Chapter Twenty-Four: Camus, the "Purple Emperor"

Camille was still lost in thought when Garp arrived not long after. Looking at the spry old man before him, Camille was speechless—he actually embraced Rayleigh before anyone else.

“Oh! Camille, you really are here. Well, since you and Rayleigh already know each other, it’s not surprising,” Garp didn’t say much more, settling down beside them and grabbing a bottle of wine.

“Isn’t this the Navy Hero, Garp? What brings you here?” Camille teased, rubbing Hancock’s head as she blushed shyly, letting Camille rough up her hair while Robin rolled her eyes at the scene.

Garp glared at Camille, grumbling, “That old bastard Sengoku wanted me to see if I could find you, to ask why you killed that Celestial Dragon, and what you are now—are you a pirate, or something else? I didn’t expect you to be with Rayleigh.” He downed a couple gulps of wine, feeling awkward after the events eight years ago, but with a personality to rival Luffy’s, Garp quickly eased the atmosphere.

“Heh, do you really want to know why I killed that Celestial Dragon? If I tell you, will you arrest me?” Camille smiled, patting Hancock’s shoulder to calm her trembling body.

Hancock looked at Camille with misty eyes, then suddenly crawled onto his lap and burst into tears.

Robin glanced at Camille, pursed her lips, then sat beside Hancock to comfort her; Hancock’s two sisters joined them as well.

Garp watched the little girl crying on Camille’s lap and, thinking it over, realized what was happening. He sighed, feeling bitter—was this all for a young girl? Could Camille really be obsessed with little girls?

Garp’s gaze grew stranger as he looked at Camille and Hancock, scanning between the two.

Camille understood immediately but did nothing, just gazed gently at Hancock, stroking her hair softly.

Garp, Rayleigh, and Robin all had dark lines on their foreheads at the sight.

“Uh, easy, that hurts...” Robin couldn’t take it anymore, stretching out her slender arm to pinch Camille’s waist hard. Hancock shyly hid in Robin’s arms.

So adorable, that shy look!

“Yeah, just tell Sengoku this: that bastard dared to steal the woman I fancied, and even pointed a gun at me. Tell me, doesn’t he deserve to die?” Camille blew a few smoke rings, glanced at Hancock, and spoke arrogantly.

“Uh!” Camille’s words left Garp speechless.

“And another thing—isn’t my bounty too low? Only four hundred million berries, don’t you think that’s too little? Shouldn’t it at least double?” Camille grinned at Garp, who looked rather displeased.

Rayleigh cast a strange glance at Camille. He’d witnessed the scene himself; Camille’s murderous aura was nearly tangible, almost frightening Rayleigh. He looked at Hancock in Robin’s arms and shook his head, baffled. Maybe he was just getting old...

“Forget it. I more or less understand now. That Celestial Dragon was blind to provoke you,” Garp waved his hand helplessly.

Camille chuckled, tossing Garp and Rayleigh each a cigarette. As they lit up, the women nearby frowned—was this what old friends chatting looked like?

“So, what are you? Pirate? Pirate hunter? Or what?” Garp puffed on the cigarette Camille gave him, finding it much better than his own, and shifted the topic.

Camille blew a few smoke rings, staring at the ceiling, pondering his own identity: What am I? If I’m going against the Navy, I need a proper identity. There aren’t any Emperors or Shichibukai yet, but it won’t be long. Maybe I could become the Fifth Emperor. Heh!

Camille glanced at Robin, who shook her head, indicating he could say whatever he wanted.

Camille gently kissed Robin’s forehead, saying, “A pirate! Pirates are great, the perfect opposition to the Navy, haha!” Camille declared clearly to Garp.

“A pirate, huh? Fine, when I see Sengoku, I’ll tell him to raise your bounty. Just do your pirate thing, but don’t get too wild. Let this old man have some peace.” Garp wasn’t surprised by Camille’s answer; after all, his own son was the leader of the Revolutionary Army...

“By the way, how did you know Roger had a son?” Garp suddenly dropped the question, catching Camille off guard. Rayleigh’s hand gripping the bottle trembled.

“What? Roger had a son? Why didn’t I know?” Rayleigh quickly responded, shocked that Roger kept this from him.

Hancock and Shakky were both stunned by the news, looking at Camille and Garp for more details. Robin shot a mischievous glance at Camille, knowing from the manga what was going on; she found Camille’s awkwardness amusing and smiled.

Camille glared at Garp, then looked at Rayleigh’s eager eyes, and shook his head, “Don’t worry about how I know. I won’t tell you, haha!” Camille’s strange laughter lightened the mood.

