Garp's "Grandson-Raising Plan" and the Secrets of the D Clan

Garp's "Grandson-Raising Plan" and the Secrets of the D Clan

Dawn, at the Goa Kingdom's harbor.

A medium-sized sailing ship without a single flag lay quietly moored at a secluded dock. Its figurehead was a sculpted fist wrapped in flames. A close look revealed a tiny "D" carved into its knuckles.

Lin Yan stood at the bow, looking at the documents he had just found in a hidden compartment in the cabin.

"D Clan Bloodline Observation Record-ID: Gol D. Yan"

He opened the first page to find Garp's scrawled handwriting:

"July 15, Sea Circle Calendar 1500. Found this child on 'Dawn Island' in the South Blue. His swaddling held a fragment of Roger's Vivre Card and a pendant engraved with a 'sun and flames.' Confirmed that his mother was the last descendant of the 'Guardian D Clan' recorded in documents from the Void Century. She went missing after the God Valley Incident."

"This child carries both the 'bloodline of sin' (Roger) and the 'guardian bloodline,' the first such case in eight hundred years. If the World Government learns of him, it will launch a Buster Call."

"Decided to adopt him in secret. Training plan as follows:"

"Ages 1-10: basic martial arts, general education, keep the pendant hidden."

"Ages 11-15: Six Powers training, introduction to Armament Haki, no contact with Devil Fruits."

"Ages 16-20: combat experience on the Grand Line (under a false identity), advanced Haki training."

"Age 21 onward: reveal part of the truth, observe his choices."

Lin Yan turned to the last page. It held a new entry from three months ago:

"Yan is twenty-two now. Ace has already gone to sea, and Luffy is still fooling around in Foosha Village. Sengoku keeps probing lately to see whether I'm hiding any other 'grandsons.' Hmph, that old fox."

"Yan's strength is approaching Vice Admiral level, but he lacks experience in life-and-death battles. Time to let him go to sea."

"His ship is ready. Let's call it the 'Flame Emperor.' After all, this brat's talent for flames... is even purer than Ace's."

"Final warning: under no circumstances should you seek out Ace! If you acknowledge each other as brothers, you will strike the World Government's most sensitive nerve!"

At the end of the document, Garp had written in heavy strokes:

"If one day you have no choice but to acknowledge Ace as your brother-remember to protect him. Roger entrusted a son to me, and I messed up (referring to Roger's execution). This time, I don't want to mess up again."

Lin Yan closed the document and remained silent for a long time.

The sea breeze blew past, and the pendant around his neck slipped out of his collar-it was a metal pendant half the size of his palm, engraved with a rising sun on the front and burning flames on the back. An almost invisible "D" lay hidden at the center of the flames.

"So... my birth mother belonged to a D clan even more mysterious than Roger?"

[Ding-]

[Hidden quest triggered: The D Clan's Legacy]

[Objective: Discover the truth about the 'Guardian D Clan']

[Clue 1: The pendant left by your mother (obtained)]

[Clue 2: The Poneglyph of the Void Century]

[Clue 3: Survivors of the God Valley Incident]

[Final reward: Unlock eligibility for 'Sun God Nika' template fusion]

Lin Yan gripped the pendant.

Just then, a familiar, boisterous laugh came from behind him:

"Hey! Yan! Sneaking off to sea without telling your grandpa?"

Lin Yan stiffened and slowly turned around.

On the dock's gangway stood that tall figure in a Marine coat and dog-head hat.

The Marine hero, Monkey D. Garp.

He held a bag of rice crackers, crunching away, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

"Grandpa..."

Garp jumped aboard, and the deck gave a heavy thud. He walked up to Lin Yan, their height difference forcing Lin Yan to tilt his head back slightly.

"Read the documents?" Garp asked.

"I did."

"How do you feel?"

Lin Yan took a deep breath. "I want to find Ace."

Garp stopped eating his rice crackers. A few seconds later, he sighed:

"Knew you'd say that. Just like your father. Once you set your mind on something, not even ten Sea Kings could drag you back."

He shoved the remaining rice crackers into Lin Yan's hands and turned toward the sea:

"That brat Ace snuck off to sea three months ago. In a little wreck of a boat, without even a navigator. What a fool."

"I know where he is," Lin Yan said. "In the direction of the Drum Kingdom."

Garp whipped around, shock flashing through his eyes. "How did you-"

"I have my sources." Lin Yan did not explain the system. "Grandpa, you can't stop me. Ace is my little brother. My only little brother."

The two stared at each other. Conqueror's Haki spread unconsciously, the air began to tremble, and the ship creaked.

Garp suddenly laughed.

"Hahahahaha! Good! Now that's my grandson!"

