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Chapter 31
Not long after, the old man walked right up to Jepack, patted his shoulder, and laughed heartily:
"Hahahaha~ You little punk don't look like a good guy at all. How about joining the Navy? I could take you as my second disciple!"
Looks like he noticed the Conqueror's Haki I accidentally leaked earlier, Jepack thought, putting on an annoyed expression as if he didn't recognize him, and asked:
"Who the hell are you, old man? Coming onto my ship and trying to take me as a disciple? You've got some nerve!"
"Hahahaha! I haven't seen a brat like you in ages. You're really interesting—reminds me of a few of my own troublemaking grandsons!"
"I'm Garp!"
"What?! You're Vice Admiral Garp—the Navy Hero Garp who's always in the newspaper headlines?! Why would someone like you show up in the East Blue, the so-called Calm Belt?!"
Jepack didn't have much of a reaction to Garp, but Guina and Nami beside him were stunned. They repeated in disbelief:
"You're really… the Hero Garp from the papers?"
"That's right, it's me. This is my vice-captain, Rear Admiral Bogard."
Garp answered the girls, then pointed to the man standing beside him.
Jepack, completely unfazed, picked his nose and said calmly:
"I don't care if you're some hero bear or whatever. What are you doing on my ship? Don't tell me it's about taking me as a disciple—I already have a teacher. I'm not taking another one."
In Jepack's heart, he had long considered Frost Moon Koushirou his true teacher, even though they never formally held a ceremony.
"You… watch your manners!"
Bogard pointed at Jepack, wanting to say more, but Garp raised a hand to stop him. Bogard changed his words to just ask Jepack to be more polite.
Beside him, Guina and Nami were also shocked by Jepack's bold words. They quickly tugged at his sleeve.
"Hahahaha! You really suit my taste, kid! Since I can't be your teacher, how about coming with me to join the Navy?"
Garp laughed loudly. He genuinely liked spirited young men—they reminded him of himself in his youth, fearless and reckless!
"Join the Navy? No thanks!"
Seeing Jepack's quick and firm refusal, Garp asked curiously:
"Why not?"
"Why? Let me ask you—what's so great about the Navy? What's worth me joining?"
Jepack turned the question back on Garp.
"Coming with me to carry out justice—isn't that the greatest benefit? Worst case, I'll share some of my snacks with you every day. That's my biggest concession!"
"Trying to get something for nothing? Forget it. What do you even have? Joining the Navy—can I become an Admiral? A Fleet Admiral? I have no overwhelming strength and no powerful background. I'd just get stepped on. Besides, if I join the Navy, I can't fulfill my dream of sleeping with all the beauties. No freedom? Then whoever wants to be Navy can do it—I'm out!"
Jepack countered Garp sharply.
"You little punk—seriously refusing? You killed an East Blue captain in Cocoyasi Village and several Navy at Baratie. If word gets out, you'll only be able to become a pirate with a bounty!"
"You old geezer—trying to force me into the Navy? Threatening me? If you dare, I'll expose everything that rat captain did in the East Blue—colluding with pirates and all the dirty dealings of the higher-ups behind him. If you're not afraid, go ask Sengoku if he's scared. The Baratie Navy got what they deserved—I didn't kill them, I just threw them all into the sea!"
Garp munched on a doughnut. He suddenly remembered—he had indeed spoken to Sengoku over the Den Den Mushi about the rat captain before coming. That matter absolutely could not be leaked by Jepack.
Then, without another word, Garp sat right down on the deck and fell asleep.
Bogard poked Garp's shoulder to wake him. Garp snapped awake, laughed loudly, completely shameless about it.
"If you have nothing else, please leave my ship."
After saying that, Jepack lay back in his favorite deck chair. Garp followed suit and lay down in the adjacent one.
"Hey! What are you doing, old man?!"
Garp grinned: "I'm sailing with you for a few days. Bogard—you guys head back to G-3 and wait for me. I'm on leave this time—I switched ships midway. No problem, right?"
Bogard thought to himself: You're the boss—you decide.
"Vice Admiral Garp, are you sure about staying on their ship?"
"Hey, hey—we haven't agreed to let this old man on our ship yet!!"
Jepack quickly interrupted Bogard and Garp's conversation.
"Hahahaha! Doesn't matter if you agree or not—I'm staying on your ship for a few days anyway. Unless you can beat me—then I'll get off."
Garp didn't care about Jepack's opinion at all.
"Vice Admiral Garp—I know you see potential in this kid, but a Vice Admiral staying on a ship like this… isn't that inappropriate?"
"You two—enough already! Left and right calling me 'kid.' I can't beat Garp the old geezer, but you think I can't beat his vice-captain? If you've got the guts, come spar with me!"
Jepack snapped angrily at Bogard.
Bogard's face suddenly flushed red—clearly broken by Jepack's words.
He grabbed his sword, used Geppo, and flashed toward the nearest island. Before leaving, he left one line:
"If you've got the balls, follow me. If you don't dare—then respectfully call me 'sir' and I'll accept it!"
"So it's Little Bogard!" Jepack muttered, then followed Bogard with Geppo.
From the Ten'en, Garp watched Jepack use Soru so skillfully, his thoughts unreadable. Then he turned to Nami, Guina, and the Navy crew on board:
"You two little ladies—start sailing and follow them. You guys help out too, and send a signal for the dog-head warship to hurry up. I want to see who wins!"
Hearing that, everyone scrambled into action. Though they couldn't match the speed of the two in the air, they wouldn't fall too far behind.
"That distance should be fine. If they really go all out later, any closer and the ship might get wrecked."
"This range gives a clear view."
Nami and Guina watched through binoculars from the side.
On the island, Jepack and Bogard stood facing each other, swords in hand. Their clothes fluttered without wind as both built up their battle aura. The moment one broke through the other's pressure—that would be the signal to start.
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