The Marines brought Luffy a cart-like contraption, loaded with his shopping bags, the Den Den Mushi, and other odds and ends he'd picked up.
"Show me around the base, will you?" Luffy asked, flashing a grin. He'd never been in a place like this before.
Marine bases were usually built in wealthier towns, and the one here on Glass Pearl Island was quite impressive, even by East Blue standards. Perhaps only Loguetown's base could compare in terms of facilities and resources. This base, nestled on a small mountain, had the word "Marine" boldly etched into the cliff face—a place designed to project strength.
"Luffy-san, this is our mess hall!" The Marines first took him to their dining hall.
The spacious area could seat about five hundred people, and Luffy was quick to sample the Marines' food.
"Luffy-san, this is our training area!" After lunch, the Marines led Luffy to the indoor training room. Dust covered the weights, barbells, and other exercise equipment; it had clearly been unused for some time.
"Put these on the cart too," Luffy said casually. "I'll need them."
"Yes, sir!"
"Luffy-sama, here's our dormitory!" They showed him the sleeping quarters next, but he only took a quick glance before moving on.
"So, where's the armory?" he asked.
As expected, the Marines hadn't initially planned to take him to any of the high-security areas. They exchanged glances, hesitating.
"Ah, that's where we keep our firearms and explosives—nothing much to see there," one of the soldiers replied, trying to steer him away.
"Take me there," Luffy insisted.
"…Yes, sir."
The armory was clearly more secure than the rest of the base. A thick metal door with a coded lock barred the entrance, and one of the Marines keyed in the password. The heavy door creaked open, revealing a long hallway that echoed with each footstep as they made their way inside.
Soon, they reached the storage area filled with weapons: firearms of various models, swords, and even a few cannons.
Luffy picked up a long sword, examining it. He slid the blade a few inches from its sheath and saw his reflection in the polished metal. These were standard Marine weapons—better than what most low-level pirates had, but only slightly.
He gave it a few practice swings, listening to the sound as it cut through the air, then tossed it back to the Marine behind him. "I'll take this one."
He moved on to the firearms, selecting a decent-looking pistol and tucking it into his waistband.
"Luffy-san, these are very dangerous weapons…" One of the Marines, watching Luffy gather gear like a kid in a candy store, started to sound worried.
But Luffy was unfazed. His attention turned to the different sets of handcuffs displayed along the wall—wooden, iron, and an especially heavy set made of a strange material.
"This… is a pair of Sea Prism Stone cuffs, isn't it?"
Luffy lifted the hefty cuffs, feeling the weight and density of the material.
"Uh, yes…"
The Marines began to feel a growing sense of dread.
"I'll take these too."
"Wait, Luffy-san! Those are incredibly valuable," one of the soldiers objected, moving to stop him. Sea Prism Stone cuffs were carefully accounted for and couldn't just disappear without consequences.
"What does it matter? I want it," Luffy replied nonchalantly, attempting to walk out with the cuffs.
But the Marines formed a wall in front of him.
"Stand aside."
"Luffy-san, we can't let you play with these—it's too dangerous."
"Yes, the handgun too. You really shouldn't be messing with weapons like that," the Marines said, trying to reach for the pistol tucked in Luffy's waistband.
Luffy sighed. Things weren't going as smoothly as he'd hoped. He grabbed the arm of the Marine reaching for the gun and yanked him close, catching him off guard with his unexpected strength. The Marine stumbled, off-balance.
At that moment, Luffy unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, an invisible force radiating from him and washing over the Marines. Half of them immediately lost consciousness and dropped to the floor.
The remaining Marines, staring in disbelief as their comrades fell, were unable to comprehend what they'd just witnessed. How could this kid have such a terrifying presence?
Knowledge wasn't free, after all. These foot soldiers, trained only in basic shooting and hand-to-hand combat, had never even heard of Haki—let alone the forbidden power of Conqueror's Haki. The unknown always inspired fear.
They could no longer see Luffy as just a child; he was something far more dangerous.
"Oh, sorry about that," Luffy said, scratching his head. "I'm still learning to control it. That was my Conqueror's Haki—it just makes people faint, that's all. Grandpa said I needed to come here and take some stuff to train with, so if you have any questions, feel free to call him."
Of course, none of these foot soldiers had any direct contact with headquarters, let alone with someone like Garp. They could only report to their superior officer, and even the base commander wouldn't risk bothering a hero like Garp over something like this.
As Luffy observed the remaining Marines, trembling in fear, he realized just how weak they seemed. Adults, yet so powerless.
They clung to their rifles, but not one of them dared to aim it at him.
He felt a surge of energy flowing through his veins. This was a world of extraordinary strength, where not everyone was created equal. Some people were born mountains, not streams; destined to be heroes, not ordinary blades of grass.
In this world, only strength mattered.
How pitiful. How sad. How ruthless.
As he walked forward, the Marines parted like a crowd making way for a king, bowing their heads in submission to the lion in their midst.
"If you have any complaints," Luffy called over his shoulder, "feel free to take them up with my grandpa!"
The eerie power he wielded compelled the remaining soldiers to look up at him in awe.
As expected from Garp's grandson, they thought. Such terrifying strength!
For many, fear turned to respect. In their minds, they were already calling him "Luffy-sama."
"L-Luffy-sama, let me help you carry your things…"
One Marine finally brok
e the silence, and soon others joined in, eager to assist him, transforming into a loyal entourage.
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!