Garp's expression became serious again as he extended his hand and took the bounty poster from Sig's hand.
"Being implicated just because you're Roger's close friend, that's indeed unreasonable."
"But right now, you are indeed the number one most-wanted criminal in the Goa Kingdom with a bounty of eight million Berries, Sig."
Sig's heart shuddered. Looking at Garp's hand as he forcefully crumpled the bounty poster, Sig's mind raced.
"I'll turn a blind eye for now, but remember... keep an eye on that kid, Ace..."
"I still have military duties to attend to, so I can't stay in the Goa Kingdom for long..."
After saying these words, Garp stood up from the chair, clearly signaling that he was ready to leave.
"That's truly... such a pity, Ace should also want to see you more..."
Sig immediately displayed a regretful expression.
But inwardly, he was overjoyed.
From what he heard, it seemed like Garp was finally planning to leave, and perhaps he wouldn't be back on this island anytime soon?
When Garp heard Sig's words, he froze for a moment, then sat down again with a deep sigh.
"I've been away for so long, and I truly haven't looked after Ace and Luffy... I understand this."
Garp sighed again and continued, "Although Ace is Roger's son, I truly treated him like my own grandson... It was just that his situation was special, so handing him over to Dadan was the best solution I could think of..."
Sig also nodded in agreement, but suddenly felt that something was off.
Huh? Ace is Roger's son, and Garp treats him like a grandson?
I treated you as a close friend entrusted with a child, but now you're thinking of being my son's grandfather?
Sig was momentarily speechless when Garp continued talking about Ace.
"Ace was so cute when he was little, but when I saw him recently, he stopped calling me Grandpa and started calling me an old man!"
At this point, Garp sounded rather displeased.
Probably because Ace realized his own situation, right? Calling you Grandpa would complicate things.
Sig felt awkward but forced a look of understanding on his face.
"He's probably approaching the rebellious age, but in a few years, he'll understand your good intentions."
Upon hearing this, Garp's body slightly shook as if touched.
"Really? In the future, he'll listen to me... and become the strongest Marine?"
No... I never said Ace would become a Marine...
By the way, didn't you have military duties? Why not just leave? I'm not interested in the details of your interactions with Ace, hurry up and go!
Sig inwardly screamed.
But Garp, lost in his thoughts, continued to reminisce about his time with Ace, looking quite content.
Perhaps it was because of Ace's special identity, and Garp, a blunt man, had carried this heavy secret for years.
After learning that Sig was another person in the know, Garp couldn't seem to stop talking.
At first, Sig was desperately urging Garp to leave.
But as he listened to Garp's ramblings, his heart softened.
At this moment, Garp seemed no longer the famous Marine hero "Iron Fist" Garp, but just an ordinary grandfather.
Unknowingly, the two of them got so caught up in their conversation that they lost track of time.
At the foot of the mountain.
The bandits could no longer sit still.
"It's already been a full hour, why is there still no movement?"
All of them were filled with unease.
They initially thought that Garp would have an earth-shattering battle with Sig, something that would blow up a mountain peak.
But to their surprise... aside from the initial strike, there was no noise coming from the cabin, and it was completely different from what they had imagined.
"We can't wait any longer, let's go up!"
"Boss Sig, it's not that we don't trust your strength..."
The waiting bandits and Luffy were all impatient as they climbed up the mountain.
When they entered the wooden cabin, the sight before them left everyone dumbfounded.
The cabin, which should have been destroyed in a fierce battle, now had a massive hole in the wall, indicating a past confrontation.
But strangely, the two people who should have been fighting were instead sitting on two chairs facing each other, having a heartfelt conversation, and even eating some rice crackers.
This scene didn't look like a battle between enemies, but rather like a reunion between old friends.
The bandits and Luffy were all stunned, but the bald man was the first to react.
"Boss Sig, it seems we were too foolish and misunderstood."
"It seems that you and Garp... you two weren't destined enemies, but close friends..."
The bald man's exclamation finally broke the conversation between Garp and Sig.
Garp was silent for a moment, his gaze shifting from the bandits outside to Luffy, then stood up from the chair.
"I still have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
"Sig, when I'm not around... remember to check in on my grandson."
After saying this, Garp walked out the door, one hand lifting Luffy, his steps heavy as he walked outside.
This visit had completely caught him off guard. He never expected to hear so many things from Sig.
Although his steps were heavy, he felt a sense of relief in his heart.
Sig was momentarily stunned. He stood up from the chair, watching Garp's retreating back before glancing at the bald man in the crowd.
Damn it. This bald man actually did what I couldn't do, stopping Garp from talking and making him leave early.
Not only can he stir things up, but he can also save the day.
Sig couldn't help but be amazed.
The bald man, in the meantime, shrank his neck with a look of fear, pointing to the lumps on his head that hadn't fully healed yet.
"Boss, my buff is maxed out, I can't do any more..."
Sig's lips twitched slightly as he waved his hand, signaling for all the bandits to leave the room.
After experiencing such an intense situation, and without the help of a KING character card, relying entirely on acting and the script to navigate through it, it was truly exhausting.
Right now, he just wanted to be alone in peace.
After sitting on the chair for nearly half an hour, Sig finally let out a deep breath.
He had indeed managed to get through Garp's encounter.
A thought crossed his mind, and the virtual panel quickly expanded in mid-air before him.
Sig pressed his hand to his chest, feeling that weak sensation, and a sense of joy rose within him.
"I really feel like my body has already taken on the shape of the king. I can't escape from the Emperor Engine now..."
Character card: KING, re-equipped.
The weak sensation in his chest immediately disappeared, and he could feel his heartbeat becoming strong and powerful once again.
He stood up from the chair, stretching his muscles with a satisfying crack.
His heart slightly accelerated as Sig enjoyed the health brought by the Emperor Engine.
"Everything is in my control..."
The light in the room suddenly dimmed.
A large, muscular figure, whose presence had gone unnoticed until now, appeared at the entrance of the hole in the wall.
"So, you were still deceiving me, after all!"
60 power stones achieved! Here are your 2 extra chapters as promised.de Gozaru!!