"Me again?"
Hearing Sengoku's order, Garp stared at the Den-Den Mushi, grinning in disbelief.
"Of course you! Who else could it be? You've already met him before. Besides—this time, you'll be the one to deliver his bounty."
Sengoku's voice carried no room for argument; he'd already prepared an excuse for Garp.
"Bounty?"
Garp blinked, confused.
After listening to Sengoku's explanation, his eyes widened in astonishment.
"Based on where he appeared, if he's following the Log Pose, his next stop should be Jaya Island. If you hurry, you can reach him before the pointer resets. Garp, this matter is important."
Sengoku's tone was firm, even grave.
"Alright, alright, the old man will make another run," Garp sighed, but his grin returned as he agreed.
"Find out what Don's goal is—at least his short-term one."
"Got it!"
With that, Garp hung up the Den-Den Mushi.
"Vice Admiral Garp?"
Bogard, who had been standing nearby, had heard everything and looked dumbfounded.
He still remembered when Mihawk had beaten him senseless once.
In his impression, Mihawk was the definition of aloof—arrogant, solitary, and utterly disinterested in companionship. Other than Red-Haired Shanks, the man supposedly had no friends at all.
Sailing together with someone? Unthinkable.
"What's with this Don guy?" Bogard muttered.
"How should I know? Maybe he's just… got great affinity or something," Garp said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. Then, waving his hand, he told Bogard to change course toward Jaya Island.
"Great affinity?"
Once Bogard left, Garp rubbed his chin, recalling his own encounter with Don.
"…Didn't feel that way to me though."
Jaya Island.
"No way, no way. I've got important business ahead. If we fight now, it'll drag on forever—and then my plans will be ruined!"
Don shook his head furiously, like a rattle drum.
Mihawk stared at him wordlessly.
"My mission's important! It concerns… the lives of many people!" Don explained earnestly.
"Lives?"
Issho, the blind swordsman, interjected curiously.
"Yes! I'm going to stop a great calamity!"
Don declared with the expression of a self-righteous hero.
Issho nodded several times, deeply convinced. "If that's the case, then indeed—it's a noble cause."
Mihawk observed their exchange quietly. "Then why didn't you seem in a hurry during our voyage here?"
Don paused, then answered seriously, "I was thinking—about how to get to Skypiea."
"Skypiea?"
Mihawk's brows furrowed slightly. His voice even wavered a bit.
The legend of Skypiea had circulated across the Grand Line for centuries—especially in the first half of the sea. But no one had ever found it. It was, by all accounts, a mere myth.
"Skypiea doesn't exist! It's just an old lie made up by that con artist Noland the Liar centuries ago!"
A passing man who overheard couldn't help blurting it out.
But as soon as he turned and saw the group—Don, Mihawk, Issho, and Robin—his face froze in terror. These were not people to trifle with.
Don cast him a single glance before turning back to his companions.
"I do have a way to reach Skypiea. But we'll have to wait until the Log Pose resets. Once it's ready—you'll see."
With that, Don motioned for Robin and walked deeper into the island.
Mihawk watched Don's back for a while, then turned to Issho.
"You can go with him."
"I cannot."
Issho shook his head firmly.
"Don's right. If this truly involves innocent lives, then this old man cannot just stand by."
After speaking, he tapped his cane sword on the ground and followed Don's trail.
Mihawk frowned as he watched them leave.
Was this man toying with him?
Yet to simply let go of such intriguing opponents—it didn't sit well with him either.
Force a duel?
His hand instinctively reached for his sword hilt… then relaxed.
"Fine," he muttered. "Let's see what game this Don is playing."
Thus, Mihawk followed them as well.
Soon, he found himself unwillingly roped into being their sword instructor—answering Don's endless questions while also correcting Robin's novice swings.
Days later, the Log Pose's needle finally stood upright.
"So… it's up there?" Mihawk asked, eyes narrowing.
"That's why it's called the Sky Island," Don replied casually.
"An island floating in the sky…" Issho mused. "Could it have something to do with that Golden Lion you mentioned before?"
"Who knows? Don't ask me," Don said with a shrug. "The legend's been around for centuries."
With that, he motioned for Robin and headed toward the port. There was still one more issue to deal with.
At Jaya's harbor, the Dog-Head battleship of the Marines was docked.
As soon as Garp leapt down from the ship, the pirates loitering nearby immediately turned tail and fled.
Normally, Garp might have ordered their capture—but not today.
His eyes swept over Don's group as they approached, lingering briefly on Mihawk, then shifting to Issho.
Especially those milky-white, sightless eyes.
So that's the one who called down the meteor…
Once in Alabasta, he'd dismissed it as coincidence. But the second time, out at sea—it couldn't be chance.
No way it was the girl beside Don. It had to be this man.
"If Vice Admiral Garp's got this much free time," Don called out dryly, "maybe go arrest a few pirates instead of blocking my path?"
Mihawk glanced at Don, then at Garp—curious about their relationship.
"You little brat," Garp grumbled. "If it weren't for you, this old man would still be back at HQ sipping tea and eating senbei!"
"So the Marines pay you to drink tea and snack all day?" Don shot back, expression deadpan.
"I've been running around these seas for half my life! Can't I take a little break?"
Don just waved his hand dismissively.
Seeing the two bicker, Robin turned toward the docked boat, with Issho following behind. Mihawk sighed and silently went with them as well.
Watching the three leave, Garp returned his gaze to Don.
"Not bad, kid. Just a few days into the Grand Line and you've already got such powerful allies. That meteor trick—he's the one behind it, right?"
"Yep." Don nodded.
"But don't get any funny ideas, old man. Right now, he's my comrade. If the Marines try to recruit him while he's with me, I'll be… very displeased."
Garp froze for a second, then burst into laughter. "As if! Don't be ridiculous!"
He waved a hand, and Bogard came forward carrying a large chest.
"Mr. Don."
Bogard nodded politely and handed over the box.
"What's this?" Don asked, tilting his head.
"Your bounty payment. From the pirates you helped eliminate earlier. You bagged a big one this time—the guy was one of this year's Supernovas, worth 280 million. And a few of his men were in the tens of millions range."
END OF CHAPTER
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