"I had no money to pay, and you passed out drunk. There were some burly guys at the tavern door watching me. I couldn't take them to the Marines to get money, so I had to run first!" Ron said, walking leisurely past Garp, his hands behind his head.
"Besides, you're Vice Admiral Garp. I knew you'd be fine."
"Then why didn't you help me find someone? Where did you run off to? I had to explain to them for a long time; they almost didn't let me leave!" Garp growled.
"Eh? I thought for sure they'd recognize you, Vice Admiral Garp. Don't they?"
Ron asked, feigning surprise.
Garp gritted his teeth in frustration.
But as soon as Ron returned to the cabin on the warship, Garp's angry expression instantly faded, replaced by a small, relieved smile. This scene left the surrounding young Marines confused, unsure of what their hero, Vice Admiral Garp, was thinking.
Only Garp himself knew.
He donned his justice coat and dog-head hat, crossed his arms, and stood at the bow of the ship, issuing orders, "Set sail! We're heading to Marineford!"
The warship set off toward the Marines' headquarters at Marineford.
Meanwhile, in Water 7, at Franky's place...
Franky awoke to find that his most important secret—the blueprints for Pluton—were missing. He was struck with disbelief, and confusion filled his heart.
How could the person who knocked him out and took the Pluton blueprints have known they were with him?
How did they know he had hidden them here?
No one else should have known such a thing.
"Could it be... some kind of Devil Fruit power?" Franky speculated.
But no matter how much he guessed, the blueprints, which could shake the world, were gone, and he didn't even know who took them.
"The rumored special recruit is supposed to arrive today."
"You mean the one selected by Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp?"
Several Marines standing at the dock whispered among themselves.
"Hey, you guys, no chatting while on duty!" A Marine officer with a cigar in her mouth and a smile on her face reprimanded them.
"Yes, Lieutenant Hina!"
"Vice Admiral Garp is back!"
All eyes turned toward the bay.
A warship slowly sailed in, bearing the emblem of a dog at the front—Garp's signature ship.
Further inland, in the headquarters building, Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood by the window, watching as the warship approached the shore.
On a nearby rooftop, Vice Admiral Kuzan (Aokiji) lay lazily, propping his head up with one hand and looking toward the ship.
Suddenly, he spoke to the person beside him, "No missions today, Borsalino?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, small golden lights appeared beside him, gradually forming into a humanoid shape.
"Yare yare, I'm not like Sakazuki. I don't enjoy chasing pirates so much," said Vice Admiral Borsalino (Kizaru), wearing sunglasses, a yellow shirt, and a white justice coat, his hands in his pockets as he gazed toward the bay.
"A person recognized by Vice Admiral Garp... Kuzan, what kind of guy do you think they'll be?"
Kuzan, wearing sunglasses and casual clothes, yawned.
At the bay, the warship docked.
Garp stepped off, followed by a black-haired boy carrying a long sword and a bundle.
Nearly all the Marines around the bay focused their gazes on the boy, whose appearance was refined and calm.
"Is that him... the special recruit?"
"He looks like an ordinary kid."
"But would a normal ten-year-old face all these stares without flinching?"
"Yeah... good point."
Hina, still smiling with a cigar in her mouth, approached Garp and Ron. She addressed Garp, "Vice Admiral Garp, the Fleet Admiral wants to see you as soon as you return."
"I know," Garp replied with a nod. Then he turned to Ron and said, "Follow Hina. She'll take you to your quarters. Go and put your things away first."
As Garp headed toward the headquarters building, Hina extended her hand to Ron and said, "I'm Lieutenant Hina. You must be the special recruit, Ron. Welcome to Marineford."
Ron shook her large hand.
"Follow me; your quarters are already arranged."
Ron followed Hina toward the place assigned for him to stay.
Once he arrived at his quarters, Ron placed his famous sword Raikiri and his bundle of clothes down.
Suddenly, a system notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Detecting current location—Marineford, Marines' headquarters. Conditions met for signing in. Sign in to receive rewards. Sign in now?]
[Sign-in successful. You have received the following rewards: Vitality +10. Armament Haki level increased.]
Ron instantly felt changes in his body.
What he couldn't do before—using Armament Haki to harden his body—now seemed within his reach.
"System, show me my current stats."
Swordsmanship: Stage of Will (Beginner).
Mastery of Sun Breathing Technique: 67%.
Weapon: Great Grade Sword Raikiri.
Permanent Buff: True Essence of Ten Thousand Tempering (Binding in progress...).
Armament Haki: Level 3.
Observation Haki: Level 0.
Conqueror's Haki: Level 0.
Skills: Mechanical Mastery.]
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