One Piece: I Am King Luffy

A week later at noon, Luffy still hadn't managed to unleash Conqueror's Haki—because Glass Bead Island had finally come into view.

This was a lively island. From afar, one could already see tall buildings and paved roads; this place was on par with a prosperous city.

Several pirate ships were docked around the island's perimeter, and it looked like their crews were spending money here.

Not all pirates were plunderers all the time. After striking it rich, these criminals didn't mind playing the role of law-abiding citizens for a while, spending their loot until it ran out—then they'd turn back into scoundrels.

Just like a well-fed tiger loses its aggression for a while. Ironically, in many places, it was pirates who helped stimulate the local economy.

"Land!"

Luffy cheered as he leapt off the ship.

He hadn't stepped on solid ground in days, and even the feel of dirt under his feet seemed almost unreal.

"Luffy, be careful. Don't get too carried away," Shanks said, shoving a wad of cash into Uta's hands—the reward for winning their treasure-hunting game.

Fanning himself with his straw hat, Shanks glanced at the bustling island. "We'll stay here for three days, then move on."

The pirates roared with excitement and rushed toward the island.

This wasn't some backwater like Foosha Village where you had money but nowhere to spend it.

Glass Bead Island had what pirates loved most—casinos.

Uta descended the gangplank at a leisurely pace. Shanks, as if remembering something, tossed his straw hat into the air; it spun and landed neatly on Uta's head.

Holding the brim of the hat with both hands, Uta spun around like a proper young lady, showing off her white dress, diamond necklace, and pearl bracelet.

She looked every bit the image of a rich young heiress.

"Am I pretty, Luffy?" Uta asked, eyes full of anticipation.

"Yeah, Uta, you're the prettiest today." Luffy gave her a thumbs-up. Aside from her unusual hair color, she was indeed a cute girl.

"Hmph! Even if you flatter me, I'm not sharing my money with you, and I'm definitely not buying you anything!"

Uta put her hands on her hips proudly.

"I don't care about money anyway," Luffy said, patting his pocket.

"Beli is annoying to carry around."

Following the pirates into town, Luffy noticed that the merchants here weren't afraid of the seafarers. In this world, doing business required courage.

Merchants without courage couldn't survive. Unless a pirate literally held a blade to their throat, they treated pirates like rich customers.

And they weren't shy about overcharging them.

"Welcome! My weapons are razor sharp—I've even got Supreme Grade Blades!"

"Need new clothes? DOSKOI PANDA clothing is world famous!"

The shopkeepers eagerly hawked their goods.

"This is my kind of island!"

Uta's eyes sparkled. She immediately dashed into the DOSKOI PANDA clothing store, where even the cheapest dress cost 3,000 Beli—enough to drink for a month at Makino's bar back in Foosha Village.

"They're so pretty!" Uta was lost in a sea of clothes.

Luffy, meanwhile, wandered over to the boys' section and picked out a few outfits.

He thought he looked pretty cool in a black suit, but considering how much he trained, he opted for sportswear instead.

No need to try anything on—he just picked a few pieces and told the shopkeeper to wrap them up.

"That'll be 30,000 Beli," the delighted shopkeeper said, rubbing his hands together.

"Hey, you've got a Navy base here, right?" Luffy asked.

He didn't have any money—but he had other ways.

"Of course! The wealthy merchants here pay huge sums every year to the nearby Navy base for economic support," the shopkeeper replied.

"Put it on the Navy's tab."

"Are you kidding me, kid?" the shopkeeper said, bewildered.

"Remember my name. I'm Monkey D. Luffy. My grandpa is the Navy Hero—Monkey D. Garp."

Luffy pulled out his only family photo, taken back in Foosha Village. In it, little Luffy sat proudly on Garp's shoulders, the two grinning like fools.

"What?!"

The shopkeeper's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

He looked from the photo to Luffy's face.

It matched—the kid even had the same simple, goofy expression.

"The Navy Hero… has a grandson?!"

"Shh! Keep it down! If the pirates hear, they'll use me to threaten Grandpa."

Luffy made a silencing gesture.

The shopkeeper nodded frantically. This was Garp's grandson!

In the East Blue, the Navy Hero was legendary.

"Make me a store card and tell me how to get to the Navy base. You can call the base to verify it too."

Luffy calmly pocketed the photo.

"Thank you for your patronage!" the shopkeeper said, bowing ninety degrees as he ushered Luffy out.

Luffy went on a little shopping spree—ice cream included—all on Garp's account.

The Navy base's phone rang off the hook. Countless shopkeepers called to confirm if Garp really had a grandson.

In truth, this was classified information.

Just as few people knew that Garp's son, Dragon, was the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Garp's family ties were deliberately erased from public records.

After all, letting the world know the Navy Hero's son had betrayed the World Government would be a disgrace.

That's why Dragon's bounty poster didn't even include his last name. It simply read: Revolutionary Dragon.

No one knew that Dragon's full name was Monkey D. Dragon.

As a result, even many Navy officers had no idea that Luffy was Garp's grandson.

"That kid's a fraud! No way Garp has a grandson!" the base commander fumed.

"But sir… he has a photo with Garp. And everyone knows—photos can't be faked."

In this world, photos came from Den Den Mushi. Forgery was practically impossible.

"Well then, we'll investigate this thoroughly!" the commander declared.

He even considered contacting Navy Headquarters for confirmation. After all, someone impersonating the Navy Hero's grandson was no small matter.

At the Navy base:

"Hey, kid! This is a military facility. No trespassing!" two rifle-armed guards barked at Luffy, who was casually eating an ice cream cone.

"Shut up! My grandpa is Navy Hero Garp! The Navy is my home!"

Luffy puffed out his chest and snapped back.

Then he whipped out his photo with Garp.

"What—?!"

The two guards nearly dropped their rifles.

(End of Chapter)