"Wahahahaha! Haven't been here in a while. Didn't expect that brat Roldy to turn Sabaody into something this interesting!"
A Marine warship docked at the shore.
Monkey D. Garp stepped onto the island in full uniform, the coat of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral draped over his shoulders. He clutched an oversized bag of senbei, munching loudly while surveying the newly transformed Sabaody Archipelago.
Sure, the World Government had lost face after losing to Roldy .
But Sabaody had undeniably become better.
And more importantly—
What did that have to do with him?
The higher-ups had already negotiated terms. Garp's mission was simple: retrieve the two Celestial Dragons and return them to the Holy Land.
After being stuck at Marine Headquarters dealing with "paperwork" and "helping Sengoku clean up messes," he had finally gotten a chance to come out.
He had heard Roldy was filthy rich now.
This time—
He was going to fleece him properly.
If Sengoku or Bogard heard those thoughts, they'd explode in rage.
"Clean up messes"?
"Review reports"?
He'd been raiding Sengoku's office for limited-edition senbei and leaving all paperwork to poor Bogard, who now worked fourteen hours a day.
But carefree Vice Admiral Garp didn't care.
He'd just laugh it off.
The moment Garp set foot on Sabaody, Roldy knew.
At that very moment, Roldy and Dragon were soaking in a massive hot spring. After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Roldy glanced at Dragon, who was marveling at the expensive wine glass.
Roldy 's mischievous impulse skyrocketed.
If Garp suddenly appeared in the hot spring…
What a scene that would be.
"Wahahaha! I've been meaning to soak in a hot spring for ages! Heard Sabaody's are famous!"
Garp eagerly threw on a bathrobe handed to him by an attendant.
He was informed that Roldy had cleared the entire hot spring area for him and prepared his favorite premium donuts.
The Celestial Dragons?
Already forgotten.
Humming cheerfully, Garp entered the bathhouse.
The mist rose like a heavenly palace.
He took a deep breath.
"This place is huge! Roldy , you brat! Wahahaha! Where are you? I'm here!"
Receiving no response, he shrugged and dove straight in.
His powerful body cut through the water like an orca, exuding raw masculinity as he swam.
All fatigue melted away.
"Gahahaha! Old man, over here!"
Roldy hadn't answered because he was busy.
With one hand, he firmly pinned Dragon underwater.
With the other, he covered Dragon's mouth.
Dragon's eyes were wide with horror.
He had not expected—
That the "old friend" Roldy mentioned…
Was his father.
What kind of joke was this?!
With Garp's temper, he'd break his legs!
And why were a Marine Vice Admiral and a Sea Emperor casually soaking together?!
Before Dragon could think further, Garp arrived.
Without regard for status differences, he slung an arm heavily around Roldy 's neck.
"You brat! This place is fantastic! Next time I'll bring the entire Marine Headquarters here for team-building!"
He was clearly pleased.
So pleased, in fact—
He didn't even notice the drowned-looking man beneath Roldy 's palm.
Roldy smiled.
"Glad you like it, old man. Come anytime. Mention my name—you'll get 90% off and the highest-tier private spring suite."
He didn't bother with membership cards.
His name was enough.
"Wahahaha! Then I won't be polite! Huh? What's that in your hand? Looks strange… why does it look familiar?"
Garp squinted.
He was staring at Dragon.
Dragon stopped struggling.
His heart died.
"Old man," Roldy teased, "this is someone you've always wanted to see. Care to guess?"
"Oh? Limited-edition donuts?"
"Nope. They're behind you."
"The finest tea?"
"No."
"Roger's blackmail material?"
"…No. Also, why would that be in a hot spring? Hint: It's alive."
(Dragon: Don't say that so confidently…)
"Wait… could it be?!"
Garp's pupils shrank.
Roldy nodded excitedly.
"Yes, that's right—"
"Wahahaha! You did it, Roldy ! You stole Sengoku's goat! I've wanted to taste that goat for ages! It eats Marine documents all day, and Sengoku buys it premium grass instead of senbei! The meat must be exquisite!"
Garp rubbed his hands eagerly.
Roldy : …
Leaving aside Dragon's very human skin tone—
In what universe did this resemble a goat?
And hadn't he said it was someone Garp wanted to see?
Donuts. Tea. Sengoku's goat.
Did this old man forget he had a son?
Dragon finally snapped.
He broke free from Roldy 's grip, face twisted.
"It's me, old man!"
He desperately searched Garp's eyes—for shock, anger, joy.
Instead—
The light in Garp's eyes faded.
He glanced at Dragon calmly.
Then lifted his thick right hand.
Dragon braced for a punch—
But instead, Garp casually used his pinky to pick his nose.
"…Oh. It's you, Dragon. Thought it was something exciting. What a letdown."
Silence.
Even Roldy froze.
Dragon's face visibly turned red.. Veins bulged on his forehead. Roldy could practically hear the blood rushing.
He might actually explode.
"DAMN IT, OLD MAN!"
Dragon leapt up, fist coated in Armament Haki.
Roldy clutched his forehead.
Perhaps stirring trouble wasn't his talent after all.
A long-lost reunion between father and son—
Normally tearful embraces.
These two?
"Hey, hey! Watch it! Don't wreck my hot spring!"
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