Garp fell silent at Guts's words.
The truth was, even in this "Great Age of Pirates," the burden he carried weighed heavier than his fists.
The seas swarmed with outlaws. Marine talent had thinned to the point that for decades there had been no true candidates fit to rise as Admirals.
Meanwhile, pirates were multiplying like wildfire. The Seven Warlords barely pretended to listen, each one doing as they pleased. And in the New World, the Four Emperors ruled unchecked.
Garp might laugh and joke, scratching his nose with a grin, but inside he was worried. Deeply.
So when he looked at Guts, a young man who clearly had the strength to bear the weight of an era — of course he wanted to pull him into the Marines.
But the answer had been blunt and merciless: Guts had no intention of joining.
"Then what?" Garp finally asked, his eyes flickering. "You planning to be a pirate?"
If that was the case… then the Navy would be facing a new threat, a man who could rival Mihawk or even the Four Emperors themselves.
"In your eyes, is it only Marines and pirates, old man?"
Guts waved his hand dismissively, lips curling into a crooked smile.
"No matter how you paint it, I was the one who saved the world before. I've got no interest in being a 'thief.'"
His tone changed slightly as he added, "But if someone comes to mess with me… that's a different story."
"Save the world…?"
Nami's lips pursed tightly, her eyes narrowing. Inside, she scoffed, rolling her eyes. This guy… the shameless way he lies. He really expects people to swallow that nonsense?
"You refused to be promoted to Admiral because of all that mess, didn't you?" Guts asked suddenly, his voice calm but pointed.
"Too many troubles in the Marines, right?"
Garp's expression twitched. His heart throbbed as the thorn buried there was dragged into the open.
Forty years ago, he had already been eligible for promotion. Eligible to rise as Admiral.
But he refused. Again and again.
Becoming an Admiral meant bending his knee to the World Government.
It meant negotiations with their corrupt elders, it meant standing guard at Mary Geoise, it meant rushing to save the Celestial Dragons whenever they whimpered.
The very thought made him sick.
Garp had seen the ugly face of the Government more clearly than most. But abandoning the word "justice"? That, he couldn't do.
So he had stayed at Vice Admiral. For forty long years.
And now this boy...this stranger who had appeared out of nowhere spoke those truths to his face like he'd lived them himself.
Garp let out a long, weary sigh. His fist loosened at his side.
"…I only hope," he muttered quietly, "that one day, I won't be the one ordered to arrest you."
Though they'd only known each other for three short days, Garp already felt a strange attachment to this brat.
Something about the way he carried himself… the way he laughed, the reckless way he spoke…
It reminded him of his son.
Back when Dragon was young, before he had seen too much.
And yet, the more Dragon had understood the world, the further he drifted from Garp.
And now, standing before him, this boy named Guts… carried that same dangerous spark.
---
When Garp left Zoro in the town and returned to the port, he glanced at his long-time adjutant.
Bogard didn't need words. He had followed Garp long enough to understand. He turned, retrieved a heavy suitcase from the warship, and held it out toward Guts.
"Here. About fifty million berries inside."
But Guts only pushed the case back with a flick of his hand. Standing tall, his 195 cm frame towered over the crowd. He casually pressed a hand down on Nami's head.
"I don't need your money. My little thief cat is already plenty rich."
"Don't touch my head so casually!!"
Nami ducked out from under his palm with a glare, her face flushing red. "And don't even think of spending my money! Absolutely not!"
For Nami, money was her lifeline. Letting someone else spend it was worse than death.
Guts only squinted, his grin wide. "The Arlong thing… I'll handle it."
The way he said it flat, absolute made Nami's teeth grind. She puffed her cheeks, her eyes flaring with frustration before finally throwing her hands up.
"Fine! Fiiine!" she shouted, fuming.
Inside, her thoughts were a storm. Damn it, damn it, damn it! What kind of devil captain did I get stuck with!?
"Then let's separate here," Garp said gruffly. His voice carried more weight this time. "Guts boy, I don't want to be the one forced to arrest you someday."
Repeating himself made it clear — he meant those words.
He turned, ready to carry his lump-headed grandson back to the warship.
But before he could take two steps
"Oi, old man Garp."
Guts's voice rang out, low and steady.
