"This year's Supernovae?"
Don glanced at the crate Bogart handed over, casually caught it, and tossed it toward the distance.
Issho, who had already walked several paces away, turned and raised his hand, catching the box before passing it to Robin aboard the ship.
"Is he dead?"
"No, he recognized Hawk-Eye. After falling into the sea, he didn't move — got himself captured," Bogart replied as he took his place behind Don.
"I see… then this isn't something you should've come running to report yourself. So, what did you find? If it's still about that previous matter, as long as you agree to my conditions, I could consider helping."
Garp scratched his face awkwardly.
"No, not that. A Logia-type Devil Fruit isn't something the Marines can just hand out as a reward anyway. I'm actually here for another reason this time."
After thinking it over, Garp decided to speak plainly.
"I came to ask—what exactly is your goal?"
Garp was never one for beating around the bush. With Don standing before him, he chose to go straight to the point.
"My goal? I'm a pirate hunter."
Don's reply came without hesitation.
"That answer won't do, old man's already heard it before," Garp said, shaking his head.
If that was really it, then this whole trip had been for nothing. Besides, Don's tone clearly sounded evasive.
"I'm thinking of forming something like a Hunter Guild — gathering hunters, pirate hunters for instance."
Seeing Garp's expression, Don thought for a moment, deciding it best to drop a little warning to the Marines.
"A Hunter Guild?"
Garp blinked, then gave Don a rather strange look.
Organizations like that did exist, but most were small fry — just a few dozen pirate hunters teaming up to catch bounties together.
But Don's plan clearly wasn't something so simple.
"What about Hawk-Eye? And that other guy?"
Garp thought for a moment, then asked about Hawk-Eye and Issho.
"Hawk-Eye's a hunter too — a Marine Hunter," Don said with a faint smirk.
"As for the other one… you could call him my comrade — a powerful man who hasn't sailed much until recently."
Don didn't elaborate further on Issho.
"Marine Hunter, huh?" Garp thought back to the time Hawk-Eye was chased off by the Marines, then nodded. "That suits him. So, what's his real purpose?"
"To fight me."
Don thought for a second, then added, "But there wasn't a good spot before. We'll find an uninhabited island later and settle it there. Maybe after that, Hawk-Eye will leave."
"That does sound like him."
Garp nodded; that matched Hawk-Eye's usual character.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be off."
Don waved a hand and walked back toward his ship.
Garp didn't stop him — he'd asked what needed asking, and could now report to Sengoku.
Still, the mention of this so-called "Hunter Guild" wasn't something simple.
Garp's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
"Vice Admiral Garp," Bogart said suddenly, "Back in Alabasta, Don clashed with Warlord Crocodile — though the outcome was never confirmed. Now he's traveling with Hawk-Eye… could he really be planning something?"
"In just a short time, he's interacted with not two, but four Warlords of the Sea… it's hard not to suspect something," Garp muttered.
"Let Sengoku worry about it. I've done my part," Garp said finally as he boarded the Doghead warship.
As Don's vessel departed Jaya Island, Garp contacted Sengoku and relayed everything he'd learned.
"A Hunter Guild? So he's planning to build a major organization?" Sengoku asked sharply.
"Don't ask me — he didn't say. But with his ability, it's likely," Garp replied.
"So he's looking to unite the pirate hunters under his banner?"
Sengoku's tone was unreadable, as if weighing the pros and cons.
"Not just pirate hunters," Garp said, recalling Don's tone earlier.
"I see… then once the guild forms, there'll definitely be word of it. We'll monitor it then."
Sengoku leaned back. "As for Hawk-Eye — you're saying he's there to challenge Don?"
"Yeah. You know his kind — countless swordsmen have challenged him."
"So that's why they're traveling together — Don refused?"
"No, there just wasn't a proper place to fight."
"I see. That does sound like him. And the other man?"
"Don said he's a powerful fighter who hasn't ventured out to sea much before, but he's certainly no weakling."
Garp remembered the overwhelming presence Issho radiated — his sheer physique alone was monstrous.
"So our guess was right. Another hidden powerhouse on the seas," Sengoku murmured. "A pity we didn't recruit him first."
After a moment, Sengoku asked, "And what's Don's next destination?"
"That I don't know," Garp admitted. "You know how Jaya's Log Pose works — it's useless there. But with their strength, finding the next island's no problem. If they're heading for the New World, they'll pass through Sabaody eventually."
"True enough. Then let's leave it at that. Also — you've probably heard — Red-Haired Shanks and Big Mom have clashed in the New World. The Marines are preparing to move. You're to oversee this operation — make sure it doesn't spill over."
"Are we intervening?" Garp frowned.
"Not necessarily. We'll observe first."
"Got it."
"I've already sent Kuzan ahead. Meet him when you arrive," Sengoku ordered, ending the call.
Garp's expression hardened as he handed the transponder snail back to Bogart.
"That Red-Haired brat Shanks…" Garp muttered, thinking of his grandson back in the East Blue — and his fist clenched tightly.
"Five hundred million!" Robin counted the bounty Garp had brought before speaking.
"Perfect," Don said, smiling faintly. "We'll need it for the ship we're commissioning in Water 7. I was worried our savings might not be enough — guess I don't have to rob anyone after all."
Robin carefully packed the money back into the chest.
"So Garp came just to ask about your goals?"
Issho turned his blind eyes toward Don.
"Probably. Traveling with us must've made the Marines uneasy," Don said, pointing toward Hawk-Eye.
"So long as we duel, I'll leave," Hawk-Eye said firmly, eyes glinting beneath his hat's brim.
"I told you — no proper battleground yet. But soon, we'll face a worthy opponent. Once that's over, you'll have your fight. I promise it'll be one worth remembering."
END OF CHAPTER
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