Chapter 134

A meeting was held in the conference room of the headquarters building.

Besides Marshal Garp, there were Admiral Kizaru, Admiral Akainu, and Chief Strategist Tsuru.

Admiral Kizaru had gone to the New World and had not yet returned.

Marshal Garp's first words caused the eyes of those present to narrow slightly.

"The Sky Pirate, Golden Lion Shi Ji, is dead."

"Golden Lion Shi Ji? Isn't he been missing for over twenty years?"

Admiral Tsuru asked in surprise.

"What happened?"

Garp also asked curiously: "Who killed him?"

"Did one of the Four Emperors do it, or one of the Seven Warlords?"

Admiral Kizaru couldn't help but ask.

Even if Golden Lion Shi Ji was no longer at his peak, his mastery of great swordsmanship, all three forms of Haki, and the abilities of the Yomi Yomi no Mi still made him one of the few top-tier powerhouses on the sea.

Even a tiger stripped of its teeth remains a tiger.

Under the gaze of the others, Marshal Garp slowly uttered a name from his seat at the head of the table.

"His name is… Luo En!"

The entire conference room fell silent.

Garp froze.

Admiral Kizaru's eyes narrowed.

"Luo En?"

Admiral Tsuru looked astonished.

Admiral Akainu's stern eyes beneath his hat narrowed slightly.

"That intern kid?"

"Yes! That boy who left Marineford three years ago—the former naval special recruit!"

Marshal Garp nodded grimly.

When he first heard this news, he too was stunned—the boy raised under their very eyes had been gone from Marineford only three years, yet he had already gained such astonishing power!

"Garp, is this information reliable? Even if Golden Lion is no longer at his peak, his strength is undeniable. Luo En is strong, but…"

Garp still found it hard to believe.

"Garp, this information is absolutely certain."

Marshal Garp looked at him and said, "Many witnesses saw the two battle for seven days in the sky above the sea, during which the floating island collapsed. Golden Lion's corpse has already been found. The news has already spread throughout the North Blue, and by today it should reach the entire sea."

"So… that boy really killed Golden Lion Shi Ji?"

Admiral Tsuru murmured in shock: "He's only seventeen this year, isn't he?"

Admiral Kizaru's eyes flickered—he was likely the only one present who truly understood Luo En's strength, and it had been nearly two years since then.

If his power had risen another level, combined with his endless array of techniques, and through prolonged combat, he might indeed have killed Golden Lion Shi Ji, even if the latter was no longer at his peak…

"I have no interest in understanding that brat who lingers at the gates of justice. I only want to know why you summoned us—to discuss something, or just to inform us of this?"

Admiral Akainu's cold voice rang out.

The others turned to Marshal Garp at the head of the table.

"I called you here not only to inform you of this news, but also to discuss something—something that is also connected to Luo En."

Marshal Garp, his glasses glinting coldly, spoke seriously.

"The World Government has received confirmed intelligence: Nico Luo Bin, the last survivor of Ohara, is currently in the North Blue—aboard that traveler Luo En's ship!"

Garp and Admiral Kizaru both narrowed their eyes simultaneously.

"The World Government has issued an order: reward 430 million Berries for the capture of Luo En for harboring the criminal Nico Luo Bin!"

"Codename: Traveler!"

"Apprehend and execute him and Nico Luo Bin immediately!"

Listening to Marshal Garp's solemn words,

Garp clenched his teeth and fists.

Admiral Kizaru remained silent.

Admiral Tsuru also frowned slightly.

Beneath his hat, Admiral Akainu's eyes flashed a cold, absolute ruthlessness.

"Those who linger at the gates of justice, lacking absolute righteousness, will inevitably walk the path of evil. That boy was never worth cultivating."

"It's pointless to say this now."

Marshal Garp looked at Garp and said grimly: "Garp, you bear responsibility for this. You and Sakazuki will lead six warships to the North Blue to capture the criminals Luo En and Nico Luo Bin!"

"Remember, this is a direct order from the World Government—no disobedience allowed!"

Garp clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, teeth grinding.

…………

The next day.

While everyone was still stunned and debating who the Traveler Luo En really was, large numbers of newspaper hawks appeared in the sky.

The newspaper's front page featured Luo En, accompanied by a remarkably clear photograph.

In the photo, a tall, slender black-clad youth held a black blade, his cold gaze fixed ahead.

This must have been taken during his battle with Golden Lion.

The seven-day continuous battle in the sky above the sea was a major event, drawing no shortage of spectators—pirates, marines, intelligence agencies, and reporters alike.

Beside the photograph was an article.

The article described in exhaustive detail how he had become a Marine special-recruit intern at eleven, abandoned the title of Marine special-recruit intern at fourteen and left Marine Headquarters, then departed the Grand Line and returned to East Blue, where he wandered here and there across East Blue, and after inadvertently giving rise to the legend of the Miracle Ship, set out once more from East Blue to the South Blue, then the West Blue, then the North Blue.

Most of what he had done in the four seas was reported in exhaustive—and even embellished—detail.

And the most shocking part was not any of this.

It was the words written at the very end of the report in blood-red bold lettering, along with two bounty posters.

"The Traveler Luo En, for sheltering the 'Devil of Ohara' Nico Luo Bin, has committed the crime of harboring a criminal and the crime of intending to incite disorder; he is hereby deemed a criminal and placed under bounty!"

"The Devil of Ohara, Nico Luo Bin—bounty raised from 79 million Beri to 95 million Beri!"

"The captain of a ship of unknown freedom, wandering the distant four seas, drifting through the grey chaos—the Traveler Luo En! Bounty—"

"430 million Beri!!"

"!!!"

The sea was once again shaken by this news.

And it spread with even greater ferocity than yesterday to every corner of the Grand Line, the four seas, and the New World.

…………

121. The Focus of the Sea! The Power of the Float-Float Fruit! (Two-in-One)

Sabaody Archipelago.

Upon learning of this news, Lei Li was also somewhat taken aback.

Although he could guess that those fellows in the World Government would do something foolish,

he had not expected them to push Luo En over to the side of the criminals so quickly.

After all, he did not know that Nico Luo Bin was aboard Luo En's ship—this was not something he had anticipated.

"I heard Akainu and Garp set out together for the North Blue."

Xia Qi's voice was somewhat heavy.

"That's normal. Since the World Government has given the order, and given the strength he displayed this time in decisively killing Golden Lion Shi Ji, with Sengoku's caution he will surely send out a thunderbolt strike to completely erase this hidden danger and threat."

Lei Li said, drinking his sake.

"Can he survive this one?"

Xia Qi's voice carried a trace of worry.

Even though Luo En had killed the Golden Lion, Xia Qi still did not think he would be a match for either Akainu or Garp individually—let alone the two of them moving out together.

Lei Li stared at the bubbles rising in his glass of Sabaody wine, was silent for a while, then said: "This time… I suppose it can only be up to him."

…………