Pushing open the door, Garp saw Sengoku and Tsuru waiting outside. The trace of sorrow on his face was instantly forcefully suppressed.
"You didn't say anything you shouldn't have, did you, Garp? You know letting you see him was already an exception."
Sengoku looked at his old comrade. Based on his understanding of the man over so many years, that emotional fluctuation couldn't be hidden from him.
"Ha, who do you take me for, Sengoku-kun."
Garp laughed heartily, vigorously patting Sengoku's shoulders. Under his old comrade's pats, the Marine Fleet Admiral's face grew darker until he decisively punched Garp in the face.
"Bastard! You should know even Buddha can only endure three times!"
It must be said, as a Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu user, Sengoku's words were quite fitting.
And right then, Vice Admiral Tsuru nearby suddenly spoke up.
"Garp, compared to Fire Fist Ace, I think you'd better be more concerned about your other grandson."
Hearing this, Garp 'pulled' his face out from under Sengoku's fist.
This guy had taken such an old-fashioned punch without even a drop of blood from his nose. On the contrary, he used the scuffle with Sengoku to readjust his mindset and expression.
"Huh? You mean... Luffy?"
It really wasn't easy… Garp finally remembered that besides Ace, he also had Luffy as his actual grandson.
"The last sighting report our people received about Straw Hat Luffy was at Sabaody Archipelago."
"You know, that's not far from Marine Headquarters..."
Tsuru's words held ambiguous meaning, while Garp revealed a carefree smile.
"That kid... no, no, he's still far from it. That brat can only cause minor troubles, and this kind of battlefield isn't for him-"
"So, from your perspective as his grandfather, do you think he'll disregard everything and rush to Marineford?"
The smile on Garp's face gradually stiffened. Tsuru unhurriedly added another blow.
"You should understand, this time, we might have to deal not only with that Whitebeard but also the [Great Sinner], [Hundred Beasts], and [Big Mom]."
"This kind of 'grand event', those troublemakers on the sea won't turn a blind eye."
The Marines' public execution of the former Pirate King's bloodline was, in essence, a provocation to the entire so-called [Great Pirate Era].
Therefore, regardless of their stance or feelings toward Roger, as long as they were still pirates, especially those great pirates crowned with the title of [Emperor], they would never stand idly by.
"Regarding Kaido, we've already received word. Same with Big Mom."
"And not long ago, about Impel Down..."
"Tsuru!"
Before Tsuru could finish, Sengoku cut her off.
The three high-ranking Marines fell into a brief silence at this moment.
"I... will go to Sabaody Archipelago."
In the end, knowing that deeper, grander strategies lay behind this public execution, Garp made a decision.
-Of course, whether he could persuade his single-minded grandson to leave remained to be seen.
If his words had any effect, Luffy and Ace would probably already be Captains, Commodores, or even Rear Admirals by now.
"You three, still the same as before."
At that moment, a rough voice sounded. A man with purple hair, wearing sunglasses, over seventy years old but still bare-chested, strode over.
"It's you, Zephyr. You've returned to Headquarters too?"
It had been over two months since the last time they fought together.
The responsibility for failing to capture the [Great Sinner] was shared by Garp and Tsuru, not affecting Zephyr, the Chief Instructor of the [Marine Trainee].
So, in their view, shouldn't Zephyr currently be hunting pirates with his students?
"It's Kong-san's order."
Zephyr directly stated the reason for his return.
"That old codger..."
Rarely did anyone else get called 'old codger' by Garp.
It's no wonder, since during the God Valley incident, Kong was already Garp, Sengoku, and the others' superior. Now, as the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's Combined Army, he still performed his duties.
"The intensity of the upcoming battle won't be like the minor skirmishes before. This place might become the second [God Valley]. You'd better think carefully."
Tsuru looked at the brash Zephyr and said with displeasure.
Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru joined the Marines in the same batch as Zephyr, but when the three were eighteen or nineteen, Zephyr was only fourteen. So, them putting on an elder air wasn't strange.
"Ha? Don't underestimate me."
Zephyr reached out and patted his mechanical arm, whose design had changed again.
"Dr. Vegapunk's latest masterpiece. Garp, want to give it a try?"
As he spoke, he provocatively beckoned.
This mechanical arm was different from the initial bulky, heavy version, and also different from the slender one during the Whole Cake Island incident.
Its size was only slightly larger than Zephyr's other arm, as if he were wearing a piece of arm armor.
But in reality, it had been infused with the latest research technology, capable of simulating arm nerve reflexes and transmitting Haki 100%, while also having some unexpected, clever uses.
"Hahahaha... perfect timing. I also want to move around a bit!"
Saying this, Garp rolled up his sleeves, ready to spar with Zephyr.
"You two! I am the Marine Fleet Admiral! I order you now! Stay put!!"
Here, it wasn't hard to see that, as leaders of the same organization, Sengoku had more authority than another old man who liked to wear a conical hat.
Of course, the troublemakers under his command were also more lawless.
Compared to Danzo, who only schemed in the shadows, these two old men, Garp and Zephyr, didn't even pretend, completely ignoring the now-furious Marine Fleet Admiral.
In the end, the fight didn't happen.
It wasn't that Garp or Zephyr backed down, but because some rather unpleasant figures appeared at Marineford.
Looking at those figures, with some draped in black cloaks, others in full-body armor, Garp also clicked his tongue, sticking a finger in his nose to pick it.
"What are these guys doing here..."
"The God's Knights..."
Especially when he saw a figure among them with a very distinctive hairstyle and beard, Garp's displeasure became even more apparent.
'That scum was still alive and well. There really was no justice.'
And that figure seemed to sense something, turning his head to reveal an aged face.
The crescent moon-like hairstyle and beard had turned gray.
"Garp..."
He chewed on the name of the Marine Hero, a mocking smile also appearing on his face.
Figarland Garling, former Commander of the God's Knights, current Supreme Commander of the God's Knights, biological father of Shalmrock and Shanks, heartless scum who killed his civilian wife, God Valley speed bump...
Various titles were attached to this guy, but none could conceal his essence.
Celestial Dragon.
"Don't do anything stupid, Garp."
Sengoku placed a hand on his old comrade's shoulder, only to receive a glare from Garp.
"You really think I'm a fool?"
Garp discreetly wiped his nose-picking finger on Sengoku's clothes. Satisfied after seeing the other man's disgusted wiping motion, he turned around.
"That kind of guy will get his comeuppance sooner or later. I can't be bothered to contend with him."
"And I have a feeling, we won't have to wait long for that day."