He clapped Lin Yan hard on the shoulder, nearly driving him into the deck:

"Go! Find Ace! But remember-"

Garp's expression grew serious:

"First, don't reveal that you're Roger's son. To everyone else, you're the adoptive grandson of Monkey D. Garp, a martial arts expert who has awakened flame powers."

"Second, that brat Ace is stubborn. He might not acknowledge you. After all, what happened to Sabo... has always caused him a lot of pain."

"Third..." Garp lowered his voice. "If you run into a pirate called Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, take Ace and run immediately. That man... is dangerous. Even I can't see through him."

Lin Yan was shaken.

Garp had already noticed Blackbeard?

"I understand."

Garp took an Eternal Pose and a Vivre Card from inside his coat:

"The Pose points toward the entrance to the Grand Line. The Vivre Card... is Ace's. I secretly made it while he was asleep."

Lin Yan took them. The Vivre Card slowly drifted in a certain direction.

"Grandpa, you've actually cared about Ace all along, haven't you?"

Garp turned his face away. "Enough chatter! I just don't want to see Roger's idiot son die again!"

After a moment of silence, Garp added:

"There's enough food and supplies aboard. The charts are in the wheelhouse. Also, I've prepared a little gift for you."

He pointed toward the lower cabin:

"Go have a look. Your mother left it for you. I've kept it safe for twenty-two years."

Lin Yan hurried below deck. In the secured storeroom on the lowest level, he saw the "gift."

It was a suit of dark red metal armor and an unusually shaped sword.

The armor was as light and thin as leather armor, but he could feel scorching energy flowing within it when he touched it. The sword was three feet long, with a pitch-black sheath and fireproof dragon hide wrapped around its hilt. A red gemstone was set into its pommel.

Lin Yan drew the sword.

Hum-!

The instant the blade left its sheath, golden flames engulfed the entire sword! The flames were extremely hot, yet did not burn his hand at all. Instead, they carried a warmth that felt connected to his blood.

A line of ancient writing was engraved on the blade. Lin Yan could not read it, but the system translated it automatically:

[Flame's Protection: Blade That Severs Fate]

[This blade has drunk the blood of Celestial Dragons and cut down the World Government's flag. May my son wield this blade to forge a new era for the D Clan.]

-Left by Mother, on the eve of the God Valley Incident

Lin Yan's sword hand trembled.

"Mother..."

Garp's voice came from the deck:

"Time to set off, brat! Remember, don't go dying out there! Otherwise, I'll drag you out of hell and beat you up again!"

Lin Yan put away the sword and returned to the deck.

Garp had already jumped back onto the dock. With his back to him, he waved:

"Oh, there's a button under your figurehead. Press it."

Puzzled, Lin Yan walked to the bow and found a concealed button on the base of the flaming fist. He pressed it.

Click-boom!

The figurehead's fist suddenly opened, shooting a crimson pillar of light from its palm straight into the sky! The pillar burst overhead, forming an enormous virtual flag-

On the left was a burning "D," and on the right a normal "D." The two letters intertwined against a background of roaring flames.

The Double D Flag!

"This is..." Lin Yan froze.

On the dock, Garp laughed:

"If you're going to be a pirate, you need a pirate flag! I had that old man Vegapunk secretly help me make this projector. It's the only one in the world!"

"Go! Flame Emperor!"

"Make this world remember the names of you brothers!"

The sea breeze suddenly rose, and the Flame Emperor's sails unfurled on their own. Standing at the bow, Lin Yan took one last look at Garp, then turned toward the direction indicated by the Vivre Card.

"Raise the sails! Set sail!"

Flames spread beneath Lin Yan's feet and climbed the mast to the mainsail, kindling fiery patterns across it without burning the fabric-two interlocking "D"s.

The Flame Emperor left the harbor and headed out onto the vast sea.

On the dock, Garp's smile faded. He took out a Den Den Mushi:

"Sengoku, it's me."

The Den Den Mushi mimicked Sengoku's face. "Garp? Where have you run off to now?"

"Something I need to tell you." Garp watched the ship recede into the distance. "That adoptive grandson of mine has gone to sea."

"What?!" Sengoku raised his voice. "That flame brat? Have you lost your mind?! Going to sea now, the World Government will-"

"That's why you need to cover for me," Garp interrupted. "Say he's with a secret Marine unit, out on a mission."

"...Garp, what exactly are you planning?"

"What am I planning?" Garp grinned. "I'm planning to have my two grandsons turn this world upside down!"

Hanging up, Garp murmured to himself:

"Roger, Rouge... I'll protect your children."

"This time, I absolutely won't let the tragedy repeat itself."

On the horizon, the Flame Emperor dwindled to a black speck.

A new legend began to be written that day.