Garp broke the silence first.
He strode forward, laughter echoing across the harbor.
"Hahahaha! Well done, brat!
A rookie who forced Whitebeard to use Conqueror's coating—
you're the first!"
Gern froze for a moment, then recognized the man from his youthful face—
and the scar near his eye.
Garp.
Instinctively, Gern glanced past him at Zephyr, whose expression revealed nothing.
"Vice Admiral Garp, you flatter me," Gern said calmly.
"I only did what I had to do."
"Hahaha! Too modest!"
Garp slapped his shoulder hard, nearly knocking the injured Gern over.
"Come on, let's get you checked out first!
Then you tell me everything about that fight!"
Zephyr finally spoke.
"Garp. Enough."
"Zephyr~"
"He reports to me first."
Zephyr's gaze fell on Gern.
"Ensign Gern. One hour from now.
My office.
I'll be waiting."
Gern straightened and saluted.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Zephyr."
Garp pouted.
"Hey, Zephyr, don't be so rigid—
the kid just fought a monster—"
"Precisely why discipline matters," Zephyr interrupted.
"Go. Don't be late."
Watching Gern leave with the medics, Garp shook his head.
"You're always this strict."
Zephyr rubbed his temples.
"Garp, you know what a Logia-type vibration fruit implies."
Garp's expression turned serious—just for a moment.
"…Yeah. That's why it's scary."
They fell silent.
Then Garp suddenly grinned again and bumped Zephyr's shoulder.
"So?
You handing him over to me?"
"Not a chance. Go watch your own son."
Zephyr snorted and walked toward headquarters.
"And I heard you've taken in Kuzan recently. Looks like you've made up your mind."
Garp laughed loudly at Zephyr's back.
"I knew it! You really like that kid, don't you?"
Zephyr waved without turning.
"Fleet Admiral's office later, Garp."
"Got it!"
Garp followed leisurely.
"But first I'm raiding Sengoku's office—he's definitely hiding good stuff!"
The harbor buzzed again with whispers.
"Did you see that? Zephyr personally came to receive him…"
"He fought Whitebeard and lived…"
"This headquarters is about to get interesting…"
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