One Piece: Please Call Me Godfather!

East Blue, Loguetown. A sudden heavy rainstorm turned this pivotal town of East Blue into a somewhat desolate place.

The waves of the sea, driven by the violent storm, continuously crashed against the shore, spraying seawater high into the air.

A ship, amidst this ominous atmosphere, slowly docked at the Loguetown harbor.

As the ship came to a halt and the gangway was placed onshore, the passengers hurriedly disembarked in a chaotic rush. The sudden downpour had left everyone caught off guard and unprepared.

Standing at the very end of the crowd was Reinhardt. Holding an umbrella in his right hand and a suitcase in his left, he stood tall.

He appeared to be around twenty years old, with a towering figure. His jet-black, slightly disheveled shoulder-length hair partially obscured a face that could faintly be recognized as excessively handsome.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted among the passengers ahead. Those who had just been scrambling to leave the ship quickly retreated, as if some terrifying creature was forcing its way forward.

The crowd naturally parted, but what stepped onto the gangway was not some monster. Instead, it was a middle-aged man in a black suit. His build was imposing, with streaks of gray in both his beard and hair. His expression was calm, yet his gaze was as profound as an abyss. Anyone who met his eyes would feel a chilling sense of dread.

He held a black umbrella and wore a purple camellia medal pinned to his chest.

Immediately, whispers broke out among the crowd:

"It's the Ulysses family!"

"Red Ogre Jackson, the most trusted enforcer of the old Godfather!"

"Why is the third most influential figure in Loguetown's underground appearing here?"

When it came to this man named Jackson, no one even dared to meet his gaze.

Jackson, however, paid no attention to the passengers aboard the ship. His eyes immediately landed on Reinhardt, standing behind the crowd.

Like Moses parting the sea, Jackson strode swiftly toward Reinhardt, with everyone instinctively stepping aside to clear his path.

Jackson's cold, stern expression finally softened slightly as he reached Reinhardt. With a slight bow, he greeted him, then took the suitcase and umbrella from Reinhardt's hands. "I've been waiting for you."

Reinhardt gave a slight nod and began walking forward. "Let's go."

The man, feared by all, respectfully followed half a step behind Reinhardt, shielding him from the rain with the umbrella. Even as his own body became soaked by the downpour, Jackson remained unfazed.

It wasn't until the two had descended from the gangway that the passengers aboard the ship, still in shock, noticed something extraordinary.

On the dock ahead, two rows of men in black suits stood silently in the rain, holding black umbrellas. The scene resembled a field of storm clouds spreading endlessly into the distance.

Who was that man?

The passengers recalled sharing the same vessel as that enigmatic figure. Now, a sense of sheer terror filled their hearts.

Meanwhile, at Loguetown's Naval Branch—renowned as the strongest naval division guarding the entrance to the Grand Line from East Blue—news broke.

"Lieutenant Commander Francklin! Ulysses Reinhardt has returned to Loguetown!"

A marine soldier burst into the office of the town's highest military officer, reporting loudly.

In the dimly lit room, a deep and steady voice echoed,

"The young man who left for overseas studies in his youth… Now, he cannot escape the burdens of his family. Life's unpredictability truly knows no bounds."

"Lieutenant Commander, what should we do? With the family's eldest son and the old Godfather both passing away in quick succession, the Ulysses clan is in turmoil. Today marks the old Godfather's funeral, and there's a possibility that the Black Claw Gang might make a move. If this escalates into all-out conflict—"

"Has a fight even started yet? Let's talk about action when it does."

The torrential rain continued to pour relentlessly.

For a funeral, such harsh weather could not have been more fitting. In traditional beliefs, rain during a funeral symbolizes the departed ascending to Heaven.

One coffin had already been lowered into the grave. The priest stood silently to the side, praying, while gravediggers began shoveling soil into the burial site. Another individual scattered petals over the grave.

Reinhardt stood at the forefront of the mourners, silently observing the scene before him.

"You shouldn't have come back. The family is caught in a massive storm right now. With Leon and the old Godfather gone, there's an eerie atmosphere within the family. The Black Claw is circling us from the outside, and the situation is grim."

Jackson, standing behind Reinhardt, spoke in a low voice, still holding the umbrella for him.

"Some things must be done by someone," Reinhardt replied without turning around. His tone was calm. "And isn't that someone me?"

"This was your decision. I can't oppose it. If you've resolved to take this path, then prepare yourself, Rein. We're facing a dire situation. Events are unfolding too quickly, the enemy remains unclear, and unrest has already spread within the family."

Jackson's voice deepened. "Not to mention external threats—the Black Claw aside, even smaller factions are eager to tear a piece off us. Rein, everything now rests on your shoulders."

"Are you sure you've fully prepared yourself for this?"

Reinhardt said nothing, merely giving a slight nod.

The grave had been completely filled with soil. Two other individuals stepped forward to place a wooden cross in front of the freshly filled mound. The mourners began approaching one by one to lay flowers.

With that, the funeral was essentially over. According to the usual proceedings, the attendees were expected to gradually disperse.

However, this funeral was anything but ordinary.

Jackson took a step forward, then turned to face the gathered mourners. Most of those present were Ulysses family officers.

"Veteran members," Jackson began, "I'll spare you the long-winded speeches. The old Godfather has ascended to Heaven, but the family can only thrive at sea. Allow me to introduce our new Godfather of the Ulysses family."

Jackson stepped aside, giving everyone a clear view of Reinhardt behind him.

"The old guard among you should already know him: the youngest son of the late Godfather, Leon's younger brother, the rightful heir of the Ulysses family—Ulysses Reinhardt. From this day forward, he is our new Godfather."

Reinhardt silently observed the gathered family officers. As Jackson finished speaking, some faces immediately lit up with excitement, evidently pleased by the announcement.

Others, however, frowned, their expressions betraying discontent.

Even within the Ulysses family, the leading mafia in Loguetown, unity was far from guaranteed. Fortunately, the number of those who welcomed the news seemed to outweigh the dissenters.

"Wait a moment!"

A booming voice suddenly erupted from the crowd. A tall, muscular man stepped forward, cutting through the gathered officers.

"Reinhardt may indeed be the late Godfather's son—everyone knows that. But can a clueless pretty boy really handle the challenges our family is facing right now?"

Reinhardt didn't even flinch, not sparing the man a single glance. At that moment, his perspective had completely shifted.

Above the pitch-black night sky, a single star appeared where there had been none, gradually growing brighter and more luminous.