Three days later, Foosha Village.
Tesoro left with his heart full of worry for his daughter and a growing fear of the blond-haired delinquent who might appear in her future.
There was no way Tesoro could possibly keep an eye on his precious daughter.
The Blood Kingdom had no blind spots.
But in the end, he still chose to let it go.
Because she was his daughter.
Tesoro's daughter.
The port had returned to its usual peaceful silence.
"Rouge! I was wrong! I only had one little sip! Really! Just one little sip!"
Roger clutched his head and ran wildly around the house under Rouge's gentle gaze.
"Oh? One little sip?"
Rouge smiled sweetly as she lifted a wine barrel large enough to practically fit Roger inside.
"Then what number little sip is this one you hid under the bed?"
"You even dug a hole under the bed just to hide your alcohol!"
"Have I ever told you not to destroy the house, Roger?!"
Just as Roger was about to receive another round of the legendary Bitter Melon Baptism, a loud, booming voice suddenly came from the direction of the port, shattering the peaceful atmosphere.
"ANNNNN!!! Grandpa's back! Look what Grandpa brought you to eat!!!"
The voice was far too familiar.
Rouge, who had been in the middle of educating her husband, and Roger, who had been fleeing for his life, both froze.
The next moment...
A little boy wearing a straw hat, his face covered in bruises, stood on a shabby little boat and waved excitedly toward the shore.
"Foosha Village! I'm back!!!"
Almost at the exact same moment, another slash tore through the air from the direction of Roger's house and cleaved toward the Marine warship with the dog head.
"Divine Departure! You bastard, Garp!"
"Calling Ann your niece is my bottom line! She's my daughter!!!"
The golden slash ripped through the air, sending every seagull at the port scattering in terror.
Garp had just jumped off the warship with a huge bag of senbei in his hands.
He casually threw a punch and shattered the slash.
"ROGER!!! You old bastard, you're still alive?! Tch!"
Garp was furious.
For some reason, every time he saw Roger, he immediately felt annoyed.
Roger sheathed his sword and picked his nose, looking toward the port with disdain.
"That brat's back?"
"Gurararara! Looks like Luffy hasn't been fed enough Marine justice by that old bastard Garp."
Luffy, of course, was instantly offended.
"I'm gonna be the man who becomes Pirate King before Ace, Sabo, and Ann!!!"
Rouge gently sighed.
She said nothing.
Shanks' influence on Luffy in Foosha Village had truly been profound.
Even without the arm incident, one had to remember that Luffy had been surrounded by two of the greatest sea demons in the world.
Roger and Shanks.
How was a child supposed to resist that?!
On one side, there was Marine Grandpa Garp, who would yell, "I'm going to become Pirate King!" and respond with a series of love-filled iron fists.
On the other side, there was Shanks, who would simply give a thumbs-up and say:
"A man of the sea longs for freedom."
"I believe you can become Pirate King one day."
"Do your best, Luffy."
The recognition of the former Pirate King, the salvation of Shanks, and his curiosity about Ace, Sabo, and Ann's current Pirate King uncle had all left a deep impression on Luffy.
After all, whenever he heard about the current Pirate King from those three, the man sounded unbelievably free.
Without a doubt, he was recognized as the freest man on the sea.
And after Garp had Ann as a successful example, he only became even more enthusiastic.
Every now and then, he would drag Luffy away for a round of "Love's Iron Fist Training."
As for why he did not specifically focus on Ace and Sabo...
That was mainly because the first time Garp saw the lively and kicking Roger inside Roger's house, he experienced an earthquake in his heart no weaker than magnitude ten.
Roger had scratched his head and explained in a tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.
"Oh, me?"
"I did die on the execution platform, yeah."
"But now? I'm just a peaceful old geezer living off my wife and kids."
"Violence and fighting are bad for your health."
Garp:
"..."
As for Ann, she had once again demonstrated her ultimate skill.
Obedience.
