Chapter 3: Chapter 3 : Roger: Wait, You Said His Name Is Ace?
Why are Garp and Luffy showing up on this massive screen that covers the sky?
Seeing this strange sight, a lot of people are baffled.
Could it be that Garp is behind this somehow?
But no, that doesn't make sense...
Everyone knows Garp doesn't have a Devil Fruit!
Monkey D. Garp: "Why is the fact that I raised Luffy being shown to everyone? Strange... The image is so clear. If someone had taken a secret picture nearby, my Observation Haki wouldn't have missed it..."
Sengoku: "Indeed, it's impossible for someone to snap such a close-up without you noticing. This... viewing system seems beyond human capability."*Gol D. Roger: "What? Still doubting this system? Even though I've been dead for over twenty years, I'm here talking with all of you. Are you still questioning it?"*Sengoku: "Nonsense! Who's to say you're even real and not just a fake?"
Gol D. Roger: "Oh? Well, how about I remind you of the time you, as a lieutenant colonel, escaped from the Battle of Rikka dressed in women's clothing?"
Sengoku: "Shut up!!"
Shiki: "What? There's a story like this? Roger, tell us more...!!"
Charlotte Linlin: "Mamama, I'm interested too!"
Borsalino: "Explain in detail~~"
Sengoku: "???"
Tsuru: "???"
Sakazuki: "???"
Borsalino: "Whoops~~~ I must've dozed off. No idea what I was saying in my dream..."
Everyone: "..."
The voices echo in everyone's minds, but the screen keeps playing without stopping.
[Soon, Garp explains a few things and hands Luffy over to Dadan, asking her to train him into a proper Marine soldier.]
Garp: "Kid, from now on, you'll be doing chores and helping out."
After Garp left, Dadan seemed to forget his instructions.
Dadan: "Who is this kid?"
A boy with freckles on his face yawns as he walks out of the house, glancing at Luffy with an annoyed look.
Bandit: "Your grandpa sent him. His name's Monkey D. Luffy. Probably your little brother, right?"
Dadan gives the boy a pat on the back of his head and says, "You'll be responsible for looking after him and helping out together~~~"
Ace: "Sent by my grandpa? Hmph!"
The boy sneers, grabs an iron pipe, and runs off.
Luffy: "Hey! Wait for me! Take me with you!"
Luffy chases after him and they both disappear in an instant.
Dadan: "Ah, they're so alike!"
Dadan shakes her arm in frustration and looks at the other bandits. "What are you standing around for? Get to work and take care of their chores!"
Luffy keeps chasing after Ace, but instead of catching up, he stumbles into a hornet's nest and ends up covered in stings...
The next day, Ace still ignores Luffy, leading to another round of "I run, you chase."
Once again, Luffy can't keep up, and when crossing a river, he nearly falls into a crocodile's mouth...
Day after day, this pattern continues. Luffy never manages to catch up, constantly finding himself in dangerous situations while chasing after Ace.
It could be said that 7-year-old Luffy is dancing on the edge of death every single day.
Doflamingo: "Hahaha... this kid, his vitality is insane!"
Lucky Roux: "Luffy sure is giving it his all."
Shanks: "Dahaha, yeah, but it's a bit too tragic, don't you think? Hahaha!"
Monkey D. Luffy: "Shanks! How've you been?"
Shanks: "Haha, Luffy! I'm doing well, how about you?"
Monkey D. Luffy: "I... I'm doing well, yeah, really well..."
Luffy doesn't want to mention too much about his struggles.
They've already arrived at Marine Headquarters, so what's the point of saying more?
Gol D. Roger: "Shanks! Finally, I hear your voice!"
Shanks: "Captain, I was just enjoying listening to you and your old friends, didn't want to interrupt. It's been a long time, I really miss you."
When Shanks was part of Roger's crew, Roger took great care of him.
In fact... before Roger turned himself in, he entrusted his beloved straw hat to Shanks!
It wasn't just a gift; Roger entrusted his dream to Shanks as well.
Roger even told Shanks some details about the Rubber-Rubber Fruit and hoped that Shanks would inherit his will and become the next Pirate King!
Gol D. Roger: "How's the task I gave you?"
Shanks: "I didn't complete it. But... I found someone more suited for it!"
Gol D. Roger: "Good! I trust your judgment!"
Roger didn't press for details.
He wasn't foolish enough to ask the name of the "more suitable candidate" in a public chat.
Monkey D. Garp: "Roger, what kind of game are you playing? If it's fun, let us in on it!"
Shanks: "I doubt you'd find it fun."
Gol D. Roger: "Hahaha, it's nothing that concerns you! But Garp, those two kids in the video are your grandsons, right? Speaking of which, your older grandson is a real troublemaker—he nearly killed the younger one with a rock! Just like you!"
Monkey D. Garp: "..."
Monkey D. Luffy: "Damn it!! Even if you're the Pirate King, Roger, I won't let you badmouth Ace!"
Gol D. Roger: "Hahaha, you really care about your grandson. So his name is... hmm? Wait a second!! What did you just say? Your his name is Ace?"
Roger suddenly catches onto something upon hearing the name "Ace."
And then...
From the earlier words of the mountain bandit, it's clear that the boy with the freckles was also brought to her by Garp...
Back when Roger's child was about to be born, he entrusted the baby to Garp.
Although Roger never got to see what his child looked like, he named him Ace!
Hearing the name "Ace" and connecting the dots, Roger's emotions shift dramatically.
Monkey D. Luffy: "Of course!! He's Portgas D. Ace, my brother!! And by the way... I'm the man who will become the future Pirate King!!!"