Luffy turned around, looking at Garp with a solemn expression.
"Grandpa, where are you taking me? To the Marines?"
Garp clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, as if he had made some kind of decision. He said firmly,
"No! I'm taking you to prison, Luffy!!!"
The moment these words left his mouth, Nami and the others, as well as the Revolutionary Army, widened their eyes in shock. Luffy was even more incredulous as he blurted out,
"What did you just say?!"
Gritting his teeth, Garp continued,
"Luffy, whether you're a pirate or a Revolutionary, your final destination should be prison!"
As he spoke, he silently added in his heart,
"Forgive me, Luffy. If I want to keep you alive, this is the only way!"
As the most senior in the Marines, Garp understood better than anyone just how terrifying the current Marine forces had become—especially under the command of the Fleet Admiral, Carl. That man was a monster beyond human capability.
And Carl was also a Celestial Dragon. He never cared for so-called balance. All he ever thought about was eliminating every force that opposed the World Government.
Just look at everything that's happened in recent years—from the Pirate King to the Four Emperors, even Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army—every single one of them had been crushed into the dust of history by Carl and his Marines.
If Luffy continued opposing the World Government, Garp was certain his end would be nothing short of tragic.
It was impossible for Luffy to live a normal life anymore. Even if he wanted to, the Marines wouldn't allow it. Luffy had caused too much trouble, openly defied the World Government, and was now allied with the Revolutionary Army—public enemy number one.
Someone like Luffy was already on the verge of being eliminated by the Marines.
Garp had already lost his son, Dragon. He absolutely refused to lose Luffy as well. That was why, no matter what, he had to capture Luffy today.
However, before Luffy could respond, Lindbergh erupted in fury and shouted,
"I used to respect you, but I was wrong! You're nothing but the World Government's lackey!"
The weight of these words was immense for Garp. If Luffy had said it, he might have let it slide. But coming from someone like Lindbergh, who was nothing to him?
He was a Marine of justice—not a lackey of the World Government!
Narrowing his eyes, Garp coldly stared at Lindbergh and said,
"You have no right to lecture me..."
Before the words fully left his mouth, Garp leaped into the air. His fist radiated an overwhelming aura, pulsating with terrifying waves of Haki. Like a meteor, he shot downward towards Lindbergh.
BOOM!
A massive mushroom cloud erupted into the sky. As the smoke billowed, Garp emerged from the destruction, his expression indifferent as he gazed ahead.
When the dust finally settled, the battlefield revealed a massive crater, with Lindbergh embedded at its center, his head barely sticking out.
Around Lindbergh, numerous Revolutionary Army soldiers lay unconscious, completely overwhelmed.
That single punch demonstrated Garp's worth.
Lindbergh's fur was matted with blood. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed a violent surge of electricity, blasting away the debris as he leaped out of the crater.
The moment he landed, he staggered, nearly collapsing again. It was clear that Garp's enraged punch was not so easily endured.
Luffy emerged from a pile of rubble, still carrying Nami. He surveyed the scene before him and spoke in a deep voice,
"Grandpa, must you really do this?"
Without looking at him, Garp simply replied,
"My stance is clear."
Luffy fell silent at those words. Nami, looking worried, whispered,
"Luffy..."
Clicking his tongue, Luffy slowly set Nami down. Then, he reached for his straw hat and placed it on his head.
Pressing the brim of his hat down, he said,
"I don't want to lose any more of my friends. If you insist on taking us to prison, then come and try, Garp!!!"
The moment his words fell, an overwhelming presence exploded from his body. Crimson and black lightning crackled around him, sweeping through the battlefield like a raging storm. The ground beneath Luffy's feet cracked like a spiderweb.
Feeling the immense aura, Garp's expression shifted.
"Such powerful Conqueror's Haki! I underestimated you, Luffy!"
Luffy didn't respond. He simply raised his head, revealing golden eyes, and flashed a wide grin at Garp.
Garp frowned.
"Why are you laughing in a moment like this? What's so funny?"
But Luffy didn't stop. In fact, his laughter grew even more unrestrained, while Garp's face darkened.
Finally, Garp could take no more. With a roar, he instantly appeared before Luffy and bellowed,
"Stop laughing!!!"
Before Luffy could react, Garp grabbed him and launched himself into the sky.
His arms, covered in Armament Haki, bulged with muscle as he held Luffy in an iron grip. Reaching the peak of his jump, he flung Luffy downward with all his might.
BOOM!!!
The impact created an enormous crater in the ground, sending red lightning streaking in all directions.
Seeing this, Lindbergh and the remaining Revolutionary Army fighters abandoned all restraint and attacked Garp together.
Yet, aside from Lindbergh, none of their attacks even registered to Garp. With his body fortified by Armament Haki, he charged straight into their ranks, grabbing two Revolutionary soldiers and hurling them like projectiles.
A wave of Revolutionary soldiers collapsed under his relentless assault. Garp, like a tiger among sheep, was utterly unstoppable.
Lindbergh watched in frustration. Ignoring his injuries, he once again rushed at Garp for a close-quarters fight. But after only a few exchanges, Garp caught his claws and flung him away.
Garp was an old-school powerhouse. His martial prowess was honed to perfection, and his Armament Haki was both impenetrable and devastating. Even the mere wind pressure from his punches caused severe damage to the Revolutionary Army.
But unlike most pirate crews, the Revolutionary Army was highly disciplined. Even as they were beaten back, there were no deserters. They continued charging under Lindbergh's lead, unwavering.
All this time, Garp had been holding back. Behind him was Foosha Village—if he unleashed his full strength, he risked reducing the entire village to rubble.
Yet, he couldn't afford to be stalled by sheer numbers.
And worst of all—Garp was not as strong as he had once been. After Carl drained his lifespan, his physical condition was nowhere near what it had been in his prime!
-----------
+230 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg