As Luffy slowly came back to his senses, he felt his blood boiling with excitement.
This… this is power! This is what the high-level game looks like!
He could barely believe what he'd just witnessed.
With Shanks wielding such strength, they could charge straight into the New World together!
A subtle shift began in Luffy's heart. How can I ever go back to how things were after seeing this?
Grandpa…
…
The Red Force finally appeared on the horizon, drawing closer to Foosha Village.
"Looks like we might have upset the local sheriff," Shanks said, chuckling under his straw hat as he noticed the burly, bear-like figure waiting on the shore.
"Wh-What are we gonna do, Boss? It's Garp!" Lucky Roux asked, clearly nervous.
"What's there to be afraid of? We've got a hostage on board! Bring us in," Shanks grinned.
As they approached the dock, Shanks lifted Luffy by the collar and set him down on the gangplank.
"Grandpa!" Luffy called out nonchalantly, climbing down the steps with a wide grin on his face, acting as if nothing unusual had happened. He wore a jacket, a pistol at his side, and his new sword.
"Well, well—look who's back," Garp said with a smile, barely hiding his relief. "You've grown, Luffy!" But then he immediately raised a large fist, armed with Haki, and brought it down on Luffy's head.
Iron Body—No, wait, I should use Paper Art! Or maybe Haki!
WHAM!
Garp's fist landed squarely on Luffy's head.
Tears welled up in Luffy's eyes.
"Ouch… that really hurt!"
He almost couldn't stop himself from crying.
Uta, dressed in a light yellow dress and black shoes, stepped forward.
"So, you're Luffy's grandpa… Why did you hit him?" she asked loudly, sneaking a glance at Luffy with his teary eyes.
Ha… Look at Luffy, on the verge of tears… He's cute even when he's being bullied, she thought, though her expression remained indignant as if defending Luffy.
"It's all Shanks' fault for corrupting him!" Garp shot back, giving the girl a stern look but softening, finding her a bit more endearing than his own grandson.
"Don't you dare talk bad about Shanks!" Uta huffed, her cheeks puffing out in defiance.
"I didn't expect you to come see me, Mr. Garp," Shanks said, descending the gangplank with his hand gently resting on Uta's head, causing her to nuzzle against it contentedly.
Though they had been aware of each other for years, they had never truly crossed paths before now—a silent agreement between them. But with Luffy in the picture, Garp could no longer ignore Shanks' presence.
"This is my daughter, Uta, our crew's musician," Shanks introduced. "Sorry about the oversight—your grandson happened to stow away with us."
Garp just grunted, giving him a hard look. "What are you really up to, lingering around these waters?"
"You already know, Mr. Garp. Once my business here is done, I'll head for the New World," Shanks replied, smiling.
"Uta, why don't you take Luffy inside? We'll be lingering here a little longer," he said, gesturing for Uta to guide Luffy to Makino's bar.
Still wincing from Garp's punch, Luffy followed Uta inside.
"Oh, Luffy, Uta! You're finally back! How was the adventure?" Makino asked, setting down a glass of milk and a glass of juice for the two of them.
"Actually, Makino, I'll take milk too," Uta said, eyeing the orange juice.
"Oh? Has Uta's taste changed?" Makino asked with a smile, setting down another glass of milk.
"That old geezer!" Luffy grumbled, clutching his glass of milk.
"Mr. Garp's just worried about you, Luffy. You've grown so handsome," Makino said, resting her chin on her hand. "You disappeared so suddenly; everyone was worried about you."
"I was off saving the world," Luffy said with a shrug.
After all, he'd saved Elegia, an entire kingdom.
Makino chuckled, watching the two children sit side by side. After a moment, Uta leaned over, resting her head on Luffy's arm.
Makino's smile grew as she took in the adorable sight.
They're both so cute!
"Makino, has anything happened around here since we left?" Luffy asked, thinking about the bandits Shanks' crew had dealt with.
"Nope, everything's been just the same."
…
Back on the ship, the pirates were unloading treasure, preparing to stock up on supplies from the village.
"I still have a task from my captain to complete," Shanks said, adjusting his straw hat.
"You know where he is, right?" he asked, glancing at Garp. Shanks then pulled a small chest from his coat, opening it to reveal a peculiar purple fruit with intricate patterns.
"This…?" Garp asked in a low voice.
"It's the Gum-Gum Fruit."
"What's the point of that?" Garp raised an eyebrow.
"Who knows?"
"Come with me… and finish up quickly. I can't promise he'll eat it," Garp grumbled, leading the way into the depths of Mt. Colubo.
As they walked, Garp glanced at Uta's red-tinged hair, a question forming on his mind.
"That girl… Is she really yours?"
"She's a treasure given to me by fate, no blood from Vegaland. She's pure…" Shanks replied quietly.
…
"So this is my father's legacy? A strange fruit?" Ace looked at the Devil Fruit in Shanks' hand with disbelief.
A surge of anger rose within him.
All because of that man, I'm burdened with the blood of a criminal.
And now, his only legacy was a strange fruit.
How absurd!
"This might just make you the Pirate King," Shanks offered, tossing the Fruit slightly in his hand.
"You mean to say I'd have to rely on his power to become the Pirate King?" Ace shouted, unable to contain his anger.
"Don't joke around! I'll surpass him! I'll become Pirate King by my own strength!" Ace's resentment toward Roger spilled over.
"Take that power and get lost!"
"Ah, captain… you never mentioned this kind of situation," Shanks sighed, glancing at the fruit in his hand.
This was a treasure, worth a fortune, and a source of power many would kill for.
"It's yours, to do with as you please," Shanks said, setting the Devil Fruit on the ground and turning to leave.
"This isn't going too well, huh?" Garp observed, waiting for Shanks at the path's entrance.
"He holds a deep grudge against Roger," Shanks said quietly.
"Can I ask a favor?" Shanks turned to Garp. "Please, help look after my daughter."
"You know the New World… It's not exactly the best place for a child."
Shanks' face held a rare, sincere smile.
"You all… You really think you can just ask me anything, don't you?"
For once, Garp's composure slipped.
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