Out at sea, the dog-headed Marine warship slowly approached Water Seven.
"Hmph, that brat…"
Garp snorted. "He really knows how to cause trouble."
"Could you at least stop smiling when you say that?" Bogard said helplessly.
"Huh?"
"Am I smiling? Hahahaha!"
Not only did Garp show no embarrassment—he burst out laughing instead.
Sure, his troublesome grandson had become a pirate…
but what Luffy had done this time truly shook the entire world.
Seeing that grin, Bogard felt even more speechless.
Thankfully, everyone on this ship was one of their own. Otherwise, who knew what kind of rumors would spread.
"Vice Admiral Garp…" Coby said carefully.
"If the World Government finds out—"
"Hmph, so what if those trash hear about it?" Garp dug his finger into his nose.
"I couldn't care less about them."
Let alone talking behind their backs—
even cursing the Celestial Dragons to their faces wouldn't matter.
What were they gonna do? Fire him?
Coby: ...
Vice Admiral Garp really was someone who feared nothing under the heavens.
"Then, Vice Admiral… what should we do next?"
"I'm just here to see my grandson," Garp said.
"Everything else can wait."
"But we still have to give Fleet Admiral Sengoku an explanation…"
"Oh, just say Luffy's my grandson and I don't feel like arresting him."
"…That's worse than saying he escaped," Bogard twitched.
Being willful was one thing, but this was outright unreasonable.
That explanation was basically slapping Sengoku in the face.
"Oh? Then we'll go with what you said."
"…What about the ninja Sengoku mentioned?"
"Ninja, huh…"
Garp paused, thought for a moment, then said,
"Let's take a look first."
After all, he was part of his grandson's crew.
If Garp just went in swinging, Luffy would probably fight him to the death.
"Alright, we've docked!"
Garp waved his hand grandly.
"Come on—let's go meet the brats who dared challenge the whole world!"
"Yes, sir!"
Meanwhile, in the streets of Water Seven—
Jin, Robin, and Merry were strolling between shops, arms full of things they had just bought.
Most of them, unsurprisingly, were little dresses for Merry.
After gaining her new life, the little girl had become much more cheerful.
"Jin, you don't need to stay so tense all the time," Robin said softly.
"Huh?"
"Am I?"
"You are," Robin nodded seriously.
"I lived in darkness for twenty years. I know that state very well."
It was the kind of vigilance that never relaxed—
as if an assassination could come at any second.
A mind that never allowed itself to loosen.
Jin fell silent for a moment.
"…Probably just habit."
As a ninja, constant alertness was survival.
You never knew when someone would suddenly appear to kill you.
Especially when he was a hybrid of Senju and Uchiha.
The shinobi world was full of backstabbers—
and Black Zetsu alone was enough reason to never lower one's guard.
So even after leaving the inn, Jin had unconsciously tensed up—
despite the fact that this world had no Black Zetsu at all.
"Jin, don't be scared!"
Merry pulled out her little hammer and swung it proudly.
"If there's danger, I'll protect you!"
"I won't let anyone bully you!"
"Heh… our Merry is the best~"
Robin was right.
There was no need to stay so alert here.
This wasn't the shinobi world.
Merry smiled brightly, clearly happy to be acknowledged.
"The recovery work here is impressive," Jin said, glancing at the buildings ahead.
"It's only been two days since the Aqua Laguna, right? And so many shops are already open."
"Only the buildings with minor damage reopened," Robin explained.
"Before the Aqua Laguna arrives, the shop owners usually leave with their goods."
"When they come back, they just clean up and reopen."
People who lived here long-term understood the disaster well.
Ordinary residents didn't even need to evacuate—
just move valuables to higher ground.
"I see…" Jin stroked his chin.
"So this is how Water Seven survives."
"We've bought almost everything," Robin said.
"Let's head back."
As she spoke, she noticed a familiar figure in a nearby alley.
"Isn't that Zoro?" Robin said.
"Why is he running through an alley?"
Jin followed her gaze and immediately spotted a green-haired man sprinting anxiously.
Why was he heading toward the harbor?
"Hey, Zoro!" Jin called out.
"What are you rushing to the sea for?"
Zoro turned, saw Jin, and immediately ran over.
"Quick—go back and find Luffy!" he said urgently.
"What happened?"
"The Marines are here!"
The three of them froze.
Without hesitation, they turned and sprinted back toward their lodging.
When they entered through the back door, they saw a Marine standing in front of Luffy, his expression unfriendly.
"Water Style—"
"Jin, don't attack! That's Luffy's grandpa!"
"Huh?!"
The water technique jammed halfway.
Jin nearly choked on his own breath.
"You're that ninja, huh?"
Garp looked at Jin and strode forward, his presence overwhelmingly oppressive.
Before he could get close—
A small figure suddenly rushed out, hammer raised, pointing straight at him.
"You stinky old man—don't you dare bully Jin!"
"…Hm?"
Merry's sudden appearance instantly shattered Garp's rising momentum.
"Is this your kid?" Garp asked, looking at Jin.
"No."
"Then this child—"
Garp's body suddenly started shaking.
He turned and pointed at Luffy.
"Luffy, you bastard! Why didn't you tell me something this important earlier?!"
Luffy: ???
He stared at Garp with a completely confused expression.
"You brat! You already have a kid and you didn't tell your grandpa?!"
"You're exactly like your father!"
Jin: ...
What kind of logic is this old man running on?!
"Kid?" Luffy dug his nose.
"What are you talking about?"
"Isn't this adorable little girl my great-granddaughter?!"
"…No."
Garp: ...
Damn it.
Why isn't such a cute little girl his great-granddaughter?!
"YOU LITTLE BRAT, LUFFY!"
An enraged Garp turned around and smashed his fist into Luffy's head, nearly knocking him unconscious.
"Stinky old man, why are you hitting me again?!"
"I feel like it!"
"That's a fist of love!"
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