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Both Garp and Sengoku know that Larson is a dangerous person. In the Navy's assessment of the world's danger level, Larson ranks on the same level as Whitebeard, so every seemingly ordinary word he speaks causes a ripple of concern for Sengoku and Garp. Each time Larson speaks, they must carefully consider and analyze whether he has a hidden agenda before they respond.
"Haha, I don't think it's necessary. You are pirates, and we are Navy. Our positions are different. If we go together, it would be easy for people to misunderstand," Sengoku said with an expressionless face.
Larson appeared slightly helpless. "How long has it been, and you're still concerned about that? Right now, we share a common goal, which is reaching the deepest part of Yerug Island. We have to proceed either way, so cooperation seems reasonable."
Garp looked thoughtful, mentally weighing the truth behind Larson's words.
"Garp, have you noticed that the crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates and Roger Pirates we encountered earlier are missing?" Sengoku suddenly whispered to Garp.
At these words, Garp snapped to attention. Yes! When they initially met on the first floor, Larson had a sizable team, including Whitebeard, with dozens in total. Yet, after half a day, only Whitebeard and Larson remained.
"Do you think they might have... turned into those on the second floor?" Garp began but then dismissed the thought immediately. If Whitebeard and Larson could be taken down by those beasts and become undead, then how would they still be standing here?
Garp and Sengoku had traversed the levels and fully understood the dangers lurking on each floor. However, their primary objective was investigating the island rather than taking down every shadow, unlike Larson, who seemed set on wiping them out.
"They seem particularly devious. I think it would be best if we part ways from them as soon as possible," Garp muttered.
"That makes sense," Sengoku agreed, and the two quickly aligned on the idea. Sengoku glanced at Garp and then stepped forward, taking the lead.
"Sengoku is better at speaking than I am," Garp thought, leaving the conversation in his hands.
Without breaking his serious expression, Sengoku addressed Larson. "We have our own tasks to handle, so it's better if we part ways. However, you are right about one thing—we have a shared purpose, so until we reach the core area of Yerug Island, neither of us should look for a fight."
Larson barely held back from laughing out loud at Sengoku's tone.
Once Sengoku finished, he turned and started to walk away without waiting for a response from either Larson or Whitebeard. Whitebeard glanced meaningfully at Larson, as if to ask what they should do next.
Larson gave Whitebeard a nod and followed him!
Did they truly think they could just leave?
But Larson had no intention of letting them escape his sights so easily. Before long, Sengoku and Garp realized Larson and Whitebeard were tailing them.
Sengoku was visibly irritated. "They really can't hold back, can they?"
Garp looked unfazed. "It doesn't matter. If worse comes to worst, we'll just fight."
Sengoku held back a sigh, thinking, Easy for you to say. His Devil Fruit had allowed him to be virtually invincible in past battles, but Larson posed a unique threat that rendered Sengoku's powers ineffective. The mere thought made Sengoku regret having eaten the Devil Fruit at all.
They soon realized the deeper problem—Larson and Whitebeard weren't closing in but keeping a calculated distance, almost as if they were merely following, observing, as though they were taking their time on a leisurely walk.
Finally, Sengoku couldn't take it anymore and stopped in his tracks, his patience thoroughly tested.
He turned, glaring at Larson and Whitebeard. "Enough! What exactly are you trying to do?"
Larson and Whitebeard exchanged glances, feigning confusion as they stared back at Sengoku. "We're just walking here. What's the problem?" Larson asked innocently.
Sengoku clenched his fists, teeth gritted. "If you're just walking, then why are you following us?"
Larson raised his hands in mock helplessness. "Now, that's not right. Why are you assuming we're following you? There's only one path to the core area. Where else should we go? Are we supposed to take a detour?"
Sengoku's face flushed with frustration. He had never encountered anyone as exasperatingly shameless as Larson.
To make things worse, he knew they couldn't overpower Larson. Even with Garp, they'd be facing Whitebeard alongside Larson, a two-on-two where they had no guaranteed advantage and a very real risk of defeat.
The forest around them felt increasingly sinister, and Sengoku could sense it. He knew that if a fight broke out here, something dark and unpredictable might happen. To avoid any potential disaster, Sengoku thought it best to avoid confrontation if possible.
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku made a reluctant concession, prepared to step aside if it meant avoiding conflict. "Alright, I'll leave this path to you. We'll find another way."
With that, Sengoku grabbed Garp, signaling they were leaving.
Larson watched them go, clearly unimpressed. Did he agree to this arrangement? Apparently not, as Whitebeard immediately followed, moving even faster than Larson. Larson looked at Whitebeard with approval; it was good to keep things moving.
Soon enough, Sengoku realized Larson and Whitebeard were still following them, which finally pushed him to his limit.
A vein popped on his forehead, and with clenched teeth, Sengoku growled, "What exactly are you trying to do? I told you, I don't want a fight here!"
Larson smiled. "Now, now, no need to get upset. My captain and I really have no other motives. We just want to travel with you. It's all the same path, after all, don't you think?"
Sengoku's face darkened as he glared at Larson. After a few tense moments, he sighed, sounding weary. "Fine, if you insist on following, then follow."
Garp, with his usual unbothered expression, scratched his nose. "Sengoku, why do you seem so tense about all this?"
Sengoku glared at him. "You're imagining things."
Larson and Whitebeard walked over, closing the gap. Larson extended his hand, looking more than pleased. "Here's to a smooth journey together."
Sengoku, feeling no enthusiasm, shook Larson's hand. It was a strange sight: a high-ranking Navy officer shaking hands with a pirate. If word of this got out, Sengoku's reputation would surely take a hit.
"Enough with the formalities. Let's get moving," Sengoku muttered, turning away sharply and heading down the path without looking back, clearly done with pleasantries.
Though he appeared to accept the arrangement, Sengoku was already developing a plan in his mind. He would act as though Larson and Whitebeard were invisible along the journey, but he kept his guard up, always tracking their movements.
He knew Larson wouldn't be so insistent on traveling with them without a hidden agenda. Larson had to have a reason for this "cooperation"; otherwise, why go to such lengths just to stick close to them? Sengoku couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing behind Larson's friendly guise.
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