Onigumo mouth remained agape even after seeing Garp.
How could he describe what was happening before him? Absurd? Or just a coincidence?
***
"So, you're saying Vice Admiral Garp came to Baterilla Island mainly to pick up his daughter? And being appointed as the overall commander of the search operation was just a coincidence, since it was on the way?"
"Vice Admiral Onigumo, you're absolutely right." Michael nodded.
He never expected Onigumo ability to rationalize things would be sharper than the blade in his hand!
Before Michael could even spin a proper lie, Onigumo had already convinced himself!
Suddenly, Michael felt a strange emptiness.
All night, he had polished dozens of flawless lines—yet not a single one was needed…
Garp also walked out of the guest room, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Oh, Onigumo, did you finish searching the island last night?"
"Yes, we've compiled information on all pregnant women on Baterilla Island whose due dates are close to the expected timeframe." Onigumo gestured as he spoke. "As for the CP agent, I've had people watching them—they didn't dare to harass the civilians."
He then handed the compiled reports to Garp.
Would Garp even look at them?
Back at the G-3 Branch, all official reports were handled by his adjutant, Bogart. So Garp quickly waved his hand, signaling Onigumo to put the documents away.
"I know you've all worked hard. This mission is crucial—we must complete it while maintaining the Marines reputation…" Then, he called toward the master bedroom "Rouge, are you ready? If so, come out and register your information with the Marines."
Onigumo froze on the spot.
After a long pause, he finally asked "V-Vice Admiral Garp… you mean your daughter is also pregnant?"
"Yeah, Big Sis Rouge is eight months pregnant! She was originally living with Dragon, but some scumbag tricked her into coming to Baterilla Island!" Michael chimed in.
A mix of truth and lies—that was the most deceptive kind.
Onigumo, a reckless brute who only knew how to fight and kill, was suddenly at a loss for words.
Just then, the door to the master bedroom slowly opened.
A woman with hair identical to Michael walked out gracefully, her belly swollen as if she were eight or nine months pregnant.
Onigumo's first thought was...
What a beautiful woman—what a shame she was already pregnant and worse, she was Vice Admiral Garp daughter!!!
His second thought was that she bore a striking resemblance to the late Pirate King widow, as described in the CP organization files. But upon closer inspection, her facial structure was slightly different and her features were even more refined.
Most importantly...
How could Vice Admiral Garp possibly marry his daughter to the Pirate King?!
Onigumo thought to himself, then tossed all such thoughts aside.
Unnoticed by him, Michael and Garp curled their lips into sinister smirks.
1 Dumbass successfully fooled!
***
Three days later, at Marine Headquarters.
"Garp! Why the search operation on Baterilla Island ended so quickly?"
"What else?" Garp replied shamelessly to Sengoku, who had come to the dock to greet him, picking his nose with one finger.
"It's just looking for a pregnant woman. If we didn't find her, we didn't find her... Besides, they're not stupid. Even though Roger dead and his crew disbanded, do you really think Rayleigh and Gaban would abandon their captain widow?"
Garp unhesitatingly pinned the mission failure on Rayleigh and Gaban.
Those two probably wouldn't mind taking the blame for their captain anyway!
Sengoku had already received Onigumo preliminary report. It seemed Roger widow wasn't stubborn after all—she must have fled immediately with Rayleigh help upon seeing the Marines land.
But Sengoku hadn't come to the dock to question Garp about the mission.
He was curious about Garp supposedly pregnant daughter.
"Onigumo told me that besides overseeing the search operation, you had another purpose for going to Baterilla Island this time..."
"You heard it from Onigumo?" Garp slowly lowered his hand and sighed, his face full of resignation.
"Ah, it's a long story."
"Then make it short!"
"Long story short, my daughter Rouge has been living with Dragon, but she recently contacted me. That's when I found out she'd moved to Baterilla Island and got dumped by some scumbag!"
"...Wait, hold on. How did it turn out like this?" Sengoku suddenly rubbed his temples.
"Then what?"
"Then I went to bring my daughter home! I even discussed with Michael how to find that scumbag and smash his skull! Right then, you called me on the Den Den Mushi and ordered me to Baterilla Island for the search mission! So I just hitched a ride." As he spoke, Garp glanced back at Michael, who was carefully helping Rouge disembark from the Vice Admiral ship.
"Slow down, slow down! Michael, be careful with my grandson!"
"Enough, old man! Aren't you overreacting!? First, you wouldn't let us sail at full speed and now I'm practically moving in slow motion helping Rouge! And you still want me to go slower?!" Michael rolled his eyes, Rouge soft laughter beside him making him feel slightly exasperated.
Eventually, Michael finally managed to escort Rouge to where Sengoku stood.
Under Sengoku subtle scrutiny, Rouge remained composed from start to finish, showing no cracks in her act.
Especially when she called Garp "Father", It was so natural and effortless.
Garp grinned until his wrinkles nearly swallowed his eyes.
"Don't tell me this is your daughter, Dragon sister!" Sengoku shook his head in disbelief.
"No way. How could someone like you have such a beautiful daughter?!"
"Don't worry about how. Just know I wouldn't lie to you." Garp remained as shameless as ever.
"Nice to meet you, Admiral Sengoku. My name is Monkey D. Rouge and I've been raised by my elder brother since birth." In contrast, Rouge was far more polite.
"But... Rouge, how long have you been pregnant?" Sengoku glanced at Rouge belly.
"While living on Baterilla Island, did you have any contact with the Pirate King widow?"
"Of course. Her family surname was Portgas, but I don't know her given names. Our relationship was too superficial to exchange names." Rouge answer was flawless—even Sengoku couldn't find any fault with it.
"Old man, aren't you talking a bit too much?" Michael, standing nearby, quipped. "Pestering Sister Rouge, a pregnant woman, with all these questions—careful or I'll report you for misconduct!"
Sengoku: Damn, I feel so appreciated.