Fortunately…
Because of the angle, Luffy hadn't seen it.
Nao casually tugged at his sleeve to hide the missing arm, lowered his head to look at Luffy, and laughed heartily:
"It's fine, Luffy. It's just an arm — it'll grow back soon enough."
"Liar!!!"
Luffy burst into even louder sobs.
"Wh-who could ever grow an arm back after losing it! I'm not a little kid anymore…! Waaaahhh!!!"
"If you're not a kid, then stop crying, Luffy."
Nao chuckled, rubbing his head affectionately.
"Just take this as a lesson — remember it well. You don't have to become a Marine if you don't want to. But whatever you do in the future, don't forget the three things I taught you, alright?"
"Y-yeah… yeah…"
Luffy nodded desperately. He wanted to say a thousand things — but when he saw Nao's warm smile, all the words melted into another fit of uncontrollable tears.
"Waaaahhhhhhhh!!!"
...
A few hours later…
Under the setting sun, at the harbor—
A Marine warship was preparing to depart for real this time.
Along the shore, the villagers had gathered to see them off.
"Mr. Nao, please come visit again sometime!"
That was Makino, smiling as she waved.
"Next time, tell us in advance! I'll make my special beef-and-tofu stew for you!"
That was Aunt Louise, waving a leek in her hand.
"Hey, what are you standing there for? Go on, say goodbye properly."
The village chief nudged Luffy's shoulder quietly.
Luffy didn't answer.
He bit his lip hard, fighting back tears, eyes fixed on Nao's back.
Nao was now wearing a long white Justice cloak, making it impossible to see inside. Luffy knew — Nao was hiding his missing arm so the boy wouldn't have to see it again and be reminded of what happened.
It wasn't until Nao was about to step onto the ship's deck that Luffy suddenly shouted with all his strength, choking through the lump in his throat:
"Uncle Nao——!!!"
"I swear… I won't let you and Grandpa down! I'll become the greatest Marine there ever was!!!"
Nao stopped mid-step.
After a pause, he turned, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Then he smiled.
"You've got spirit."
He walked back over to Luffy, reached into his coat, and pulled out a white Marine cap. Kneeling down, he gently placed it on Luffy's head.
"Since you've made up your mind to become a Marine, then I'll leave this with you for now."
"What's this…?"
Luffy blinked, touching the brim. The hat was slightly yellowed with age, its edges frayed and fuzzy — clearly, it had been through a lot.
"It's a Marine cap that's been with me for many years. It's very special to me."
Nao smiled softly, eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Now I'm entrusting it to you. From now on, let this hat be a symbol of our bond. Chase your dream with everything you've got."
"And when we meet again someday — after you've achieved that dream — return it to me then."
His gentle voice carried warmth and power, washing over Luffy's heart like sunlight.
Luffy froze for a moment — then slowly, a bright grin spread across his face. He wiped away his tears and nodded hard.
"Mhm!!"
The setting sun bathed them both in a soft golden glow.
The scene looked like a painting — the boy and the man, framed in light, a moment frozen in time.
The old village chief quietly removed his glasses and wiped them, eyes misty.
Makino covered her mouth, tears running down her cheeks.
"Let's go, everyone! Time to head back!"
Nao didn't linger any longer. He ruffled Luffy's hair one last time and laughed boldly, turning toward the warship and stepping aboard.
...
As the sun finally dipped below the horizon,
Luffy and the people of Windmill Village remained on the shore, watching the ship shrink into the distance, unable to bring themselves to leave.
What they didn't know was that once the village had become just a tiny dot on the horizon, a small, suspicious voice piped up on the warship.
"Brother Nao, you lied again."
"What do you mean again? That 'missing arm' thing was a white lie, alright? With what I did today, that old man Garp owes me at least a hundred pounds of senbei as thanks."
"…But when you put the hat on Luffy's head just now, you used your right arm."
"..."
Damn it.
That was careless — he hadn't noticed at all.
"You talk too much…"
The man who had just been looking all cool and composed muttered guiltily under his breath,
"It's fine. Luffy definitely didn't notice."
"Are you taking advantage of that little guy because he's like his grandfather…? Hmph. Also, where did you get such an old Marine cap? Hina has never seen you wear that thing."
"Oh, that? Back when I was at the recruit camp…"
"Tell the truth."
"...Fine. A couple years ago, Sakazuki got drunk when we were drinking together. I swiped it from him. Figured it might come in handy someday."
Hina: "…"
Smoker: "…"
...
