"I thought I was dead for sure, but I didn't die, hahahahaha!"
Garp sat cross-legged on the floor, scratching his head and laughing carefreely, making Tsuru sigh in exasperation.
However, Tsuru took a closer look.
Though Garp's head, upper body, and arms were wrapped in bandages, his voice was strong and full of energy, showing no signs of having suffered life-threatening injuries.
"It seems he healed your wounds."
Tsuru relaxed, even teasing her old friend Garp.
Garp grinned. "That brat is really good at treating external injuries..."
Then, his smile faded as he looked Tsuru straight in the eyes. "You might not believe it, but he only gave me one shot."
"Really?"
Tsuru's expression changed slightly.
Garp emphasized seriously, "I had already given it my all."
With just that one sentence, Tsuru could imagine the kind of battle Garp had gone through.
Knowing Garp as she did, he would never admit defeat unless he was truly incapable of fighting.
As long as he could still move his limbs, this old soldier would never stop fighting.
For Garp to be rendered unable to fight, his injuries must have been severe enough to include broken bones all over his body.
Yet, such critical injuries were healed with just one shot?
Honestly, Tsuru found it hard to believe.
But the evidence was right in front of her.
Garp was full of energy. If not for the bandages covering him, no one would guess he had been seriously injured.
"Three days."
Garp added another detail that shocked Tsuru.
"Then you..."
Tsuru glanced at the bandages on Garp's body, her eyes filled with confusion.
Garp scratched his head and laughed. "That brat is too heartless. He just left me here and ignored me. If I take off these bandages, how am I supposed to stay here?"
Tsuru: "..."
So you're worried about dirtying the cell and making it uncomfortable, which is why you won't remove the bandages?
Damn you, old man!
Serves you right for being locked up!
Tsuru cursed inwardly before saying thoughtfully, "It seems Dr. Reddy has improved the Active Agent, making its effects even more remarkable."
The first achievement Reddy presented after joining Punk Hazard was the Active Agent.
The Marines—even the World Government—had backups of the technology.
However, after testing, it was found that while the Active Agent had excellent effects on external injuries, it had little effect on fractures.
Now, this improved version could heal fractures while maintaining its outstanding effectiveness on external injuries, making it the best medical treatment in the world.
Though it only added the ability to heal fractures, its strategic value was immense.
Once mass-produced for the Marines, soldiers could fight more recklessly against ruthless pirates.
As long as they didn't die, one shot would restore them to full health in just two or three days.
Thinking of this, Tsuru's eyes lit up.
"Tsuru, you thought of it too, didn't you?"
Garp grinned, pleased with Tsuru's expression.
Honestly, Reddy's past achievements had seemed like trivial gadgets to him.
For strong individuals, external injuries could heal on their own without treatment.
For ordinary Marines, the Active Agent did significantly reduce mortality rates, but given existing medical technology, it was merely the icing on the cake.
However, the shot Reddy gave him left an extremely deep impression.
He had gone into battle prepared to die and had indeed fought until his last breath.
Yet, with just one shot, he survived.
If even such near-fatal injuries could be healed, was there any need to doubt the effectiveness of this new Active Agent?
Tsuru sighed helplessly. "You might be disappointed."
"Huh?"
Garp was stunned.
Tsuru smiled bitterly. "Do you know what price he demanded for you all?"
When Garp heard the price Reddy had set, he was shocked speechless for a long time.
"How much am I worth?"
Garp asked dazedly.
Tsuru sighed. "He didn't set a price, and I didn't ask."
Vice Admirals were worth 200 million Berries, but Garp, the Hero of the Marines, couldn't be measured by a simple number.
She didn't know why Reddy hadn't set a price for Garp, but she understood that they couldn't show their determination to retrieve Garp without more significant bargaining chips.
Tsuru shook her head. "The World Government won't approve this funding for Marineford."
Garp also smiled bitterly.
Both the Marines and the World Government had backups of the first-generation Active Agent technology.
Without sufficient reason, the World Government wouldn't spend money to buy the second-generation Active Agent.
After all, the first-generation Active Agent had already begun small-scale production.
However, after losing the Punk Hazard research facility, the project to mass-produce donors had been greatly affected.
"Don't forget he also developed the Artificial Devil Fruit Serum."
Tsuru's words left Garp stunned again.
Artificial Devil Fruits had always been a project the Marines highly valued.
Vegapunk had been a key figure in this project, but he had since been transferred to Egghead to oversee the Pacifista Project and the Seraphim Project.
Garp sighed. "That brat really has a lot of good stuff."
Tsuru remained silent.
Though Reddy hadn't shown many of his inventions, each one was highly coveted.
Not to mention those monstrous clones.
The new Active Agent!
The Artificial Devil Fruit Serum!
Any one of these achievements could change the world.
Who could guarantee he didn't have even more hidden away?
"Alright, now that I know you're alive, I can rest easy."
Tsuru turned to leave but was stopped by Garp.
"Tsuru..."
Garp waited until she turned back before saying seriously, "Take them back. Don't worry about an old man like me. Dr. Reddy won't kill me."
Tsuru was silent for a moment before replying quietly, "Are you sure you're not just slacking off by asking not to be rescued?"
Garp laughed heartily. "You saw right through me, hahahaha!"
Tsuru shook her head with a smile and left the cell under Mon's guidance.
After so many years of friendship, she could easily see through Garp's tricks.
Being locked up here was great—he wasn't even shackled.
If Garp wanted to escape, it would be effortless.
Watching Tsuru disappear from sight, Garp crossed his arms and waited patiently for a long time. Only when he heard the faint sound of the door closing did he grin and stand up, walking to the cell bars.
He grabbed the bars and pulled them apart.
Garp stepped out of his cell and walked to another cell, sitting down outside it. "Shiki, I'm here to see you again."
"Shut up, Garp!"
The sound of chains clattering came from inside the cell as Shiki roared, "If you're here to laugh at me, you'll be disappointed."
Garp grinned, eyeing the Seastone shackles around Shiki's waist. "Back then, you cut off your legs to escape Impel Down. Do you still have the guts to do that now?"
Shiki's face darkened, and he said nothing.
He knew Garp was just mocking him.
Aside from the Seastone shackles around his waist, his hands and neck were also locked in Seastone restraints.
He couldn't even kill himself if he wanted to.
Since being imprisoned here, he had tried starving himself, preferring death over humiliation.
But he couldn't even starve to death.
Whenever he refused to eat, someone would come in and inject him with something unknown. No matter how weak he felt, he remained alive.
Aside from starvation, he had tried other methods like biting off his tongue, but he was always saved.
"That guy wants you to work for him?"
Shiki hadn't wanted to speak, but he couldn't stand Garp's smug face in front of him.
"You've really gotten old."
Garp shook his head. "My range of movement ends here. If I go beyond this line, at least three incredibly powerful Haki presences will appear immediately."
"Really?"
Shiki stared at Garp's eyes in disbelief until he confirmed Garp wasn't lying. A wave of despair washed over him.
There were at least three strong individuals watching this place?
He hadn't sensed even a hint of them.
Garp grinned. "Once you're in that brat's hands, don't even think about escaping. Just chat with an old friend like me."
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