Build The Strongest Family in the Prirate World

"Is that guy really dead?"

"Z would feel a lot better if he knew this," Garp said, his face unusually serious. "Those students' deaths weren't his fault."

Garp, who had seen much in his life, felt a deep sadness. Z's wife and children were killed by pirates, but he hadn't been able to take down the Admiral, 'Black Arm' Z, who refused to kill.

In front of Z, many Marine students, who had placed their hopes and trust in him, were mercilessly slaughtered by Edward Weevil, after Z had his arm severed while defending them.

The asthma attack didn't help, leaving Z helpless. Once a proud Admiral, Z had been broken both physically and emotionally.

"He told me he wanted to replace his missing arm and form a pirate-hunting squad for revenge," Garp continued. "I couldn't stop him."

Sengoku, with a similarly deep look, added, "But now, maybe we can convince him to come back. He'll always be our greatest Marine Instructor."

Z's broken arm, his age, and all the hardships he'd endured had weakened him greatly. Combined with the risk of asthma attacks, being the captain of a pirate-hunting squad was too dangerous.

Teaching new Marines seemed a better and safer role for him.

"Let's try to bring him back," Garp said. "If he returns, Marineford will be a much livelier place." Garp, now back to his casual self, picked his nose and added with a careless grin, "That guy Galen actually killed Whitebeard II.

Keeping him in West Blue would be such a waste. Now, those five old geezers won't have any reason to stop Galen's transfer."

Even the Five Elders couldn't interfere with Navy Headquarters' decisions without good cause.

"Galen belongs on the front lines, in the New World," Sengoku said, nodding with a slight smile. "At least, if the Big Mom Pirates and the Gangplank Pirates do merge, we'll have the strength to handle them."

Back at Marineford, news of Galen's victory over Whitebeard II spread, leaving many Marine officers both surprised and pleased.

In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders had mixed feelings. They had tried to limit Galen's growth by keeping him in West Blue, hoping to suppress his power and reduce Navy Headquarters' strength. But even in West Blue, Galen had grown far beyond their expectations.

"A force that can kill Whitebeard II is not something we can suppress anymore," one of the bearded Five Elders sighed, dropping the transfer order that would move Galen to the position of Vice Admiral at Navy Headquarters onto his desk.

While Sengoku could make decisions for ranks below Admiral, the World Government had to approve higher-level transfers. Mobilizing elite forces without proper reason was a sensitive matter, no matter the nation or government.

"Agree to Sengoku's request," another Elder added. "If the Big Mom Pirates and the Gangplank Pirates unite, they'll become a real threat."

The rest of the Five Elders nodded in agreement. They realized that transferring Galen would weaken the Figarland family's influence in West Blue. A single Vice Admiral at Navy Headquarters couldn't upset the world's balance, but Vice Admirals forming local alliances could pose a greater risk to the World Government.

Word of Galen's defeat of Whitebeard II quickly spread across the world. In West Blue, many pirates and bounty hunters who had recently arrived, eager to cause chaos and claim Duke's three-billion-Bailey bounty, began to lay low.

If even a pirate like Whitebeard II, with a bounty of 480 million, could be taken down by Galen, they realized they stood no chance.

West Blue, once in turmoil, began to calm down. But the attempts on Duke's life never ceased.

At the Figarland family manor, not long after Whitebeard II's death, a new guest arrived.

"Hey, this isn't a place for you to loiter," Capone Bege said, stepping out from behind a strange blue statue, cigar in mouth. "Have you thought about what kind of job you'll be doing for the next twenty years?"

At the window where Capone Bege's **Fortress Fruit(Shiro Shiro no Mi)** protruded, countless guns were aimed directly at him. His men, hidden inside his body, were poised to strike. Yet, in front of him stood a mysterious figure—**CP0 No. 18**, an elite agent wearing a strange mask.

Capone Bege had been responsible for Duke's safety, recruiting and cleaning up killers and pirates throughout West Blue. For a long time, the most dangerous jobs in the region had been handled by people under Bege's command. But today, he encountered a foe beyond his strength.

CP0 No. 18 remained silent, his movements precise. Without a word, he raised his hand, and in an instant, an **extremely sharp Finger Pistol** shot straight into Capone Bege's chest.

Blood spurted from the wound as Bege collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. Despite years of training and the defensive power of his Fortress Fruit(Shiro Shiro no Mi), Bege was no match for CP0 No. 18—a figure with combat power comparable to a Vice Admiral.

Bege, seriously wounded, still retained consciousness due to the strong defenses provided by his **Fortress Fruit(Shiro Shiro no Mi)**. Inside his body, his disciples launched a barrage of gunfire and cannons at CP0 No. 18. But with a roar, the elite agent activated **Iron Body - Steel**, his skin turning impenetrable as bullets and cannonballs sparked uselessly against him.

With one swift motion, CP0 No. 18 raised his leg and unleashed a powerful **Tempest Kick**, a crescent-shaped slash capable of cutting through steel. The slash tore through the manor grounds, carving deep into the earth and heading straight for Bege.

"**Tempest Kick—Broken Steel!**" The blow was unstoppable, enough to cut Bege in half.

Just when all seemed lost, the **strange blue statue** in front of Capone Bege—motionless until now—suddenly came to life. Its heavy hands stretched out and blocked CP0 No. 18's devastating attack.

This was the **Blue Golem**, a statue Duke had extracted and placed in the manor. Though not renowned for its combat prowess, the golem was incredibly durable. Capone Bege, filled with despair moments before, was shocked to see the blue golem defending him.

The Tempest Kick had left only two shallow scratches on the golem's arms. CP0 No. 18, slightly surprised, frowned as he prepared to dismantle both the golem and Bege. However, before he could strike again, a figure appeared—**Hauser**, fists clenched and ready for battle.

"Hey, you can't kill that big guy," Hauser said, his tone cold and steady. "If you're looking for a fight, how about you try me instead?"

The blue golem wasn't just a statue; it added crucial **buffs** to Duke's fighters every day, including **the Crown of Insight** to Sanji. Losing it would be a major embarrassment, especially in Duke's own territory—**Figarland Manor**, Duke's personal jungle.

The tension grew as Hauser stepped forward, prepared to defend the manor and Capone Bege from the elite CP0 agent.