Everyone chatted for a while and got somewhat familiar with each other.
Sandy finally understood what kind of person this scoundrel Garp was.
He had even flattered him before, calling him a Marine Hero, but the old man kept smacking him on the head at the slightest provocation. The pain was just… unbelievable.
After calming down, Sandy slowly recovered from his earlier panic, regretting why he hadn't killed that Celestial Dragon when he had the chance.
Thinking it through, as a decent man from the 21st century, putting aside whether he could even bring himself to kill, if a Celestial Dragon died, the consequences would be unimaginable.
There might not be a place for Sandy to hide, even at the ends of the earth.
After all, who could guarantee that the World Government wouldn't find out who did it? Sandy, having watched the anime, knew well just how terrifying their power was.
Garp, for his part, also understood Sandy. He wasn't someone with a bad heart. And knowing he wasn't the type to become a Marine, Garp didn't invite him again.
By this time, all the Marines who had been knocked unconscious had woken up and returned to their posts.
Sitting nearby, Garp asked curiously, "Kid, since you're not becoming a Marine, what are your plans for the future?"
Sandy casually swiped some of Garp's senbei and looked straight ahead, saying solemnly, "I want to find a safe place… then hide and get a good night's sleep first."
"Bang!"
Garp's fist slammed down on his head. "I'm going to wake up this degenerate fool today! Wasting such good talent!"
Sandy clutched his head and shouted, "Stinky old man! I swear you'll beat me into an idiot one day! What the hell is with your fist? It hurts so damn much—sob sob sob…"
Garp awkwardly scratched his head, then turned to Aokiji. "Did I hit him too hard just now?"
Aokiji stared at him blankly, not knowing how to respond.
Meanwhile, Sandy took advantage of the moment, his hands moving faster than the wind, swiping senbei from the table like a thief.
The Marines who saw this couldn't hold back their laughter. Who would've thought Sandy would go to such lengths just for some senbei?
When Garp finally turned around, his eyes widened. "My senbei!"
"Puru puru puru…" The Den Den Mushi on the warship rang.
Aokiji asked, "Mr. Garp, should I answer?"
Garp glared at Sandy and replied, "It must be that scoundrel Sengoku complaining again. Didn't I say I was on vacation? Don't bother with him."
Being stared at like that, Sandy nervously swallowed and quietly put the senbei back onto the table one by one.
Marine Headquarters
A cup fell to the ground and rolled to Admiral Kizaru's feet.
Kizaru raised a brow and said lazily, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, do you need me to go there?"
Sengoku slammed his desk. "That scoundrel Garp isn't answering my call again! Aokiji's with him. I was originally going to call him to handle it. Kizaru…"
Kizaru's golden eyes gleamed slightly. "I heard a Celestial Dragon at Sabaody Archipelago was knocked unconscious. It wasn't discovered until the guards found him.
I really didn't expect anyone would dare to hit a Celestial Dragon. Since one was attacked, we at Marine Headquarters can't just sit still, can we, Fleet Admiral Sengoku? Don't worry—I'll go and come back quickly."
Sengoku nodded. "Then I'll trouble you."
Back on Garp's Warship
Sandy asked curiously, "Old man Garp, where is this ship heading?"
Garp's eyes lit up. Since this brat didn't want to be a Marine, why not dump him at Windmill Village with his grandson, Monkey D. Luffy? Maybe they'd even become good friends.
Thinking of this, Garp said casually, "I'm on vacation to see my grandson. Wanna come?"
Sandy's eyes lit up. Staying with the protagonist of this world? Hell yes! Life would definitely get exciting.
Besides, when he watched the anime, everything revolved around Luffy. Tagging along with him was basically like carrying a cheat code.
But to keep Garp from seeing through him, Sandy pretended to ask, "Is it safe there? If it's safe, I'll go. Oh, and where's Admiral Aokiji going?"
Aokiji waved a hand lazily. "I'm just hitching a ride with Mr. Garp. I'll leave halfway."
"Leaving halfway?" Sandy's eyes twitched. Then he rubbed his hands together and said with a grin, "General Aokiji, you're so tall and handsome, could you lend me some Belly? I'm broke. Please have mercy? I'll repay you tenfold—no, a hundredfold!"
Aokiji's face darkened. After being buttered up like that, how could he refuse? He knew that "tenfold repayment" was pure bullshit, though.
This kid was cunning.
But Aokiji was no rookie. He quickly countered, "Why don't you ask Mr. Garp to lend you some?"
Garp's face darkened dangerously.
Sandy immediately pointed at Garp. "This old man is unreliable! Do you think he has any Belly? You could beat me to death, and I still wouldn't believe it…"
"Bang!"
Garp's punch landed on Sandy's head again.
Sandy shouted, "Stinky old man! Am I wrong? Do you have any money?"
Garp calmly replied, "No."
Sandy pouted. "You don't, and you still hit me. Tsk."
"Arara…" Aokiji sighed. "I have 250 Belly. Take it."
He couldn't not lend it. It wasn't like he hadn't been on the receiving end of Garp's fists. That punch could shatter mountains.
Sandy's eyes sparkled as he took the Belly. "Thanks, Brother Aokiji. You're such a good person."
Aokiji shivered and immediately put some distance between them.
At that moment, a voice echoed in Sandy's mind.
[ Ding! Congratulations to the host for activating the pheromone system. You've completed a pheromone operation by borrowing money from a Marine Admiral.
Reward: 250 Pheromone Coins and +50 Free Attributes. The first instance is automatically added to Stamina. Check the panel for details. ]
So, this is how the pheromone system works?
Sandy quickly found a quiet corner and opened his personal panel:
Host: Sandy
Strength: 100
Agility: 10
Stamina: 300 (250 + 50)
Conqueror's Haki: Lv. 1 (Intimidates opponents, can be released freely but cannot be controlled. Wrapping ability not yet unlocked.)
Pheromone Coins: 250.1
Spatial Backpack: Knife (Sword)
Reading his stats, Sandy's breathing quickened. This was insane.
[ Host, there's no need to be so surprised. The first pheromone reward is naturally more generous. ]
Watching the Marines working around the deck, Sandy's heart burned with excitement. He wanted to feel that rush of sudden wealth again.
"System," Sandy muttered, "Back then I was skilled in both literary and martial arts. In League of Legends, I could AFK and flame teammates in literary terms and feed the enemy in martial terms. What a waste of talent in this world…"
[ Host is indeed Pheromone, but you targeted the wrong person. No reward. ]
Sandy slapped himself. Damn it! No reward. He'd have to find the right targets if he wanted more gains.
Before he could mope, Garp, who saw him slap himself, burst out laughing. "You say I'm not serious, but you're even worse! I've never seen anyone this stupid, hitting himself. Hahaha!"
Sandy's face twitched in embarrassment. "Can't I just say I was hitting a mosquito…"
Garp grabbed him and barked, "Go help in the kitchen! If you want to eat, you work."
[ Congratulations to the host for completing a pheromone operation. Free Attributes +40. Pheromone Coins +400. ]
Sandy froze. "System, what's this reward based on?"
[ Garp and Aokiji are important figures in this world. Each provides 20 attributes and 200 Pheromone Coins. Pheromone Coins can be spent in the system store. Attribute points can be freely allocated by the host. ]
Note: Free Attributes refer to the total attributes obtained. For example, +50 attributes means 50 total attribute points can be distributed.
Sandy grinned. Things were about to get fun.