Late at night.
The Grand Line.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The fortress was still brightly lit, the nightscape glowing across the horizon.
In the seas stretching a hundred miles around, Sea Kings prowled the depths.
Inside the office—
Bulu bulu bulu~
The sharp ring of a Den Den Mushi echoed, interrupting Fleet Admiral Sengoku as he labored over his mountain of paperwork.
"Hmm?"
"This late at night…"
"Who would be calling me?"
Sengoku raised a brow, pen pausing mid-air.
He set it down, rubbed at his temples, then picked up the receiver.
"This is Sengoku."
He spoke curtly.
"It's me, Garp."
That voice—familiar to no end.
"Garp? What the hell are you calling me for in the middle of the night?"
Sengoku frowned.
Wasn't Garp supposed to be back in his hometown in the East Blue?
Why was he suddenly reaching out now?
"Tell me, Sengoku—have you ever seen a true genius?"
Garp's voice rumbled through.
"?"
Sengoku blinked.
What the hell kind of question was that?
Calling in the middle of the night…
Just to ask this?
Before Sengoku could reply, Garp continued:
"My grandson, Kai—he's three years old this year…"
"What?!" Sengoku cut him off, utterly stunned.
"You old bastard, since when do you have a grandson? Why didn't I know about this?"
"Let me finish first!"
Garp barked.
"Fine, fine."
Sengoku leaned back, suddenly more intrigued.
It was rare—extremely rare—for Garp to ever bring up his family.
"Have you ever seen a three-year-old awakened Conqueror's Haki?"
Garp asked.
"Eh?!"
"You—you said what?!"
Sengoku froze.
His jaw dropped, shock coursing through him.
"Conqueror's Haki at three years old? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Could a child that young even withstand the strain of Conqueror's Haki?
He pressed again:
"Your grandson Kai—he awakened Conqueror's Haki at just three years old?!"
This wasn't just rare.
This bordered on impossible.
Even Sengoku, with his vast experience, was shaken to his core by the claim.
"Surprised, huh?"
"My grandson's a genius! A true genius!"
Garp's voice was thick with pride.
"…So it's true."
Sengoku's chest tightened with a mix of disbelief and awe.
He knew Garp.
The man would never exaggerate something this important, not even to brag.
After a moment, Garp went on:
"Three years old, awakening Conqueror's Haki—tell me, Sengoku, have you ever seen the like? To me, it's nothing much, really. Don't laugh at me."
"Hah! It's just the blood of this old man running through his veins."
"He inherited my greatness perfectly!"
As Garp rambled smugly, Sengoku's forehead vein twitched.
So that was it.
He hadn't called to inform him—he'd called just to show off!
Your grandson's a freak of nature…
What the hell does that have to do with you, Garp?!
"Fine. I admit it—your grandson Kai has terrifying talent, truly a genius."
Sengoku sighed.
"Happy now?"
"Rare indeed!"
"Never thought I'd hear you acknowledge my grandson as a genius."
Garp chuckled, far too pleased with himself.
"Enough nonsense."
Sengoku's eyes hardened, his voice serious.
"You should know better than anyone what this means."
"A three-year-old awakening Conqueror's Haki—such a monster of talent…"
"This sea is heading for greater and greater chaos. The order we built will be trampled beneath the pirates' frenzy."
"If your grandson truly possesses such a gift, my advice is simple: bring him to Marine Headquarters as soon as possible. Do not let outsiders shape his views or his future."
"And most importantly…"
"Your son, Dragon! That brat is no small problem. Once he learns your grandson Kai has such potential, I guarantee he won't let him join the Marines. He'll find a way to pull him into the Revolutionary Army instead."
Even Sengoku felt stirred.
A genius of this magnitude could not—must not—be allowed to fall into pirate hands… or Dragon's.
Such talent was meant for the Navy.
"Don't worry."
"I already have a plan."
"After I let Kai meet his father once, I'll bring him straight to Marineford."
"I swear it—no one will be allowed to lead my grandson astray!"
Mentioning his son Dragon filled Garp with dissatisfaction.
That useless brat—
The only good thing he ever did in life… was fathering Kai!
That boy was a future admiral in the making.
Given time, he would become a giant of the Navy!
"…If you say so."
Sengoku nodded.
Despite his annoyance at Garp's bragging, his heart burned with excitement.
Because the truth was undeniable:
With a genius like this, the Navy's future might very well have its next great admiral.
A child, only three, awakening Conqueror's Haki—
How far could such a prodigy grow?
Sengoku could not even begin to imagine.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the line—
Garp hung up and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ha! That felt good!"
"It's been too long since I got to brag to that old goat Sengoku."
He handed the Den Den Mushi back to Bogard, still grinning.
"Vice Admiral Garp, does this mean we'll be returning to Marineford soon?"
Bogard asked.
"Mm. With Kai, of course."
"That boy's talent is too terrifying to leave in the East Blue. I can't rest easily like that."
If Kai had been merely "talented," Garp wouldn't have made such a fuss.
But this wasn't just talent—this was monstrous.
Three years old… awakening Conqueror's Haki.
Just what heights could his grandson reach in the future?
The thought alone sent a thrill through Garp.
This boy's potential was limitless.
And a prodigy like that—
must be raised within the Navy!
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