"Bogard, something's off about you!"
Garp casually picked up a rice cracker and tossed it into his mouth, his gaze intense as he stared at Bogard, whose eyes were filled with admiration.
"Don't tell me you've become blindly devoted to Orion like everyone else at headquarters?"
"What do you mean, blindly devoted?"
Bogard abruptly stood up, his emotions slightly agitated.
"This isn't blind devotion—it's loyalty!"
Seeing this, Garp's mouth twitched slightly.
He then pushed his worries aside and said decisively, "Never mind. Let's take all these brats back to headquarters first! I believe Orion won't resort to slaughter just because of their backgrounds. If he could reform the once-defiant Warlords of the Sea, he certainly has the ability to guide Luffy and Ace! Give the order—full speed ahead to the East Blue!"
...
...
East Blue, within the Kingdom of Goa.
Mount Colubo.
Dadan's house.
"Luffy, Luffy—"
A hushed, furtive voice came from behind a wooden cabin, startling the straw-hat-wearing boy who had been sound asleep inside.
Almost instantly, the straw-hat boy seemed to remember something and sat up abruptly.
Spotting the head peeking through the cabin window, he exclaimed excitedly.
"Ace!"
Before the words fully left his mouth, the straw-hat boy suddenly stretched out his arm, grabbed the window frame, and shot out like a rubber ball, slamming into Ace, who had been leaning in through the window, sending him tumbling backward.
"!!!!"
Ace, now flat on his back, widened his eyes and clenched his fists in an instant.
"You idiot! Who told you to use your Devil Fruit powers? If Dadan finds out, none of us will get to sneak out and play today!"
"And where exactly are you planning to go play?"
Before the straw-hat boy could respond, a gentle voice suddenly came from behind them.
Turning toward the sound, they saw a young woman wearing a headscarf and a dress that accentuated her gentle demeanor, standing quietly outside the cabin door, smiling at them.
It was none other than Makino, the proprietress of the Party's Bar in Foosha Village.
Ever since Luffy had been brought here by Garp, she would visit every few days, bringing all sorts of food to check on Luffy and Ace.
She also took it upon herself to teach the brothers some basic manners.
Though the results weren't particularly remarkable, Ace—once a troubled youth—had clearly changed for the better.
At the very least, his way of greeting her was no longer as rough as it had been at the start!
"Makino!"
The moment they saw the young woman, Luffy and Ace lit up with delight almost simultaneously, scampering over to her eagerly.
Before Makino could even react, Luffy, who had reached her first, began rummaging through her belongings for food with familiar ease.
Under Ace's disapproving glare, he devoured everything Makino had brought like a starved ghost, stuffing it all into his mouth in mere moments!
"Luffy, you—"
Furious that Luffy hadn't left anything for him, Ace could no longer hold back and swung a punch at him.
But Luffy had been prepared.
Puffing out his cheeks, he swiftly used his Devil Fruit ability to bounce away, landing on the roof of the opposite cabin, munching away with a look of pure bliss.
"Ahahaha, you're as energetic as ever!"
At that moment, a hearty laugh suddenly echoed from the forest.
Immediately after, Garp led Bogard and several marine soldiers along the mountain path into their line of sight.
"Garp-san!"
"Grandpa!"
Almost simultaneously, Makino, Luffy, and Ace widened their eyes in surprise, all staring at Garp as he strode over briskly.
"Makino, thank you for your hard work!"
Garp removed his dog hat as he stood before Makino and said cheerfully.
"Starting today, you don't need to come here anymore. I'm here to take these two brats to headquarters!"
"What!"
Once again, Makino, Luffy, and Ace exclaimed in unison.
"Ahahaha, isn't it a surprise?"
Garp turned his head to look at Ace and Luffy, laughing heartily.
"Fleet Admiral Orion said he wants to personally train you two, to make you shoulder the future of the Marines!"
"Grandpa, I don't want to go to Marine Headquarters!"
Hearing that Garp intended to take him to Marine Headquarters, Luffy immediately became frantic, his eyes bulging as he shouted angrily.
"I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!"
"That's not up to you!"
Garp also widened his eyes, equally frustrated.
"I've been going easy on you before because I hadn't figured out how to bring you to Marine Headquarters. Now that Orion has given the order, I won't let you stay here growing up wild any longer. Bogard, go grab Luffy!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!"
Bogard stepped forward and looked up at Luffy standing on the roof.
"Sorry about this, Luffy!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Bogard flashed forward with incredible speed, so fast that even Garp raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Before Makino and Ace could react, Bogard had already grabbed Luffy like a chicken and returned to Garp's side.
"Grandpa, I don't want to go to Marine Headquarters!!!"
Luffy, held by Bogard, struggled desperately, even using his Devil Fruit powers to try to break free.
But no matter how hard he struggled, it was useless - Bogard's grip was like a vice.
The more he struggled, the more his captured arm hurt, until he finally gave up, looking at Garp with teary eyes.
Garp paid no attention.
This was an order personally given by Orion.
Even if Luffy had managed to escape, he would have chased him down and dragged him back to present before Orion!
"Makino, please tell Dadan that I've taken both Luffy and Ace with me, and she shouldn't worry!"
"Also, she can continue living here, but she shouldn't call herself a mountain bandit anymore. After Orion finishes dealing with those lawless pirates in the Grand Line, he'll definitely conduct major reforms in all member nations. He absolutely won't allow any 'bandits' to exist within member country territories!"
"Alright, I'll convey the message exactly as you said!"
Makino nodded slightly, then asked cautiously.
"Garp-san, why did the Fleet Admiral order Luffy and Ace to be taken away? They... won't be in danger, will they?"
"Of course not!"
Garp waved his hand, unusually clear-headed, "If Orion wanted to target them, he wouldn't have sent me, and certainly wouldn't have them taken away in this manner!"
"Why do I have to go to Marine Headquarters too?"
Ace, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke up, his eyes bloodshot as he glared furiously at Garp.
"If I go to Marine Headquarters with my identity, they'll definitely kill me!"
Garp met Ace's gaze and spoke with profound sincerity.
"Ace, no matter who you are, as long as you bear the name of justice, no one in this world would dare lay a hand on you! Fleet Admiral Orion put your name on the list, which means he's giving you a choice. Choose to become a Marine, and you'll live! Otherwise, even if I protect you, your identity will inevitably bring unimaginable calamities upon you!"
"Additionally, Fleet Admiral Orion said that when we arrive at Marine Headquarters, he has a surprise for you!"
"Do you remember that noble kid from the Goa Kingdom back in the day? He's also appeared at Marine Headquarters!"
"Noble kid?" Ace's pupils contracted slightly, while Luffy blinked in confusion.
Garp nodded.
"His name is Sabo, your sworn brother! Don't doubt it—he didn't die in that great fire back then. He was saved by a powerful individual passing by at the time. But you should prepare yourselves mentally; it seems he's lost his memories."
"Sabo is alive?"
The sudden news made both Ace and Luffy widen their eyes in unison.
"He became a Marine?!"