Until Perona floated out from the balcony in disappointment, sadness, and anger, neither Taro nor Hawkeye spoke up to stop her.
After a long while, Taro finally spoke.
"If Perona leaves..."
Hawkeye coldly interrupted Taro, "Where she wants to go is her freedom. Taro, put away your sick sense of humor!"
Taro curled his lip and couldn't help but complain.
"Don't be so serious, it's just..."
Seeing Hawkeye's tendency to get angry, he waved his hand.
"Alright, let's talk about something else then. Did you set out to sea this time just to gather news about Moria?"
Hawkeye turned his body sideways and looked out the window.
"That's only one of the reasons. I have other matters to attend to!"
Taro was stunned for a moment, feeling a bit puzzled and curious.
"You're so leisurely cooking and farming on that island; it's hard to imagine anything could disturb you!"
Hawkeye gave Taro a flat look. "As a Marine, don't worry about so much. Now that the ghost girl is in your territory, I'll leave her to you!"
Taro's brow furrowed slightly as he refused, "I have to rush back to the East Blue tomorrow. I don't have time."
Hearing Taro say this, Hawkeye's eyes flickered.
"In that case, forget it!"
"Huh?" Taro felt Hawkeye was being a bit strange. "Is there a problem?"
Hawkeye didn't speak again, just silently drank his wine, clearly not wanting to say more.
Although Taro was puzzled, he knew that even if he pressed for answers, it would be useless if Hawkeye didn't want to talk, so he didn't bother.
After finishing a bottle of wine, Hawkeye stood up and walked straight onto the balcony.
"The changes here have surprised me. Taro, you are very special!"
After saying that, he leaped and disappeared.
Taro's lips twitched as he sighed inwardly.
When it comes to the skill of acting cool, you big shots are indeed a cut above the rest!
...Early the next morning, Taro wrote down the work arrangements for the coming days, left them on the table, and flew away from the Sabaody Archipelago.
Next, he would return to the East Blue first, and then go to the Sakura Kingdom.
Vice Admiral Garp had been staying in the East Blue for many days, which was very strange and really bothered him.
Moreover, Ace was still in the Sakura Kingdom; if all went well, he could even invite Garp to travel with him.
In the first half of the Grand Line, the East Blue and South Blue are on either side of the Calm Belt.
Taro only needed to head north and fly across the Calm Belt to quickly return to the Goa Kingdom.
Near noon, he returned to Foosha Village.
After being away for a few months, the villagers had not forgotten the young man with special hobbies.
After all, during those two weeks, Taro's eccentricities had provided everyone with plenty of post-meal gossip.
Since joining the Marines, he had risen through the ranks rapidly, frequently making the front-page headlines and leaving everyone's jaws on the floor!
"Oh, isn't this Taro?"
"Chief, Chief Slap, Taro is back!"
"Taro is back...!"
"Taro, I heard you became a Marine Vice Admiral? Is it true?"
"Marine Vice Admiral? Isn't that the same rank as Old Man Garp?"
"Why didn't you wear your uniform back?"
"Were you slacking off in the Marines and got fired?"
"It's possible. Taro has that kind of lazy personality!"
"..."
The warm welcome from the villagers moved Taro deeply, though it would have been better without those few snide remarks!
Taro greeted his fellow villagers with a cheerful smile.
He felt quite a bit of regret for not putting on his Marine Justice mantle.
Returning home in wealth without showing it off is like walking in the dark wearing silk clothes!
Sigh, I missed a perfect opportunity to act cool!
Just then, the villagers made way, and Chief Slap walked up leaning on his cane.
His figure was slightly hunched, but he was hale and hearty.
"Taro, you're back!"
"Yes! Old Chief, I'm back!"
Taro still had a lot of respect for this old village chief.
When he first transmigrated here, it was this old man who took him in without asking about his origins and even gave him a small hut to stay in.
"Yes, very good! You've done very well in the Marines too!"
The old man looked Taro up and down and nodded with great satisfaction.
Taro felt a bit awkward; during the Marineford War, he had been on the opposite side of Ace and Luffy.
The chief and the villagers clearly knew this, yet they didn't treat him with any malice, which moved him greatly.
After some pleasantries, Taro helped the old chief into the village and asked softly,
"Old Man, is Vice Admiral Garp in the village?"
"He's been here all these days!" Chief Slap grunted in affirmation.
Taro was stunned, his face tightening. "Did something happen in the village?"
The old chief gave Taro a surprised and suspicious look.
"You didn't come back this time because Garp called you?"
Seeing Taro's puzzled face, he continued, "For the wedding?"
"Wedding? Who... who's getting married?" Taro's eyes widened, and he stammered in shock.
After asking, he suddenly realized.
"Makino?"
Then he cried out again, "With... Red...? Cough, cough!"
The chief glanced at Taro, then scanned the nearby villagers whose attention had been drawn, and said in a reproving tone,
"You've become a Marine Vice Admiral, yet you're still so easily startled. You're not stable at all."
Taro looked like he was humbly accepting the lesson and chuckled twice.
"Is it with... that man?"
The old chief nodded calmly, then shook his head.
"Garp is at Makino's bar. Go find him yourself!"
Taro carefully observed the chief's expression. "Old Man, then I'll head over first!"
Holy crap, didn't the Red Hair Pirates clash with Kid?
Did Shanks take the opportunity to sneak back to Foosha Village and trick Makino into getting married?
Did he ask for the opinion of the big boss of Foosha Village before daring to take away our village belle?
"Ding-ling-ling~"
Taro pushed open the small wooden door and walked into the bar.
The bar owner, Makino, was looking at Garp with a troubled expression.
Hearing the noise, she looked up and saw it was Taro, her face full of surprise.
"Ah, Mr. Taro, you're back!"
Taro nodded with a smile. "Yes, Makino, long time no see!"
Saying that, he walked to the bar and sat down next to Garp.
Garp gave Taro a flat look. "You brat, what are you doing back here?"
Taro fished a stack of Berries out of his pocket and pushed them across the bar to Makino.
"I owed Makino some money for drinks from before. I'm back to pay it back!"
"Makino, a glass of sherry wine, please!"
Makino was already pouring the wine when Taro walked in and handed him a glass directly.
"Mr. Taro, it's just some drink money. You don't have to be so precise!"
Taro looked at Makino, who had a flowery smile but a hint of worry between her brows, nodded, and smiled:
"I heard you're getting married. Congratulations, Makino!"
Hearing this, Garp's breathing became a bit heavy, and his fists clenched.
Only because he was in front of Makino did he restrain himself from exploding.
Seeing Garp's reaction, Makino's face once again showed a troubled expression. After a long while, she nodded with a somewhat stiff smile,
"Thank you!"
Taro was greatly surprised by this.
He had already inferred from the chief's words that Garp was not very happy about Makino and Shanks getting married.
Looking at Makino's expression now, it seemed that was indeed the case!
But, Old Man Garp,
They are a talented and beautiful pair, a match made in heaven. Is it really our place to object?
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