When Garp had received Sengoku's message, he had immediately taken a small ship from East Blue and sailed nonstop, day and night, straight for Marine Headquarters.
Because of that rush, he had not yet heard what had really happened in East Blue, or that Amon had actually beaten Kizaru.
So when Sengoku said, "You are late," he had misunderstood everything.
He thought Amon had already been killed by Kizaru.
He exploded on the spot.
"Sengoku! You old bastard, did I not tell you before I came back that you were only allowed to bring him in alive?"
"And you went and had him killed for me?"
"You really think that just because you are Fleet Admiral I would not dare punch you?"
Garp rolled up his sleeves, revealing the corded muscles beneath, looking very much like he was about to beat Sengoku to a pulp.
"Pff… hahaha!"
Sengoku had originally been confused about why Garp suddenly barreled in and started hurling abuse. He was just about to ask what was wrong, but as soon as Garp shouted that he wanted to hit him because they had "killed Amon," Sengoku could not help it.
He spat his coffee everywhere laughing.
"Who said Amon was killed by Borsalino? Garp, you old idiot, are you trying to make me laugh myself to death?"
"Not by Borsalino?"
Garp was stunned.
"Then was it that brat Sakazuki? I knew it, Borsalino is not the type to go straight for the kill."
He still had not caught up to the real conversation. Hearing it was not Kizaru, his mind immediately jumped to Akainu.
"Sengoku, you know very well what kind of person Sakazuki is. Why would you send him out on a job like this?"
If it had been Akainu, Garp would believe it immediately. That guy absolutely would have gone for the kill, especially if the target resisted.
"Who told you I sent Sakazuki?"
Now that he understood why Garp was angry, Sengoku relaxed.
He stared at Garp with a very amused expression.
"So it was not Sakazuki either? Do not tell me it was Kuzan. That is impossible. Kuzan is the most reasonable of the three."
Once he heard it was not Akainu, Garp thought of Aokiji, but he immediately denied it himself.
Kuzan had once followed him. Garp knew him very well. That kid would never simply execute Amon.
"Bastard, what is with that look on your face? Just tell me what happened."
Now even Garp realized something was off.
Seeing Sengoku's expression, he felt like something had definitely gone wrong with his own assumptions.
"Honestly, there is no dealing with you, you old fool."
Sengoku sighed.
"I only said you were late. I never said he was dead."
"In reality, this time our Marine Headquarters had its face smashed thoroughly. After Borsalino went to East Blue, not only did he fail to capture his target, he was the one who was defeated."
"This is the battle recording. Take a look yourself."
Sengoku pulled out the den den mushi recording of Amon's fight with Kizaru and handed it to Garp, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
"Hmm? He actually managed to defeat that brat Borsalino?"
Garp's brows shot up as he watched.
"Even for me to beat him, I need to put in some effort."
Of course, this was before he learned Aikido. Now, he felt he could beat Kizaru without too much trouble.
What he did not know was that, after getting that little children's science book about light, Kizaru's understanding of the Glint Glint Fruit had gone up another level entirely.
Very quickly, Garp finished watching the recording.
"Tsk, tsk. I did not expect that kid to be this strong. Back then I really thought he was just an ordinary merchant."
"No wonder he dared to bash a Celestial Dragon's face."
"To forge his swordsmanship and physical techniques to this degree, and he has even begun fusing the two together. No wonder Borsalino lost."
"Hahahahahaha, he really has some skill. As expected of someone from my Windmill Village. He did not embarrass me at all."
By the time the video ended, Garp was in an excellent mood, laughing loudly.
His worries vanished instantly.
On the other side of the desk, Sengoku's expression grew darker the more Garp laughed.
The more Garp enjoyed himself, the more Sengoku remembered how that same recording had reduced his credibility in front of the Five Elders.
He stroked his goat and turned his face away, sulking.
"Sengoku, do not tell me you are sulking now. I was only teasing you just now."
"Is that so? And who was it earlier that said he would punch me?"
Sengoku's voice was icily calm.
"Cough, that was just a joke. You cannot really be angry with an old man, can you?"
Garp coughed twice, very guiltily tugging his sleeves back down where he had rolled them up before.
"Hmph."
Sengoku snorted.
Garp chuckled and hurried on.
"We have been friends for decades. You know my temper. How could I really hit you? I only wanted a little friendly sparring."
"Oh, and speaking of sparring, that reminds me. Recently I have been studying a very good fist art. How about you accompany me for a round or two, Sengoku?"
At the mention of "sparring," his eyes lit up.
He had just mastered Aikido and had been itching to find someone to test it on and show off a little.
"Sparring? Fine by me. These hands have been itching too."
Garp's attitude had annoyed Sengoku already, and on top of that he had just been chewed out by the Five Elders over Amon. He had plenty of pent-up anger with nowhere to put it.
Now that Garp had personally offered to be his punching bag, he was more than happy to agree.
"That is wonderful."
Garp had not expected Sengoku to agree so easily.
Overjoyed, he dragged Sengoku straight out of the office and toward the training grounds.
That field was specially built for Marines to train their combat skills.
As the two legends walked in, many new recruits who had been practicing noticed them and instantly froze, going rigid as if they had seen ghosts.
"Ha ha ha ha! Little brats, I am going to have a friendly match with Fleet Admiral Sengoku. You lot clear the training field, or you might get hurt."
Garp waved his big hand expansively.
If he and Sengoku really got into it, one careless shockwave could send these newbies flying.
These kids would probably kneel after taking one stray hit.
"Huh?"
"Vice Admiral Garp is going to spar with Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"
"My god, did I hear that right?"
"Heavens, this is huge. I need to go tell my friends!"
"I did not expect Vice Admiral Garp to be so robust in person."
Garp's words dropped like a bomb into the training ground.
The recruits, who had been going through their drills like any other day, erupted into heated chatter.
They pointed and whispered excitedly, and more than a few troublemakers dashed off to spread the news.
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