Chapter 75: Recovery and Resolve
By the time Satoru opened his eyes again, night had fallen over the ruined base. The only light came from flickering lanterns and torches held by Marines who had returned and were now working to clear the massive piles of debris. Garp sat on a chunk of broken wall beside the simple cot, a silent, mountainous silhouette keeping watch.
"This time… the drain was really something else," Satoru muttered, pushing himself up slowly. A deep feeling of exhaustion clung to his bones, a hollow ache that was more than just physical. Using his techniques against an Emperor, pushing his new Haki to the limit—it had all taken its toll.
"You're a reckless brat, you know that?" Garp's voice was gruff, but the worry was clear. He tossed something toward Satoru. It was a large, roasted haunch of meat, still steaming.
Satoru caught it. Just looking at it, he could tell it was Sea King meat—incredibly dense, packed with nutrients that would help his body recover faster than anything else. He took a bite. A wave of warmth spread through his core almost instantly, fighting back the cold fatigue.
"Didn't have a choice," Satoru said between bites. "It was Kaido. If I didn't go all out, you'd have shown up to find a crater and a grease spot."
"If that happened," Garp said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous rumble, "I'd have made that dragon wish he'd never been born."
Satoru didn't doubt it for a second. The sheer, cold killing intent in Garp's words was unmistakable.
"Once you're back on your feet, you're coming to Headquarters with me," Garp stated, gesturing at the destruction around them. "It'll take months to rebuild this place."
"No," Satoru said, his voice firm. He took another big bite of meat. "I'm staying. I'm going to rebuild it. I'll make this base into a second Marine Headquarters."
Garp looked at him, surprise flickering in his eyes. That was a grand ambition. When the G-8 Marines had returned, Garp had been quietly shocked. Their individual strength was exceptional—their physiques robust, their movements sharp. He'd learned that every single one of them had mastered at least two of the Rokushiki techniques. That was a level of training not even the main Headquarters garrison could boast. For a moment, he'd thought that if Satoru ever became an instructor, he might surpass even Zephyr.
"That's a heavy goal," Garp said slowly. "A dangerous one. If you're not careful, the people above will think you're building your own private army. They'll see a rebellious heart."
"So what?" Satoru replied, his pale blue eyes gleaming in the torchlight. "Don't you think this world needs to change, old man? It's rotten. Rotten right down to the bone."
Garp's breath hitched. He stared at his grandson, utterly shocked. He had heard those words before. Years ago. From his own son. He never expected to hear them again here, from this boy.
"You… and Dragon. You really are the same type," Garp said, his voice heavy. "No wonder he tried to recruit you."
The two spoke as if the working Marines around them were not there, their conversation lost in the sounds of reconstruction.
"The Revolutionary Army has a purpose," Satoru conceded. "But they're still too weak. With their current strength, overthrowing the World Government is just a dream." In his mind, only Dragon himself posed a top-tier threat. The other commanders weren't on that level yet.
"You have your own idea, then?" Garp asked, studying him.
"Not a full plan yet," Satoru admitted, finishing the last of the meat. "But the first step is always the same: get stronger. If you become strong enough, you can change the world by yourself. Right?"
Garp stared at him for a long moment. Then, a loud, booming laugh burst from his chest. "HAHAHA! You really are something else, kid! The old man definitely didn't pick you up for no reason!" His laughter faded into a serious, supportive look. "Then do what you think is right. Don't hold back. If any consequences come, this old man will bear them for you."
Satoru had to admit, Garp saying that was incredibly reliable.
"I'll bet Dragon said something similar to you before he left," Satoru said with a faint smirk.
Instantly, Garp's face darkened like a stormcloud. "He did NOT! The old man almost knocked his head off his shoulders back then!" He scowled, the memory clearly fresh and infuriating. "I've got a better temper now that I'm older. Otherwise, you'd be getting a 'Love-Love Fist' reminder right about now!"
The difference in treatment was stark. His own son versus the grandson he picked up. The adopted one seemed to get all the understanding.
"Well… my condolences to Dragon, then," Satoru said dryly.
"Listen," Garp's voice turned gravely serious. He leaned in. "Whatever path you walk, I won't stop you. But I hope you don't lose your way. Don't do anything that brings true harm to innocent people or betrays the Navy's core duty. If you do… even if it costs me my life, I'll stop you. I said that to Dragon. And I'm saying it to you now."
"I know," Satoru said, meeting his grandfather's gaze steadily. "Don't worry. I won't do anything that harms the world. What I want… is to save it."
Garp nodded slowly. He was a loyal Marine, perhaps to a fault. But as a family man, he was a complicated mess. Not opposing his son and grandson's chosen paths was, for a man in his position, perhaps the greatest support he could offer. If Garp himself ever left the Navy, the World Government's retaliation would be swift and terrible, extending to his family, his friends, his home village of Windmill. His influence was too great. His defection would cause chaos.
"I'll hold you to that," Garp said, his expression softening. "I'll stick around for a few days. Make sure you're fully healed before I go."
"Okay," Satoru said. He felt a genuine warmth in his chest. Garp was staying to protect him, to make sure no other threat came while he was vulnerable. It was a quiet, stubborn kind of love.
As Garp stood up to check on the reconstruction efforts, Satoru lay back, looking at the stars beginning to peek through the clearing smoke. His body was tired, but his mind was racing. A second Headquarters. A fortress that can stand against Emperors. The goal was set. Now, he just had to get strong enough to make it a reality. The clash with Kaido had shown him the mountain he still had to climb. And he was more determined than ever to reach the top.
(End of Chapter)
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