Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 89: The Clear-Headed Kizaru
A dazzlingly bright golden light bloomed in the air next to the three of them, without any warning. The light was so blinding, it was as if the sun itself had been pulled down before their eyes. Blake looked up at the gathering light, a knowing smile on his lips. What was bound to come, has finally come. The light scattered. A slender figure slowly appeared. He wore a yellow striped suit, stood in a lazy stance with his hands in his pockets, and wore that signature, unreadable, sleazy smile. It was one of Marine Headquarters' highest powers: Admiral "Kizaru" Borsalino.
"Ooooh... is this a family reunion?"
Kizaru tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Garp, Dragon, and Blake. His tone was drawn out, full of exaggerated surprise.
The smile on Garp's face had already disappeared. He looked at the suddenly-appeared Kizaru, his brow furrowed.
"Borsalino, what are you doing here?"
Dragon didn't speak. His deep eyes had been locked on Kizaru from the moment he appeared. As one of the World Government's highest powers and a Marine Admiral, his presence alone represented the will of the World Government.
"Maa, Mr. Garp, your question... it really hurts my feelings."
Kizaru spread his hands, a look of innocence on his face.
"I didn't want to come. Coming all the way to the East Blue... it's so tiring."
He sighed, then his tone shifted. His gaze fell on Dragon. His lazy expression finally revealed a trace of an Admiral's pressure.
"Sorry, Monkey D. Dragon."
Kizaru's voice was still in that obnoxious tone, but its content made the air freeze.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku gave a dead-strict order. He absolutely cannot let a dangerous fellow like you... make contact with Boss Blake."
As he spoke, he meaningfully glanced at Garp, his eyes holding a trace of complaint.
"Mr. Garp, you've really... caused a big problem for me, and for Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"BWAHAHAHA..."
Garp awkwardly scratched the back of his head, letting out a dry laugh.
"This... well, an unfortunate family matter, an unfortunate family matter!"
He tried to use laughter to hide his awkwardness, but Kizaru clearly wasn't buying it.
Garp's laughter slowly faded. He glared at Kizaru, his tone annoyed.
"Why are you alone? What about that girl Gion? And the others?"
Hearing this, Kizaru's expression became even more helpless.
"Mr. Garp, why do you think I rushed over here?"
He raised a finger, a small point of golden light gathering at its tip. His tone became serious.
"This 'good son' of yours... attacked a Celestial Dragon's ship... in the Goa Kingdom."
This short sentence was like a thunderclap exploding in Garp's mind. Attacking a Celestial Dragon! The last bit of color drained from Garp's face. He snapped his head around, staring at his son.
"You bastard kid!"
"You finally did something proper."
His tone shifted, and Garp burst out laughing.
"Ooooh, so it's true."
Kizaru retracted the light on his finger and said lazily.
"The Fleet Admiral received orders from above. A World Noble was attacked. This is a massive incident."
"The Fleet Admiral ordered me... to stop you, at all costs, from contacting... certain dangerous powers that could make the world even more chaotic."
Kizaru's gaze meaningfully landed on Blake. The sea breeze stopped. The sound of the waves seemed to be cut off by an invisible force. On the reef, three distinct, yet equally top-tier, auras confronted each other like invisible mountains, pressing in on the space. The Marine Hero, Garp. The Revolutionary Leader, Dragon. The Marine Admiral, Kizaru. And at the center of these three mountains was Blake, who had just been quietly watching.
Dragon's gaze passed over Kizaru, and over his father, landing directly on Blake. He didn't seem surprised by the Admiral's appearance.
"I need to enter a dungeon."
His voice was calm. He ignored Kizaru's almost tangible threat, as if this top Marine power was just a rock by the road.
"Ooooh, to be ignored so completely."
The smile on Kizaru's face didn't change, but his eyes behind the sunglasses suddenly became dangerous.
The next second.
Voom—!
A flash of golden light! Kizaru's figure vanished, and in the next instant, appeared between Dragon and Blake, completely blocking Dragon's line of sight. He slowly raised a finger. At its tip, a golden point of light was gathering and compressing, emitting a terrifying aura.
"No can do, Dragon-san."
Kizaru's tone was still lazy, but every word carried an unshakeable resolve. "Before I arrest you, you can't go anywhere."
The golden light pierced the sea breeze. The finger, condensing extreme danger, was just inches from Dragon's brow. Kizaru's smile was still lazy, but his eyes were ice cold.
"Ooooh, what terrifying eyes."
Kizaru's tone was drawn out, as if appreciating art. "Being stared at like that... it really scares me."
Dragon didn't speak. His gaze didn't even linger on Kizaru's fingertip, as if the light beam was just a firefly. He just calmly looked at Kizaru. His face, covered with the crimson tattoo, was tranquil.
Garp's smile was long gone. He stood to the side, his fists itching for a fight. He thought with some melancholy, why isn't this a dungeon world.
Finally, Dragon spoke. His voice was flat, as if the finger didn't exist.
"Borsalino."
Dragon's gaze passed the fatal point of light, staring straight into Kizaru's eyes behind the sunglasses.
"Are you... for the sake of this rotten world... going to personally extinguish... the last spark of hope?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was a heavy hammer, striking everyone's heart.
Garp's body shook slightly. He looked at his son, his expression complex.
The smile on Kizaru's face remained, but his lazy tone now held a trace of mockery.
"Ooooh, such scary words, great Revolutionary."
"Hope?"
Kizaru tilted his head. His sleazy expression, at this moment, held a chilling clarity.
"Are you referring to your Revolutionary Army?"
"What makes you think... you revolutionaries... are the world's last spark of hope?"
"Even if... even if you succeed, overthrow the World Government, and defeat the Celestial Dragons."
Kizaru spoke slowly, but every word was a sharp knife, cutting open reality to expose the bloody truth.
"In that case, can you tell me, Dragon-san."
"How... will you guarantee... that your descendants, and their descendants, won't become the next Celestial Dragons?"