Chapter 44 · A Different Kind of Plan
"Sorry, Boss."
The moment that high-ranking Navy officer finally left, Ginny let out a long breath of relief. Then he bowed his head, face full of shame.
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't been discovered, Boss, you wouldn't have had to—"
"This was my own decision."
Eiger waved him off before he could finish.
"It's got nothing to do with you. And besides—since that old man has agreed to help us advertise…"
Eiger's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone turning meaningful.
"You'd better make full use of it."
"O-Of course! Please rest assured, Boss!"
Ginny straightened up, trembling with excitement.
"I'll make sure we squeeze every last drop of advertisement value out of that old guy!"
They were gangsters, after all. Utilizing someone's reputation to the fullest was second nature.
"If there's nothing else, that's all for now."
Seeing Ginny's serious expression, Eiger nodded in satisfaction.
"Oh—and make sure to tell Chief Marin about the advertising deal later."
"Yes, Boss!"
Ginny responded immediately.
Then as if remembering something, he added:
"Right—Boss, the Capone Family seems to have noticed something strange happening in Baiskaiborg… and they've already discovered that Victor is dead."
"The Capone Family?"
Eiger frowned.
"So they only noticed Baiskaiborg's situation? They haven't taken any other action?"
"No, nothing aggressive. But they seem to be investigating your identity."
Ginny shook his head.
"And they're being cautious—like they're scared of something. They even sent someone to ask if I wanted to join the Capone Family. But I followed your orders and rejected them directly."
"Cautious…?"
Eiger stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Could it be because they discovered the Chief Instructor of Navy Headquarters was here?
Or—
Because he possessed the Castle-Castle Fruit?
If Devil Fruits truly "chose" their owners… it wouldn't be surprising for the Capone Family to sense something and fix their gaze on him.
So—
Eiger raised his head and looked at Ginny.
"Do you want to eat the Devil Fruit?"
If Ginny ate it, no so-called 'chosen owner' could be selected.
"Devil Fruit? The sea's sacred treasure?"
Ginny froze.
After Eiger had left earlier, he had gone out of his way to research these treasures.
They were worth at least 100 million berries, minimum.
And now the Boss was offering one to him?
Plus there were rumors—whoever ate one would gain incredible powers… but would become a useless swimmer.
Ginny scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Boss, I don't want to become a drowning duck…"
"With your swimming ability?"
Eiger gave him a side-eye.
"It doesn't matter whether you can swim or not. You planning to fight under the sea? Don't kid yourself."
Then Eiger continued.
"The Castle-Castle Fruit is pretty good. Your body becomes like a fortress—you can shrink anything you want and store it inside you: your men, cannons, even horses. And you can attack externally from within."
"That amazing?!"
Ginny's eyes widened.
But soon, he rubbed his hands together sheepishly.
"Boss… do you have the Clear-Clear Fruit? When I was young, I had a dream… Boss—hey hey hey, what's with that look? It was really just a childish dream!"
"..."
I'm a man too. You think I don't know what that dream was about?
Eiger stared at him speechlessly.
"There is one. But…"
He paused.
"I don't know where it is, and I don't know if someone's already eaten it."
"Boss—if you don't know, that means there's a chance it hasn't been eaten!"
Ginny clapped his hands excitedly.
"I've decided! I'll eat the Clear-Clear Fruit! I want to fulfill my childhood dream!"
"…Do whatever you want."
Eiger sighed.
"Keep an eye on the Capone Family. If anything happens here, report it to Nicole."
---
If you want Chapter 45 translated and refined too, just send it!
Here is a smooth, natural, fully refined English translation, keeping the emotional depth, humor, and One Piece tone intact:
---
To be honest, Ginny wasn't really suited for the Castle-Castle Fruit anyway—his physical endurance was garbage. Even if he ate it, he wouldn't be able to store many people inside him.
Eiger even wondered… what if a giant ate this fruit?
Wouldn't that become an enormous, mobile war fortress?
A walking siege battalion?
"Yes, Boss!"
"And remember to properly develop Baiskaiborg. If there's nothing else, get lost already!"
"Please rest assured, Boss! I'll make Baiskaiborg flourish! I'll take my leave then!"
"…"
Eiger waved him off and watched Ginny's retreating back.
With a soft sigh, he shook his head, then glanced toward the back mountain.