Every time Garp came over, she would stand perfectly straight, look at him with those pure, innocent eyes, and seriously say:
"Grandpa Garp."
She was sensible.
She was obedient.
If Garp told her to stand in a horse stance, she stood in a horse stance.
If Garp lectured her about Marine justice, she listened with absolute seriousness.
She never talked back.
Compared to her, Ace and Sabo rolled their eyes during training and shouted every day about becoming Pirate King.
As a result, Ann received the fewest of Garp's "Love's Iron Fists" out of the three.
She was practically the perfect example of a future Marine recruit in Garp's eyes.
Ann: I have always said that I'm extremely smart.
Uncle Ritter said, "Those who understand the situation are the true heroes."
Ann remembered that very clearly.
Garp firmly believed that with enough time, Ann could absolutely become an outstanding Marine with the strength of an Admiral and a deep understanding of Marine justice.
At this moment, Garp completely ignored Roger's Divine Departure and the rather dim-looking grandson beside him.
He happily hugged his senbei and strode toward Roger's house.
"Doesn't matter! Hurry, hurry, hurry! Let me see Ann!"
"I wonder if Ann missed me!"
"I've already thought of the perfect training program this time!"
However, when he charged into the yard and searched the training ground, the dining room, and even the roof, he failed to find the obedient little girl carrying a greatsword.
An ominous feeling slowly rose in his heart.
"Hm?"
"Where's Ann?"
"And where did those two brats, Ace and Sabo, run off to this time?"
Garp scratched his head.
Luffy had just jumped down from the pirate ship, fresh wounds still visible on his face.
He adjusted his straw hat and shouted loudly.
"Grandpa!"
"Ace and the others definitely secretly went out to sea and became pirates!"
"That's so unfair!"
"I'm the man who's going to become Pirate King! They didn't even wait for me!!!"
"Pirate King?!"
A massive vein instantly appeared on Garp's forehead.
Without the slightest hesitation, he swung his fist backward and smashed Luffy on the head.
"BAM!"
"Ow!!!"
A massive lump visibly rose from the top of Luffy's head.
"You little brat!"
"You still dare to mention Pirate King?!"
After roaring at Luffy, Garp once again turned his hopeful gaze toward Rouge, who had just walked out after hearing the commotion.
"Rouge!"
"Where are Ann and the others?"
"Did they go train in the mountains?"
Rouge smiled gently.
There was a hint of apology in her expression.
"Mr. Garp, Ace, Sabo, and Ann..."
"They went out to sea three days ago."
They went out to sea.
Out to sea.
To sea...
Garp:
"..."
The smile on the old man's face froze.
They went out to sea?
The obedient granddaughter he had placed such high hopes on...
The one with the greatest potential to become a Marine Admiral...
Ann...
Had gone out to sea with her two completely irresponsible brothers?!
They became pirates?!
A cold sea breeze swept past.
A few fallen leaves were carried away by the wind, as if providing background music for Garp's shattered heart.
"North wind blowing cold"
"Tears flowing strong"
After a brief silence...
"WHAAAAAAAAAT?!"
Garp's roar shook the entire Foosha Village three times.
He grabbed Roger by the collar and began shaking him violently.
"ROGER!!!"
"Was this your idea?!"
"Did you teach my Ann to be a pirate?!"
"Give my obedient granddaughter back!!!"
Roger's head spun from the shaking, but he still refused to back down.
"Wha... what do you mean, your Ann?!"
"She's my daughter!"
"And they ran away on their own!"
"What does that have to do with me?!"
"Rouge, save me!!!"
Rouge could only helplessly rub her forehead.
Luffy covered the lump on his head and looked at his rampaging grandfather and the battered Roger.
Then he burst into carefree laughter.
"Ahahaha!"
"Going out to sea and becoming a pirate really is the most fun thing ever!"
"I need to hurry up and go out to sea too!"
The next second, Garp's Love's Iron Fist struck Luffy once again.
"BAM!"
"OWWWWW!!!"
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