Chapter 17: Garp: It's Meal Time, Even God Has to Make Way!
Inside the Mermaid Cafe, a tidal wave of panic swallowed everything.
Screams, the clatter of overturned tables and chairs, and the desperate cries of those fleeing in terror blended into a cacophony of chaos.
"Monster! That monster is here!"
"Madam Shyarly's prophecy is real! The Destroyer has come!"
"Run! Get out of here! Leave Fish-Man Island!"
"Why?! Why would he appear here of all places?"
"Someone save us! Where are the Royal Guards of Ryugu Palace?!"
Garp stood up, completely ignoring the apocalyptic confusion swirling around him.
He walked straight toward the green-haired mermaid girl who was huddled in the corner, still in a state of shock.
"Hey, girl."
Camie trembled, stiffly raising her head.
Garp's voice was flat.
"That thing you mentioned earlier... the feast fit for a King... where is it?"
That single sentence caused the entire chaotic scene to freeze in a bizarre moment of stagnation.
Luffy's eyes lit up instantly.
The expression of confusion caused by Madam Shyarly's words just a second ago was immediately replaced by immense anticipation.
He instantly tossed that damn prophecy to the back of his mind.
"That's right! The feast!"
"Grandpa, let's go together!"
"Stop right there!"
A sharp, angry roar rang out.
Nami grabbed Luffy by the back of his collar and yanked him back.
Her beautiful face was currently ghastly pale, drained of all color.
She shouted at Luffy.
"How can you think about eating at a time like this?!"
"We're about to be treated as accomplices in the destruction of Fish-Man Island!"
Just then.
BANG!
The doors of the cafe were violently bashed open.
A squad of well-equipped Fish-Man Guards, wielding trident spears, rushed in and quickly surrounded the Straw Hat crew.
But the spears in their hands were trembling slightly.
Most of the spear tips were subconsciously, uncontrollably, pointed at the old man standing in the center of the chaos, who looked as leisurely as if he were in his own backyard.
Leading them was a catfish fish-man with long blue hair, dressed in official robes.
The Minister of the Left of Fish-Man Island.
He looked at Garp.
His voice trembled slightly due to extreme nervousness, barely forming a coherent tune.
"Mr.... Garp."
"King Neptune... invites you."
Garp didn't even spare him a glance.
He simply reached out and patted Luffy on the shoulder.
"You go play with them first."
"I'm going to find something good to eat. I'll pick you up for dinner."
As the words fell.
Garp's figure left a faint afterimage in place.
Then, he vanished.
The guards didn't even see how he left.
They only felt a breeze brush past, and the existence that had been exerting endless pressure on them simply evaporated into thin air.
In the cafe, only the bewildered Straw Hat crew remained, surrounded by spears.
"Wh... Where did he go?"
The Minister of the Left's voice now carried an unconcealable sob.
Ryugu Palace.
Inside the magnificent grand hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like water could drip from it.
The Straw Hat crew had been "invited" here.
They stood in the center of the hall, surrounded by hundreds of elite Ryugu Palace guards.
The unimaginably large Coelacanth merman, King Neptune of Fish-Man Island, sat upon his even larger throne.
He looked down at Luffy and the others, his face filled with conflict and a bottomless wariness.
"Shyarly's prophecies have never been wrong."
Neptune's voice echoed through the hall like muffled thunder from the deep sea.
"But that man... why would he appear here?"
His three sons—Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi, and Manboshi—stood on either side of the throne, weapons in hand, facing a formidable enemy.
"Father, regardless of the situation, we must detain the Straw Hat crew first!" Fukaboshi held his trident, his expression stern.
"That's right, that's right! They are in league with that legendary monster!" Ryuboshi waved the long swords in his hands.
Manboshi remained silent, simply assuming a combat stance.
Nami felt her legs turning to jelly.
She leaned into Usopp's ear, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear, filled with despair.
"We're done for. That mobile 5.5 billion berry natural disaster is currently roaming free on Fish-Man Island."
"This time, we are really screwed."
Meanwhile.
On the streets of Fish-Man Island, the panic triggered by the prophecy continued to spread like a plague.
Residents dragged their families along, fleeing in panic toward the ports and shelters.
Amidst the chaos.
Garp acted like none of it concerned him.
With his hands behind his back, he strolled leisurely along the observation corridor of a dessert factory.
His perfect ability to conceal his presence made it seem as if he and the panicked crowds around him existed in two completely different worlds.
People ran past him in a frenzy, yet not a single person noticed his existence.
"Hmm, this fish-bone cookie tastes pretty good."
He casually picked up a freshly baked sample from the production line, popped it into his mouth, and crushed it with a crunch.
He walked over to another production line.
"This seaweed sugar frosting is tasty too."
He dipped his finger in it, tasted it, and nodded in satisfaction.
Just as he was leisurely sampling various delicacies...
Gyoncorde Plaza.
A conspiracy that had been brewing for a long time officially kicked off.
"Listen up, men! The time is now!"
Having regained consciousness, Hody Jones stood in the center of the plaza.
He shouted orders to his officers, who had taken the Energy Steroids and become incomparably violent.
"Capture all those useless wastes from Ryugu Palace!"
"Let them see who the future King of Fish-Man Island truly is!"
The officers of the New Fish-Man Pirates let out bloodthirsty roars.
They easily crushed the guards in the plaza, capturing several soldiers from Ryugu Palace, their arrogance reaching its peak.
News of the rebellion flashed back to Ryugu Palace like lightning.
"Report!"
"Report to Your Majesty! It's bad!"
A guard scrambled into the hall, stumbling and crawling, his voice distorted by fear.
"Hody Jones has launched a rebellion at Gyoncorde Plaza! They've captured our men!"
Neptune's face instantly turned iron-blue.
He hadn't even figured out how to deal with the "God" that was Garp.
And now, the "Devil" that was Hody couldn't wait to jump out!
Elsewhere.
Wandering around, Garp finally found the destination of his trip.
The legendary "King's Feast."
It wasn't a restaurant, but a top-tier kitchen dedicated to making pastries and meals for the Royal Family.
At this moment, the kitchen was in shambles.
The chefs had been infected by the panic outside; everyone was trembling, at a loss for what to do.
Garp didn't go inside.
He plopped himself down on a bench outside the kitchen.
This action finally caused one of the chefs inside to notice him.
"Wh... Who are you?"
Garp didn't answer.
He shouted to the group of trembling chefs inside.
"Give this old man one of everything."
"Hurry up, I'm hungry."
(To be Continued)