After a moment, he turned decisively and began walking home.
He planned to rest for the day—
and spend time with his wife.
Whatever Zephyr was planning could wait.
Right now, he had one goal:
Keep moving forward.
Become stronger.
Especially because…
he might soon have a child of his own.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side—
Zephyr had just returned to his room, a faint hint of emotion on his face when—
Purururu~ Purururu~
The Den Den Mushi started ringing.
He raised an eyebrow and picked it up.
A boisterous voice immediately blasted through.
"Wahahaha! Zephyr! How'd it go? Already departed? Sengoku's been nagging me all morning! I told him I was on leave, but does he listen? No! Just keeps bothering me!"
"You've got some nerve complaining!"
Zephyr's pleasant mood instantly darkened as he roared,
"I'm a patient! A patient, you idiot! And you dumped the mission on me?!"
"It's just one hand. No big deal. Don't mind it."
"I shouldn't mind it? You're the one who doesn't mind!"
Zephyr's mouth twitched violently as he stared at the utterly unconcerned Den Den Mushi wearing Garp's expression.
"Can't you care about a sick man even a little?"
"Care! Care! Of course I care! You're my best buddy in the Navy—how could I not care?"
"If you weren't picking your nose while saying that, I might believe you!"
"Huh? How'd you know I'm picking my nose? Ah, whatever, not the point."
Garp cheerfully changed the subject.
"So—when are you leaving? I need to report back to Sengoku. Don't worry, it's not a dangerous mission. Just check what happened at G-5, why the base commander died, and why those pirates attacked. Also check out Vice Admiral Vergo, who's temporarily in charge. I looked into him—seems like a good guy. He'll treat you well."
"That so? Then I'm relieved. I've already handed the task off to someone else."
"???"
I give it to you… and you give it to someone else??
"Relax. I handed it to my students."
Zephyr chuckled at Garp's bewildered expression on the Den Den Mushi.
"They'll get it done."
"Those two kids of yours? Ah, fine."
Garp scratched his head.
"Should be safe as long as Sengoku doesn't find out. He's been driving me crazy lately. Anyway, that's that. If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up—"
"Hold it, Garp! I promised a kid I'd teach him your Armament Haki training method!"
"A kid? The one who saved you? Sure, whatever you think is best. Anything else?"
"One more thing."
Zephyr hesitated briefly.
"I'll send you a few barrels of wine in a few days."
"Sending wine? Oh, come on, that's too generous—"
Garp paused for less than a full second.
"—when's it arriving?"
"In a few days."
"Haha! Alright then! I'll be waiting!"
"Wait, there's something else!"
Sensing Garp was about to hang up again, Zephyr quickly stopped him.
Garp's Den Den Mushi gave a confused blink.
Zephyr hesitated… then, as though making a major decision, hardened his expression.
"Garp… let me ask you something."
"??? Why so serious?"
Garp blinked.
"Ask away."
"I have a friend who's wanted by the World Government.
Do you think it's possible… for them to revoke that bounty?"
"A wanted criminal? What kind?"
"For example… for example…"
Zephyr struggled a moment, then said,
"Like… the Pirate King's son. If he wanted to live a peaceful life—could the World Government remove his bounty?"
"..."
"Garp?"
"I was wondering the same thing."
"???"
"Hahaha! Never mind, never mind!"
Before Zephyr could ask, Garp burst into loud laughter and smoothly changed the subject.
"Why're you even asking? Zephyr—don't tell me you committed a crime? Come on, tell old Garp! Don't worry, I won't tell Sengoku! And when you get publicly executed, I'll definitely guard you personally—I won't let anyone rescue you!"
"GET LOST!!!"
Zephyr slammed the Den Den Mushi shut, face pitch-black.
"Stupid old bastard!"
A moment later, he sighed quietly, eyes complicated and heavy.
"…Truly impossible, huh?"
---
On the other end, Garp lowered the now-silent Den Den Mushi, still grinning—though with a faint note of melancholy.
"What's that old man up to?
Did he start resenting the World Government after what happened…?"
He sighed, then raised his head—
Just ahead, a young boy with black hair and freckles was running across the training grounds.
Garp watched him quietly.
Then muttered with a sad, knowing smile:
"Peaceful life?
Impossible."
The World Government would never let someone bearing the blood of "evil" live freely.
Never.