In no time, Makino finished mixing the wine and served it. Hikaru raised his glass, took a sip, and praised her with a smirk.
"Makino, you make excellent drinks. Why don't you become my divine concubine?"
"Concubine?"
Makino was stunned. The man before her was well-mannered and handsome, making her think he might be from a wealthy background. However, his words and demeanor were unbelievably domineering. She forced a polite smile and replied,
"Sir, you must be joking. I'm just an ordinary woman from a small village. Please don't tease me. This glass of wine is on the house."
"You think I'm joking?"
Hikaru casually waved his hand, and in an instant, the villagers inside the tavern were swept away by an invisible force, piling up outside.
"Make your choice, Makino. Think carefully. Their lives depend on your answer."
Makino bit her lip, her eyes filled with unease. She clutched the hem of her skirt tightly, her mind racing.
(Goddess… Everyone's lives… Oh, I heard that Mr. Garp is back. Will he make it in time to save me?)
Afraid that any hesitation might anger him, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and lowered her head. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"My lord… I—I am willing to be your divine concubine…"
Makino was too kind. A good person becomes a good wife, after all.
"Wise choice."
Hikaru's expression shifted slightly as his Observation Haki locked onto a rapidly approaching figure.
"Tch, Garp got here too fast. I was hoping to enjoy another drink. Well, I suppose Makino can serve me plenty later."
With a swift motion of his right hand, he suddenly clenched his fist.
"Float-Float: Earth Dragon Uprising!"
The entire tavern—and the land around it—rose into the sky.
"Ahh!"
Makino screamed as she lost her balance. Instinctively, she closed her eyes, bracing for a fall, but Hikaru effortlessly caught her.
"THUNDER BOY! LET GO OF MAKINO!"
A thunderous roar echoed as Garp ripped a massive tree from the ground and hurled it into the air. He aimed carefully, avoiding the tavern to keep Makino safe.
"Fist of Bone: Meteor Strike!"
"God's Judgment!"
Hikaru unleashed a devastating bolt of lightning. At the same time, his floating power adjusted Makino's clothes, keeping her steady inside the rapidly ascending tavern.
The tree was obliterated instantly, but Garp blocked the lightning attack with his bare hand. Without hesitation, he dodged to the side, evading the lingering energy.
Before Garp could shake off the residual heat from his hands, Hikaru—now crackling with lightning—suddenly appeared behind him.
"Ever been struck by lightning?"
A deep voice whispered in Garp's ear. His eyes widened, but before he could react, pain shot through his lower back. Hikaru's powerful kick sent him crashing into the ground, creating a massive crater. A cloud of dust erupted into the air, shaking the entire Windmill Village.
As a strong gust dispersed the dust, Garp stood tall, his imposing figure unshaken. He clenched his fists and looked up at the disappearing tavern, scowling.
(Damn… I was too late!)
"You sure pack a punch, Thunder Boy."
Garp shook his hand, still stinging from Hikaru's attack, looking mildly annoyed rather than angry.
The battle was meaningless now. His opponent was too fast to chase, and Hikaru didn't seem cruel. Garp could only hope the young man would treat Makino well.
"You came all the way from the Grand Line to the East Blue… just to kidnap Makino?"
Hikaru remained silent. Despite Garp's age, his Armament Haki was still monstrously strong—far more powerful than the weakened Golden Lion.
(In two years, he'll risk his life to save Coby, fighting the entire Blackbeard Pirates alone…)
(If I want to break through his defenses, I'll need to awaken my power—unleashing the full force of my purple-black lightning.)
Garp studied him carefully. Sengoku's warning echoed in his mind.
Then, with a shrug, he casually picked his nose and asked,
"Kid, you're not planning to become a Warlord of the Sea, are you? If so, pick an intimidating name, or else I'll have Sengoku put you on the wanted list. Otherwise, the whole world's gonna know you as the 'Electric Shock Kid'!"
As he spoke, Garp shamelessly pulled out a Den Den Mushi and started dialing.
Hikaru curled his lips in amusement.
(No wonder the Navy hasn't put a bounty on me yet. They couldn't find me, but they haven't given up. They're still hoping I'll join the Seven Warlords of the Sea.)
(Wait… The Navy doesn't even know my name?)
Aside from the divine concubines and the people of the God Kingdom, everyone who once knew his real name was dead.
If the Marines issued a bounty with an embarrassing nickname, wouldn't that become a stain on his legacy?
"Buru Buru~ Boga~"
The Den Den Mushi rang.
"Hey! Garp!"
"Sengoku! I ran into the Thunder Kid. He was too fast—I couldn't catch him. On top of that, his lightning burned me pretty bad… I think I'll need to extend my vacation for a few more months~"
"Huh? He actually appeared in the East Blue!?" Sengoku ignored Garp's whining, his tone serious.
Hikaru spoke up, his voice calm and resolute.
"God Hikaru. That is my real name, Sengoku. I am not one of those lowly pirate scum, so don't insult me by offering me the pathetic title of Warlord of the Sea."
"God!?" x2
"What an arrogant brat! Just because you ate one of the strongest Logia Devil Fruits, you think you're invincible?"
Garp snorted, but before he could continue, he suddenly started snoring—his head tilting back as a bubble formed at his nose.
Hikaru's mouth twitched.
For a moment, he considered jolting the old man awake with some "electric therapy," but before he could act, the Den Den Mushi suddenly began mimicking Sengoku's exasperated expression.
"You say you're not a pirate? Then how do you explain your abduction of Marine Colonel Tina? That was an act of piracy! And let me remind you—it was the World Government's decision to offer you a position as a Warlord. Since you refuse, I'll make sure to report it officially."
"You have no right to define my actions," Hikaru replied indifferently. "In my eyes, I didn't abduct her—I liberated her. I freed her from the filthy chains of being a lapdog to the Celestial Dragons and elevated her to become my divine consort."
"Y-You…!" Sengoku was momentarily speechless. He knew full well that the Navy was, indeed, nothing more than the Celestial Dragons' enforcers.
Hikaru smirked. "I heard from Garp that I get to choose my bounty title. Write 'God Emperor' on the wanted poster and set the bounty at 5 billion Berries."
"Boy, you really have the guts to name yourself!" Garp scoffed. "Do you have any idea what'll happen once that title is made public? The Four Emperors will never leave you alone!"
"Let them come. Isn't that what you and the World Government want to see?"
The Den Den Mushi's mouth gaped open, imitating Sengoku's stunned silence. For several moments, nothing but static filled the line.
Then, after a few deep breaths, Sengoku finally spoke again—this time in a lower, more serious tone.
"...Tina. Is she alright? Her teacher, Zephyr, is worried about her."
"She's doing well," Hikaru replied with a lazy grin. "Thanks to my care, she's looking plump and healthy. Maybe next year, she'll even be carrying my child. I'll be sure to invite you to the full moon banquet when the time comes."
"You—!"
Sengoku's anger boiled over. "Fine! I'll grant your request for a bounty, but don't even dream about 5 billion Berries. Get ready—the Four Emperors will be after your head!"
With that, he slammed the receiver down.
"Boga~"
Click.
The call ended.
Pop!
The bubble at Garp's nose burst, and the old Marine groggily opened his eyes, blinking in confusion at the now-silent Den Den Mushi.
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