A few days later—
Nao took Hina, Smoker, and the others on a short visit to his hometown, Chaili Island.
In the blink of an eye, nearly ten years had passed since he'd last returned —
the people and scenery had changed a great deal.
The once-quiet, unknown town had, because of his influence, gradually become a famous tourist destination in the East Blue — now rivaling Loguetown in popularity and prosperity.
Statues of him stood in the town plaza and along the streets,
and every year, countless travelers came just to visit.
Even the Marine Branch 16, stationed on the island, had become one of the liveliest posts in the sea.
Every year, a staggering number of young men — full of dreams and admiration — came here to enlist.
The sheer volume of recruits was unmatched anywhere else in the East Blue,
almost enough to combine all the other branches and still come out ahead.
Nao was genuinely startled by how much things had changed.
Thankfully, he'd had the foresight to pull his Altair's hooded sweatshirt up as soon as he got off the ship —
otherwise, he probably would've been surrounded by fans three or four layers deep and wouldn't have been able to take a single step.
After leaving Chaili Island,
and at Smoker's earnest request,
he stopped by the Loguetown branch for a couple of days,
taking the opportunity to visit the execution platform where Gol D. Roger had once met his end.
It was evening.
A fine drizzle fell, the sky dim and gray.
Standing atop the execution platform, Nao gazed down through the curtain of rain at the nearly empty plaza below.
His eyes were distant — as if seeing the past through time itself.
「The man who possessed wealth, fame, and power, everything in this world, "Pirate King" Gol D. Roger, said one thing before his execution, making people all over the world rush to the sea.」
「"Want my treasure?"」
「"If you want it… then go out to the sea and find it! I left everything I gathered together in one place!"」
...
Ten years ago,
Gol D. Roger, already dying of illness, had surrendered himself —
so he could shout those very words to the world before his death.
And now, ten years later,
Nao stood in that same place,
rain falling all around him,
the vast, endless ocean stretching beyond the horizon.
The Great Pirate Era that Roger had ignited —
the chaos that had consumed the world for a decade —
was finally nearing its end.
"Although the era you started will end by my hand…"
The rain intensified, the world blurred into a white haze. Nao extended his right hand, staring at the heavy rain falling on his fingertips, murmuring to himself:
"But… different paths lead to the same destination."
"Your true goal, your true wish, will also be fulfilled by my own hand."
BOOM!
A sudden crack of thunder split the heavens, lighting half the sky as bright as day.
Did you hear that?
Nao turned his head, took one last, deep look at the towering execution stand, shook his head slightly, and turned to leave, his figure disappearing into the swaying wind and rain.
"Rest easy now, Roger."
...
A few days later.
Buggy called, saying everything was ready —
the Pirate Festival would be held the next day as planned,
and nearly all invited guests had already arrived.
Nao summoned Hina and Smoker, gave them a few careful instructions,
then transformed into a streak of pale blue light that soared into the clouds,
heading toward Cocoyasi Village.
....
Cocoyasi Village.
After more than half a month of meticulous preparation,
the place looked completely different from usual.
The streets were lined with red carpets;
silken ribbons wrapped around the trees;
beautiful decorations glimmered everywhere.
The harbor was filled with all kinds of ships, countless black Jolly Rogers fluttering in the wind, stretching as far as the eye could see.
..
"Look, boss! Over there — that guy! That's Ghost-Hand Stock, with a bounty of 11 million Berries!"
"And the one with black hair — that's Mad Wolf Mude! He actually came too! Damn, stay away from him — that monster wiped out ten villages in a single year!"
"Huh? Strange, why are those pirates over there all wearing chef uniforms?"
"Idiot! That's the Cook Pirates! Don't be fooled by their clothes; that old man leading them, Zeff, is not someone to mess with either!"
A group of newly arrived pirates couldn't contain their excitement.
Like country bumpkins in the big city, they pointed and whispered along the way,
shouting in awe every few steps.
"Keep it down, all of you!"
The purple-haired man leading the group finally lost his patience.
He turned around, his tone icy and commanding:
"You act like you've never seen the world before — gasping at every little thing. Embarrass me again, and I'll deal with you myself!"
He was tall and broad-shouldered, clad in shining gold armor,
a black cape billowing behind him —
his presence alone enough to make others instinctively wary.
Still, scenes like this really were rare in the East Blue…
The pirates flinched, cowed into silence.
Though a few looked hurt, none dared defy their captain's glare.
Only then did the purple-haired man face forward again,
a mocking smile curling at the edge of his lips.
