"Extra! Extra!"
"Big news! The sea overlord Rocks D. Xebec has fallen! The Rocks Pirates have collapsed!"
"The Battle of God Valley is over! The Navy has won!"
"Hero Dean! Hero Garp!"
"They're the heroes of the world!"
"Whoa, Igaram, Mr. Dean and Mr. Garp are so cool!"
"Yes, Your Highness Nefertari Cobra!"
...
The greatest war of the era ended, and within a single day, the news spread across the globe, shaking every sea.
Two names echoed louder than the rest:
Dean D. Dollars.
Monkey D. Garp.
They were the men who brought down Rocks.
They were hailed as heroes.
...
One week after the war ended.
The World Government issued an appointment order: Dean D. Dollars and Garp were to be promoted to Admirals, filling the two vacant seats and reestablishing the Three Admirals alongside Fleet Admiral Kong.
The entire Navy erupted in excitement.
And then—
Something even more shocking happened.
Both Dean and Garp refused the promotion.
They stood up the World Government.
They stood up Fleet Admiral Kong.
They stood up the entire Navy.
The soldiers gathered in the plaza of Marineford, waiting for the grand Admiral appointment ceremony, were left completely stunned.
Meanwhile, the two "heroes" who were supposed to be crowned Admirals—
Were competing in an eating contest.
"Dad! Uncle Dean! You're doing this again?!"
A broad-foreheaded boy no older than thirteen or fourteen held his head in frustration.
It was young Monkey D. Dragon.
"Dragon, don't get it twisted," Garp said confidently, stuffing meat into his mouth. "This time I'm beating this guy. When it comes to eating, I've never lost."
Dean chewed lazily.
"When have you ever beaten me?"
Garp immediately tried to stuff three giant bones into his mouth at once.
He choked.
"Mr. Dean… you're amazing," said a slightly older boy beside Dragon, eyes half-lidded and full of admiration.
His name was Borsalino.
Two years ago, Dean had brought him from his hometown in the New World to Marine Headquarters and personally placed him under elite training alongside Dragon.
"Dean! Garp!"
An angry voice approached from the distance.
It was Rear Admiral Tsuru.
"I knew you two were hiding here! Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is for the Fleet Admiral to stand on stage alone?!" Tsuru snapped.
"He's been stalling the entire Navy by telling jokes," Sengoku added helplessly.
"Fleet Admiral… telling jokes?" Garp blinked.
Dean and Garp looked at each other—
And burst into laughter.
...
In the end, the Admiral inauguration ceremony was canceled due to Dean and Garp's stubborn refusal.
Even the World Government didn't dare push the issue too hard with the heroes of God Valley.
The uproar gradually faded.
Another week passed.
Dean and Garp were drinking together when the Navy Medical Corps found them.
"What? A physical exam?" Garp waved them off. "We're fine. I just ate a Sea King yesterday."
Dean, however, remained unusually quiet.
His eyes studied the unfamiliar faces of the arriving medical team.
Deep.
Cold.
"Vice Admiral Garp, Vice Admiral Dean," the medical captain said carefully, "Vice Admiral Zephyr and Vice Admiral Sengoku have already completed two examinations. They both have lingering injuries from the war. Hidden damage is better treated early."
"Not going," Garp said flatly.
Dean stood up.
"What's the harm in a checkup? I'll go."
The medical captain nearly cried with relief.
"Vice Admiral Dean, please this way."
Dean walked forward calmly.
No one noticed the faint killing intent hidden in his eyes.
"Man, what's gotten into him today?" Garp scratched his head.
"Uncle Dean, hurry back!" Dragon shouted.
Dean waved without turning around.
"Got it."
He paused slightly.
"Oh, Garp-san. Tell Tsuru-san I'm sorry."
Garp laughed.
"What'd you do now?"
Dean didn't answer.
...
Twenty minutes later.
An isolated medical room in the underground sector of Marine Headquarters.
Dean stepped into a sealed medical examination chamber as instructed by the so-called "medical captain."
Shhh—
The moment the chamber sealed, thick hypnotic gas flooded inside.
At the same time, five high-powered anesthetic rounds — enough to knock out twenty dinosaurs — were fired into him.
"Hahaha! I didn't expect it to go this smoothly!"
"So this is the legendary hero Dean? That was easy."
"But… isn't this too easy?" someone whispered nervously. "He's a Navy hero…"
"A hero should give everything for the world," another sneered. "Sacrificing himself for humanity's advancement — what an honor."
"I can't wait to dissect him…"
"What happens if we extract blood from a true immortal body?"
"If we sever his limbs… will they regenerate?"
"Can his flesh bring the dying back?"
"Or even grant eternal life?"
The government's biological research team grinned like lunatics.
Click.
"What was that?"
A researcher turned slowly toward the chamber.
Bang.
Fine glowing lines spread across the special alloy chamber like a glowing grid.
Then—
It shattered.
Dean stepped out.
Calm.
But beneath that calm burned a monstrous rage.
"So that's how it is," he said softly. "I thought the Government had finally decided to make a move on me."
He glanced around.
"Turns out it's just you idiots acting on your own."
"Y-you… how are you awake?!"
Dean smiled faintly.
"Do you even know who I am?"
He raised his hand.
A lattice of glowing lines swept through the room.
Silence followed.
Every researcher was reduced to neat, cubic chunks.
The room fell still.
Dean picked up his blade.
"Guess it's time to go upstairs."
He stepped forward alone.
One man.
One sword.
Headed toward Mary Geoise.