"Huh? Great-Grandpa, you're going to see Grandpa Garp? The Grand Line? Marine Headquarters?!"
Rowan's words were like a series of heavy depth charges exploding in Luffy's heart, leaving his expression completely dazed.
"What? Weren't you the one pestering me every single day to take you out to sea? Having second thoughts now?"
Rowan lifted his pipe, looking at the stunned Luffy with a light chuckle.
He knew very well that, like all children, Luffy was desperate to leave this island and see the rest of the world. After all, the boy's dream was to become the Pirate King—to be the freest person on the planet.
However, in the original timeline, a young Luffy had no opportunity to leave Foosha Village. At most, he could take a fishing boat into the nearby coastal waters. The only relative he could rely on, his grandfather Garp, would only return to the East Blue to throw him into jungles full of monsters or toss him down ravines to train him in the most insane ways imaginable. All of it, supposedly, was to forge him into the "strongest Marine."
As for the brat Dragon, he was even less helpful. In the original story, Luffy had already fought his way to the Grand Line before Garp even bothered to mention that Dragon was his father.
But everything was different now that Rowan was here.
By the time Luffy was born, Rowan was already in his eighties. Back then, he had lost his youthful fire and embraced the mindset of a retired veteran, lacking the energy to take a young Luffy out to see the magnificent world. At most, he'd take the boy to the Goa Kingdom's commercial district to buy some snacks.
Now, things had changed.
The system that had been loading for a century was finally online. With his current power, as long as Luffy didn't try to flip Mary Geoise upside down or waltz into a Yonko's territory shouting about being the Pirate King, no one could truly threaten the boy's life.
And besides... even if Luffy did do those things, so what?
The capabilities of the Supreme Marine System weren't limited to a starter pack and a main quest. He had taken a brief look at the Faith Point Shop yesterday, and the selection had nearly made his head spin. If he bought enough from that shop, he might just go and flip Mary Geoise himself. He had never liked those Celestial Dragon bastards anyway.
As for how to earn Faith Points, Rowan hadn't quite figured it out yet. But seeing as he already had over 10,000 points and they were slowly increasing every day, he figured they weren't too difficult to obtain.
Regardless, there was no rush. His current priority was to complete the main quest: Promote to Marine Admiral.
Although the system hadn't listed the rewards for completion yet, Rowan guessed they couldn't be bad. If the starter pack was that good, how could the main quest reward be lacking?
"I want to go! I want to go! Of course I want to go!"
After his brief shock, Luffy snapped out of it, speaking with intense excitement. But then, he seemed to remember something, and his expression turned wary.
"Great-Grandpa, are you sure you're taking me? You're not joking, are you?"
Luffy remembered his Grandpa Garp saying similar things once. But it was always conditional—he had to complete some absurd training task first. And the next day, once he'd finished the task, Garp would already be gone. No promise was better than a broken one; to a child, a promise unfulfilled was the most heartbreaking thing. To Garp, it might have been a minor oversight, but to Luffy, it was a deep scar.
Rowan replied casually, "When have I ever lied to you? If you think I'm teasing or you don't want to go, then forget it."
"No, no! Great-Grandpa would never lie to me! I want to go, I really want to go!" Hearing this, Luffy immediately jumped up and grabbed Rowan's arm, shaking it and acting spoiled. "I knew it! Great-Grandpa is the best!"
"Sigh." Rowan suddenly let out a heavy sigh, rolling his shoulder with a frown. "Training all morning... why is my shoulder suddenly so stiff?"
Luffy might be simple-minded, but he wasn't stupid. He caught on instantly, scurrying behind Rowan to begin massaging his neck and shoulders with clumsy, unpracticed hands.
While kneading the muscles, Luffy asked cautiously, "Great-Grandpa, how's the pressure? Is this okay?"
"Mm, not bad."
Rowan nodded, looking a bit more satisfied. But then he added, "Ai, my legs... they've suddenly gone weak. Must be overtraining. I don't think I can even stand up."
The words had barely left his mouth before Luffy was down at Rowan's feet, rhythmically pounding his legs and grinning sheepishly. "Hehe, don't worry, Great-Grandpa! I'm your personal deluxe massager now. Just tell me whenever you have an ache!"
Looking at Luffy's innocent, beaming smile, Rowan laughed and rubbed the boy's head. "At least my great-grandson knows how to treat these old bones well. I feel the strength returning already!"
Standing up, Rowan tucked away his pipe. "Let's get some things ready. We leave in a few days."
Time passed quickly. One week later.
Foosha Village, Partys Bar.
Since the fishing season had just begun, the tavern was entering its quiet period. Even at mealtime, there wasn't a single customer inside. Rowan pushed the door open with practiced ease.
"Grandpa Rowan, you're here!"
Makino, who had been leaning against the bar looking a bit bored, looked up. When she saw it was Rowan, her face lit up with joy, her large eyes crinkling into crescent moons. Having grown up listening to his stories, she was incredibly close to the old man.
"Gahahaha!"
Seeing Makino greet him, Rowan laughed and teased, "Oho, my little Makino is getting prettier by the day! Tell me, do you have someone you like yet? If you do, tell your Grandpa Rowan, and I'll be the matchmaker."
Makino's face instantly flushed a deep crimson. She lowered her head and whispered, "Grandpa Rowan, what are you saying? I'm still young, you know!"
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