"You're really leaving? Not even going to stay for the one billion Berey ransom?" Garp asked in a hurry.
If Weiss really left, then whatever mysterious force that had vanished — possibly heading straight for him — might never show up!
"Of course I still want it. Why wouldn't I? That's hard-earned money through honest labor! What, you think I'd just give it to you?" Weiss shot Garp an annoyed look.
"But if you leave, you won't be able to collect it," Garp pointed out, realizing something was off.
"Exactly! Didn't you say I could leave as long as I didn't stir up trouble at the auction? Well, I'm skipping the auction altogether and setting sail now. Come on, come on, off my ship! I've got places to be!"
Weiss waved Garp off like he was some nuisance. You said: 'Don't cause trouble at the auction.'
Fine. I can't beat you, so I won't go to the auction. If I'm not there, I can't cause trouble, right?
But if I leave now, and only come back when the auction starts… What are you going to do then? You won't be able to find me.
Weiss was determined to figure out who the bastard was that spread this rumor. Without someone stirring the pot from behind the scenes, it never would've caught fire in the underground world like this.
Now he was stuck in a reactive position — the scavengers had arrived, the Navy too — what's next? CP agents knocking on his door?
...
...
Who knows what kind of cats and dogs would come sniffing around next? So annoying!
What Weiss didn't know was that CP had already made contact with his people — they just did it discreetly, unlike the others who acted openly.
"You're really not going to the auction?" Garp asked again, unwilling to give up.
"What for? I already know that technique. You think I'd pay for something I already understand? I'd have to be insane. You think I came here just to cause trouble? I'm not that bored."
Garp finally accepted that Weiss was serious, but he looked at the half-repaired, cracked deck and said, "Well, okay… but can your ship even sail right now?"
...
"No worries. As long as the keel's intact, Jack can fix it up as we go. It'll hold together fine. You don't have to concern yourself." Weiss responded firmly, clearly uncomfortable with Garp still hanging around.
He figured Sengoku had sent Garp just to confirm whether he had that technique or not. And now that he'd admitted it — reluctantly — Garp still didn't believe him. So why was he still loitering?
"Puhahaha! Weiss, you little rascal, you really crack me up," Garp chuckled, holding a donut in one hand and pointing at Weiss with the other. Crumbs dotted the corner of his mouth.
"Sengoku's not that bored, sending me just to spy on you. He only asked me to ask a few questions. I happened to hear about you while I was on the island, so I dropped by," Garp said as he stuffed another donut in his mouth.
"Really?" Weiss was skeptical. He didn't think he was important enough to warrant all this.
"Of course. Now that I'm sure you don't have the full technique, I'll be on my way," Garp said, and just like that, he left — not a trace of intention to stay behind.
Watching Garp's retreating figure, Weiss frowned. He couldn't tell what that old man was really thinking. Was he really that simple? Anyone who thought so had already been swallowed by the sea.
This was exactly what people meant by "great wisdom appearing like foolishness."
But what was his real goal?
Was it really just to ask about that technique?
"Captain, are we still leaving?" Jack approached. He hadn't even had time to inform Karina and the others yet.
"Of course we're leaving. But not just yet. First, we fix the ship, collect the ransom, then we go. Because of that baseless rumor, every shady creature on this island has crawled out of the woodwork."
"Even the Navy's hero has shown up. Who knows who'll come next?"
"So… are we coming back?" Jack asked again.
"Damn right we are. I need to find out which bastard's been spreading my information around!" Weiss growled through clenched teeth.
And deep down, Weiss made a decision — they were afraid he'd stir trouble?
Then he'd stir it good.
If this whirlpool wasn't chaotic enough, he'd make it worse. Make a big enough scene that those dogs and cats would think twice before coming at him again.
They were still in Paradise now, and six people had already tried to gang up on him. What would it be like once they entered the New World? It'd be even more exhausting.
Weiss would absolutely attend that auction.
And if that "technique" being auctioned turned out to be fake — he wouldn't mind spilling the real one.
But was the situation really what Weiss thought it was?
CP had given him information because they believed he had part of the technique. Sengoku, on the other hand, suspected he held the complete version.
"Puhahaha! Sengoku, you should've seen the look on Weiss's face! At first he denied it so hard — then, when I pressed him, he actually admitted it. Hilarious!" Garp was strolling down a quiet path, laughing loudly while speaking into a Den Den Mushi.
"I sent you to gather intel, and this is how you do it? You just went and asked him straight out? How reliable do you think that kind of intel is?" Sengoku's roar came through the other end.
Sengoku had secretly tasked Garp with investigating on Flying Bird Island. If the information checked out, they would approach Weiss with a plan. That kind of technology couldn't be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.
"Why sweat the small stuff? Gathering intel is gathering intel. Isn't asking the person directly the most straightforward way?" Garp said with his usual carefree attitude.
"So you're saying he denied it at first, but then admitted it after you pressured him?" Sengoku's tone suddenly calmed — he strongly suspected Weiss had only caved out of sheer annoyance.
"Exactly!" Garp replied while munching on a donut.
"Alright then. Stay put and wait for Momousagi and Chaton. They'll take over from here. You just help them however you can."
"If Weiss really shows up in the first half of the Grand Line and things get out of hand — then you can step in."
"Hello? Hello? Sengoku, what'd you say? Can't hear you, bad signal — I'm almost to the East Blue! Eh? No signal, gotta hang up!" Garp quickly disconnected and strolled leisurely around Bird Island.
He didn't believe there was anything on this island that Momousagi and Chaton couldn't handle.
'Control the situation'? He'd wait until the real storm showed up before worrying about that.
Back at Marine HQ, Sengoku rubbed his aching temples, glaring at the cut-off Den Den Mushi.
What the hell had he been thinking, sending Garp of all people to gather intelligence?
He should've just given him a simple mission. Why had he ever believed Garp had a shred of investigative skill?
By evening, a group of black-suited men appeared at the shore. Twenty of them, each carrying a briefcase, followed behind a middle-aged man in silence.
The man glanced coldly at five figures standing near the water and said nothing. He led his men straight toward the Chris.
The five watched him in a cold sweat, knowing full well they were in for a rough time when they got back. They might be from different camps, but they'd heard plenty about how ruthless this man was.
From the crow's nest, Jack spotted them arriving under the Chris, and immediately jumped down — no need to bother Weiss with this.
"I am Feld, under the command of the Queen of Pleasure District. I've come to pay the ransom," the man said, bowing politely.
"Our captain's resting. Just leave the money below and take your people," Jack replied calmly.
Feld glanced at Jack. The fiery clouds above the sea reflected behind him, making his face hard to see.
"Understood. We'll be leaving immediately."
Feld's group made a clean and silent exit.
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(COMPLETED)