After bidding farewell to Robin, Olvia and Saul boarded the ship they had seized earlier and set off for Baltigo to seek refuge with Monkey D. Dragon.
Once Michael and Robin had watched them leave, the soldiers from Garp's ship gradually returned.
"Reporting to Vice Admiral Garp, we've thoroughly combed through this island from top to bottom."
A drifting cloud swept across the sky before landing on the deck and coalescing into human form.
Blonde hair, green eyes, clad in a white Marine suit with the Justice cape billowing behind her—it was Stella, who had eaten the Cloud-Cloud Fruit.
"All potential hazards have been eliminated! However, this island lies on a seismic belt, posing a significant earthquake risk. But since there are no large mountains—just dense forests and plains—there won't be any mudslide issues."
Bogart also returned to the deck, saluted Garp with a military gesture, then entered the cabin to arrange the next tasks.
"Well done, Stella. You've completed your mission excellently" Michael nodded, then smiled as he looked at the old man Garp standing with his back turned.
"Garp-san, it's time for us to leave."
Garp neither turned around nor responded.
He simply stood there, gazing at the scene before him.
Michael noticed that the direction Garp was facing was precisely towards Ohara.
Even now, the smoke from Ohara's sinking could still be seen rising into the sky.
Who knew what thoughts were running through old man Garp's mind.
Michael simply walked past him and directly instructed Bogart to prepare for departure.
When he returned, old man Garp was still standing alone on the deck, as immovable as a boulder.
Just standing there... standing...
Anyone unaware might have mistaken him for a statue!
Suddenly, Michael realized something, his lips twitching.
He walked to Garp's side and looked at his face.
Sure enough, This old man had fallen asleep standing up again, damn it!
After all this, aside from their carefree nature, another racial trait of the D. clan must be their ability to sleep anywhere unconditionally, right?!
Michael couldn't take it anymore and flicked a bit of Holy Flame, burning off half of Garp's pants.
Feeling the heat, Garp gradually woke up and looked down...
"Michael! You little brat, I'll take your life for this!"
Naturally, Michael wasn't about to back down—after all, it was Garp who had fallen asleep on his own!
If he dared to sleep standing up now, who knew if he'd doze off mid-battle later!
He was doing Garp a favor!
With righteousness on his side, he felt all the more justified in fighting back!
"Take this—Fist of Love!"
Seeing Michael retaliate, a faint smile suddenly appeared on Garp's lips.
Then, he swung a seemingly ordinary punch.
But Michael knew—this punch combined power, speed, technique and Armament Haki.
So without hesitation, he drew Ace, instantly coating the blade's patterns in Armament Haki.
Holy Flame surged from his body, coiling around the sword's edge.
Then, he raised it in defense.
Fist met blade, yet the impact rang out like metal striking metal.
Michael was forced back several steps, while Garp retreated two steps.
"Tch, you're getting a bit too monstrous, kid" Garp remarked, eyeing Michael with surprise.
Over the past year and a half, he'd fully grasped the peculiarities of Michael's physique.
The rapid growth in strength, speed and Haki reserves completely defied his long-held understanding.
But that sudden, full-powered strike just now made Garp realize... this kid had still been holding back!
If he didn't caught him off guard, forcing him to retaliate at full strength, Garp might have remained in the dark!
Just the fact that Michael could block that punch unscathed confirmed one thing... This kid's strength had undoubtedly surpassed that of elite vice admirals, reaching the level of Chaton and Momousagi.
All Michael needed now was to fight more powerful opponents to fully refine his combat experience...
At this thought, Garp couldn't help but glance again at the handsome face now wearing a sly, mischievous smirk.
A future admiral candidate under twenty! Who could he even complain to?!
Garp suddenly remembered when he asked Sengoku for a long leave, telling him he planned to take Michael and Stella for training... Sengoku had immediately approved an indefinite leave without hesitation.
The look in Sengoku's eyes back then... had been very peculiar.
Now that he thought about it, that bastard Sengoku must have known all along about Michael's extraordinary strength and talent!
Damn it! I'd been played by those two!
It took Michael a long time to finally coax the petty old man Garp into a better mood.
But after a while, Garp would glare at him with disapproval, his expression sour.
"Alright, old man Garp, I admit I did hide some of my strength. But wasn't it just to give you a pleasant surprise?"
"Hmph, a pleasant surprise? More like you wanted to stay longer in 'Paradise' by hiding your true power, didn't you?"
Michael's mouth twitched.
This old man might not be the brightest... But his instinct was downright terrifying.
"Ahem, how old am I? How long have I even been a Marine? And you want me to go to the New World to fight those ruthless pirates? How cruel of you!"
"Don't pin this on me. I never said I wanted you to go to the New World now." Garp rolled his eyes.
As a close friend of Zephyr, he naturally had his own philosophy about training Marines.
He would never throw promising new recruits into the meat grinder that was the New World.
Though if that hothead Akainu ever took charge, all bets would be off.
"But speaking of which, haven't you considered changing this sword's appearance?" Garp pointed at Ace hanging at Michael's waist.
"Even though Roger gave Ace to you, this was the Pirate King's personal sword. It might cause trouble for you later."
"What? You think I'd be afraid of that?"
"I don't think you're afraid of trouble. I think you're afraid of inconvenience."
"Damn... you really do know me too well." Michael gave Garp a thumbs up.
"That said, finding a swordsmith capable of reforging a Supreme Grade Sword... is easier said than done."
"Does it have to be a swordsmith?" Garp pointed at Michael himself.
"Is there any swordsmith who can match the heat of your Holy Flame?"
Michael froze... He was right!
With the Holy Flame, he could reforge Ace himself!
It wouldn't need major changes... He just wasn't used to this Western-style longsword with its crossguard.
"Old man Garp, you're an idiot but your damn unconventional thinking is truly something else!"
"...I'll pretend that was a compliment." Garp's eye twitched as he resisted the urge to punch Michael.
"So where are we going next? Surely we're not bringing this whole ship of scholars back to Marine HQ?"
"Of course not." Michael shook his head with a confident smile.
"We're going somewhere the Marines can't interfere with, yet is still a World Government affiliate nation."
"Exactly. We're going to Alabasta."