Calling them 'people who haven't seen the world' is putting it mildly; they're a bunch of fools!
So what if they've seen a few pirates with bounties over ten million?
There's nothing amazing about those people! They just have the advantage of having sailed for a long time and becoming famous early!
And he, on the other hand, is "Pirate Admiral" Krieg! He gained notoriety in less than two years of sailing, with a bounty as high as 9 million Berries!
Just give him a few more years…
He'd surpass every one of these fools,
becoming the strongest pirate captain in the East Blue — easily!
"No… maybe it won't even take years…"
Suddenly thinking of something, a strange light flashed in Krieg's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly. "As long as I wait for the Festival to begin, and catch these guys off guard to slaughter them all…"
Wouldn't Lord Krieg then shock everyone and instantly become the strongest pirate in the East Blue?!
No, it won't stop there.
Such huge news will quickly spread across the entire world, and his bounty will definitely multiply several times, possibly even breaking a hundred million! He'll become a great figure that even the pirates on the Grand Line will look up to!
The Marines will kick that Buggy aside and beg him to become a Warlord of the Sea! Beautiful maidens from all over the world will adore him, kneeling outside his palace, begging just for a chance to attend to him…
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh maniacally out loud.
When his subordinates behind him cast puzzled and confused looks, Krieg snorted coldly and waved his hand. "Stay close! Speed up! Let's get to the Festival venue early and grab a good spot!"
"Yes, Captain!"
...
The Krieg Pirates marched off down the street, not noticing that from a third-floor window nearby, someone had been watching the entire exchange.
"These pirates… what a joke."
Cabaji, the finance manager of Buggy Delivery, closed the window and rolled his eyes before turning back.
"You heard that too, Captain Buggy — that idiot Krieg, talking all that nonsense."
"Hmph. I told you already," Buggy said with a smirk, lazily swirling a glass of red wine, "these new-generation pirates — they're all guts and no brains."
He snorted, amused.
"Still, it's rare to find one this arrogant and this stupid at the same time. Whatever. Forget him — back to business. Have all the villagers been evacuated?"
"The evacuation? Done this morning," Cabaji reported with a chuckle. "Those pirates actually think the villagers left voluntarily to make room for them — said they were being 'warmly welcomed'!"
"Heh. And what about Mr. White Dragon? Has he said when he'll arrive?"
"Yes, sir," Cabaji nodded quickly. "We contacted him around noon — according to Lord White Dragon, he should arrive in Cocoyasi Village within the next half hour."
"Within half an hour, huh…"
Buggy put down his wine glass, stood up, and stretched.
"Then pass the word down. Have all the pirates who accepted the invitation gather at the plaza. I'll be there shortly to host the festival opening ceremony."
"Yes, Captain!"
...
The so-called Cocoyasi Village Plaza lay to the north of the village.
Including the surrounding lawns, the open area was large enough to hold over ten thousand people.
Half an hour earlier, the pirates had heard the announcement over the loudspeakers and flocked to the plaza.
By the time Krieg's crew arrived — having started from farther away — all the prime spots in the center were already taken.
They were forced to sit off in a remote corner to the northeast.
"Damn it!"
Krieg cursed under his breath and glared back at his men, itching to kick every last one of the useless fools for slowing him down.
But when he turned his head and caught a gleam of his own golden armor, his anger faded into a cruel smirk.
Forget it, not getting a good spot doesn't matter. This remote, unnoticed corner might actually be more convenient for suddenly making a move and taking action.
Although it was a spur-of-the-moment plan, he had enough confidence in it.
After all…
Naturally, you couldn't bring large weapons into the festival venue. The sturdy ships and powerful cannons the pirates relied on were all at the harbor; at most, they had short guns and swords on them.
But he, Don Krieg, was different!
Within his gleaming gold armor lay an arsenal of devastating weapons —
rocket launchers, poison gas bombs, and more.
Combined with his monstrous strength, he could wipe out everyone here with ease.
No one could stand against him —
not even that man with a false reputation was an exception!
Krieg narrowed his eyes, a sneer forming as his gaze drifted to the edge of the plaza.
There, a stir was spreading through the crowd — pirates stood up, laughing and cheering, parting to make way.
Down the newly opened path came Buggy, towering nearly seven meters tall, wrapped in a vast cloak, smiling broadly as he waved to the crowd and strode toward the stage.
"Welcome, everyone! Welcome to the East Blue Pirate Festival, here in Cocoyasi Village!"
...
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