Chapter 146: Tribute!
Several days later.
On a sunlit sea, a Marine warship cut through the waves.
Yet the people aboard it were figures powerful enough to shake the entire world.
A figure sat at the bow. The salty sea breeze fluttered the red hem of his coat as he leisurely chewed on a blade of a stalk of grass.
It was none other than one of the Four Emperors — Monkey D. Luffy!
At the same time, "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe stood at the helm.
"Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh casually played with a handful of ammunition in his hand.
And the "Surgeon of Death," Trafalgar Law, leaned against a wall with his eyes half-closed.
Meanwhile, a large group of Marines were tied to the mast, their faces filled with shock.
A pirate… going to pay tribute to the fallen?
Did that make any sense?!
Law looked toward the figure at the bow in confusion. He truly couldn't understand his captain's bizarre way of thinking—Luffy always acted on whatever crossed his mind.
When Luffy said they were heading to Marineford, Law had been completely stunned.
"Hehe."
Luffy stretched lazily, a grin on his face.
"What's the problem? We're pirates! No one gets to define us… that's what freedom is!!"
"Heh… Marineford. Never thought I'd return to that place in my lifetime."
Rayleigh's hair was still completely white, but the sleeve that had once hung empty now held a fully restored arm.
Clearly, he had used the Life Essence, bringing his strength back to the peak of his prime.
(P.S. The author thought Old Rayleigh should look cooler, so his appearance hasn't changed.)
"Jinbe, how much longer?"
As if performing a magic trick, a massive piece of meat on the bone suddenly appeared in Luffy's hand, and he took a huge bite.
"Very soon. We're almost there!"
Jinbe gave a hearty smile. During this time, he and Luffy had grown incredibly close.
At the same time, reporters had gathered at the shattered ruins of Marineford.
"How many batches of reporters is this already?"
The Marines on patrol were no longer surprised. Ever since the Paramount War, reporters had swarmed here like sharks smelling blood.
Even more than ten days later, they were still coming.
"Who cares," a Marine soldier said, raising his binoculars toward the sea.
"By the way… the Fleet Admiral, the Admirals, Vice Admirals, and most of the Marines have all gone out, right?"
"Yeah. The seas are in chaos right now."
"Wait!"
One Marine suddenly froze.
"If they've all left… then who's guarding headquarters?!"
"Huh?"
The surrounding Marines were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"You're hilarious. Who would dare attack Marine Headquarters?"
"What would they even gain? You want them to eat purple eggs or something?!"
Just then, a Marine warship slowly approached.
But instead of sailing into the inner harbor…
…it began circling the island.
"Wait… why isn't it entering the bay?"
A Marine officer frowned.
"That… that is—?!"
The Marine beside him holding binoculars began trembling violently, his voice filled with terror.
"W-why… why has he come back again?!
One of the Four Emperors—Monkey D. Luffy!!"
"What?!"
The officer snatched the binoculars and saw the red-clad figure standing at the bow.
The calm in his heart instantly collapsed.
The Fleet Admiral, the Admirals… nearly everyone capable of fighting had already left.
Only a handful of Vice Admirals remained at Marineford now—and most of them were little more than background figures.
In that moment, he seemed to see the future: Marineford falling, the Marines slaughtered like livestock.
Despair washed over his face.
After a long silence, he took a deep breath.
No matter what… they had to try.
"Open fire!!"
At the officer's command—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A barrage of artillery erupted from the warship's cannons. Flames blossomed one after another, the black cannon barrels glowing red from the intense heat.
Countless shells exploded across the sea, sending towering columns of water into the air.
Yet Luffy at the bow didn't even glance at them.
He simply stared silently at the shattered Marineford.
—Whoosh.
Rayleigh casually flicked a piece of ammunition.
It pierced straight through a cannonball, and instantly—
BOOM!
Flames erupted in the sky.
"ROOM!"
Law clenched his right hand downward.
A blue spherical field expanded instantly.
His sword Kikoku left its sheath, slicing through the air.
—Slash!
Countless shells were cut apart in midair.
Through the storm of explosions and artillery…
…the warship continued forward, cutting through the waves.
"Th-that's… 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh?!"
"And… 'Knight of the Sea' Jinbe!!"
"And the 'Surgeon of Death,' Trafalgar Law…"
"Did they all join the Straw Hat crew?!"
The Marines couldn't suppress their fear and began stepping backward unconsciously.
At that moment, a nearby reporter muttered in disbelief:
"They circled the island once… could it be… the legendary sea burial ceremony?!"
A funeral?
What kind of joke was that?
A world-famous pirate had come to Marineford… just to hold a memorial?
The Marine officer felt an unprecedented terror gripping his heart, tightening around him until he could barely breathe.
A ridiculous hope appeared in his mind.
If they really are here just to pay tribute…
…that would be wonderful.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the warship completed its circuit around the island and slowly sailed into the inner harbor.
Step. Step. Step. Step.
Four figures stood in a line.
They looked relaxed, yet their presence carried overwhelming pressure.
Luffy slowly began walking toward a certain place.
Unexpectedly, the Marines unconsciously parted, opening a path for him.
Their eyes burned with anger and humiliation.
But the fear buried deep within their hearts left their faces pale, preventing them from resisting.
This was the authority Luffy had carved out at Marineford with his own strength.
Step by step, Luffy approached the giant bell standing in the center of the plaza.
"What is he doing?!"
"That's… the Ox Bell!"
"Big news! This is huge news!!"
The reporters shoved forward like madmen, completely ignoring the danger.
Dong—!
Dong—!
Dong—!
The Ox Bell rang across Marineford.
Sixteen times.
Then, a bouquet of flowers was tossed into the deep crack splitting the plaza.
Luffy slowly closed his eyes as the wind stirred his hair.
Ripples rose in his heart.
This was a world where the strong devoured the weak.
The most primitive law of the jungle ruled everything.
Because of Ace, his hands had been stained with much blood. That was a fact—and he did not regret it.
He never cared much about reputation.
Fame only shackled a person's actions and prevented them from pursuing true freedom.
But when he thought about those who had been willing to give their youth, strength—even their lives—for their ideals and beliefs…
He still came.
—This is my way of showing my respect.
Several days later,
The news seagulls delivered newspapers across the seas, dropping a depth charge into the recently calm ocean.
Upon seeing the report of Straw Hat Luffy's latest actions—
Some sneered.
Some mocked.
Some remained silent.
Some cheered.
Some were furious.
Some reacted indifferently.
Others began to stir with ambition.
But one thing was certain.
One of the Four Emperors—Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy…
had become famous throughout the entire world.
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