As Garp spoke, Ryuji had a sudden realization.
Garp had probably—no, almost definitely—recognized Roger the mont he laid eyes on him.
Anyone else might've hesitated, thinking it was an illusion or just so cosplay stunt. But Garp? When he flicked a booger onto Roger's head while casually trash-talking him?
That was 100% confirmation.
Not only had Garp recognized him—he didn't even pause to question whether Roger was supposed to be dead. He simply accepted it.
Any other admiral, even Sengoku, would've shown hesitation or doubt. But not Garp.
This was the man who'd raised soone like Luffy—a guy with a weird brain and intuition.
Roger had clearly realized it too. He knew Garp was deliberately acting out, putting on a loud show precisely because he understood Roger didn't want his identity exposed.
That's why Roger's voice trembled when he answered.
"Y-Yeah…"
Hearing that shaky tone, Ryuji glanced over at Roger's face.
It was twisted—an expression that practically scread "unwilling," "humiliated," and "barely holding back rage."
If a commoner insulted him like this, Roger might've laughed it off. But Garp?
Ryuji could see it clearly—Roger's hand gripping the railing had started to dig into the wood.
"Ahahahahaha! See?! I told you! How could that guy possibly be the idiot scumbag pervert who peeked at a widow bathing—Roger?!" Garp cackled with glee.
He was loving this. Watching Roger grit his teeth and bite back every retort—it was the most satisfying thing Garp had experienced in years.
These were insults he'd been saving up forever.
"His acting is so fake…" muttered Bogard, Garp's ever-reliable lieutenant, tugging his hat down to hide his embarrassnt as Garp's laughter echoed around them.
Roger's eye twitched. His grip cracked the wooden railing beneath him.
Then a young marine pointed a trembling finger at him and shouted, "You're totally lying! Look at that face! That expression's way too fierce!"
That was it. Roger was about to snap.
Ryuji tensed, preparing for a fight. He even ntally plotted a route to dive in and pull Robin out of the ocean if things went south.
But Garp, ever the wild card, calmly stepped forward, placing a firm hand on the yelling marine's head and looked Roger dead in the eyes.
"No way," he said flatly. "I already told you—Roger's dead."
Then, with a solid thump, he bonked the marine on the head and added, "The real Pirate King would never call himself a bastard, an idiot, or a no-good scoundrel. Right, pal?"
Roger let out a long, tired sigh and pulled his hat down to shadow his eyes.
"…Right."
Garp smirked. "Then say it. Say that Roger was an irresponsible, good-for-nothing bastard. A shaless troublemaker. A complete and utter idiot. Otherwise, with that face of yours, I'll have no choice but to toss you into Impel Down myself."
Though he was smiling, Garp's eyes were dead serious.
Roger stared back for a mont… and then his anger faded.
"Roger… was an irresponsible, no-good bastard! A shaless fool! A pain-in-the-ass idiot who brought nothing but trouble!!"
It was a line he would never have said, even with a sword at his throat.
But facing Garp? He said it willingly.
Because Garp had saved his son.
That truth—about Ace—was sothing Ryuji had told them. And it changed everything.
Garp grinned with satisfaction. "Good! Now go change your look, kid. The Pirate King isn't sothing to be proud of. Just go ho and take care of your kid already!"
Then, laughing, he patted the marine's head and strolled toward the bow of his ship.
But as the two ships passed each other, he suddenly asked:
"Where are you headed?"
Roger hesitated for a second, then turned toward Ryuji.
Ryuji didn't hesitate.
"Cocoyashi Village!" he shouted back.
He hoped Garp would help clean things up. Ryuji wasn't here to save the world—he wasn't so revolutionary hero. He had a very specific goal:
Girls.
Less conflict with local powers ant more ti for food, flirting, and empire-building.
He liked the cuisine here, after all—and if things worked out, he could start a shipping business that would make it even harder for Erina to leave him.
He wasn't building a business empire for money.
He was building it to support and expand his harem.
Reliable supply chains ant new and exotic ingredients—essential for the Food Wars world.
If Garp could take care of the problem in Cocoyashi, Ryuji wouldn't get wanted posters slapped on him, and his business plans could stay on track.
"Cocoyashi Village?" Garp muttered to himself. That was under the jurisdiction of Captain Nezumi, right? A completely unremarkable place…
What the hell was Roger doing there?
Still, Garp didn't voice his suspicions. He simply glanced at Bogard, who nodded back silently.
It wouldn't be long before this ship—which should have returned to Marine HQ—suffered a "rudder malfunction," forcing them to dock in Cocoyashi Village.
Exactly when Roger would arrive.
And no one would suspect a thing.
But for now, they'd simply restock.
Elsewhere, under the sa sky, a young girl was facing her own troubles.
"The Buggy Pirates, huh?" the girl murmured, flipping through her intel.
According to the report, Buggy's crew was sailing dangerously close to a small town—and given their reputation, that town didn't stand a chance.
So—
"Alright. I'll just steal their treasure."
The girl nodded calmly, showing no trace of fear.
She had done this for a long ti—taking from pirates, surviving impossible odds.
"I'm almost there," she whispered. "Just a little more money… and I can save everyone. Sister… Mom...Nami will be able to save everyone soon!"
With those thoughts in mind, the girl nad Nami eventually drifted off to sleep on her small boat.
But…
Even as she slept, she couldn't shake the unsettling feeling—like sothing terrifying had its eyes on her.
And in her lower abdon… she felt a strange, phantom pain.
~~~~~~~~
Bonus chapter every 200 Power Stones.
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