Dimon ended the call and waited calmly in the alley.
The Rocks Pirates would soon descend from the heavens.
He watched the Celestial Dragons—one man, one woman, siblings perhaps, both in their thirties, strolling with that peculiar arrogance of those born untouchable.
Behind them walked a Marine Vice Admiral. Dimon recognized him instantly—Monkey D. Garp.
This Garp was young—no mustache, jet-black hair, and the fierce confidence of his prime. He couldn't have been forty yet, power radiating off him like sunlight.
Peak-era Garp… that's a king-tier fighter if I've ever seen one, Dimon thought.
Behind the siblings marched several black-suited attendants—servants really, more slaves than guards.
The pair moved lazily down the street, likely headed toward the bubble amusement park.
Then the male Dragon stopped dead.
"What is it, brother?" the woman asked.
"I feel… a malicious gaze," he said, frowning. For a Celestial Dragon, that was intolerable. Commoners never dared even look at them.
His eyes swept the bowed crowd—and landed on Dimon.
"You! Why aren't you kneeling?" he snapped.
Dimon froze for half a second. You've got Observation Haki for entitlement, huh? Even hiding in an alley, he'd been spotted.
"Wretch! How dare you stare at us!" the woman shrieked.
Dimon sighed and stepped into the open. "Brother and sister, hm? Which family? That'll help me set the ransom."
The kneeling civilians gasped. Several bit their lips to keep from screaming.
To confront a Dragon was suicide. Everyone knew it.
The woman proved them right. Snarling, she pulled a small pistol and fired.
"Die, filthy commoner!"
The shot never landed.
Garp's hand snapped up and caught the bullet between his fingers.
He rolled his eyes. "Leave this to me. No need to dirty your hands."
"Garp!" the woman shouted, livid. "You dare shield him?!"
"Shield? Nah. I'll handle the arrest myself," Garp said, grinning.
He blurred forward, grabbing Dimon by the neck and hauling him deeper into the alley.
"Come on, brat. Let's have a talk."
Dimon smiled faintly. "Vice Admiral Garp, first, thanks for the help—though I don't need it. Second…"
"Hm?" Garp frowned—and froze as the air above them shifted.
Dimon's voice came almost conversationally:
"If someone kidnapped the Dragons right in front of you, what would your punishment be?"
Garp didn't answer. He couldn't.
He was already staring skyward—at the powerful auras descending toward them.
His face hardened.
He released Dimon and sprinted for the Celestial siblings.
"Get down, you idiots!"
The sky split.
Figures slammed into the ground with thunderous impact.
Screams erupted. Dust billowed.
Dimon peered through the haze—someone was blocking Garp's charge.
"Gurararara… been a while, Garp," came the deep laugh.
"Whitebeard!"
Garp's pupils shrank. Behind the towering man, more shadows appeared.
"Got them, Captain," Stussy said sweetly, holding both Dragons by the neck like chickens.
"That was easy. Thanks to Dimon," Gloriosa added with a smirk.
"Targets secured. Do we pull out?" Kaido's tone was clipped, eager for the next fight.
Shiki floated above, laughing. "Gehahahaha! Two Celestial Dragons! Name your ransom!"
Rocks drew his sword and stepped forward, voice booming across the wrecked plaza.
"Garp! Why waste yourself as a Marine? Come join me!"
Even without the full crew, their arrival sent shockwaves through the island.
The crowd broke. Panic devoured the street.
"It's— it's the Rocks Pirates!"
"Run! Run for your life!"
Their dread outweighed even their fear of the Dragons. Even the black-suited attendants bolted.
"Rocks…!" Garp's jaw set. "What are you bastards planning!?"
Dimon brushed past him toward Stussy. He gripped the female Dragon's wrist—the one still clutching the pistol.
"You tried to shoot me, didn't you?"
Her eyes widened as his fingers tightened.
"This isn't a toy," he said—and twisted.
Crack.
Her wrist bent at a wrong angle. She screamed, high and raw, as terror replaced her arrogance.
Garp's eyes widened.
He finally understood.
Dimon was one of them—a Rocks pirate. No wonder he'd mocked the Dragons.
They're here to kidnap nobles. Ransom… damn it, I can only save one!
No hesitation. Garp crouched, muscles coiling—then launched like a cannon.
A blade intercepted him mid-charge. Sparks screamed across the air.
"Gehahaha! You think I'll let you?" Shiki sneered, sabers flashing. "Tell the bigwigs: ten Devil Fruits or they die!"
Rocks' laugh rolled over the chaos. "Shiki, take them and go. I'll handle Garp."
Grudging, Shiki withdrew, slapping the ground. A platform of rock rose beneath them, lifting everyone but Rocks skyward.
Garp roared. "Leave them!"
He shot upward like a golden missile.
"Hey now," Rocks said, rising to meet him, sword ready. "You underestimate me."
Fist met blade.
Haoshoku Haki detonated between them, thunder tearing the heavens apart.
The sky itself split—clouds spiraling back for miles as lightning licked the wound in the air.
On the rising platform, Dimon looked up and smiled faintly.
"Now that's what I call a light show."
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