Colonel Morgan was so consumed by rage that he'd lost all sense of reason.
Yet, strangely enough, his furious roars received no response.
The two Marines standing in front of him didn't dare even touch their triggers.
"C-Colonel Morgan…" his personal guard was trembling, not knowing what to do.
"Two useless trash! Go die!"
Blinded by fury, Morgan swung his massive axe—one brutal strike, and the two subordinates were cleaved apart.
Their heads burst like crushed fruit, blood splattering as their bodies collapsed lifelessly.
"You dare defy me?! I am a hero of the Marines! I am the great Morgan!"
He had completely become a wild beast.
The wild sweeps of his giant axe stirred violent gusts in the courtyard, making the surrounding Marines too terrified to approach.
So what now?
Were they supposed to obey hero Garp's command… or keep following Morgan?
But if they disobeyed Morgan, he might kill them on the spot.
"You guys are seriously spineless."
Luffy folded his arms and let out a casual "ah-ley," then said,
"You all know better than anyone what this guy has done. And yet you don't even dare fight back? My grandpa already said it — anyone who refuses to cooperate with me gets treated as a traitor. You don't want to get executed by a Vice Admiral, do you?"
The Marines froze.
Silence hung in the air for several seconds.
Then, one Marine raised his trembling rifle and pointed it at Morgan.
He swallowed his fear and shouted,
"The kid is right! Morgan — you're cruel, corrupt, and abusive! You should've been dead long ago!"
With someone taking the lead, the rest quickly followed.
Soon, every Marine had their gun aimed squarely at Morgan.
Seeing this, Morgan's face turned beet red, veins bulging along his neck.
"You dare point your guns at me?! You're all courting death!"
Driven over the edge, he swung his axe wildly.
Everyone was an enemy.
The Marines panicked, scattering in fear. Years of oppression had crushed their courage, leaving them unable to resist.
"Hahaha! I'm coming!"
Finding their cowardice amusing, Luffy darted forward.
In a flash, he reappeared sitting on Morgan's shoulders like he was riding a wild beast.
"You bastard!" Morgan's expression twisted in shock.
"Forget it. I'll let you live one more day."
Luffy seemed to reconsider something.
His hand that had been poised to strike Morgan's temple instead came down hard on the top of his skull.
Morgan's pupils rolled back, turning completely white.
His massive body collapsed like a felled tree, slamming into the ground, his life or death uncertain.
"Seriously? This guy's the one who supposedly pushed Grandpa to his limit? Comics really don't think things through."
Luffy hopped off Morgan's neck, glanced at the stunned Marines, and called out,
"Good to see you've come to your senses. When I have time, I'll tell Grandpa and get your charges wiped clean."
Outside the building, Zoro and Nami—who had just stepped out—were frozen in shock.
Things were happening way too fast.
Their eyes could follow it, but their brains definitely couldn't.
The Marines were also speechless for a long moment before raising their rifles with one hand and shouting:
"Thank you, Hero Luffy!"
"Long live Hero Luffy!"
"Hero Luffy is amazing!"
Nami and Zoro exchanged a look, both utterly confused.
Zoro scratched his green hair, baffled.
"So… the crew I joined… is this really a pirate crew? Not a Marine squad?"
Did Luffy actually mean he was searching for companions to become Marines with?
Did he lose his memory?
No—whose side was Luffy even on?!
…
Three hours later.
Inside the tower, behind Morgan's office desk.
Luffy was lounging with his legs propped up on the desk, leaning back casually as he listened to the Marine's report.
"Reporting, Hero! The ship you requested has been purchased… and the criminal Morgan has been sent to the prison. He can be executed at any time!"
"Good. You've done well. When I have time, I'll tell Grandpa to promote all of you."
Luffy nodded in satisfaction.
The Marines nearly burst with excitement.
"Thank you, sir!"
"All right, go prepare some food. We're starving."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine hurried out toward the mess hall.
On the sofa, Nami and Zoro sat stiffly, wearing identical "we're completely lost" expressions as they stared blankly at Luffy.
"What are you looking at?" Luffy asked, puzzled.
Nami rubbed her temples, utterly confused.
"Let me get this straight… why is a pirate bossing around a Marine branch like he owns the place? And why are they calling you a hero?"
"Hahaha! That's the power of background."
I've got a hero for a grandpa—of course I inherited the title!
Luffy grinned, walked to the coffee table, grabbed a grape, and popped it into his mouth.
"Ordering them around? That's nothing. Tomorrow, I'm holding a public execution for a Marine captain."
That sentence completely destroyed the last of their sanity.
A pirate… holding a public execution… for a Marine captain?
Were their ears malfunctioning?!
…
To be fair, Luffy's smooth sailing here was entirely thanks to his cheap old man—Garp.
As a Marine hero, Garp's name carried more weight in the East Blue than Sengoku ever could.
No joke—go to any tiny village and ask who Sengoku is; nobody knows.
But ask who Garp is? Even seven-year-olds can tell you.
Still, fame aside, the Marines had their hierarchy.
Which was why, at Marine Headquarters…
Hero Garp was calmly eating rice crackers while being loudly scolded.
He looked up at a furious Sengoku…
Then lowered his head and kept eating.
The Fleet Admiral clutched his chest in fury.
"Garp! You unbelievable idiot!!!"
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T/N:
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