Bogart had long grown accustomed to his old superior's ways, and after saluting with a Marine salute, he turned and hurried toward the dock of Windmill Village.
Garp watched him leave and raised a hand to stroke the beard on his chin.
"The times are changing too fast," he remarked with emotion in his tone.
The recent events on the high seas had made him acutely aware of his advancing age, because he could no longer keep up with the changes unfolding across the ocean.
Was it time to retire? After all, he had reached the age for it.
But it was just a thought, because neither the Marines nor the World Government would allow him to retire so easily.
They now faced a formidable opponent, and neither the Marines nor the World Government would willingly relinquish any combat strength.
"I wonder how much longer I can enjoy this peace. I really don't want to face that kid right now," Garp mused.
With that thought, he turned and headed not toward Makino's tavern but toward the mountains behind Windmill Village.
As his two grandsons grew older, they had become increasingly disobedient, so it seemed they hadn't experienced enough of his "Fist of Love."
But upon his return, Garp received one of the worst pieces of news he could have imagined: Ace had set sail.
Seeing Luffy hanging his head in dejection and Dadan looking displeased made Garp's eyes widen in disbelief.
"That jerk Ace, he actually lied to me," Luffy muttered under his breath.
No sooner had he spoken than a fist came down on his head, sending him rolling on the ground in pain.
A large lump swelled on his head, so big that even both hands couldn't cover it.
"That brat really went to the sea, and at a time like this," Garp grumbled with a voice thick with irritation.
Here he was, a Marine man, yet both of his grandsons wanted to become pirates.
"Garp, you idiot, go after him and bring him back!" Dadan roared as she sprayed spit all over Garp's face.
Wiping the saliva from his face, Garp grabbed Luffy and left.
Soon, with Luffy's guidance, they reached the other side of the island, but the sea stretched out empty with not a single ship in sight.
Once someone set sail on the open ocean, tracking them down was no easy task.
This was especially true for someone like Ace, who had ventured out alone on a small boat, so who knew where the currents might have taken him?
"We promised we'd compete to see who would become the Pirate King first, but Ace went ahead without me," Luffy complained, seemingly having already forgotten the lump on his head.
But then he sensed a terrifying presence behind him.
His body stiffened, and he slowly turned his head.
There stood Garp, his eyes glowing red as he looked down at him, and a dark, almost tangible aura of resentment emanated from him.
Luffy turned to flee, but before he could take a single step, Garp's hand clamped down on the back of his neck.
Lifting his grandson to eye level, Garp flashed a "benevolent" smile.
"Grandpa, let me go!" Luffy struggled desperately.
"Don't worry, I'll let you go after I've taught you a lesson, you little rascal."
With that, Garp turned and carried Luffy away.
As for Ace, since he had chosen to set sail, he would have to be prepared to face whatever consequences came his way, because this is the fate of men on the high seas.
...
While Garp was educating his grandson, apprentice hunters from the Hunter Guild had already begun making their presence felt across the seas.
In the West Blue, the Sun Tank Hunter Crew emerged.
Capone Bege, being pragmatic, transformed his pirate crew and made a name for himself by leveraging his existing forces.
In the North Blue, Germa 66 saw Reiju traveling to the New World to coordinate with the Hunter Guild.
Meanwhile, Vinsmoke Judge, following his agreement with Cyrus, mass-produced cloned soldiers who joined the Hunter Guild.
These cloned soldiers didn't become hunters but were distributed to various guild branches as reception staff, and the results were effective.
Meanwhile, events were unfolding in the South Blue as well.
"They did approach me, hoping I would join the Marines," Bartholomew Kuma said in his deep, resonant voice as his towering figure cast a long shadow.
"Just as predicted," Ivankov nodded with his large head. "With the World Government's massive recruitment drive and the power you've demonstrated, they were never going to give up on you."
"But all I care about right now is curing Bonney!" Kuma's voice grew heavy, clearly torn by the dilemma.
Hearing this, Ivankov opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately remained silent.
After Ginny's death and Bonney's condition worsening, Kuma had left the Revolutionary Army to care for his daughter.
As an old friend, Ivankov couldn't press the matter further, because Ginny had been his old friend too.
"So you're planning to accept?" Ivankov finally asked.
"Bonney's illness is extremely difficult to treat, and the World Government promised that Vegapunk could help," Kuma explained.
"I understand," Ivankov nodded.
He knew perfectly well that nothing mattered to Kuma more than Bonney's wellbeing these days.
Had the former King Beckley not returned to the Sorbet Kingdom and ordered the southern forests burned, Kuma's whereabouts might never have been discovered, because single-handedly overthrowing the Sorbet Kingdom's government had showcased Kuma's formidable power.
Though the Sorbet Kingdom wasn't strong at the time, such combat prowess was something neither the World Government nor the Marines could ignore.
"If you do join the Marines, make sure to withdraw if you ever encounter that man on the battlefield," Ivankov advised as he prepared to leave.
"That man named Cyrus?" Kuma looked at Ivankov.
Though he'd been focused on treating Bonney these past years, news of the Mary Geoise incident had reached even him.
"Yes, he's incredibly powerful. According to the leader, he's beyond what even one or two top-tier fighters can handle, and at least from the leader's perspective, there's currently no way to deal with him."
"Understood," Kuma nodded and watched Ivankov depart before turning back toward the Sorbet Kingdom's palace.
Though he'd driven out the former king who ordered the forest fires, Kuma found himself branded with the "Tyrant" epithet, a title he paid no mind to.
Only when he saw the frail Bonney did Kuma's stern expression soften considerably.
He could only hope Vegapunk could cure little Bonney.
After all, he'd promised the girl that her illness would be cured after she turned ten.
The massive recruitment continued with numerous powerful individuals like Kuma receiving invitations from the Marines and the World Government.
However, the number of hunters in the Hunter Guild was also increasing, and if quality was disregarded, the hunters' numbers were growing faster.
In terms of quality, with the help of the World Economic News Paper, Enel, the Logia-type Goro Goro no Mi user, had gained considerable fame.
Of course, on the Hunter Guild's side, the most famous figure was its leader, Cyrus.
With top-tier combat power, the immense deterrence brought by Cyrus alone was sufficient.