A week had passed since Yoriichi began his Haki training, and already Garp's warships were running short on supplies.
Since leaving port, no word had come regarding the Roger Pirates' movements. Garp knew this pursuit would be yet another long chase—like so many before.
So, when his fleet passed the Kingdom of Nir, he gave the order to dock and resupply. He also intended to gather any intelligence available on Roger's crew.
---
The Nir Kingdom was a modest power in the New World. Though called a kingdom, it was little more than a large island, perhaps even smaller than the Sabaody Archipelago, with only tens of thousands of permanent residents. Its so-called Royal Army numbered a mere thousand.
For survival's sake, the kingdom had aligned itself with the World Government, and it hosted a Marine branch as a forward outpost into the New World.
Yet beneath that official front, Nir maintained ties with the underworld, its back covered by Whitebeard's banner. It quietly offered pirates a safe haven, places to rest and resupply.
With one foot in the lawful world and the other in shadows, Nir had carved itself a precarious foothold in the New World.
The result was a strange balance: the Marine branch here kept a deliberately low profile, more concerned with gathering intelligence than open confrontation. When true crises erupted, the Royal Army intervened—though pirate skirmishes were often ignored unless civilians were harmed. When nobles were threatened, the kingdom would simply raise Whitebeard's flag, and the Navy could do little.
After all, almost every pirate in the New World carried a bounty. With countless rogues to chase, the Navy's stretched resources couldn't cover them all. Small pirate crews plundered and fled; chasing them across the seas was futile. But if anyone dared defy Whitebeard, his vengeance would thunder across the world.
Here, Whitebeard's name was worth far more than the Navy's.
The Navy's role was simply to preserve what stability it could. Hunting pirates depended entirely on how dangerous they were. Their weakness here would one day drive the World Government to create the Shichibukai system—a compromise to preserve order. Pirates legalized as enforcers. What a cruel joke.
Still, chaotic outposts like Nir were invaluable for information. That was Garp's true purpose: uncovering Roger's trail.
---
Hualala—!
The anchor of the dog-headed warship splashed into the harbor. A wooden gangplank extended, thudding against the dock.
Cloaked in justice, Vice Admiral Garp descended first. Behind him came Aokiji and Bogart, followed by a red-haired young man with a long sword at his hip and a black eyepatch covering one eye—Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
The eyepatch, borrowed from Aokiji, forced him to rely on Observation Haki. After days of relentless training, he'd reached the threshold of mastery—blindfolded, his movements no longer faltered. His progress shocked the entire crew.
But his Armament Haki lagged behind. Though he could coat his strikes, his strength was far too weak to pierce Garp's guard. He couldn't even match Axe-Hand Morgan in raw power.
At the port waited Major General Roca, commander of the G-10 branch. The old marine, easily in his seventies, had been expecting them. Long white brows drooped past his eyes as he stood there, seemingly half-asleep, until the sound of the ladder roused him.
He cracked open his eyes, saw Garp, and smiled faintly. His voice, rough with age, carried across the dock.
"You're early. And you haven't changed a bit, Garp."
Though only a rear admiral in rank, Roca spoke to Garp without formality. The marines behind Garp were unfazed; they knew of the bond between the two.
"Major General Roca!" they greeted warmly.
"Go on, get busy," Roca waved them off before turning to Garp. His tone was blunt, his words straight to the point. "I've no news of Roger."
"Hahahaha! Uncle Roca, I mainly came to see you," Garp boomed with laughter.
Roca only shook his head. "Come, let's go inside. You can rest there."
The two veterans walked shoulder to shoulder toward the Marine branch. Yoriichi removed his eyepatch, curiosity lighting his gaze. He nudged Aokiji's side.
"Kuzan… who is this Rear Admiral Roca? He seems very close to Vice Admiral Garp."
Aokiji gave a quiet chuckle. "Oh, Roca? He's the Navy's most famous intelligence officer. Back in the day, Vice Admiral Garp, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and even Admiral Sengoku all served under him."
Yoriichi frowned, whispering, "The most famous intelligence officer? Then his ability must be incredible. But why is he still only a rear admiral?"
Before Aokiji could reply, Roca's voice floated back to them. Despite being several paces ahead, he had heard every word.
"That's because this old man got tired of the sea. Better to live quietly, keep your feet on the ground… and maybe live a few years longer."
Yoriichi froze, embarrassed. He hadn't thought the elder would hear his hushed words.
"My apologies, Major General Roca," he said with a bow.
Roca stopped, waiting for them to catch up. He waved dismissively at Yoriichi's apology, then studied him more closely. Turning to Garp, he asked, "Who's this boy? I don't know him."
Garp jerked his chin, silently urging Yoriichi to introduce himself.
"My name is Yoriichi Tsugikuni, sir."
At that, a flicker of emotion softened Roca's lined face. "So young… It's been a long time since I've seen a recruit like you."
He leaned forward slightly, eyes glinting. "Curious, are you? How I heard you so easily?"
He tapped his ear. "This old man ate the Listen-Listen Fruit. If I choose, I can hear every voice on this island."
Yoriichi's eyes widened. "To hear everything… that must be exhausting."
For a heartbeat, Roca blinked at him. Then a deep laugh erupted from his chest.
"Hahahaha! Interesting boy!"
With that, he turned his back on them and strode on, pulling Garp along toward the base.
---
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