"Hahahaha, don't be so formal! Everyone, get back to eating!"
The man was a robust elder. Despite his white hair, his chest was broad and his muscles were as well-developed as a man in his pri. His dark skin radiated a healthy, sun-kissed glow. It was none other than the legendary "Hero of the Marines," Fist Garp!
Hearing the voice, which sounded almost identical to the ani, Loya looked up imdiately.
"Monkey D. Garp?"
In the entire One Piece world, there were three things Loya was most curious about. First, what kind of cards did the Celestial Dragons hold to maintain their rule? Second, how was this world's bizarre geography ford? And third: Just how strong is Fist Garp?
During the Summit War, after Akainu killed Ace, Garp's outburst made it clear that he had the power to kill Sakazuki right there—he'd even told Sengoku to hold him back because he feared he wouldn't be able to stop himself. At that level of strength, who would dare call Garp's words an empty threat? Akainu was a Marine Admiral, the pinnacle of naval combat power. If Garp feared he might kill him, how high did his ceiling actually go?
Loya's curiosity about Garp far exceeded his interest in the secrets of the D Clan.
"Garp-sama!"
While Loya was lost in thought, Aldo stood straight and saluted. Aside from the three Admirals who also ca from the recruit camp, Aldo idolized Garp above all others. This was the hero who had personally captured the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger; Aldo had grown up listening to his legends.
Seeing Aldo's trembling excitent, Loya knew exactly what he was thinking. He also knew Aldo had no clue that the man the governnt branded the "World's Most Dangerous Criminal"—Dragon—was the son of the man he worshipped. A strange smile tugged at the corners of Loya's mouth as he considered dropping a subtle spoiler.
Garp waved for the crowd to disperse and walked to the service window. "Ah, you're the chef today, Marcus? Sa old routine, give a portion."
Marcus, the man who had served Loya and Aldo, wore a dejected face. "Uh... Garp-sama, you might have to wait a mont."
Garp had his own quarters in Marineford, but he didn't cook. He usually solved his three als a day at the ss hall.
"Hm? Why?" Garp asked, puzzled. Suddenly, he froze—the counter was spotless! "Hey, hey, Marcus, it's not even that late! You're finished already? There's a whole crowd of brats behind you who haven't eaten yet!"
"How could I be finished..." Marcus argued weakly, pointing at Loya and Aldo. "Those two little punks just took everything I prepared. You know I don't let food sit around and get cold—I cook as people co in. They just cleared out the entire batch."
"Oh? Is that so?" Garp turned around, looking at Aldo, who was stealing glances and trembling with excitent, and at the small guy sitting opposite him, stuffing his face. Despite being only two people, they had occupied a whole table, and it was piled high with a mountain of food.
"That's the kid... the one Kuzan has been teaching lately," Garp thought.
When news first broke that an Admiral was personally training a recruit, everyone assud it was a joke. A Marine Admiral? Teaching a recruit? What is there to teach? They should be out jogging! But as rumors drifted out of the Elite Camp, and the sounds of explosions and flying ice shards echoed from the training grounds every dusk, everyone had gradually accepted the unbelievable truth.
Garp hadn't paid much attention to Christopher Loya until his first upgrade after arriving at Headquarters. That inexplicable pressure had been too jarring; even he had felt it. "Right, didn't Sengoku say yesterday that the only Silverback Great Ape on the trial island had been killed, and he sent Fire Mountain and Onigumo to go catch another one?"
Thinking of that, Garp beca curious. What kind of talent did this kid possess that made both Zephyr and Kuzan take such special notice?
"Marcus, bring it over to when it's ready!" Garp called out, strolling over to Loya's table.
Aldo had been tracking Garp's every move. As the Admiral approached, Aldo jerked up so hard he knocked his chopsticks away and splashed fried rice all over Loya's face.
"G-Garp-sama!"
Loya wiped the grains off his face, feeling speechless, then lazily stood up to salute. "Vice Admiral Garp, good day!"
Nothing is more important than finishing my al, though! Aldo clearly wasn't a qualified "foodie"—he'd abandoned his al in the face of his idol. Loya felt nothing but disdain, but he had to follow suit. Even though this was a canteen where salutes weren't strictly required, this was the Hero of the Marines. If he showed disrespect, Loya would bet his dinner tomorrow that he'd be getting "disciplined" by soone—likely Momonga or another Headquarters Vice Admiral—within four hours.
Seeing Loya's lazy posture, Garp's eyes glinted. "He really is Kuzan's student. He's learned that slack attitude to a tee."
Thinking that, Garp said the opposite out loud: "Hahahaha, what a spirited lad! Not bad! Being able to eat is a good thing!"
As he spoke, he patted Aldo's... stomach, coughed awkwardly, and changed the subject: "You must be Aldo, right? Zephyr thinks highly of you. Last ti..."
Zzzzz-hhrrr.
Aldo and Loya stood in stunned silence as the man who was just lecturing them suddenly fell asleep mid-sentence, snoring loudly. Loya felt like ten thousand horses were galloping through his mind.
"Holy shit!!! You actually fell asleep standing up! How do you learn such an unscientific skill?!"
Pop!
The snot bubble on Garp's nose burst. Garp continued speaking as if nothing had happened, his tone not even wavering. "...Zephyr was just saying that as long as your speed catches up, you can graduate. h, anyway, it's just talk. How many recruits in all these years have been able to use Armant Haki before graduation? You're a genius! Even if you apply for graduation now, he couldn't stop you. Hahahaha."
Although Garp ended with a small joke, Aldo still felt no relief. He stamped his foot so hard his wooden sandal shattered—Loya saw the bones in his bowl rattle.
Aldo saluted again, shouting excitedly: "Yes, sir! I understand!"
So... what exactly did you understand? I don't understand a damn thing! Loya was screaming internally. Suddenly, his eyes t Garp's. They both saw the sa look of exasperation in the other's eyes.
"This kid is interesting," Garp thought calmly, waving for Aldo to sit. He then looked at Loya, his gaze piercing, as if he wanted to see right through him.
"Hey, you're Loya, right?" Before Loya could answer, Garp continued: "According to Zephyr, you're the most talented brat in these past few recruit classes. But looking at you... you don't look like much!"
With that, he plucked a piece of dried snot from his nostril and flicked it away.
Loya watched the show calmly. He didn't know why Garp wanted to belittle him, but considering the man's eccentric personality, Loya remained unfazed. Among the D Clan, Garp was an absolute anomaly—you didn't need to be surprised by anything he did.
Still, not replying was rude. Loya thought for a mont and replied: "That's because I'm still a recruit [parentheses-smile]."
"What does 'parentheses-smile' an..." Garp choked, his hand shaking so hard he dug a nail into his nostril, nearly drawing tears. He decided to ignore Loya's weird phrasing and got straight to the point.
"h, whatever. I'm asking you, kid: Do you want to beco my apprentice?"
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