The sky above the Grand Line was clear and blue. Seagulls flew past as a massive Marine battleship slowly sailed into the port of Alabasta.
Surprisingly, the ship's front was shaped like a dog's head.
"Strange. Is my ship not impressive enough?" Garp stroked the stubble on his chin, squinting at the shore.
The docks were a sea of people. Cheers and shouts rose and fell, completely drowning out the ship's arrival.
With a solid thud, the vessel docked firmly.
Garp strode down the plank and pushed his way into the crowd.
On the rebuilt docks, two figures were locked in fierce combat.
One was a freckled young man he knew very well… his grandson, Ace. The other was a handsome blond youth with a rapier, its blade shining brilliantly in the sunlight.
"Cavendish-sama! You're so handsome!"
"Ace-sama! Defeat him!"
The onlookers were clearly divided. The female spectators cheered almost entirely for the blond youth, while the males mostly supported Ace.
However, what truly caught Garp's attention was something else.
The blond youth was flying freely in the air, as if gravity didn't affect him.
"The Fuwa Fuwa no Mi?" Garp slapped his head, genuinely surprised. "That old bastard Golden Lion's fruit reappeared so fast?"
As an 'old friend' of Golden Lion, he knew the fruit's value all too well.
In single combat, it mainly provided mobility, but its strategic value was immense.
If developed to Golden Lion's level, lifting an island from ten thousand meters and dropping it… no power could withstand such an attack.
While Garp was amazed by the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, the fight was reaching its end. Using pure martial arts, Ace had forced Cavendish into a corner.
"It's over!" With a shout, Ace seized an opening, driving his elbow hard into Cavendish's chest, knocking him out of the sky.
"Cough, cough..." Cavendish knelt on one knee, his handsome face dusty, eyes filled with frustration. "If my Hakuba Mode hadn't been scared into hiding by Captain, you might not have won so easily!"
Ace laughed loudly. "I thought you were going to say I might not have won at all!"
Cavendish shot him a look. "I'm not a freak like you and Captain, instantly understanding Haki the moment you touch it."
"Ha, you're in trouble now. Captain hates people talking behind his back..." Ace joked, only to be struck hard on the back of his head.
Ace was driven face-first into the ground, crying out. "Captain, no need to be so serious!"
But the voice behind him was one of hearty laughter. "Haha! You've grown well, you brat! But mistaking your grandpa's [Fist of Love] is just wrong!"
The surrounding pirates, who had warily surrounded Garp with weapons aimed, froze, 'This Marine was vice captain's grandfather?'
"Huh? This Marine looks familiar."
"Yeah, I think I've seen him in the papers..."
Ace clutched his head and jumped up, turning to see Garp's beaming face. "Ouch, ouch... old man, what was that for? Aahh..."
Before he could finish, another punch landed. "Didn't Makino teach you any manners? Is that how you talk to your grandfather?"
Ace grimaced in pain. "Manners aren't for people who attack from behind."
"How is that an attack? It's a loving pat." Garp laughed, slapping his shoulder. "Heard you protected your hometown. This old man is happy."
"If you're so happy, why hit me?" Ace glared.
"Well..." Garp scratched his head, grinning. "Seeing you so happy made my fists itch."
He certainly wouldn't admit that for a moment, he'd mistaken Ace for Roger.
"What kind of reason is that?!" Ace was furious. "Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson, you violent old man!"
Garp was delighted, not angry. "I was worried I hadn't had enough exercise."
Ace attacked Garp with all his might, only to receive a thorough beating.
Cavendish watched, dumbfounded, his rapier nearly slipping from his hand.
'Were these two really grandfather and grandson? By the intensity, they looked more like mortal enemies.'
With a final heavy punch, Ace lay flat on his back, his face barely recognizable.
Ace stared at the sky through swollen eyes, feeling utterly dejected.
The confidence he'd just rebuilt against Hanafuda and Cavendish was shattered again.
"You've still got a long way to go, brat!" Garp laughed, hands on his hips, then seemed to remember something. "Right, take me to see your captain, the one who beat Golden Lion."
"Why do you want to see our captain?" Ace asked warily.
"Don't worry. I'm not here to cause trouble. It's good news," Garp smiled.
On an open patch at the port's edge, a black-haired young man was turning meat over a huge bonfire.
It was a massive saber-toothed tiger. The meat sizzled over the flames, releasing a delicious aroma.
Ace and the others brought Garp over. "Captain, this is my grandfather, Garp. He wants to talk to you."
"Marine Hero, Monkey D. Garp?" Setsuna said without looking up, his voice as calm as if discussing the weather. The surrounding pirates were stunned.
"Huh? Marine Hero Garp?"
"No wonder he looked familiar. He hasn't been in the papers much lately. Heard he's semi-retired."
"Ha, that's me." Garp sat down without ceremony, ripping off a huge piece of roasted meat and stuffing it in his mouth. His eyes lit up instantly. "Truly top-class flavor!"
"You're too kind," Setsuna said with a slight smile.
Garp ate hungrily while pulling a crumpled, grease-stained paper from his coat. "For you. A Warlord invitation. Toss it if you don't want it."
Setsuna took the invitation but didn't look at it. He slowly raised his head. "Before we talk business, don't you owe me an explanation?"
"Explanation for what?" Garp looked genuinely confused, meat still on his lips.
"You hit one of my crew members earlier," Setsuna's voice remained calm, but the air seemed to grow colder.
"Huh?" Garp's eyes widened. "I am hitting his own grandson!"
"But he is my crew member now," Setsuna emphasized.
Complete silence fell. Everyone held their breath, nervously watching the standoff, 'This was the legendary Marine Hero who had pushed the Pirate King Roger to the brink multiple times. Was confronting him like this wise?'
However, Garp seemed to have a sudden realization. "Oh, right... Haha, should I apologize then?"
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief, 'This legendary hero was so agreeable?'
Setsuna's smile deepened. "An apology isn't enough."
"Then what do you want? Let me say upfront, I've got no money."
"Of course, to fight me." Setsuna stood up, battle intent burning in his eyes. "I want to feel the Conqueror's Haki that awakened within the Marines."
Ace looked dejected. He'd really thought Chiaki was standing up for him. Turns out he just wanted a fight.
Hearing this, Garp laughed heartily, cracking his knuckles. "Perfect! I also want to see what the kid who beat Golden Lion is made of!"