Iceburg adjusted his glasses, his gaze fixed on the shadow cast by the distant mountain of scrap.
He lowered his voice, awe and reverence threading through his words.
"Franky… it wasn't Merry answering you."
"It was someone else… who heard Merry crying."
"Someone else?" Franky froze, then abruptly turned.
"Yeah!" Monkey D. Luffy clapped his hands, stopping his pacing. "That amazing guy saved Merry! We gotta thank him!"
He grabbed Franky's collar, eyes shining.
"Where is he?! I wanna throw him a party!"
"Idiot! Don't go!" Franky panicked, slapping a hand over Luffy's mouth. "He's still sleeping! You don't disturb people like that!"
"That's right," Iceburg added solemnly. "Someone capable of such craftsmanship values solitude. The least we can do is show respect from afar."
To master shipwrights, a figure capable of resurrecting a ship bordered on myth — an aloof artisan beyond worldly noise.
Unfortunately…
they were dealing with Monkey D. Luffy.
Logic? Etiquette? Restraint?
None applied.
"Who cares! He saved Merry — that makes him family!"
"Hey—!"
Luffy crouched, inhaled deeply, and stomped.
BOOM!
Two craters exploded in the sand as he launched himself like artillery toward the dunes.
Franky stiffened in dread.
"Those genius types are all weird…!"
Too late.
Noisy.
Very noisy.
Who is yelling?
Hands grabbed his shoulders.
Shaking.
Violently shaking.
"Hey! Hey! Wake up, old man! Don't sleep!"
KING's eyelids felt nailed shut. Being dragged from deep sleep sent a freezing shock through his veins.
"Join us!"
His eyes snapped open.
For a moment, the air froze.
Luffy's hand paused mid-shake.
Not out of fear.
But because of the aura emanating from the man before him.
Bloodshot eyes.
A chilling fury simmering beneath exhaustion.
The surrounding air seemed to drop in temperature.
The sand grains trembled faintly.
But Luffy only blinked and leaned closer.
"Uncle, your eyes are so red. Didn't you sleep well?"
(It's because of YOU.)
KING stared at the enlarged face.
Then the straw hat.
Monkey D. Luffy.
Garp's grandson.
The grandson that old lunatic bragged about while threatening to punch into the ocean.
Trouble.
Anything connected to that straw hat meant chaos, war, and world-shaking events.
And KING wanted none of it.
He only wanted a quiet corner without missions, without Garp, without alarms…
and sleep until the end of time.
"Let go."
The words squeezed out through clenched teeth.
Luffy blinked and loosened his grip.
KING slowly sat up, shaking sand from his hoodie.
He didn't even glance at the reborn Going Merry.
That miracle belonged to the system's automated meddling — not his problem.
His gaze drifted past Luffy.
At the dock, a luxury passenger liner flying the World Government flag sounded its horn.
Good.
He could make it.
"Hey! Uncle! Be my crewmate!" Luffy insisted, reaching again.
KING sidestepped.
His movement blurred.
"Don't touch me."
He pulled up his hood.
"I don't make friends."
Luffy puffed his cheeks.
"Why? You're a good person! You saved Merry!"
"A good person?"
KING stopped and looked back like someone examining a particularly stupid insect.
He pulled out his Marine identification.
"Look carefully."
He tapped the seagull insignia.
"I'm a Marine."
"You're pirates."
He pocketed the badge and turned away.
"We're enemies. Next time we meet, I'll arrest you."
Arresting them was impossible.
But it should be enough to make them leave him alone.
He walked toward the dock.
Silence lingered behind him.
Franky's jaw hung open.
"A… Marine Vice Admiral? And he just… left?"
Iceburg's gaze deepened with awe.
"Franky… he possesses the strength to destroy us instantly. Yet after saving the Merry, he chose to walk away."
"He said he would arrest them next time."
"That means he spared them today."
"Why?" Franky asked.
"Because he was moved by the Merry."
Iceburg's voice trembled with conviction.
"He respects the miracle of a ship's spirit — even across opposing sides."
"That is strength."
"A compassion that transcends justice and piracy."
Luffy stood still, straw hat shading his eyes.
"Nami…" Nami said cautiously, "That's a Vice Admiral… maybe we should leave before he changes his mind…"
"Hehehe."
Laughter escaped from beneath the brim.
Luffy lifted his head.
There was no disappointment.
Only excitement.
"Even if he's a Marine… he's a fun old guy!"
He shouted toward the pier:
"HEY—! MARINE UNCLE! I'LL REMEMBER THIS!"
"NEXT TIME WE MEET— I'LL STILL MAKE YOU MY PARTNER!!"
KING stumbled mid-stride.
He nearly face-planted into the sea.
What is wrong with these people?
He quickened his pace.
Then broke into a near sprint onto the departing passenger ship.
Aboard the Passenger Liner
Top deck, VIP lounge.
KING exhaled deeply.
Finally.
Freedom.
Leave the Straw Hats behind…
and peace would return.
A waiter approached politely.
"Sir, where are you headed?"
KING pulled out the wrinkled ticket he had bought at random.
He glanced at the destination.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Pleasant climate.
Mangrove groves perfect for naps.
Resort atmosphere.
On the route to the New World.
Perfect retirement territory.
"A glass of ice water," he said.
He lowered his sleep mask.
"And do not disturb my sleep."