One Piece: With Sign-in System-Chapter 172 - : The Resolve to Become Stronger

World Government Headquarters.

The Highest Chamber of the Five Elders.

"What nonsense about being a traveler who seeks freedom? Ridiculous! He’s nothing more than a blasphemous lunatic, just like those pirates who dare to challenge the gods!"

"Does that brat intend to replace Kaido and claim the throne of an Emperor of the Sea?"

"I doubt that’s his only goal. That boy took Nico Robin, the woman who can decipher the Poneglyphs, onto his ship. His final destination may very well be… that place."

"Raftel, huh? Damn that Roger…"

"Reaching that island isn’t so simple. As long as the final Road Poneglyph remains in our hands, no one will ever be able to set foot there."

"Regardless, this Traveler Ron has become too much of a nuisance. We must find a way to eliminate him."

"Any good ideas?"

"We could sow discord between him and certain individuals, let them take care of him for us. Charlotte Linlin must see him as a thorn in her side by now."

"You mean to let the Big Mom Pirates and Beasts Pirates deal with him together?"

"Yes. It’s also a good way to weaken their forces."

"Have CP0 handle this matter."

"And the Marines?"

"Sengoku should be able to judge the situation accordingly..."

…

Even though no word had come from Wano regarding Ron’s fate—his status remaining unknown—no one in the world believed that he was dead.

The clamor proclaiming The Fifth Emperor of the Sea had never been louder. Countless pirates with bounties over a hundred million openly admired his feats, declaring their intent to follow him.

For a time, in the New World, Traveler Ron outshone even the Four Emperors.

Rumors spread that Hawkeye Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had appeared in the New World, supposedly seeking a duel with Ron.

Meanwhile, the Big Mom Pirates, seizing the opportunity while the Beasts Pirates were weakened, had swallowed up several of Kaido’s territories, expanding Totto Land’s influence even further.

Former Spade Pirates captain, Fire Fist Ace, wielder of the Flame-Flame Fruit, had officially joined the Whitebeard Pirates as the Second Division Commander, with his bounty rising even higher.

The underground world of the New World was undergoing the largest power struggle in a decade. The chaotic situation was escalating beyond anyone’s control.

With Doflamingo dead, the Beasts Pirates in decline, and Traveler Ron leading his Crew to rise in prominence…

The once-stable balance of power was slowly unraveling.

A storm was brewing in the New World, one that could shake the entire world to its core.

The Marines were fully aware of the shifting tides, yet they found themselves powerless to stop it.

As long as the one who started this storm—Traveler Ron—remained in the New World, they would never be able to predict what would happen next.

His unpredictable movements, his fearless defiance, and his utter disregard for authority made him a thorn in the side of the Marine higher-ups.

And right now, no one was more frustrated than Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

"Defeated Doflamingo, crushed King the Wildfire, attacked Kaido—all in just three days! What the hell does that brat think he’s doing?! How many more incidents does he plan to stir up?!"

"Who knows?"

Sengoku grabbed the nearest object—a pen holder—and hurled it at Garp, who was happily munching on rice crackers.

"This damn troublemaker wouldn’t have grown to this point if it weren’t for you! You’re responsible for this mess, Garp!"

"Oh, come on! How long are you going to bring up that old story? I already got scolded for that! It has nothing to do with me anymore!"

Dodging the projectile with ease, Garp turned to Tsuru, smirking.

"Right, Tsuru?"

Tsuru ignored Garp and instead looked at Sengoku.

"If he keeps the Four Emperors in check, it wouldn’t be entirely bad for us. The real problem is that we have no way of predicting his next move. Right now, he’s like a ticking time bomb in the New World—at any moment, he could trigger another major event that we can’t afford."

"Exactly! That’s my biggest concern!" Sengoku slammed his hands on the table and stood up, his voice filled with frustration. "The New World is the most volatile region. Even the smallest disruption could spread like wildfire across the entire sea. If its balance is shattered... it will be a catastrophe beyond imagination!"

Hearing this, even Garp’s usually carefree expression turned serious.

"So, are you still planning to deploy the top forces to hunt him down?" Garp asked, his gaze sharp.

"The fact that he escaped despite Admiral Aokiji and Admiral Kizaru working together—and even killed Doflamingo—proves that strategy isn’t going to work."

Garp took another bite of his rice cracker and added, "Unless we target his crew instead, forcing him to surrender."

Tsuru tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I wouldn’t recommend that approach either."

Sengoku turned to her. "Tsuru, do you have a better idea?"

She nodded. "I believe the best course of action would be to improve our relationship with him. Instead of treating him as an enemy, we should offer him a place among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, filling the gap left by Doflamingo."

Sengoku narrowed his eyes. "You think that’s the best move?"

"It would allow us to use him against the Four Emperors while also keeping track of his actions," Tsuru explained. "More importantly, we wouldn’t have to waste two Admirals and a fleet just to monitor him..."

