This was Ortoren's first time at the G-1 Marine Base. It truly lived up to its reputation as a "reserve headquarters." In every respect, it was no less imposing than Marineford.
As for this mission, it was exactly as Bogard and the others had said—utterly pointless. Fleet Admiral Kong's fleet had left Marineford without incident, slipped smoothly into Mary Geoise, then crossed the Red Line and entered the New World.
Even in these dangerous waters, they hadn't encountered a single enemy, arriving safely at G-1 to begin inspections.
Ortoren couldn't help cursing the Red Count in his heart. That guy was useless. Didn't he understand the idea of sacrificing the small self for the greater good? If he didn't come and pick a fight with the boss, how was Ortoren supposed to get promoted and make a fortune?
"What are you sighing about?" Kuzan asked from across the small table on the deck, eyeing him curiously.
Ortoren played the last card in his hand, shook his head, and said, "Playing poker with you rookies is no fun at all."
Bogard glanced at the cards in his hand, his face twitching. "You cheated, didn't you? I've only played one card, and you're already out?"
That's right. The Fleet Admiral was ashore inspecting the base, Garp was snoring away on the ship, and Ortoren had no excuse to tag along as "protection." With nothing better to do, the three of them sat on deck, sunbathing and playing poker.
Was life in the Marines really this plain and uneventful?
Ortoren even felt like barging into Garp's cabin, grabbing him by the collar, and asking if he thought his lazy habits were worth his paycheck. Was he doing right by the taxpayers out at sea?
Sadly, Ortoren still wasn't strong enough to take Garp on.
"When I become Fleet Admiral, the first thing I'll do is fire slackers like Garp-san. Only then can we clean up this lazy attitude and atmosphere in the Marines," Ortoren declared.
Kuzan blinked, then said, "I'm a Vice Admiral and never even thought about becoming Fleet Admiral. You're a Commodore, and you're already plotting to fire your superior?"
"A Marine who doesn't want to be Fleet Admiral isn't a good Marine!" Ortoren said with conviction.
"Hey, let's go another round! I'm definitely winning this time!" Bogard cut in quickly before the topic went too far.
At first, Ortoren had thought Bogard was the serious, no-nonsense type. But after taking a mission with him, he realized the man was practically addicted to cards.
On second thought, it made sense. Sailing might sound romantic, but for those who'd been adrift for years, it was monotonous and dull. Day after day, nothing but the endless blue sea. Eventually, you got tired of everything.
And with the Marines' rules limiting what could be done aboard ship, they had to find what little entertainment they could—like playing cards.
"I'm done. I'm going fishing. It helps me relax and is good for my mental and physical health," Ortoren said, standing up.
Hearing that, Bogard grabbed the hem of Ortoren's cloak and said earnestly, "Listen to me, Ortoren. Take it from someone who's been there—fishing is absolutely not a good choice if you're trying to keep calm. Come play cards with me instead!"
"Why?" Ortoren asked, puzzled. "Everything I've read says fishing is a great way to cultivate peace of mind."
"If you catch something, sure—it's relaxing. But if you don't… I'm afraid you'll take it too hard and jump overboard," Bogard warned.
"What? No way. Are fishermen really that extreme?" Ortoren asked in disbelief.
Bogard was about to say more when the Den Den Mushi he carried suddenly rang.
He had to let go of Ortoren, pulling the snail phone from his pocket. Ortoren stayed close, curious—just in case something interesting was about to happen...
"Admiral Sengoku!?" Bogard looked surprised as he pulled out his Den Den Mushi, but quickly answered. "Admiral Sengoku?"
"Bogard? Finally, I got through to you. Why isn't Garp answering his Den Den Mushi?" Sengoku's tone was edged with impatience.
"Garp-san… should be sleeping," Bogard replied after a brief pause.
In his office at Marineford, Sengoku glanced out the window at the bright, sunny sky. The weather was perfect. There shouldn't be much of a time difference between G-1 and Marineford, so…
You're a Vice Admiral, sleeping in broad daylight?
Aren't you supposed to be on a mission?
But Sengoku wasn't in the mood to argue with Garp over that. His voice turned serious. "The Fleet Admiral has arrived at G-1, correct?"
"Yes. He got here this morning and is currently inspecting the base. He's expected to stay for about a week," Bogard answered crisply, every bit the professional adjutant.
"Good. That means the escort mission can be put on hold. I've got an urgent situation that needs you and Garp to head out immediately," Sengoku said.
Just then, Garp pushed open the deck door, stepping out with a yawn and a grumble. "What's Sengoku's problem? Always calling right when someone's sleeping. I didn't pick up, and when I tried calling back, the line was busy…"
"Garp, you bastard, you almost made us miss something important!" Sengoku clearly heard him and snapped.
Garp froze, looking a bit guilty. "What is it? Something wrong? Is it about Roger?"
"This has nothing to do with Roger. In the New World, on Ranki Island, there's a scientific research base run by the MADS Research Group. They've got a dangerous technology in their hands, and now it looks like there's a serious split among the members. Word is they're disbanding, and that news has already spread through the underworld. Their technology has caught the attention of some dangerous people. Charlotte Linlin and Kaidou have already been confirmed, and both are heading for Ranki Island," Sengoku said in a low, steady voice.
Garp was fully awake now. The carefree grin he'd been wearing for days was gone, replaced by the sharp seriousness of a Marine Headquarters veteran.
"So?" Garp prompted.
"Our plan is to detain the entire MADS team—lock them up first, ask questions later. Borsalino is in charge, and normally it'd be no problem. But right now, he hasn't reached Ranki Island yet. With Kaidou and Charlotte Linlin both moving, you know how fast they can be. I'm worried Borsalino won't be able to hold them off. You're already in the New World, and G-1 isn't far, so I want you to set sail immediately to support him," Sengoku explained in one breath.
"Got it. I'll head out now!" Garp agreed without a second's hesitation.
Just like Kuzan had said—don't be fooled by Garp's lazy act. When something big happens at sea, he's always in the thick of it.
"Alright, contact Borsalino yourself. I won't interfere with your coordination. But there's one thing you must remember: the rest of them don't matter, but that scientist named Vegapunk cannot, under any circumstances, fall into enemy hands!" Sengoku stressed.
From his tone, it was clear he was feeling more at ease now.
Even though Sengoku often complained about Garp's unreliability, when it truly mattered, he trusted him completely. That kind of complicated trust is hard to put into words.
After hanging up, Garp rolled his shoulders and grinned. "We've been idle for too long. I bet you're all itching for action. Well, here's our chance!"
Bogard didn't wait for orders. He was already on his feet, calling for the crew to weigh anchor and set sail.
Ortoren stretched and said lazily, "Finally my turn?"
Kuzan hadn't known Ortoren's background before, but after a year working together, their relationship made secrets unnecessary.
Smirking, Kuzan teased, "This time, you might run into your family, Ortoren. Don't hold back when you do."
"Relax. My hammer's been hungry for a while now," Ortoren replied with a raised brow.
At that moment, Ortoren had no idea his mother's iron fist was also hungry.
...
(50 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon(.)com/PinkSnake