"???"
Orin had only just left his old base on the Sabaody Archipelago. Not even half a day had passed, and now several black question marks floated above his head.
No way...
That old geezer Garp—why the hell did he go to Sammi?
Rayleigh isn't going to do anything about this?
Seriously? Just lazing around, eating, drinking, and goofing off???
Perhaps seeing the bewilderment on Orin's face, a bearded blond face appeared on the Den Den Mushi with a helpless expression.
"I got my bounty removed because of Roger, but that also means I can't cause trouble anymore... Besides, Garp didn't actually do anything this time."
After all, being both a rival and a friend to Roger, if Garp didn't make the first move, Rayleigh couldn't just go and destroy the hard-earned tacit understanding between the Roger Pirates and the Marines.
Orin felt a headache coming on. Of all people, why did it have to be this reckless old bastard?
"Then... after all this time, why are you showing up now, Garp?"
"This was Roger's final wish! He left Ace to me, definitely hoping the kid would grow up to be a fine Marine like me... A child who inherited Roger's talents will definitely become an Admiral alongside my grandson someday and throw your evil little ass into Impel Down, just like back when I fought Rocks with Roger..."
As he was speaking, Garp suddenly realized something was off.
"...Oops, think I let that slip..."
Seeing everyone around him freeze—and the stunned look on Orin's face through the Den Den Mushi—Garp casually picked his nose.
"Ah... it's nothing..."
"I didn't say anything. I take it back."
"..."
Staring at this shameless old man, Orin couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth.
"Captain Roger did say that... but in the end, he still entrusted Ace to me."
"What difference does that make? Whatever you can offer, I can too."
"Really...? Can you casually give them a few hundred billion Belly as pocket money?" Orin sneered, instantly rendering Garp speechless.
He wanted to argue back, but remembering how half his pay had just been docked recently, he couldn't bring himself to respond.
Orin then turned to speak with Rouge.
"So, ma'am, what's your decision?"
"Me? As long as Ace can grow up healthy, I'm satisfied. But staying in the Red-Light District all the time... I am a bit worried about the child's upbringing..."
In short, Rouge was willing to go along with Orin's arrangements. After all, he had been the one to settle them down and help them through the toughest times.
If Orin insisted on having them stay, she'd listen.
But raising Ace as a pampered young master in the Sabaody Archipelago wasn't what Captain Roger would have wanted either.
Roger once believed that, at the right time, it would be his son who discovered the One Piece.
But growing up in a brothel, under the care of underworld bosses, and with Rayleigh—who definitely wasn't the nurturing type—as a role model...
If Ace ended up turning into some kind of villainous mini-boss, or worse, a spoiled brat who grew up surrounded by casinos and red-light culture, then Orin would honestly feel guilty toward Captain Roger.
Garp might be a goof, but canon already proved that Ace grew up just fine under his care. Plus, having his mother around would help too...
Orin finally relented. He wasn't good with kids, and the environment under his command wasn't suitable for raising one either.
The peaceful, isolated Foosha Village in the East Blue—free from pirate interference—might actually be a great place for them to settle down.
"Fwahahaha... Didn't think you'd be so reasonable."
In the end, after arranging for a hidden bodyguard to follow them, Orin allowed the mother and son to go with Garp.
At least in the East Blue, Orin could guarantee their safety.
Letting the mother and child live safely until Ace came of age and set sail—that was something Orin had promised Roger.
At the very least, some random pirate or bandit would never be able to threaten their lives.
After ending the call, Orin rubbed his brow.
In the end, the three brothers were back together.
"I'll drop by Foosha Village sometime and check on those three little brats."
Canon or not, at least he saved Rouge. With that thought in mind, Orin didn't bother worrying about it anymore.
The voyage continued.
Lately, there hadn't been any major news at sea. Following the Vivre Card's guidance, Orin arrived at an uncharted area of the New World.
"Should be hidden around here..."
His Observation Haki range could reach hundreds of thousands of meters deep. The anglerfish hadn't gone that far below. Something like that, which was basically an island in itself, wasn't too hard to find.
"Oh? Found a little loli."
With both hands resting on the ship's rail, Orin watched with interest.
Above the ocean, aside from the endless waves, there was also...
A running lizard?
Orin extended a finger and gently hooked upward. Instantly, both the lizard and a little girl appeared on the deck.
"Nice to meet you, Olga."
"Who the hell are you!!!"
The so-called "little girl" Olga, with a wicked grin, immediately pulled a dagger from her waist as she saw the three strangers on board.
Her eyes darted about rapidly, analyzing the situation.
A swordsman with a long blade and a terrifying aura.
A woman with a hook hand and a gloomy "yakuza boss" vibe.
And a gentle-looking, long-haired young man.
Alright then!!!
In a flash, she leapt onto Orin, pressing the dagger against his throat.
But Orin was still buzzing with excitement. The anglerfish was well within his Observation Haki range. Immortality was right in front of him!!!
So he didn't care about the golden-haired girl threatening him at all. Ignoring both her and the dagger, he continued staring down at the anglerfish deep beneath the waves.
"So that's Pure Gold?" Orin rubbed his chin, sweeping the anglerfish with Observation Haki.
"Hey!!! What the hell are you doing?! I'm taking you hostage right now!!!"
"So?" Crocodile ignored the shrieking Olga, taking a puff from her cigar.
"Hey!!! Don't ignore me, dammit!!!"
"Or we could just yank it to the surface and slice it in half. That Pure Gold you mentioned would probably fall right out."
Mihawk was itching to cut an island.
"Ugh!!!"
Annoyed by the noise, Orin instantly teleported Olga—who had been clinging to his neck—into his hand, holding her up with one arm.
"Quit yelling. I'm not gonna take that thing you've got. Relax."
With just one sentence, Olga, who had been furious a moment ago, suddenly fell silent. Her face turned pale.
This guy... How does he know...
"Hey, anglerfish. Trying to run?"
Perhaps driven by instinct, the moment Orin probed it with Haki, the massive anglerfish tried to flee the area.
"Not happening~"
Crack—crack—
Scarlet light burst from Orin's eyes as Conqueror's Haki tore through the sea, stirring up tidal waves and storm clouds. The sheer force felt like it would rip the sky apart.
Olga stood frozen in terror as the massive, island-sized Sea King anglerfish burst from the water, bloodshot and furious—yet clearly afraid.
Black-and-red lightning cracked across the sky, shooting straight for the anglerfish's head!
"Don't move!!!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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