

The pirates of Mock Town had started spreading it almost as soon as Rono hung Charlos from the Bell Tower.

Rono made no attempt to stop them. If anything, he wanted them to shout it from the rooftops.

Only then would the Marines take notice and send an Admiral!

And a fight against someone at Admiral level would help him grow stronger fast.

Once the news broke, Rono's actions stunned the world all over again!

After all, only a handful of mad pirate crews in the world would dare abduct a Celestial Dragon!

Apart from the Rocks Pirates, only Rono had the nerve!

And he was still a newcomer. The world had to rethink everything it knew about him!

The Most Evil Criminal. The title fit.

At that very moment, somewhere on a stretch of blue sea...

A warship sailed slowly onward.

High on its mast flew the flag of the Marines, a symbol of justice.

The enormous dog's head carved into its bow made the vessel unmistakable.

It belonged to the Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral and Admiral Candidate feared by pirates across the seas—

Iron Fist Garp!

On deck, Garp's Marine coat snapped in the wind.

The word "Justice" on its back rippled in the sea breeze.

His usual easygoing manner was gone. Now Garp stared out across the distant sea, his gaze piercing.

No one knew what was on his mind.

"Vice Admiral Garp, a... a call from Admiral Kong."

A Marine hurried over, holding a Den Den Mushi out to Garp.

The Den Den Mushi had Admiral Kong's unmistakable upside-down, mountain-shaped beard.

Garp answered without hesitation.

"Garp, have you found Rono?"

Kong's urgent voice came through the moment the call connected.

The Den Den Mushi even took on Kong's tense expression.

"Not yet, but I'm close."

"Marines nearby say he's entered the Grand Line and stopped at Jaya Island."

"Did something happen? Is that why you're calling now?"

At the sight of Kong's expression, Garp felt a sinking feeling.

Kong only looked that grave when something had happened that could shake the world.

"Rono did go to Jaya Island. And he captured a Celestial Dragon!"

Kong spoke rapidly.

"What?! He captured a Celestial Dragon?"

Garp froze. Rono had caught one in so little time!

The young pirate was ruthlessly efficient!

Every move struck at his target!

He must have set his sights on the Celestial Dragons the moment he put to sea.

In less than a week, he had caused the Heavenly Tribute incident and now this!

What troubled Garp most was how Rono had found a Celestial Dragon.

"Fortunately, we haven't received word that the Celestial Dragon is dead. Rono has a blood feud with them, so he probably won't kill his captive right away."

"You must find him as soon as possible, rescue the Celestial Dragon, and kill Rono on the spot. Otherwise, he'll become a terrible threat!"

Kong's tone turned severe.

It was terrifying!

This newcomer was terrifying.

He had been at sea for less than ten days and had already caused two incidents that rocked the world!

Seizing the Heavenly Tribute had been bad enough.

This time, he had actually captured a Celestial Dragon, whose fate remained unknown!

The moment the Five Elders heard the news, they gave Kong an absolute order: send an Admiral to eliminate Rono immediately!

More frightening still, Rono was not yet eighteen!

Such strength at such a young age!

He could not be allowed to live!

"Garp, are you listening?"

When Garp gave no answer, Kong pressed him.

"I'm listening, Admiral Kong."

Only after a long silence did Garp's reply come through.

"You must understand how serious this is!"

"According to my sources, Rocks has already sent his First Division Commander, Whitebeard, to track Rono down!"

"He wants to recruit Rono!"

"They both harbor a bone-deep hatred of the Celestial Dragons. With Rono's current strength, if he's allowed another few years to grow,"

"the consequences will be beyond anything we can imagine!"

Kong's voice was deadly serious!

Clearly, this could not be allowed to happen!

The Rocks Pirates were already a tremendous headache!

With the fighters they had now, the Marines needed to deploy nearly all their strongest forces just to keep them in check!

If a talent like Rono joined them, the Marines might no longer be able to contain the Rocks Pirates at all!

"All right. I understand, Admiral Kong. I'll complete the mission."

Garp hung up, his expression deeply conflicted!

He did not see Rono as evil.