The sea breeze gently caressed, and the Dog Head Warship slowly sailed into the East Blue waters.
Sunlight spilled onto the deck, casting dappled shadows.
Gern stood by the railing, feeling the calm sea breeze that was distinctly different from the Grand Line…
“How is it?” Garp appeared beside him at some point, holding a bag of unknown snacks, and mumbled, “Isn’t the East Blue’s sea breeze much more comfortable?”
“It is indeed much calmer than the Grand Line,” Gern nodded, his gaze sweeping across the distant horizon.
“However, Vice Admiral Garp, you’ve destroyed quite a few pirate crews along the way.”
“Hahahaha!” Garp burst into laughter, swinging his fist.
“Those small, insignificant pirates only bully civilians in the East Blue; I’ll beat every single one I see!”
Gern smiled helplessly.
During the past few days of sailing, Garp’s “vacation” seemed even busier than carrying out missions.
Whenever he encountered a pirate ship, regardless of its size, Garp would excitedly charge forward, using cannonballs as a human cannon, having a grand time.
As a result, the Dog Head Warship’s journey was much slower than expected.
“Oh, that’s right, kid,” Garp suddenly dropped his smile, his expression becoming uncharacteristically serious, “Since I’m bored, there are some things I need to tell you in advance.”
“Things?” Gern looked at him sideways, waiting for him to continue.
“That’s right, the Roger Pirates.” Garp’s gaze deepened, “After the Elite Training Camp ends, you, Kuzan, and the other two should all be promoted to Vice Admiral to supplement our mid-level combat strength, which means the pirates you’ll be dealing with next won’t be small fry.”
“Especially Roger, that guy, he loves to roam around the New World. When you encounter them on missions in the future, you need to be prepared.”
“The Roger Pirates…” Gern repeated softly, the smiling face wearing a Captain’s hat from the 3.7 billion bounty poster appearing in his mind.
“Roger’s strength goes without saying; in a one-on-one fight, even I have to take him seriously.” Garp clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.
“But there are also a few troublesome guys on his ship.
The Vice Captain, ‘Pluton’ Rayleigh, whose swordsmanship and Haki have reached their peak, and the combatant, ‘Copper Demon’ Jabba…”
Garp listed them one by one, his tone uncharacteristically grave.
“Rayleigh, Jabba…” Gern silently noted down this information.
I know this, one will mislead people in the future, and one…
If you asked me who was stronger in the Roger Pirates before, I would say Roger, but now, definitely Jabba!
According to the original work’s giant height, Jabba entering the fray wouldn’t even be enough, but Jabba did it!!
This is definitely not an ordinary person.
“Jabba is still stronger, how exactly did you get in there…” Gern, muttering to himself while thinking, was heard by Garp, who couldn’t help but pat his shoulder.
“Jabba? He’s the third-in-command on Roger’s ship, he’s alright! Pluton Rayleigh is much more troublesome than him!”
“No! Vice Admiral Garp, this man will be very strong in the future,” Gern said with a serious expression.
Garp: “…”
“The most troublesome one is still Roger,” Garp sighed, “After Rocks died, Roger’s Haoshoku allowed him to transcend everything.”
“In short, when you encounter them, don’t be reckless,” Garp patted Gern’s shoulder, “Call for support immediately, Sengoku and I will arrive as soon as possible.”
“I understand,” Gern replied solemnly.
Jokes aside, although he was confident in his own strength, it was always wise to be cautious when facing the future Pirate King.
At most, he’d strike once and leave, as a sign of respect for the future Pirate King…
…
The Dog Head Warship continued its voyage, finally arriving at the port of the East Blue Marine 33rd Branch Headquarters on the evening of the third day.
“Vice Admiral Garp!” The Marine soldiers at the port, seeing the Dog Head Warship, immediately stood at attention and saluted, their eyes filled with reverence.
“Hahahaha! I’m back!” Garp laughed heartily as he leaped off the warship, his landing causing the ground to tremble slightly.
Gern followed behind him, his gaze sweeping over the modestly sized Marine branch.
Compared to Marineford’s grandeur, this place seemed much simpler, but it exuded an aura of orderliness everywhere.
“Vice Admiral Garp, Major Dragoon is waiting for you in his office,” a Marine soldier stepped forward to report.
“Oh? That brat knows I’m coming?” Garp raised an eyebrow, then strode towards the branch building.
“Come on, Gern, let’s go see my good-for-nothing son!”
Gern followed Garp’s footsteps, and after passing through a few corridors, they arrived at the door of a simple office.
“You bastard who’s always running away!” Garp didn’t even knock, pushing the door open directly: “I’ve come to see you!”
Inside the office, Dragoon, dressed in a Marine uniform, looked up upon hearing the voice.
He revealed a face that bore a seventy percent resemblance to Garp’s, only lacking that boisterousness and possessing more composure and fierceness.
“Father.” Dragoon stood up, his gaze sweeping over Gern behind Garp, and nodded slightly.
“Major Dragoon.” Gern nodded politely.
“Gern, I heard you repelled Golden Lion with a single strike,” Dragoon’s voice was low and powerful, “The splendor of that strike has spread throughout the East Blue.”
Hearing Dragoon’s words, Gern smiled and said, “I did strike him, but, no!
This is only my first time leaving Marineford.”
Dragoon’s eyes flashed with a strange light upon hearing this, and he was about to say something,
But Garp impatiently interrupted: “Alright, alright! Don’t talk about that! I just came to see you!”
“You always say that every time you come back,” Dragoon sighed helplessly, “But then you either go to the tavern to drink in Windmill Village or go to the mountains to find Dadan…”
“What do you mean ‘go to the mountains to find Dadan’?” Garp’s old face flushed, and he immediately lied: “I brought Gern here for special training!
This kid’s Haoshoku is inconsistent; he needs to practice it well!”
Dragoon’s gaze fell on Gern again, deep in thought: “Haoshoku, huh…”
Gern: “Huh? Was that a thing? I was just hitching a ride.”
The atmosphere in the office suddenly became subtle.
“Father, why don’t you let me guide Gern?” Dragoon suddenly suggested.
“Hmm?” Garp looked suspiciously at his son, “Since when are you so enthusiastic?”
Dragoon’s expression remained unchanged: “I just think that as young people, it might be easier to communicate.”
“Gern is much younger than you,” Garp stroked his chin, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
A moment later, he waved his hand: “Alright! You two chat!”
With that, Garp stormed out of the office, leaving only Gern and Dragoon behind.
For a moment, silence spread through the room.
Gern looked at Dragoon, and the latter looked directly back at him, their gazes meeting in the air.
“Gern,” Dragoon spoke first, his voice low and powerful, “Do you really believe that the Marine’s justice can change this world?”
Holy cow! I knew it! Damn it, you traitor.
“Hehe, justice comes in many forms,” Gern chuckled awkwardly, “Our Marine’s justice at least protects civilians from pirate harm.”
“But what about the civilians oppressed by the Celestial Dragons?” Dragoon’s gaze sharpened.
“What about those whose families were destroyed due to the World Government’s policies? Did the Marine’s justice protect them?”
“Hey! Dragoon,” Gern’s tone became serious, his expression suddenly stern, and he stared intently at Dragoon.
“You, you wouldn’t…”
“Wouldn’t what?” Seeing Gern’s gaze, Dragoon swallowed, subconsciously thinking that he had seen through his inner thoughts.
After all, among the Marines, only he had ever expressed his inner thoughts to Gern.
“You… after being transferred to the East Blue branch, you wouldn’t be skipping work and traveling all day, would you?”
“…”