The next day.
The sun slowly rose, golden rays spilling down from the horizon.
Early morning.
The air still carried traces of mist, yet the simple villagers of Foosha Village had already started their daily work. Everywhere bustled with energy and life.
At dawn,
Garp led Kai out of Foosha Village toward the neighboring Mt. Colubo.
As they passed through the village, Kai smiled and greeted the village chief and other villagers.
In these three years,
Kai had completely blended into Foosha Village. He got along with everyone, familiar to the point of being inseparable.
"Kai, brat, do you know where I'm taking you today?"
Garp asked as they walked.
"I don't."
Though he already had a hunch, Kai didn't bring it up.
He guessed.
Most likely, Garp was taking him to the place where Ace was living.
That place was—
The Dadan Family!
A bandit family!
Though Dadan, the head of this bandit group, had a foul temperament, she was, at her core, a genuinely kind person. Otherwise, Garp would never have allowed her to remain in the mountains next to Foosha Village.
Mt. Colubo, where the Dadan Family lived, was also where Ace had grown up as a child.
So,
ever since Garp's words yesterday, Kai had already guessed the truth.
"Today, I'm taking you to Mt. Colubo. A bandit gang lives there."
"From now on, you'll be living with them."
"Scared?"
Garp looked at the three-year-old Kai at his side.
Hearing this,
Kai shook his head.
"Good lad!"
Garp laughed heartily. "Don't worry, those bandits may have made plenty of mistakes and committed crimes, but deep down, they're still good-hearted bandits."
"Otherwise, I'd have long thrown them into a Navy prison."
"With your strength, Kai, there's nothing to be afraid of."
In Garp's eyes,
Although Kai was only three, he already possessed power far beyond any ordinary adult.
The Dadan Family might be stronger than normal adults, but not by much.
Having Kai live among them didn't worry Garp in the slightest.
"Oh, right. Let me explain first."
"There's a kid I want you to meet—your peer. His name is Ace."
"He's about half a year younger than you."
"He's lived with the bandits since birth, so he's picked up some bad habits. If he treats you poorly, just beat him down!"
"In that place, strength is everything! Whoever's fist is bigger—that's who's right…"
As he explained, Garp led Kai onward to Mt. Colubo.
An hour later,
Kai gazed at the towering mountain range ahead.
The forest was lush,
The greenery thick.
The mountain range was vast, stretching out for hundreds of kilometers.
It was a colossal sight.
"Let's go. Into the mountain."
Garp led Kai into Mt. Colubo.
Half an hour later,
They finally arrived at their destination.
At the heart of the mountain range stood a massive wooden house.
On the iron wire strung before the house hung many clothes—of every color, belonging to men and women, old and young.
Clearly,
a great many people lived here.
Reaching the tightly shut door, Garp unceremoniously raised his iron fist and knocked.
BANG BANG BANG!
The loud knocks sounded like they might break the door.
The large wooden gate even began to crack faintly.
Creak!
The door opened from within.
A fierce-looking, overweight middle-aged woman stood there, cigarette dangling from her mouth, her face full of anger as she blurted out:
"Which bastard dares knock on my—"
Before she could finish,
her eyes landed on Garp's cold, expressionless face.
Instantly,
her whole body trembled. The cigarette slipped from her lips.
"G–Garp?!"
Her eyes widened, fear and unease overtaking her earlier fury.
"What are you here for?!"
she asked.
"To leave another child in your care."
"From today on, he'll live here with you."
"His name is Kai. He's my grandson."
Garp stepped aside, letting Kai appear in Dadan's sight.
"Y–Your grandson?!"
"Another grandson?! Just how many grandsons do you have?"
"Ace already makes us lose our minds, turning the whole Dadan Family upside down. Now you've brought another grandson?!"
Dadan's eyelid twitched as she looked at Kai.
Though only three years old, his years of hellish training had made his body grow far beyond his peers. He already looked the size of a five- or six-year-old, and his clothing couldn't hide the muscles bulging beneath.
As a bandit leader, Dadan immediately felt the overwhelming aura radiating from Kai. It pressed against her so hard she shivered.
She couldn't help but think—
As expected of Garp's grandson…
What a monster!
At such a young age, to exude such pressure.
Compared to Ace…
This kid was far scarier!
"Will you take him or not? Just say the word."
Garp looked down at Dadan, eyes flashing sharply.
"Take! Of course, we'll take him!"
"How could I dare refuse Mr. Garp?"
Dadan panicked.
Under Garp's gaze, goosebumps prickled her skin.
Overwhelmed by his pressure, Dadan had no choice but to accept Kai into their household.
Once, there had only been Ace.
Now, there was also Kai.
And unfortunately for her—
Kai's presence was far more intimidating than Ace's.
"Good."
Satisfied with her agreement, Garp smiled.
Changing the subject, he asked:
"Where's Ace? Where's that brat? Bring him out."
"Ace! Mr. Garp is here for you!"
Dadan called into the house.
Not long after,
a short boy with a face full of freckles walked out, looking irritated. He cast Garp a glance and said:
"Old man, what're you doing here?"
"Brat! Call me Grandpa!"
Garp roared.
"Hmph!"
Ace snorted, then turned his gaze to Kai, studying him intently.
"He's your big brother—Kai," Garp introduced.
"My big brother?"
"He's not qualified."
Ace sneered, unimpressed.
"Teach him a lesson."
"This brat needs to have his arrogance knocked down a peg."
Garp said to Kai.
"Got it."
Kai smiled.
From the moment Ace appeared,
his eyes had been locked onto him.
He was certain—
Ace was still very weak.
In fact,
Ace might not even be able to defeat a normal grown man.
Whereas Kai already possessed seven or eight times the strength, speed, and abilities of an ordinary adult.
There was no comparison at all!
"Hey, brat, you're gonna fight me?"
"You sure?"
"Don't cry when you lose."
Ace looked at Kai confidently.
But Kai slowly raised his right hand, placing his left behind his back, and said calmly:
"To deal with you, one hand is enough."
"You!"
Ace fumed.
He yelled and charged at Kai, determined to show this newcomer a lesson.
But just as he neared,
Kai shifted his body slightly and dodged with ease.
So fast!
Too fast for Ace to react.
He even left behind a faint afterimage in place.
"S–So fast!"
Ace's eyes widened as his strike missed, nearly sending him tumbling aside.
Barely regaining balance,
he had no time to respond before—
Kai's right hand shot out, clamping the back of Ace's neck.
With one arm, he lifted and slammed Ace down onto the floorboards.
BAM!
With a light thud,
Kai sat casually on Ace's back, pinning him firmly in place.
In a single exchange—
Ace was subdued by Kai's one hand!
Not even breaking a sweat.
Effortless.
Simple.
"You're Ace, right?"
"You lost."
"From now on, remember to call me Big Brother."
"In the future…"
"Out on this sea, I'll be the one watching your back."
Kai said with a grin, looking down at Ace struggling helplessly beneath him.