"I didn't expect Luffy's father to have such a huge background…" Nami swallowed nervously.
"So who is he, exactly?" Luffy tilted his head.
"Robin?"
"Well… that's a long story," Nico Robin said. "Your father—he…"
She slowly began explaining Dragon's identity, allowing everyone to understand just what kind of man he was.
"So someone like that actually exists in this world…" Jin said with a sigh.
"Oh, I see," Luffy nodded calmly, showing no particular reaction.
After all, he'd never met the guy. Just another deadbeat dad—what was there to care about?
That indifferent response left Robin feeling helpless. What kind of reaction was that supposed to be?
Meanwhile, while Robin was explaining everything, Garp had already finished repairing the wall together with his subordinates.
After handing the hammer back, Garp said, "Luffy, go meet your friends."
"Friends?"
"Yeah, they're outside," Garp laughed loudly. "Oi, Coby! What are you two waiting for?!"
The moment he heard Coby's name, Luffy instantly remembered. Zoro also looked surprised—he hadn't expected them to come with Garp.
"I came here to see you," Garp said, "but these two wanted to see their friends too."
"Zoro, let's go!"
"Yeah!"
Zoro grinned. Seeing old friends again after so long was definitely something to look forward to.
After the two of them left through the front door, Garp's expression slowly turned serious. He looked at Jin.
"Kid, let's talk alone."
The Straw Hats immediately frowned. They hadn't expected him to say that now.
Merry instantly jumped onto a chair, raising her little hammer.
"Stinky old man! Are you trying to bully Jin again?!"
Garp: "..."
What do you mean again? I never bullied him in the first place!
"No, no," Garp waved his hand. "I just have something I want to ask him."
Then he glanced at Jin.
"This time I'm only here to see my grandson. I won't arrest you."
"But there are some things I want to talk about."
Seeing that Garp didn't seem to be lying, Jin hesitated briefly, then nodded.
"Alright. Let's go to the backyard."
The two of them walked off together, not going far. Only then did Merry and the others finally relax.
"What does that old man want?" Merry muttered, confused.
"Probably because he's a ninja," Robin said softly.
"Ninja, huh…"
Merry half-understood, then pressed her face to the window, staring at the two figures outside.
"If anything happens, we can step in immediately," Sanji said.
Even if Garp was the man who once cornered the Pirate King, with Jin's skills, he wouldn't be taken down instantly.
In the backyard.
"Kid, who exactly are you?" Garp asked seriously.
"I already told you—I'm a ninja," Jin replied. "Don't tell me you didn't collect that information."
He'd said it openly in front of an admiral. There was no way the Marines didn't know.
Unless…
Don't tell me my attack actually killed Aokiji?
That would be ridiculous. An admiral couldn't be that weak.
"I know you're a ninja. Kuzan explained that clearly," Garp said, staring straight into Jin's eyes.
"What I want to know is—are you from Wano Country?"
That answered Jin's doubt. Aokiji clearly wasn't dead.
"Is that why you brought me out here?"
"Yes."
Jin frowned slightly. What was with Wano Country? Why did so many people keep bringing it up?
"To be honest, you're not the first one to ask me that," Jin said calmly.
"But I really don't know anything about Wano."
Garp's gaze never left his eyes. His Observation Haki was pushed to the limit.
After a long moment, Garp suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! Looks like I overthought it."
He had come to Water Seven for two reasons: to see Luffy—and to confirm this kid's origins.
He needed to know whether this so-called ninja came from Wano, and whether he might be someone Kaido planted.
The odds were low—but as Luffy's grandfather, he had to be sure.
If that were the case…
His fists wouldn't have held back.
"But since you're not from Wano," Garp said cheerfully, "then I don't care anymore."
No matter how much Sengoku valued this kid.
"That's it? Just that one question?"
"Old man's not interested in digging too deep."
Garp sized Jin up, then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Kid, your bones are amazing. You've got talent! How about becoming a Marine with me?"
Jin: "???"
What kind of mental turn was that?!
"No thanks," Jin said flatly. "I have zero interest in being a Marine."
"And I smashed your Buster Call to pieces, remember? You still want to recruit me?"
"My bounty should be coming out soon, right?"
Two days had already passed. There was no way his wanted poster wasn't being prepared.
"That is a problem…" Garp scratched his head.
"The World Government really knows how to ruin things…"
Otherwise, he might've actually dragged this kid into the Marines.
"Hey, I never agreed in the first place," Jin said dryly.
"And you talk trash about the World Government so openly—aren't you afraid they'll come after you?"
"Hahahaha! They can't hear me anyway," Garp said carelessly.
Then he looked at Jin with genuine regret.
"Damn… if only I'd met you first."
If he had, maybe this kid wouldn't have become a pirate.
As for rebellion?
That was easy to fix.
A pair of fists filled with love could cure any rebellious brat.
But now it was too late.
Not only would the World Government object—even the Marines wouldn't allow it.
And Luffy would absolutely fight him over it.
"Alright, I'm going," Garp waved his hand and turned to leave.
Just before exiting, he paused and glanced back.
"You can rest here for a few days, no problem. But if you stay too long… the World Government might come knocking."
With that, he walked away.
"World Government, huh…"
Jin fell silent for a moment, then let out a cold smile.
"If it's assassination they want—
then I'm their ancestor."
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