Several days later,
On the sunny sea surface, a battleship cut through the waves.
However, the figures aboard the battleship were major individuals capable of shocking the world.
A figure sat at the bow, the salty sea breeze fluttering his red lapels as he leisurely chewed on a foxtail weed... It was none other than the Four Emperors, Monkey D. Luffy!
At the same time, Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, steered the ship, Pluton Silvers Rayleigh fiddled with ammunition in his hand, and Trafalgar Law, the Surgeon of Death, leaned against a wall, his eyes slightly closed.
A large group of Marines, meanwhile, were tied to the mast, their faces full of horror.
"Speaking of which, is it logical for a pirate to go and mourn the deceased?"
Law looked at the figure at the bow, perplexed. He truly could not understand his Captain's bizarre thought process; he simply did whatever came to mind.
Heaven knew how stunned he was when Luffy said he was going to Marineford.
"Shishishi,"
Luffy stretched, a smile on his face. "What does it matter? We are pirates! We aren't defined by anything... We are freedom itself!"
"Heh heh, Marineford. I didn't think I'd get to visit that place again in my lifetime."
Rayleigh still had his flowing white hair, but where his sleeve had once been empty, an arm had grown out. Without a doubt, he had used the "Essence of Life" and his strength had returned to its peak.
"Jinbe, how much longer?"
Luffy, as if performing a magic trick, produced a large piece of meat on the bone and took a bite.
"Very soon! We're almost there!"
Jinbe revealed a simple, honest smile. During this time, Luffy had completely bonded with him, and their relationship was excellent...
Meanwhile, a group of reporters had gathered at the shattered Marineford.
"Which batch is this now?"
The patrolling Marines were accustomed to this sight. Ever since the Marineford War, a large group of reporters had swarmed in like sharks smelling blood... Even today, more than ten days later, people were still arriving.
"Who cares,"
a Marine Soldier said, holding binoculars and looking out at the sea.
"Speaking of which, the Fleet Admiral, the Admirals, the Vice Admirals, and a large number of Marines have all gone out, haven't they?"
"That's right. After all, the sea is very chaotic right now."
"Wait a minute," a Marine Soldier suddenly realized. "If they've all left, then... who is guarding the Headquarters?!"
"Huh?!"
The surrounding Marine Soldiers were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"You're hilarious! Who would dare to attack the Headquarters?!"
"What would he gain? Does he want to commit suicide?!"
Just then, a battleship slowly approached, but instead of entering the inner harbor, it was... circling the island?!
"Nani? Why isn't it driving into the inner bay?"
A Marine officer frowned.
"That... is that?!"
The Marine Soldier holding the binoculars nearby trembled all over, his voice filled with terror.
"W-Why... why has he come back again?! The Four Emperors, Monkey D. Luffy!!"
"What?"
The officer next to him snatched the binoculars. Upon seeing that crimson figure, his composed heart immediately died.
The Fleet Admiral, the Admirals... everyone who should have been there was gone. The Vice Admirals currently at Marineford were few and far between, and almost all of them were mere background Vice Admirals.
He seemed to see a future where Marineford was captured and the Marines were slaughtered like pigs, his face filled with gray despair.
After a long moment, he sharply inhaled. No matter what, he had to fight back.
"Open fire!"
As the Marine officer gave the order,
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
Dense artillery fire erupted from the barrels of the warships. Flames blossomed one after another, and the black cannons glowed red from the intense heat.
The concentrated cannonballs exploded on the water, sending countless plumes of water into the air.
However, Luffy at the bow paid no heed, merely gazing quietly at the shattered Marineford.
— *Whoosh.*
Rayleigh casually flicked out ammunition, piercing the cannonballs, causing instant, towering explosions.
"ROOM!"
Law held his right hand downward in a loose grip, and a blue domain spread open. *Kikoku* was drawn, and he casually slashed it.
— *Swish.*
Countless cannonballs were instantly sliced into fragments.
The battleship sailed against the overwhelming wind, rain, and artillery fire... cutting through the waves!
..."Th-That is... Pluton Silvers Rayleigh?!"
"And... Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea!!"
"...Trafalgar Law, the Surgeon of Death."
"H-Have they all joined the Straw Hat crew?!"
The Marine Soldiers could not suppress their inner fear and involuntarily retreated.
Just then, a reporter nearby muttered in disbelief, "Circling the island once... Could it be the legendary Water Burial Rite?!"
Mourning?!
What kind of joke was this?
A great pirate famous throughout the world came to Marineford just to mourn?!
The Marine officer felt an unprecedented terror firmly gripping him, leaving him unable to breathe, nearly suffocating.
An impractical fantasy arose in his heart:
'If they really came here to mourn... that would be great!'
... Under everyone's gaze, after the battleship circled the island once, it slowly sailed into the inner bay.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Four figures stood in a row. They were so relaxed, yet they exuded a powerful sense of oppression.
Luffy slowly walked toward a certain spot. Unexpectedly, the Marines involuntarily cleared a path for him.
In their eyes were anger and humiliation, but the deep-seated fear made their faces pale, and they dared not resist... This was the prestige Luffy had brutally carved out for himself at Marineford.
Step by step, Luffy approached the large bell standing in the center of the plaza.
"What does he intend to do?!"
"That is... the Ox Bell?!"
"Big news! This is truly... big news!!"
A group of reporters frantically pushed forward, as if they didn't care about their lives.
— *Dong, dong, dong...* The sound of the Ox Bell echoed throughout Marineford, ringing exactly... sixteen times.
Following that, a bouquet of flowers was tossed into a deep crack.
Luffy slowly closed his eyes, the gentle breeze stirring his hair. Waves involuntarily rose in his heart.
This was a world where the strong preyed on the weak, following the most primitive law of the jungle.
Because of Ace, his hands were stained with quite a bit of blood—that was a fact, yet he had no regrets.
He did not overly care about reputation; it would only restrict his actions and prevent him from pursuing true freedom.
But... when he thought of those who were willing to dedicate their youth, energy, and even their lives for the ideals and beliefs in their hearts, he... still came.
'— I offer this merely to express the respect in my heart!'
... Several days later,
Seagulls delivered newspapers, dropping a depth charge upon the slightly calmer sea.
Watching the Four Emperors straw hat's latest action, some sneered, some mocked, some were silent, some cheered, some were angry, some reacted indifferently, and some were restless... But one thing was certain:
The Four Emperors straw hat Monkey D. Luffy... was famous throughout the world!