The battle lasted a full day and night. The desert was now unrecognizable.
Garp finally called a halt himself, wiping sweat from his brow with a wide grin. "Setsuna brat, if we keep going, that guy Sengoku will think you kidnapped me."
Setsuna shot him a disdainful look. "Kidnap you? What value would kidnapping an old man like you have?"
Garp's eyes widened, his mustache bristling. "Hey, hey! This old man is still the Marine Hero! I have some value!"
Setsuna didn't bother arguing. He stated directly, "I can agree to become a Warlord. But the World Government must meet three conditions."
Garp was taken aback, then shocked. "A man who's mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion is willing to be a Warlord?"
Setsuna calmly countered, "Same goes for you. Aren't you a Marine?"
Garp was stumped, scratching his head in frustration. "At least in the Marines, I can protect those who truly believe in justice."
Setsuna nodded. "My thinking exactly. Me being a Warlord is better than those murderous, pillaging pirates being Warlords, right?"
Garp laughed heartily. "Good point! Speaking of which, I should thank you for pulling Ace back from the pirate path."
Setsuna shook his head. "Even without me, he'd only be a pirate in name. No looting, no pillaging, just the occasional dine-and-dash. What kind of pirate is that?"
Garp's smile faded. He sighed. "You don't understand. He can't be associated with pirates."
Setsuna said plainly, "What's there to understand? It's because he's Roger's son."
Garp's eyes instantly widened to the size of plates, his mustache practically standing on end. "He told you that?"
Setsuna shrugged. "Golden Lion figured it out. He thought Ace was Roger's son with a woman named Shakky. He was so enraged he regained his full strength."
Garp: "..."
'What kind of nonsense was that?'
He rubbed his temples, deciding to drop the topic. "Alright, we're getting sidetracked. What are your three conditions for the World Government?"
Setsuna raised one finger. "First, I want the World Government to find me the world's finest chefs and provide access to purchase the highest-quality ingredients."
Garp's eyes lit up. He clapped his hands. "That's a good one! Don't forget to invite me to the feasts!"
Setsuna raised a second finger. "Second, after entering the New World, I plan to establish an International Culinary Institution. Its main purposes are twofold."
"One: Research cuisine, innovate new dishes. Two: Improve crops, promote high-yield varieties, so everyone in the world can eat their fill. I hope the World Government will support it in all aspects."
Garp looked at him with newfound respect. "You have such ideals?"
Setsuna nodded. "Of course."
-Of course, that was only the surface reason.
Setsuna knew well that Conqueror's Haki couldn't be improved through training; it only grew as one's own spirit did.
But how does one's spirit grow?
Setsuna pondered and concluded it was likely a combination of ideals, conviction, and action.
Ideals alone were castles in the air. They required conviction and action to realize.
Otherwise, he could just dream of becoming the Universe's Emperor. Wouldn't that spirit be stronger than those dreaming of being the Pirate King?
Take Luffy. His ideal was to be Pirate King. His conviction bordered on obsession. As he got closer step-by-step, his Conqueror's Haki naturally grew stronger.
The path Setsuna chose for himself was… to ensure everyone in the world could eat their fill.
For someone from his previous life's Earth, there was no dream more simple yet great.
"Good kid! Now I understand why Ace is willing to follow you!" Garp slapped Setsuna's shoulder, then asked, "And the third condition?"
Setsuna raised a third finger. "Third, I want to visit Dr. Vegapunk. I hope he'll serve as an advisor to the Culinary Institution."
Garp looked puzzled. "Huh? From what I remember, Vegapunk's research covers Devil Fruits, mechanical modification, weapon development... not agriculture, right?"
Setsuna naturally wouldn't say his real goal was to have Vegapunk help him with cell transplantation.
"Isn't he the world's greatest scientist? Dedicating a little time to agriculture shouldn't be hard, right?"
Garp spread his hands. "These matters are beyond my authority. The World Government must decide."
Setsuna thought for a moment. "How about this? Give me a Den Den Mushi that can directly contact the World Government. If there's an issue, let the Five Elders talk to me themselves."
Garp laughed. "Haha! That's the World Government's highest authority. You really have no fear at all."
Setsuna was very calm. If it weren't for being wary of Imu's Devil Fruit ability, he'd dare to storm Mary Geoise himself.
But Devil Fruit abilities in this world were too varied.
Especially mysterious-type fruits like Sugar's or Perona's… they were hard to guard against.
While Haki might counter such abilities, it was different if the user was Imu. And his Haki truly wasn't strong enough yet.
Rather than take risks, it was better to use the World Government's resources to strengthen himself. Time was on his side anyway.
"Right, I almost forgot about Golden Lion's bounty," Setsuna added. "When is the money coming?"
"Don't worry, I brought it with me."
…
Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle.
The Warrior God of Justice, Topman Warcury, flipping through the documents in my hand, his brow slightly furrowed. "Aren't the Warlord positions already full? Why is someone else joining?"
The Warrior God of Finance, Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, snorted coldly. "Hanafuda was defeated. And the one who beat him was the second-in-command of the 'Gourmet' group we're discussing."
"The Gourmet Navigation Group?" The Warrior God of Environment, Marcus Mars, raised an eyebrow slightly. "Judging by the name and actions, that Chiaki Setsuna seems like an apolitical gourmet with no ambitions?"
The Warrior God of Science and Defense, Jaygarcia Saturn, chuckled lowly. "That's rare. A man who killed Golden Lion has no interest in power? Could it be an act to lower our guard?"
Nusjuro shook his head. "Unlikely. The Marines reported he fought Garp to a standstill. Though it was a spar, it proves his strength. Does a man like that need to hide his ambitions?"
"He fought Garp to a standstill?" Warcury was surprised. Though he disliked that government-disrespecting Marine, he had to acknowledge his strength.
Nusjuro took out a few more documents, handing them to the others. "These are his demands. Take a look."
Warcury glanced over them and suddenly laughed. "Three demands, all related to food? Hah. There are still people like that on these seas?"
The Warrior God of Agriculture, Shepherd Ju Peter, pondered. "According to intel analysis, his war with Golden Lion seemed to be for the purpose of seizing the beasts Golden Lion evolved to destroy the East Blue. And his reason for raising those monsters... was simply to eat them?"
Mars looked meaningfully at Ju Peter. "Saint Peter, you should give him plenty of support. It's rare to have such a powerful figure with no clear alignment. We must not push him to the opposing side."
Ju Peter nodded. "The first and second points aren't issues. We can even observe the [International Culinary Institution] he establishes to judge if he's truly only interested in food."
He paused, frowning slightly. "But the third point... letting him contact Vegapunk. Could that be a problem?"
Saturn smiled calmly. "No need to worry. Vegapunk is completely under my control. Letting that Chiaki Setsuna contact him might even be beneficial."
A glint of 'wisdom' flashed in his eyes. "His physique... would be perfect material for the [Seraphim Project]."