“Where is Roger’s son now?” Rayleigh asked Camille.

Camille glared at Garp, annoyed, “Ask this bastard. He knows.”

Rayleigh immediately turned to Garp.

Garp smiled awkwardly, “Haha, that little guy is playing in the East Blue with my grandson!”

Rayleigh asked no further; knowing Roger’s bloodline survived was enough. Let him live in peace.

Camille gazed out the window, a hint of melancholy in his eyes: Ace, I won’t let you die.

“Hey, Garp, you’ve been here a while—won’t the Navy come looking for you?” Camille remembered Rayleigh was hiding here; if Garp stayed too long, the Navy might find him.

“Haha, I’ll leave soon. Camille, can you give me more of those cigarettes? They’re much better than mine.” Garp looked at Camille expectantly, and Rayleigh also turned his head toward him.

Camille rolled his eyes at the two old men, his ring flashing. Suddenly, two boxes appeared on the floor—one hundred cartons each, a thousand packs. Camille had plenty more in his ring, so he didn’t mind giving them away.

Garp and Rayleigh eyed Camille’s ring curiously, but didn’t ask; everyone has their secrets.

“That’s plenty. One box each for you old men,” Camille said, annoyed.

Garp lifted the box and glanced at it. On the side, it was stamped: Made on Earth.

He didn’t understand, but didn’t ask, leaving with a cheerful smile.

Once Garp was gone, Camille turned to Robin and Hancock’s sisters, “Rest well today. Tomorrow we leave.”

.................

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Sengoku sat in his chair, waiting for Garp’s report.

“Garp, what did he say?” Sengoku glared at Garp, who was, for once, not eating his donuts but puffing on the cigarette Camille had given him.

“Hey, Sengoku, what’s the rush? Want a smoke? Camille gave me these, haha,” Garp ignored Sengoku’s question and grinned.

“That guy is a serious criminal for killing a Celestial Dragon! Not only did you not arrest him, you even accepted his gifts?” Sengoku snapped, but still took a cigarette and lit it, seemingly enjoying it.

Garp thought a moment, then told Sengoku everything Camille had said, not bothering to hide anything.

“Those damn Celestial Dragons are scum—serves them right,” Sengoku was stunned by Camille’s reason, but then blurted out his own opinion. Turns out Sengoku despised them too.

“There was another reason,” Garp exhaled a smoke ring.

“What reason?” Sengoku asked, curious.

Garp looked at Sengoku seriously, “He said his four hundred million berry bounty was too low—wanted it doubled, at least. You decide! Haha!” Garp laughed.

“Uh!” Garp’s words left Sengoku speechless.

“All right, let’s double it. Eight hundred million berries is quite a lot. What do you think of this Elros D. Camille? Is he a big threat to the Navy?” Sengoku pondered.

“My impression is: as long as you don’t provoke him, he won’t bother us. Oh, and the girl is from Amazon Lily—let’s avoid threatening that island. Consider it a favor to him. As long as we don’t start anything, he won’t come after us,” Garp replied after a couple more puffs.

“All right! Write today’s events truthfully in the papers, and issue a new wanted poster for him. Let the world be shaken a bit, haha.” Sengoku laughed; the three admirals had already lost, and he wasn’t about to go challenge Camille himself. The Celestial Dragons should learn restraint, lest they be wiped out.

The next day, the newspapers reporting the Bubble Archipelago incident and Camille’s terrifying new eight hundred million berry bounty appeared across the Grand Line. The great pirates recalled the legend from eight years ago.

Soon, in the world of pirates, Camille was dubbed the “Purple Emperor”—his purple hair, handsome face, and the purple sword, Purple Sovereign, slung over his shoulder became the image on his wanted poster.

.....

On a pirate ship in the second half of the Grand Line, Whitebeard laughed heartily as he looked at the wanted poster and newspaper in his hand.

“Haha, this kid is truly powerful. I look forward to meeting him again.”

Captain of the First Division, Marco, watched Whitebeard’s laughter and shook his head.

Elsewhere, on another pirate ship in the Grand Line’s second half, Red-Haired Shanks, wearing a straw hat, looked at the wanted poster and newspaper and smiled, “That guy has finally resurfaced. The incident eight years ago was shocking enough, but after disappearing for so long, he returns and causes such a stir. I really look forward to meeting you again!” Gazing at the blue sky above, it seemed to reflect Camille’s face...

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This is the second chapter today. Hope everyone supports it! Cast your votes, haha! The story gets even more exciting ahead!!!

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