Five o’clock.
He doesn’t kill people after work?
What kind of logic was that?
Nami stared blankly at the cheerful Marine Hero Garp standing before her.
Was this really Luffy’s grandfather?
Or had Luffy actually been fathered by someone else?
What kind of grandfather could watch his own grandson get hacked half to death...
And not seem the least bit worried that he might actually die?
"Vice Admiral Garp..."
Bogard glanced at the pocket watch in his hand.
"Aren’t you worried your watch might be wrong again?"
"Fortunately, it isn’t this time. It really is five o’clock."
"If it were another Admiral, I couldn’t say for sure."
"But if it’s Admiral Lucas..."
"Unless someone pays him extra..."
"He won’t make another move."
"That’s one principle he never breaks."
Ever since Lucas had been rescued and boarded Garp’s ship, Bogard had become something like half a teacher to him.
No one understood Lucas’s almost obsessive commitment to his work-life boundaries better than he did.
Listening to the two Marines chatting so casually instead of rushing to save anyone...
Nami was completely dumbfounded.
She almost wanted to ask outright whether Garp’s grandson really belonged to someone else.
Or perhaps both his son and grandson had inherited the same bizarre personality.
But remembering the overwhelming despair Lucas had just inflicted upon them...
She could only pray that what Garp and Bogard had said was true.
That after five o’clock...
He really wouldn’t kill anyone.
"Vice Admiral Garp."
Bogard looked around at the devastated harbor.
"Have you figured out how you’re going to explain all of this?"
"Hahaha!"
Garp burst into laughter.
"What’s there to think about?"
"Let’s go see how long my grandson managed to last against that brat."
Completely unconcerned, he continued picking his nose as he strode toward the center of the ruins.
Bogard sighed helplessly.
Turning to Nami, he said,
"If you can still walk, hurry and follow."
"Vice Admiral Garp has shown Admiral Lucas a great deal of kindness over the years."
"You were fortunate this time."
"The last time you encountered Admiral Aokiji, you escaped because of Vice Admiral Garp as well."
"But next time..."
"Don’t count on being so lucky."
"If you don’t want to die in despair..."
"The only thing you can rely on is your own strength."
"W-Wait!"
Nami hurriedly called out.
"If the new Admiral isn’t going to kill Luffy and the others..."
"Then why did he come here in the first place?"
"Why?"
Bogard stopped walking.
The corner of his mouth twitched awkwardly.
"...For the bounty."
"..."
"...What?"
Nami froze.
She watched the two Marines walk farther and farther away.
For the bounty?
What kind of ridiculous reason was that?
Or rather...
What kind of bizarre Admiral had they run into?
What terrible luck did they have to be hunted down by a Marine Admiral...
Simply because he wanted the reward money?
Thinking back on everything that had just happened, Nami clenched her fists tightly before staggering after them.
Within the ruins...
Robin and Chopper supported Zoro and the others.
Covered in blood and dust, every one of them looked utterly miserable.
Only a short while ago, they had been celebrating the triumph of conquering Enies Lobby.
Now...
They finally understood what it meant to fall from the highest peak to the deepest valley.
What puzzled them most...
Was Lucas himself.
Moments ago, he had utterly overwhelmed them with crushing force.
Yet now...
He simply stood among the ruins.
Drinking his liquor.
Not making any attempt to continue the pursuit.
It felt as though a sword was hanging over their necks...
Without ever falling.
"If you’re going to kill us..."
"Then just do it."
Zoro struggled to stand.
Fresh blood immediately seeped from the crossed wounds on his chest.
The slightest movement caused blood to gush out again, forcing him back down.
Sanji hurried over to support him.
His expression remained resolute.
"When we set sail..."
"We were already prepared to die."
"And besides..."
"I’ve got Robin-chan with me."
"I’m not afraid."
"If you’re going to kill us..."
"Then hurry up and do it."
"I can still fight!"
Luffy also struggled to speak.
However...
After using Gear Third, he was not only gravely injured but had also shrunk into his miniature form due to its side effects.
As a result...
Even his defiant declaration sounded adorably childish.
"Sorry."
"It’s already five o’clock."
"My workday is over."
"I’m not interested in wasting my personal time on you."
Lucas took another swig of strong liquor before calmly sheathing Monohoshizao.
The Straw Hats froze.
They had already accepted death.
Now...
He was telling them he had gotten off work.
So he wasn’t killing anyone anymore.
Was this some kind of joke?
A very, very cruel joke.
"Hahaha!"
"I knew it!"
Garp’s hearty laughter echoed through the ruins.
"I figured you’d clock out exactly on time again, brat!"
"Looks like I arrived at just the right moment!"
He strode over with Bogard.
"Grandpa!"
Luffy’s eyes lit up.
For the first time in his life...
Seeing his grandfather filled him with an inexplicable sense of security.
The feeling lasted less than a second.
Garp instantly appeared in front of him—
And punched him square in the forehead.
BAM!
Luffy flew seven or eight meters before crashing into the ground.
He immediately clutched his forehead and howled in pain.
Watching the familiar scene, Lucas silently took another drink to calm himself.
As expected...
Garp truly believed that love was expressed through punches.
After all...
Strong children were raised the hard way.
Had Garp not thrown Luffy into one life-threatening situation after another throughout his childhood...
He probably wouldn’t have developed the unbelievable survival instincts that carried him through countless battles.
Even Zoro and the others instinctively shrank their necks.
It was strange enough that Luffy—whose body was made of rubber—could still cry out in pain after a punch.
But what they cared about even more...
Was what would happen to them next.
"Zoro!"
Nami finally caught up, breathing heavily.
"Luffy’s grandfather told me that after five o’clock, the new Marine Admiral absolutely won’t kill anyone."
"Maybe..."
"We actually survived."
"After five o’clock?"
Zoro and the others stared blankly.
Only now did they understand why Lucas had suddenly stopped attacking instead of finishing them off.
Robin was the first to recover.
She glanced at the pocket watch in her hand before looking toward Lucas.
"Then..."
"If he wasn’t planning to kill us..."
"Why was he chasing us around and cutting us down in the first place?"
Everyone fell silent.
Their gazes slowly shifted toward Lucas.
Feeling everyone’s eyes on him, Lucas hung the wine gourd back on his waist before taking out a Den Den Mushi.
"There wasn’t any special reason."
"I just needed a photo."
"So I could claim your bounty from Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"You people were just a little too impulsive."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Everyone stood there in stunned silence.
Looking at the Den Den Mushi in Lucas’s hand...
They nearly reopened their wounds from sheer disbelief.
They had just taken a trip to death’s doorstep.
And now he was telling them...
He had nearly cut them to pieces...
Just so he could take a picture for the bounty.
Was this guy serious?
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