One Piece : Glory To The Fleet Admiral

Chapter 480: Let Imu's Memories Fly for a While!

"The fight here was really intense just now!" Luffy's eyes sparkled as he took in the devastated battlefield, so excited he began dancing on the spot.

Ace and Sabo followed closely behind, their expressions far more serious as they keenly sensed the residual aura of two terrifying Conqueror's Haki collisions still lingering in the air.

As for Usopp, from the moment he jumped onto the floating island, his gaze had been locked on one figure.

It was a man with dreadlocks, holding a long rifle, with a lonely expression.

Even from dozens of meters away, even though the man was only showing his back, Usopp recognized him instantly.

His heart suddenly tightened, his nose instantly tingled, and his eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears.

"Hey, Usopp, what are you staring at?" Luffy waved his hand and asked curiously, "I thought I heard you calling someone 'father' just now? Is your father here?"

Usopp took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all his surging emotions, then straightened his chest and shouted toward Yasopp with a trembling voice.

"Father!"

Yasopp slowly turned around.

When he saw the teenager with an almost identical long nose to his own, tears in his eyes but forcing a proud smile, he was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.

He's grown so big already.

Yasopp's lips quivered a few times, but no words came out.

Emotions like guilt, relief, and sorrow flooded over him like a broken dam, instantly overwhelming him.

In pursuit of pirate freedom, he had abandoned his wife and child to follow Shanks in battles across the seas, helping Shanks secure his position as one of the Four Emperors in the New World.

He thought he had long grown accustomed to this life, long buried the past.

But when this boy of his own blood stood alive before him, looking at him with those clear, admiring eyes, Yasopp realized that the guilt had never disappeared—it had only been hidden in the deepest part of his heart.

"Father! I'm going to be the Navy's number one sniper in the future!" Usopp, seeing his father didn't respond, thought he wasn't impressive enough, quickly puffed out his chest and slapped it loudly.

"I'm now a member of the Fleet Admiral's personal guard, in charge of... in charge of eight thousand... no, ten thousand subordinates!"

As he spoke, he nervously glanced at Luffy and the others, afraid his boast would be exposed on the spot.

However, Yasopp paid no attention to the truth in his words.

He just looked at Usopp's face, both familiar and unfamiliar, at his clumsy attempt to act like a man in front of him, and his defenses completely crumbled.

He was an irresponsible father, having ignored his family all these years, yet his son not only held no resentment but saw him as an idol and took pride in it.

And that Fleet Admiral, who could have held Usopp accountable for his pirate identity, had instead taken him under his wing and personally mentored him.

The immense guilt crashed over Yasopp like a landslide and tsunami, making this master sniper who had roamed the New World for years feel for the first time that the rifle in his hand weighed a thousand pounds.

"Usopp..." he rasped, struggling to force out two words, his eyes reddening as well.

Father and son stood facing each other across the ruins, time seeming to stand still at that moment.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere on the other side was much more relaxed.

"Hey! Lucky! Remember me? I'm Monkey D. Luffy!" Luffy had long noticed the round man holding a giant joint of meat, practically drooling.

"Your meat looks so delicious!"

Lucky froze for a moment, staring at the straw-hat-wearing kid before glancing at the roast joint in his hand. Uncharacteristically pausing his chewing, he grinned and tore off a large chunk of meat, offering it to the boy.

"Want some?"

"Yes!" Luffy unceremoniously grabbed it, stuffed the entire piece into his mouth, and mumbled appreciatively.

"Delicious!"

Ben Beckman, cigarette dangling from his lips, swept his gaze over Luffy, Ace, and Sabo.

He certainly remembered Luffy.

Years ago, they had stolen the Gum-Gum Fruit from CP0, intending to prevent the "Legend of Nika" from resurfacing within the World Government.

But fate worked in mysterious ways.

Despite all their precautions, they never imagined the Gum-Gum Fruit would be eaten by Luffy, nor did they expect Luffy to eventually become a marine.

When they first learned this news, Beckman and Shanks had a simple plan—find Luffy and rescue him from the marines' "clutches."

Yet they were a step too late. During their trip to East Blue, various unforeseen circumstances forced them to abandon taking Luffy away.

That single missed opportunity allowed Garp to bring Luffy to Marine Headquarters, where he became a trainee marine personally mentored by Fleet Admiral Orion!

Beckman watched Luffy wrestling with Lucky Roux for the meat, then glanced at Yasopp and his son standing not far away with Ace and Sabo, their expressions complicated.

He slowly exhaled a smoke ring.

This world was no longer the one they once knew.

Orion's emergence had completely overturned the established order.

With absolute power, he anchored the marines, implementing sweeping reforms against the World Government and even pulling the Celestial Dragons down from their divine pedestal.

Under such a man's command, Luffy—burdened with the "destiny of Nika"—might not be in a bad position after all.

An audacious thought involuntarily surfaced in Beckman's mind.

When the "Sun God" within Luffy truly awakened, could he complement Fleet Admiral Orion, who was equally committed to changing the world? Could they together push this decaying world toward a brighter future?

Morgan, leading the fleet admiral's personal guards, also set foot on the shattered island and approached Orion.

"Fleet Admiral!"

After saluting Orion, Morgan immediately presented the Den Den Mushi to him.

"Gunko has urgent business for you."

Orion blinked, then snatched the Den Den Mushi and spoke first, "Gunko, contacting me at this hour—don't tell me Shanks, who landed at the Holy Land, is causing trouble and making a scene?"

"Not at all," Gunko's voice came through the Den Den Mushi crisply. "We can handle such minor matters. The reason for contacting you, Lord Orion, is another extremely important affair!"

After a slight pause, Gunko's voice suddenly carried a hint of caution.

"Lord Orion, are you alone? This matter is of utmost importance—it must not be overheard!"

Orion glanced at Morgan and replied straightforwardly, "Speak freely."

Before Gunko could respond, Morgan immediately turned and led the guards away.

As the fleet admiral's personal guard, even though the fleet admiral trusted them completely, he knew his duty well—what shouldn't be heard, he absolutely would not listen to.

Unaware of the situation here, Gunko got straight to the point without beating around the bush.

"Recently, Lord Imu's amnesia has been getting worse. For the World Government, Lord Imu may forget everyone, but they absolutely cannot forget Lord Orion! If Lord Imu loses all memories related to Lord Orion, a great war will likely break out between the two of you!"

"Hmm?" Orion frowned slightly and asked, "Imu suffers from amnesia?"

"Not exactly amnesia, but every so often, certain people and events get erased from Lady Imu's memory."

Hearing this, Orion narrowed his eyes with keen interest. "How intriguing. Don't fret just yet—let Imu's memories drift awhile. i will make a quick trip to Sphinx and return! Then we'll see if she's truly lost memories concerning me!"