The vast ruins fell into complete silence.
Everyone stared blankly at the Den Den Mushi in Lucas’s hand, unable to process what they had just heard.
They had imagined that one day they might be hunted down by the Marines.
But never...
For such an absurd reason.
"A-Admiral Lucas..."
Koby hurried over, covered in dust and grime. Blood still stained the corner of his mouth; Lucas’s earlier attack had clearly injured him badly.
If it hadn’t already been five o’clock—meaning Lucas was officially off duty—Koby wouldn’t have dared approach him.
Lucas adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses.
"At first, since I was in a hurry, I wasn’t planning to fight."
"As long as they cooperated and let me take a few pitiful-looking photos, that would’ve been enough."
"But..."
"Impulsiveness is the devil."
"They insisted on fighting."
"So I cut them."
The Straw Hats collectively froze.
We got cut down... and it’s somehow our fault?
What kind of twisted logic was that?
Still...
Thinking back on what had happened, they could only swallow their frustration.
The only thing left was anxiety over what fate awaited them next.
The Den Den Mushi suddenly spoke.
"Hello? This is Sengoku."
"Lucas, did you really defeat the Straw Hat Pirates?"
"Are these photos genuine?"
"Respond immediately upon receiving this."
Every nerve in the Straw Hats’ bodies tightened as they looked toward Lucas.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"I only just cut them down, and I only just took the photos."
"Vice Admiral Garp and Mr. Bogard are both here."
"They can verify everything."
"Garp and Bogard are there too?"
Sengoku sounded surprised.
"I thought that old fool had dropped the ball again and let you beat him to it."
"This mission was originally assigned to Garp."
"But since you’ve completed it so efficiently..."
"I’ll make sure you’re credited accordingly."
"Next, escort the prisoners back to Marine Headquarters."
The Straw Hats’ faces instantly turned pale.
After the one-sided beating they had just suffered...
If Lucas really intended to escort them back himself...
They would have no choice but to surrender.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"It’s already past five."
"I’m off duty."
"I’ve handed the prisoner escort over to Vice Admiral Garp and Mr. Bogard."
"As for military merits..."
"Just convert them into bonus pay instead."
Lucas took another drink of strong liquor before continuing.
"According to an Admiral’s compensation package..."
"Capturing pirates with bounties below one hundred million Berries earns me a bonus equal to one and a half times my salary."
"So..."
"Only 7.5 million Berries."
"It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing."
"It’s a shame they’re too weak."
"The highest bounty among them is only one hundred million."
"I couldn’t even earn a ten-million-Berry bonus."
The muscles on Zoro and the others’ faces twitched.
We’re weak?
And that’s our fault?
Their combined bounties totaled well over three hundred million Berries.
Not to mention they had just declared war on the World Government and stormed Enies Lobby.
Wasn’t that worth far more than a mere 7.5-million-Berry bonus?
Yet earlier...
Lucas had actually looked disappointed by their bounties.
If the battle had wounded their bodies...
These words wounded their souls.
"Can’t you stop obsessing over such shallow things for once?"
Sengoku roared in exasperation.
"I can."
Lucas smiled.
"But overtime requires overtime pay."
"You..."
Sengoku instantly deflated.
"...Fine."
"If you’re off duty, then you’re off duty."
"Garp may be unreliable..."
"But escorting the Straw Hat Pirates back from Water 7 shouldn’t be a problem."
"As for your bonus..."
"I won’t forget it."
"Marine Headquarters is still undergoing repairs."
"So you don’t need to return for the time being."
At the thought of the enormous repair costs for Marine Headquarters and Marineford’s Plaza, Sengoku felt another stab of pain in his chest.
Still...
Capturing the very pirates who had breached Enies Lobby and defeated CP9 was enough to restore at least some of the Marines’ reputation.
However...
Remembering how Garp had once been escorting Axe-Hand Morgan only to get slashed with an axe himself...
Sengoku suddenly felt uneasy.
"Garp!"
"The Straw Hat Pirates are the first people in eight hundred years to successfully breach Enies Lobby!"
"Straw Hat Luffy even defeated Rob Lucci, the strongest weapon CP9 has produced in eight centuries!"
"You’d better stay completely focused!"
"Bring them back!"
"And don’t mess this up halfway through!"
"Hahaha!"
"Don’t worry, Sengoku!"
"I never expected you to think so highly of Straw Hat Luffy!"
"He really is worthy of being my grandson!"
The instant those words left Garp’s mouth...
He realized what he had just admitted.
He quickly coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem..."
"Sengoku..."
"You heard wrong."
"I didn’t say anything."
"Straw Hat Luffy isn’t my grandson..."
Everyone present was speechless.
Lucas had long expected Garp to try talking his way out of it.
But hearing it in person...
He still couldn’t help admiring the old Marine.
This truly was shamelessness taken to invincible heights.
Who else would dare say something so outrageous right in front of the Fleet Admiral?
"Garp, you bastard!"
Sengoku’s furious roar erupted from the Den Den Mushi.
"Did you just say Straw Hat Luffy is your grandson?!"
"No wonder you’ve been dragging your feet!"
"You arrived two whole days later than expected!"
Even the Den Den Mushi trembled violently from Sengoku’s anger.
Lucas silently concluded that if Sengoku had a heart condition...
It would certainly have flared up by now.
Still...
Knowing Garp’s personality from the original story, Lucas suspected this matter would ultimately be swept under the rug.
"Lucas!"
"I’ll pay you!"
"Work overtime!"
"Escort the Straw Hat Pirates back to Marine Headquarters for me!"
Sengoku hurriedly added.
Lucas’s eyes lit up.
Sure enough...
Hard work was always rewarded.
He had already earned a bounty bonus.
Now he could earn overtime pay too.
That sounded pretty good.
Garp immediately panicked.
He grabbed the Den Den Mushi and covered it with both hands.
"Sengoku!"
"That’s playing dirty!"
"This was my assignment!"
"I’ve been slacking off for over half a year already!"
"If I don’t accomplish something this time..."
"I’ll be too embarrassed to go back to Marine Headquarters!"
"Besides..."
"Lucas’s already off work."
"Making him work overtime is bad for your wallet!"
Watching Garp desperately refuse, Lucas felt as though even the Den Den Mushi was about to explode from anger.
Just as he was about to say something—
His expression suddenly shifted.
He turned toward the harbor entrance.
For the briefest instant...
He had sensed a faint but unmistakable killing intent.
His Observation Haki spread rapidly across the area.
Soon...
He locked onto the unexpected visitor.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku..."
"It looks like the overtime assignment needs to change."
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