The colossal Marine battleship, a grand ship against the vibrant blues of the sea, finally landed into the bustling port of Water 7.
The city, a marvel of engineering with its intricate canals and shipwrights docks was alive with its usual commerce. Citizens, merchants and shipwrights went about their day. their voices creating a constant, cheerful hum that echoed across the water.
That hum began to fade as the massive warship docked. All eyes turned towards it.
This wasn't just any Marine vessel ship. its size and the insignia emblazoned on its sails signified the arrival of someone of immense importance. Whispers rippled through the crowds gathered on the piers.
"Look at the size of that thing! Who is on the board?"
"It is a battleship from HQ..."
"Could it be one of the Admirals? Is Aokiji here?"
A weathered old shipwright, wiping grease from his hands, squinted at the deck. His eyes widened as he recognized the figure standing on the ship, a silhouette of immense power and legendary status.
"No, not an Admiral," the old man muttered, his voice filled with a mix of awe and dread. "That's Garp. The Hero of the Marines."
The name spread like wildfire. Garp. The man who had cornered the Pirate King multiple times. The Marine Vice Admiral whose strength was the stuff of legends. His presence alone was enough to make even the most hardened criminals tremble.
The people of Water 7, who had just recently survived the chaos of Enies Lobby and the attack of CP9, felt a collective chill run down their spines.
"Vice admiral Garp is here?"
"What in the world happened? Which pirate crew is unlucky enough to have the Hero himself come after them?"
"Maybe those Straw Hats? They're the ones who caused all that trouble, aren't they?"
The speculation grew, a palpable tension settling over the island. If Garp was here, it meant the World Government was not taking the situation lightly. They were sending their very best.
On the deck of the battleship, Garp took in the city with a critical eye. He could feel the fear and curiosity directed at his ship. He sighed, the sound heavy with unspoken burdens. Beside him, Admiral Kuzan was already settling down, leaning against the main mast.
"Aren't you coming, Aokiji?" Garp asked, not turning around.
Kuzan shook his head slowly, his eyes already half-closed. "Nah, this feels like a family matter, Garp san. I will just stay here and keep the ship company. Besides, my justice is a bit too lazy for all the walking and shouting this is going to involve."
He gave a lazy wave. "Go on. I will handle things if the sea decides to misbehave."
Garp grunted. He knew Kuzan was giving him space, a chance to handle this his own way. It was a small mercy, and he was grateful for it.
"Koby. Helmeppo. Get off your ship and meet me at the main dock," Garp ordered, his voice gruff. "We're going on a little walk."
"Yes, sir! Right away, sir!" Koby's voice crackled with nervous energy.
Within minutes, Koby and Helmeppo, now sharp and capable Marine officers, stood at attention before the legendary Vice Admiral. Garp looked them over, a flicker of pride in his eyes that he quickly suppressed.
"Alright, you two," he said, pointing towards the city. "We are looking for the Straw Hat Pirates. Specifically, that Monkey D. Luffy. Spread out, ask questions, but be discreet. I want to know where they're hiding. Report back to me in one hour."
"Yes, sir!" they both saluted and hurried off into the city.
Garp, however, had no intention of waiting. His instincts, honed over decades of hunting the most dangerous men in the world, were already humming.
He knew Luffy. He knew his recklessness, his love for food, and his tendency to find the most unlikely places to nap. He started walking, his massive frame moving with a deceptive quietness that belied his power. He ignored the stares and whispers and his mind focused on a single goal.
He passed through the bustling streets, his gaze sweeping over the shipyards and workshops. He recalled the reports. The Straw Hats had allied themselves with the Galley-La Company the city's premier shipwrights. If they were hiding anywhere it would be somewhere under their protection.
His hunch led him towards the massive, impressive headquarters of the Galley-La Company. The building was a testament to Water 7's industrial might, a large structure with the company's logo proudly displayed.
Garp stood before it, sensing the activity within. He could feel the presence of strong individuals, the shipwrights who had helped fight CP9.
He did not bother with the front door. That wasn't his style.
Taking a deep breath, Garp pulled back his right fist. The air around it seemed to crackle with raw power. The shipwrights inside, discussing blueprints and repairs, suddenly felt a strange, immense pressure.
"Hey, did you feel that?" one asked, looking around.
Before anyone could answer, it happened.
BOOOOOOM!
With a single devastating punch Garp shattered the thick stone wall of the Galley-La headquarters. Dust and debris exploded inwards sending everyone scrambling for cover. Through the gaping hole he had created, Garp stepped into the building, his figure silhouetted against the bright sunlight.
His eyes scanned the chaotic room, past the startled Straw hat Crew members, past the overturned tables and scattered blueprints. And there, in the corner of the main room, sitting slumped in a large, comfortable wooden chair with his straw hat pulled down over his face, was his target.
Monkey D. Luffy.
He was fast asleep, snoring softly, completely oblivious to the earth shattering entrance his grandfather had just made. He looked peaceful, almost innocent, a stark contrast to the chaos and the monumental bounty that now hung over his head and his family's name.
Garp's stern expression faltered for a fraction of a second. The anger, the conflict, the weight of the world all of it seemed to melt away, replaced by a profound, complicated wave of emotion.
Here was his grandson, the pirate, the "Devil's Child," sleeping like a baby. The son of the world's most wanted "terrorist."