Two days later.
On a turbulent stretch of the Grand Line, dark clouds gathered and fierce winds whipped up colossal waves, as if heralding an impending storm.
Garp stood on the deck of the warship, his hands clenched into fists, his gaze sharp as he stared into the distance.
Complex emotions churned within him—rage, worry, and a hint of indescribable resolve.
Beside him, his adjutant Bogart remained silent.
Having served under Garp for so long, he knew the man was now facing the most difficult decision of his life.
But it wasn't right for Garp to stand by the railing day after day, lost in thought, refusing to eat.
Unable to hold back any longer, Bogart spoke up.
"Garp-san, you've lived your entire life for justice. It's only human to be a little selfish once in a while..."
It was unclear whether Garp heard him, but Bogart fell silent again, saying nothing more.
"Luffy..." Garp murmured under his breath, his mind conjuring the image of the straw-hat-wearing boy with a radiant smile.
That was his grandson.
Though Luffy had chosen a path entirely different from his own, becoming a Pirate, in Garp's heart, he would always remain his flesh and blood.
Time and again, Garp had reminded himself that as a Marine, he must uphold justice and never let personal feelings sway him.
Yet, when he learned that Luffy had been captured and was about to face an unimaginable fate, the walls in his heart finally crumbled.
"If I can't even protect my own grandson, then what meaning does the justice I uphold hold?!"
Garp abruptly lifted his head with a flash of determination in his eyes.
He turned and commanded the Marines behind him, "Full speed ahead! Our destination... Impel Down!"
Bogart shook his head and chuckled softly.
No matter what path Garp chose, he would follow him to the end!
"Full speed ahead!"
"Yes, sir!"
"..."
...
The next day, Underwater Great Prison (Impel Down).
Aboard Akainu's warship, the atmosphere was grim and tense.
Luffy was bound by heavy Seastone chains, his body weak, yet his eyes remained defiant.
"You guys, let me go right now! I need to go beat up that bastard Blackbeard!"
Akainu stood coldly to the side, his gaze sharp as a blade as it swept over Luffy, as if scrutinizing a condemned criminal about to be executed.
"Hmph! You don't even realize you're about to die."
He then turned to the nearby marine and issued a cold command.
"Handover!"
"Aye, sir!"
The escorting soldiers immediately saluted, standing at the ready as the handover procedure was about to be completed.
At this critical moment, A deafening roar erupted from the distance.
"STOP!!!"
The voice thundered across the sea like lightning, stunning everyone with its sudden command.
The escorting soldiers instinctively halted their movements, turning their heads toward the source of the voice.
They saw a navy warship cutting through the waves, with a burly old man in a navy cloak standing at the bow—none other than Monkey D. Garp.
His appearance left everyone stunned, especially Akainu, whose brow furrowed tightly, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes.
As the other ship drew near, Akainu coldly asked, his tone clearly questioning him.
"Vice Admiral Garp? What are you doing here?"
Garp ignored Akainu, his gaze fixed directly on Luffy.
Luffy also saw Garp, his face showing surprise, "Grandpa? What are you doing here?"
That single word "Grandpa" exploded like thunder in everyone's ears.
The escorting soldiers exchanged bewildered glances, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.
They had never imagined that the grandson of the Navy Hero Garp would be Straw Hat Luffy!
Akainu's face darkened to the extreme, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked audibly.
"Vice Admiral Garp, do you realize what you're doing?" Akainu's voice was icy and piercing. "Your grandson is a Pirate, a cancer upon the seas! As a marine, are you going to betray justice for personal feelings?"
Garp didn't respond, his gaze still locked firmly on Luffy.
After a moment,
He slowly spoke in a low voice.
"Akainu, justice isn't about cold rules—it's about protecting those who should be protected. Luffy is my grandson. I won't stand by and watch you take him away."
Nearby, Magellan's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the scene.
This situation is just too absurd!
His throat seemed blocked by something, and it took him a while to force out a sentence.
"Vice Admiral Garp's grandson... is actually Straw Hat Luffy?" His voice carried unconcealed shock, even trembling slightly.
As the warden of Impel Down, he had seen countless vicious Pirates, but he never imagined that such a "notorious" Pirate could emerge from the family of the Navy Hero.
Beside him, Hannyabal's jaw dropped so wide it nearly hit the floor.
His hands unconsciously tightened around his weapon, his eyes filled with confusion.
"This... how is this possible? Vice Admiral Garp is the symbol of the Navy! How could his grandson be a Pirate?" Hannyabal's voice was sharp and urgent, as if trying to convince himself this was just some absurd dream.
Even the usually cold and ruthless Akainu couldn't help but frown slightly at this moment.
His gaze shifted back and forth between Garp and Luffy, a flicker of indifference flashing in his eyes.
Although he had long know their relationship, the impact still felt surreal when Garp openly admitted it.
"Garp..." Akainu's voice was low and icy, as if emerging from an abyss. "Do you realize what you're doing?"
"Remember your identity! You are a Navy Vice Admiral, a symbol of justice! And your current actions are betraying the Navy, betraying justice!"
His words were like a sharp blade, piercing straight into Garp's heart.
Akainu's eyes brimmed with oppressive force, as if intending to completely crush Garp's will.
However, Garp showed no signs of backing down.
His gaze remained sharp, and when his eyes met Akainu's, invisible sparks seemed to crackle in the air.
"Akainu, I am well aware of my identity."
Garp's voice was steady and powerful, each word striking like a heavy hammer against everyone's hearts,
"But I am also clear that Luffy is my grandson. No matter what path he chooses, he is my family. If I can't even protect my own family, what meaning does so-called justice hold?"
Akainu's expression grew increasingly grim.
His fists trembled slightly, clearly enraged to the extreme.
"Garp, this is outright betrayal! The Navy doesn't need a commander blinded by personal feelings! If you insist on this path, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Before his words faded, Scorching magma began to rise from Akainu's body, instantly turning the surrounding space unbearably hot, as if the very air were burning!
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