Sengoku sat back down, fingers interlaced. "Your plan… does sound like the most viable option. But it’s too late now."

"That’s right," Garp agreed, finishing the last of his rice cracker. "That brat attacked Mary Geoise. The World Government and the Celestial Dragons will never accept him, no matter what."

Tsuru fell silent.

"For now, let’s recall Kizaru." Sengoku finally spoke after a long pause. "We need our top forces stationed in the Four Seas and the Grand Line. We can’t afford to waste them chasing after that man anymore."

"You’re not worried he’ll cause another disaster?" Garp asked.

"It’s too late to worry about that now. That brat has grown to the point where no one can ignore him anymore. At this point, all I can do is gamble."

Sengoku folded his arms beneath his chin, deep in thought.

"I agree."

Tsuru crossed her arms. "Given what we saw in Dressrosa, it’s not surprising that Zephyr recognized him. Based on his past actions across the Four Seas, he may oppose us, but he hasn’t allied himself with pirates either. He still holds onto his own form of justice. If we don’t provoke him, he likely won’t come after us either."

Garp nodded in agreement.

"That brat is exactly like that. If you don’t mess with him, he won’t mess with you. But if you do cross him, he’ll hold a grudge for a long time. Back when we were drinking together, I just pulled his pants down as a joke, and that little bastard spent the next few drinking sessions making sure I got drunk instead—then stripped me in front of the entire bar, calling me his little brother… Wahahaha! It was so damn embarrassing!"

"GARP, SHUT UP!"

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

Sengoku’s face turned black with rage.

How thick-skinned was this old man?! You’re the Hero of the Marines, for god’s sake!

…

That very day, Kizaru and Aokji received new orders from Marine Headquarters.

The mission to capture Ron the Traveler was officially revoked. They were to return to Marineford immediately.

…

One Month Later.

Time passed quickly.

A month had gone by, yet there was still no news about the Traveler Ron his Crew in the New World.

This silence made many people uneasy.

Rumors began to spread. Some even questioned whether Ron was still alive.

Even those who once boasted about joining his crew, pirates with bounties exceeding hundreds of millions, had gradually stopped mentioning his name.

Meanwhile, the Beasts Pirates, who had suffered a major setback, finally showed signs of resurgence.

Kaido, having recovered from his injuries, reappeared and clashed with Big Mom on an island. Their battle was fierce, yet neither emerged victorious.

During the chaos, under the leadership of Queen and Jack, the Beasts Pirates managed to reclaim most of the territories that had been taken by the Big Mom Pirates.

This battle sent a clear message to the world—

The Beasts Pirates were still one of the Four Emperors, standing unshaken in the New World!

No one could challenge their dominance!

…

Zou Island.

On a training field, Enzo and Carrot were engaged in a sparring match.

One moved with incredible speed, agile and elusive.

The other was a solid wall, his punches heavy and his defense impenetrable.

Since Enzo wasn’t using Armament Haki, the two seemed evenly matched.

Nearby, Kuina wielded her bamboo blade, facing four warriors from the Musketeer Squad at once. Her sword sliced through the air, leaving behind afterimages as she held her ground against all of them.

A short distance away, Robin and Bonney were fighting together against Conis, their battle unfolding in a dance of wit and skill.

Atop a lush, grassy hill deep in the forest, Ron and Cat Viper sat together, drinking.

Their cups clinked softly as the wind rustled through the leaves.

"Your ship is already repaired. Are you planning to leave soon?"

Cat Viper turned his head, glancing at Ron, who was lying back on the grass, hands behind his head, eyes half-closed in relaxation.

Over the past month, they had become great drinking buddies.

Ron took a slow sip before replying lazily, "No rush. The girls want to stay a little longer to train and improve their strength. I think that’s a good idea."

Cat Viper raised a furry eyebrow.

"Train? But you’re already strong enough. Especially you."

Ron chuckled. "Not strong enough."

Cat Viper’s ear twitched.

"...Not enough? Then what kind of monsters are your enemies?"

Ron casually listed, "The Four Emperors, the Admirals, the Five Elders, and maybe even the World Government itself."

Clink—

Cat Viper tilted his drinking dish too far, spilling the sake onto the grass.

But he didn’t even notice.

He just stared at Ron, frozen in place.

"...How the hell did you end up making enemies out of all of them? Are you trying to destroy the world?"

Ron laughed.

"Haha, nothing that extreme."

The young man, his dark hair tousled by the wind, stretched lazily and took another deep swig from the jug beside him.

"I’m just a traveler who loves good food, fine Wine, and dreams of a peaceful world."

"But..." He paused, his voice turning serious. "I made a promise to a certain someone. That I’d take her to see Raftel."

"And to make that happen—"

"The Four Emperors, the Admirals, the Five Elders..."

"They’re all obstacles."

Ron exhaled, looking up at the sky.

"That’s why it’s not just them. I, too, must continue growing stronger."

------------------------------

[PS: A two-year timeskip arc is coming...]