A Whitebeard Came Instead of an Admiral

"Extra! Extra! Breaking news!"

"[Most Evil Criminal] Rono has caused another huge incident!"

"Really? What happened?"

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

"What? Did he go after a Celestial Dragon on purpose?"

"That's right. The Celestial Dragon he captured is now of unknown fate!"

"After the Heavenly Tribute incident, he's now captured a member of the World Nobles."

"Two earth-shaking incidents in a row! The World Government and Marine Headquarters must be going crazy!"

"Exactly! I heard the World Government has already sent an Admiral to find the Celestial Dragon!"

"How terrifying! He's so young, yet his methods are so ruthless!"

"His bounty is probably going to rise again."

Conversations like these were taking place all over the world.

After all, news as shocking as the direct capture of a Celestial Dragon spread like a virus.

Rono had barely finished hanging the Celestial Dragon from the Bell Tower when the pirates in Mock Town couldn't resist spreading the news.

Rono, of course, didn't stop them. In fact, he hoped they'd shout it as loudly as possible.

Only then could he attract the Marines' attention and draw out a Marine Admiral!

He could also grow stronger quickly by fighting someone on an Admiral's level.

As soon as the news broke, the whole world was once again shaken by Rono's actions!

After all, there weren't many pirate crews in the world crazy enough to kidnap a Celestial Dragon outright!

Apart from the Rocks Pirates, only Rono dared to do something like this!

What's more, he was a rookie. That alone was enough to make people all over the world see Rono in a new light!

[Most Evil Criminal]-the title suited him perfectly!

At that very moment, somewhere on the blue sea.

A warship was sailing slowly.

From its towering mast hung the flag of the "Marines," symbolizing Justice.

Combined with the huge dog's head carved into the ship's bow, it was clear at a glance: this was the Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, Admiral Candidate-

[Iron Fist] Garp!

On the deck, the Marine coat draped over Garp's shoulders fluttered in the wind.

The words "Justice" billowed along with the sea breeze.

Unlike his usual carefree self, Garp was now gazing out at the distant sea, his eyes sharp.

No one knew what he was thinking.

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

Soon, a Marine beside him approached, holding out a Den Den Mushi.

The Den Den Mushi bore the unmistakable features of Admiral Kong: the inverted "mountain"-shaped mustache on his chin.

Without hesitation, Garp answered the call.

"Garp, have you found Rono?"

The moment the call connected, Kong's anxious voice came through.

The Den Den Mushi's expression clearly reflected Kong's tension.

"Not yet, but I'm close."

"The Marines nearby said he seems to have entered the Grand Line and stopped on Jaya Island."

"Did something happen for you to call me now?"

Seeing this, Garp felt a sudden unease.

Kong only looked this serious when something world-shaking had happened.

"Rono did go to Jaya Island, and he captured a Celestial Dragon!"

Kong spoke extremely quickly.

"What?! He captured a Celestial Dragon!"

Garp was stunned. He'd captured a Celestial Dragon in such a short time!

Rono's methods were ruthless!

Every move struck right at the target!

He must have set his sights on the Celestial Dragons as soon as he went to sea.

In less than a week, there had been the Heavenly Tribute incident, and now this incident involving a Celestial Dragon!

What unsettled Garp most was how Rono had found the Celestial Dragon's location.

"Fortunately, we haven't received word of the Celestial Dragon's death. Rono has a blood feud with the Celestial Dragons, so after capturing one, he probably won't kill him so quickly."

"So you must find him as soon as possible, rescue the Celestial Dragon, and kill him on the spot. Otherwise, he'll become a threat down the line!"

Kong's tone suddenly turned serious.

How terrifying!

This rookie was terrifying.

He hadn't even been at sea for ten days, and he'd already caused two incidents that rocked the world!

Kidnapping the Heavenly Tribute was bad enough.

This time, he'd actually captured a Celestial Dragon, whose fate was still unknown!

The Five Elders had issued a death order the moment they heard the news, demanding that Kong immediately send an Admiral to hunt Rono down!

Even more terrifying, Rono wasn't yet eighteen!

He was so young, yet already so powerful!

This boy absolutely could not be allowed to live!

"Garp, are you listening?"

Seeing that Garp hadn't answered, Kong hurriedly asked.

"Admiral Kong, I'm listening!"

Only after a long silence did Garp reply.

"You have to understand how serious this is!"

"According to my sources, Rocks has sent Whitebeard, the First Division commander, to find Rono!"

"He's trying to recruit Rono!"

"Those two both have a deep-seated hatred of the Celestial Dragons. With Rono's current strength, if we let him grow for a few more years,"

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

Kong's tone was extremely grave!

It was obvious that they absolutely could not let this happen!

The Rocks Pirates were already a major headache!

With the powerful fighters they had now, it took nearly all the Marines' top forces just to keep them in check!

If they let a genius like Rono join them, the Marines might not be able to keep the Rocks Pirates under control anymore!

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

Garp hung up. His expression was unusually complicated!

Garp didn't consider Rono evil.

After all, Rono hadn't harmed a single civilian so far.

He'd captured a Celestial Dragon, which, in Garp's eyes, was practically ridding the people of a menace and upholding Justice on behalf of the Marines.

After all, the Celestial Dragons' deeds were ten times more evil than the pirates'!

But if Rono was going to join the Rocks Pirates, Garp had to deal with it.

Just as Admiral Kong had said, the Marines could still barely keep the Rocks Pirates in check.

But if Rono joined them, the balance between the two forces would be broken!

"Jaya Island, is it?"

Garp checked the navigational chart and saw that Jaya Island was nearby.

"I'll go ahead. The rest of you follow!"

Garp immediately went to the top of the warship, leapt into the air, and flew off using Geppo.

The Marines were left staring in astonishment.

At the same time Garp set off.

At the port on Jaya Island, a number of pirates were keeping watch.

They had witnessed Rono treating the Celestial Dragon, a World Noble, like a pig or a dog.

And after doing all that, Rono showed no sign of fleeing. Instead, he stayed right there on Jaya Island, waiting for a Marine Admiral!

Only then did these pirate underlings realize what a real pirate was!

Compared to Rono, they were just playing at being pirates!

So the pirates all fell to their knees, begging to join Rono.

But Rono rejected them one by one.

The pirates in the first half of Paradise were all too weak. His future opponents were the World Government and Marine Headquarters.

Weak companions could only be a burden!

These pirate underlings didn't lose heart. Instead, they volunteered to keep watch for Rono, hoping to move him to take them on as crew members.

"A... a ship is coming!"

Some sharp-eyed pirates spotted a ship sailing toward Jaya Island.

"Is it a Marine Admiral?"

"N... no!"

"It... it's...!"

The pirate underlings who recognized the newcomer were trembling so badly they could barely speak!

"Who is it, then?!"

"That's... the First Division Commander of the Rocks Pirates, [Whitebeard] Edward Newgate!"