Garp sighed. "CP0 has been frequently visiting Sabaody recently. Are you aware of this?"
Is there a connection between these two things? That's quite a leap in logic!
Taro was stunned for a moment and shook his head. "I don't know. I haven't been in Sabaody recently."
Then, he looked at Garp with great confusion and asked, "Old man, how did you know about Nico Robin...?"
"Don't you understand yet?" Garp glared at Taro resentfully.
Taro was dazed for a while before the realization hit him. "Are you saying CP0 found out?"
That's impossible. Does CP0 really have such strong operational capabilities?
Why find that so hard to believe!
"You brat, I've come all this way to find you, and you still don't believe me?"
Seeing Taro's skeptical face, Garp couldn't help but shout a curse.
Taro's mouth twitched, and he shook his head. "Old man, it's not that I don't want to believe you, but Robin is with your son. Do you think Dragon would be so careless as to let CP0 detect any clues?"
Garp's expression shifted upon hearing this, and he began to think with a frown. Taro continued:
"If CP0 were truly that strong, they would have caught Dragon over ten years ago... cough, cough!"
Taro stopped himself at the right moment. "The fact that Robin is with the Revolutionary Army... you guessed it, didn't you?"
Garp didn't say anything, which was as good as a silent admission!
Taro's cheek twitched. You bunch of old foxes, you actually managed to guess the truth from mere rumors!
Then, he felt he was truly wronged, having taken a punch for absolutely no reason.
"Then tell me, what are those CP0 guys doing in Sabaody?"
Garp's brow was locked tight. "Don't tell me they aren't here for you. In the Sabaody Archipelago, no one besides you is qualified to make the World Government deploy CP0!"
Taro looked innocent. "But I really don't know!"
He pondered in his heart. He had been on Fish-Man Island recently. If anything had attracted CP0, it could only be what happened on Fish-Man Island.
A small fry like Hody Jones wouldn't catch the World Government's eye.
Could it be that the Big Mom Pirates made some move that caught the World Government's attention, and they linked it to me?
Thinking of this, Taro's heart sank. That crazy woman Big Mom, would she really dare to retaliate against me?
"In any case, behave yourself lately. CP0 has added some new manpower. Sabaody is right under their noses, so be careful!"
The two were lost in their own thoughts for a long time before Garp finally snorted and gave a warning.
Taro raised an eyebrow. Is it Lucci's group from CP9?
Those guys never learn; they're truly obstinate!
He shook his head again and said aggrievedly, "I've always been very well-behaved. I haven't done anything!"
Garp didn't believe Taro's nonsense and looked at him with a face full of suspicion.
"You brat, are you sure you're not hiding anything else from me?"
Taro pointed toward the construction site. "Does this count?"
"Ouch!"
Garp gave him another punch. "This doesn't count for shit!"
"Go stay at the G4 Base for a while!" Garp said after punching Taro and thinking for a moment.
"Huh?" Taro's face immediately fell.
There are still many things I need to do in the Sabaody Archipelago and Fish-Man Island!
"I said go, so go! I'll watch over this little place of yours. What do you have to worry about?" Garp snorted.
Taro frowned and thought for a bit, then asked tentatively, "Are you telling me to go hide out?"
Garp glared at him. "You're a G4 Base Commander, yet you don't even know which way the base gates open. Isn't that a joke?"
Doesn't this just mean he wants me to hide?
Am I someone who's afraid of trouble? Whether it's CP0 or Big Mom, let them come!
Taro curled his lips dismissively, but then saw Garp raise his fist again and quickly dodged away.
"Fine, fine, I'll go. I'll go, alright?"
Garp finally lowered his fist and waved his hand. "Brief your subordinates and leave immediately!"
"So urgent?" Taro was stunned.
"You have an objection?"
"No, none!"
Marine Base, GR 66.
In the lounge, Garp was holding a den den mushi and speaking,
"Tsuru, that troublesome woman is indeed with those people!"
"However, regarding Taro, we were over-anxious. Thinking about it now, with CP0's abilities, it's indeed unlikely they discovered the connection!"
"Mhm, I naturally understand that. I've already sent him away. I'll handle the remaining matters for him!"
"Hmph, that brat. I'm already retired, yet I still have to scramble for him!"
...Taro, transformed into a Falcon, soared through the sky, crying without tears.
Being driven out of his own station for no apparent reason—he must be the most pathetic commander ever!
He was currently carrying a bundle and flying toward the G4 Base. Inside the bundle were the 'energy steroids' given to him by Neptune.
Taking this opportunity, he planned to go to Alabasta to ask King Cobra if there was any connection between the 'fierce medicine' and 'mighty water.'
Hmm?
Taro's figure paused as he looked down at the sea surface below.
A small boat shaped like a coffin lid was sailing on the ocean.
"Hawkeye" Mihawk!
He was standing at the bow, his black blade yoru thrust into the seawater.
Majestic power surged from the blade, driving the seawater to roll into waves and carry the small boat forward.
Holy crap, truly 'rowing without oars, relying entirely on the waves'!
Taro's mouth twitched, his body tilted, and he dove downward.
Mihawk also raised his eyebrows toward the clouds at this moment, his pupils suddenly shrinking, and then he lifted the black blade.
"Hi, Mihawk, long time no see!"
Taro landed on Hawkeye's boat and greeted him with a smile.
Hawkeye stared sharply at Taro, his grip tightening on the black blade, his face expressionless.
Taro's expression immediately froze, and his smile vanished.
Holy crap, just because I saw you using your sword to row? Do you really need to silence me for that?
He instantly thought of those pirate ships Hawkeye had sliced in half. Could it be because they saw this scene too?
The burden of being an idol is truly lethal!
Taro rubbed his face and tried to change the subject.
"Shouldn't you be teaching that Marimo..."
As he spoke, he realized this didn't seem like a good topic either and cut off the second half of the sentence.
Hawkeye finally spoke. "Roronoa Zoro, you know he's at my place?"
Taro sighed and nodded. "Yeah."
"Did Bartholomew Kuma tell you?" Hawkeye pressed.
"Uh, you could say that!" Taro nodded again, then waved his hand.
"Let's not talk about that. Do you have business out here this time?"
Hawkeye's sharp eyes scanned Taro for a long time before he finally nodded.
"I was originally going to go to some trouble, but since I ran into you, it's much more convenient!"
Taro was stunned and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you mean?"
"I want to ask you about someone's whereabouts!" Hawkeye said in a deep voice.
Taro became curious. "Who?"
"Gekko Moriah!"
Hawkeye spoke the name.
"The newspapers said Moria died in the Marineford War, but you and I both know he was clearly still alive when the war ended!"
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