Garp paused, half-turning, brows raised.
Then came the words that set every Marine on edge.
"Before parting… let's have a try."
Guts's wide grin split his face as he cracked his knuckles, the sound like bones snapping in the silence.
He didn't care that this wasn't the same as years ago, when he'd fought under Garp's own template. Back then, the fight would've been equal, raw.
Now? He'd grown far beyond that. But still, Garp was his first template, the first man he had measured himself against. That made this fight… special.
So he lowered himself... just a little. Enough to make it fun.
Gasps rippled across the port.
"This guy's insane! He actually challenged the Garp the Fist!?"
"To face the strongest man in the Navy—!"
Nami gawked openly, unable to believe what she was hearing.
But then… she remembered Garp's own words. "This brat's strength is equal to an Admiral"
If even Garp had said so… then maybe… just maybe…
Still, the veteran Marines shook their heads.
They knew Garp's strength. Even now, past his prime, he was stronger than any average Admiral. He had long since surpassed that rank.
No matter how strong this boy was, he couldn't possibly...
"Wahahahaha!"
Garp's booming laugh cut through the doubts. He turned fully, grinning with a feral gleam in his eye.
"You brat… if you fight me, you'd better be ready to get beaten half to death!"
But Guts only grinned back, baring his teeth like a wolf.
"You took the words right out of my mouth, old man. Better be careful you don't get beaten senile by me."
For a moment, silence.
Then both voices roared together
"Ha ha ha ha ha—!!"
Their laughter shook the port, the sound of two monsters grinning before a storm.
For a moment, Nami and the others were stunned.
Why… why did it suddenly feel like these two were alike?
The way they grinned, the way they laughed at the thought of fighting, the atmosphere had shifted. The duel hadn't even begun, and yet everyone could sense it.
Instead of parting ways, the two monsters had chosen to stay together.
But Orange Town was no place for such a clash. A single Admiral-level battle could flatten the island and both sides knew it.
One man was already stronger than the average Admiral, and the other's level… no one could even guess.
So, with Garp still needing to deal with the corrupt Marine rat in league with Arlong, they decided to set sail first.
Nami, though displeased, had no choice but to follow Guts. Since she was now his "navigator," she boarded the warship alongside him, sulking the whole way.
Luffy, naturally, wasn't locked up. He was Garp's grandson, after all. There was no escaping under the old man's watchful eye.
By the time evening rolled in, the warship's restaurant was overflowing with noise.
On one side of the table sat Garp. Across from him sat Guts. Wedged between them, still bruised and lump-headed, was Luffy.
And before the three of them… mountains of food.
Rice, meat, fish, noodles, bread — stacked so high it looked like a feast for an army.
The three dug in without hesitation.
Food disappeared at an astonishing rate, shovelled into mouths like bottomless pits. Their jaws moved in sync, their hands blurring as they grabbed plate after plate.
"Oi, I told you... I'm gonna be the Pirate King!" Luffy yelled mid-chew, his face still swollen from the earlier iron fists of love.
"Shut up, you brat!" Bam! Garp's fist slammed down again, but it didn't slow Luffy's eating in the slightest.
Across from them, Guts laughed through a mouthful of food, his hands moving just as fast as theirs.
The sight was… uncanny.
Nami stood off to the side, slack-jawed, while Marines whispered among themselves.
Are these three related? They even eat the same way…
Some glanced at Guts, suspicion creeping into their eyes.
Could it be… did he also carry the bloodline of Monkey D.?
Nami's thoughts, however, were on something far more terrifying.
Her fists trembled as she imagined her coin purse, her hard-earned, carefully guarded treasure.
If this guy eats like Luffy and Garp… then how much of MY money is going to vanish just feeding him!?
Her stomach twisted.
"Damn it… what kind of devil captain did I get stuck with?" she muttered under her breath.
For the first time since boarding, Nami began to seriously consider an escape plan.
Maybe… maybe I should find a chance to run away while I can…
[Author Note]📢
Hey everyone!
Just a quick update — I've started a new Naruto novel:
Naruto: I'm Atomic
It's a fresh project with cleaner writing and a steadier release pace.
If you enjoyed my previous stories, feel free to check it out!
Thanks for the support 🗣️
— Arthorain