"Kizaru, the Admiral?!"
Looking at the familiar figure formed from converging golden light ahead of them, everyone wore a different expression. He actually showed up!
The one who arrived was none other than Marine Admiral Kizaru. After dawdling around for so long, he had finally reached the scene.
Still dressed in that eye-catching yellow-and-white striped suit, with sunglasses perched on his face, that distinctly sleazy aura naturally radiated from him.
After appearing, Kizaru casually swept his gaze around. Not seeing that particular figure, he couldn't help but relax a little.
He straightened his back and faced everyone, a half-smile hanging on his face.
"How scary~ Trying to abduct a Celestial Dragon, of all things!"
"Yellow monkey, you're finally here. Come on, fight a few rounds with me!"
Yamato stepped forward first, excitement overflowing across her face.
Shalria, clamped under Yamato's arm, began struggling frantically the moment she saw Kizaru arrive.
"Marine Admiral! Hurry and arrest these filthy commoners! I want to torture them properly!"
"..."
Hearing Shalria's shrill shouting, Kizaru's expression stiffened, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
He couldn't help but complain inwardly. This brainless thing really couldn't read the situation at all.
If he were absolutely confident, he would've made his move immediately. Why would he still be standing here staring each other down?
"Shut up!"
Annoyed, Yamato lifted Shalria and slammed her head forward. With a sharp crack as the protective barrier shattered, the female Celestial Dragon was knocked unconscious as well.
Tossing Shalria aside, Yamato took another step forward, kanabo in hand, her gaze burning as she stared at Kizaru.
"I've wanted to see the strength of a Marine Admiral for a long time now. Come on, let's have a big fight!"
"How scary~ I'm here for the Celestial Dragon, not to fight you guys, you know~"
Catching sight of the people behind Yamato also itching to move, Kizaru immediately raised his hands in surrender, clearly unwilling to start a fight.
He wasn't stupid. Yamato and the people behind her all had formidable auras.
If he fought, he definitely wouldn't come out on top.
What was going on with this group of adventurers? He didn't remember them feeling like this last time.
Originally, noticing that Leno wasn't here had made him quite happy. As long as he gave the crew a bit of a warning, the mission would be considered done.
But now he realized he'd celebrated too early.
Several people in this group were extremely strong—definitely not ones he could easily deal with.
In that case, as long as he ensured the Celestial Dragon's survival, wouldn't the mission still count as completed?
That was his plan—but Yamato wasn't having it. What, not only did he refuse to fight her, he also wanted to take away the woman she was delivering to her brother?
Dream on!
"No! This woman—"
"Yamato!!!"
Kuina's cold shout from behind instantly froze Yamato in place. She turned back stiffly.
She realized that it wasn't just Kuina—Robin, Hancock, and the others were all staring at her with unfriendly expressions.
She was confused. What was going on? Why were they stopping her?
Before she could figure it out, Kuina's chilly voice rang out again.
"Give that woman to him. We're leaving."
Without sparing Yamato or the amused Kizaru another glance, Kuina and Hancock took the lead and left.
Yamato looked left and right in a daze, then finally followed after them helplessly.
Watching the adventurers' retreating figures, Kizaru kept his hands in his pockets, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Things are getting interesting now, aren't they~"
...
"Way too interesting. Garp, your grandson actually wants to become a pirate?"
"Hahahaha—!"
Looking at Garp across from him, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot, Rayleigh laughed until tears came out.
Was there anything more hilarious than this? What was this supposed to be—would the grandfather have to sail the seas to capture his own grandson in the future?
Shakky, sitting nearby, couldn't help pressing her lips together, barely holding back laughter as she imagined the scene.
As the laughter around the table grew louder, Garp's face flushed red with anger, on the verge of exploding.
"That's enough! It's all because of that red-haired brat on your ship stirring things up! Otherwise, how would Luffy ever think about becoming a pirate?!"
After saying that, he took several heavy breaths and glanced toward Leno at the side.
As his eyes rolled, the expression on his face swiftly shifted from fury to delight.
"But that kid Leno beat the crap out of that red-haired guy last time, so at least he helped me vent my anger!"
"That red-haired bastard's been sailing for so long, yet he got beaten so badly by a rookie he didn't even recognize his own mother. Absolutely shameless!"
"Hahahaha—!"
Rayleigh's laughter abruptly stopped. He looked at Leno with an extremely resentful gaze.
Now the old man wasn't laughing anymore—it was Garp's turn to laugh.
You mocked my grandson for wanting to be a pirate? Well then, didn't the apprentice on your ship get beaten half to death too?
Watching the two old men expose each other's weak points, Leno's mouth twitched as he looked at Garp, who was laughing uproariously.
"I say, Old Man Garp, is it really okay for you to be drinking tea with a bunch of wanted criminals like us?"
Leno had no idea what had possessed this old man. They'd been peacefully drinking tea and chatting when he barged right in, insisting on joining them for a cup.
And as they chatted, the two old men got carried away and started tearing into each other.
"What's the problem? I'm just here to drink tea!"
Garp shot an annoyed glare at the brat trying to stir trouble. Wasn't he just hinting at Rayleigh and Shakky's identities?
The Navy had known their whereabouts for a long time. But when it came to remnants of the previous era, the Navy's attitude had always been ambiguous.
As long as they didn't cause trouble, the World Government and the Navy would both turn a blind eye and avoid provoking them.
Besides, his objective this time wasn't those two old fossils—it was Leno.
He understood Sengoku's intent clearly. Wasn't it just to have him keep an eye on this bastard and stop him from interfering with Kizaru's work?
Sitting here drinking tea while keeping watch on Leno—what was wrong with that?
Watching Garp put on an act and start sipping his tea, then glancing at Rayleigh and Shakky, Leno's mood became complicated.
To think that two sides who once chased each other across the seas could now sit together and drink tea.
Life really was unpredictable.
Just as Leno was sighing inwardly, a group of figures suddenly appeared in the distance, drawing everyone's attention.
…
…