Chapter 132: Issho's Bounty
Sengoku grabbed Garp by the collar.
Garp, clearly long used to this sort of treatment, only laughed and patted the back of Sengoku's hand.
"It's already in the past. No need to make such a fuss."
Sengoku's face darkened like a storm cloud.
For a moment, he looked as if he wanted to strangle the old bastard then and there. In the end, he only let out a heavy sigh.
There was nothing he could do about Garp.
They had joined the Marines around the same time. They had fought through countless battles together. Sengoku knew this man's temper better than anyone.
Garp had caused no small number of problems in the military over the years. If not for his strength, achievements, and the enormous weight of his reputation, his reckless attitude alone would have been enough to get him convicted ten times over.
Sengoku released him and forced himself to return to the matter at hand.
"Put that aside for now. What should we do about the man named Issho? The one who injured Borsalino."
When news first arrived that Borsalino had been wounded, even Sengoku was shocked.
The investigation that followed only made the situation more unbelievable.
That man had managed to escape after being attacked by both Borsalino and Momousagi, and even wounded Borsalino in the process. His strength was absolutely not low.
He might even be close to the level of an Admiral.
Sengoku's temples throbbed.
What in the world had those land-dwelling scum done to provoke such a disaster?
The fact that someone like Issho had not been on any wanted list meant he had not been a pirate before. There might even have been a chance to recruit him into the Marines.
But now?
That possibility was gone.
Sengoku cursed inwardly, though his expression remained controlled. At the very least, he still needed to maintain the dignity of the Fleet Admiral.
Of course, he seemed to have forgotten that his earlier behavior toward Garp had already trampled that dignity into the floor and kicked it under the desk.
Garp scratched his cheek.
"What else can we do? Put a bounty on him and let him go."
Sengoku frowned.
"That won't be easy to explain to the World Government. A Celestial Dragon died in public. If the World Government does nothing, they'll lose face."
Garp picked his nose.
"We don't have the manpower to hunt down an enemy like that."
Sengoku paced back and forth behind his desk, looking deeply troubled.
"That's why I hope you'll step in and pursue him."
"No."
Garp refused without the slightest hesitation.
Then he flicked a booger toward Sengoku.
"I already told you. I'm on vacation this time."
Sengoku's eyebrow twitched.
He knew that was not the real reason.
For the sake of his work, and for the sake of maintaining peace under the banner of the Marines, Garp had given up countless vacations over the years. His dedication to the Marines' justice was not inferior to anyone else's.
But when this old bastard decided not to move, even Sengoku could not force him.
"If you don't want to, fine," Sengoku said. "I'll think of another way."
Garp froze.
Then he stared at Sengoku with genuine suspicion.
"…Sengoku, did you eat something strange? Or are you sick? Since when did you become so easy to talk to?"
"You're the one who's sick!"
Sengoku knew better than to expect anything pleasant from Garp's mouth.
He coughed a few times, then continued, "Garp, you have a good relationship with Aokiji. Go persuade him to take this mission. He's lazy anyway, and no one expects him to chase too hard. As long as an Admiral is officially sent after Issho, we'll have an explanation for the World Government."
Aokiji might be lazy, but he had once served under Garp.
If Garp spoke to him, he might agree.
"That brat?" Garp rubbed his chin. "I'd advise you not to get your hopes up. But I'll pass along the message."
Then he glanced at Sengoku.
"What about the bounty? Have you decided?"
Bounties were based on threat level, criminal history, personality, and the danger a person posed to the World Government.
Sengoku's expression turned more serious.
"Based on what we know, Issho showed a degree of restraint during the battle with the Marines. Although he destroyed many areas of the Sabaody Archipelago, most of the damaged zones were illegal areas—places where nobles and World Nobles often operated behind the scenes. The Marines had long been unable to act there carelessly because of the people involved."
His eyes narrowed.
"In a way, we should be thanking him for destroying those places."
Garp grinned.
Sengoku continued, "Considering his threat level, the initial bounty was set at five hundred million Berries."
"Only five hundred million?"
Garp frowned.
Given Issho's strength, that amount was low.
But after thinking about it, he understood the logic. Not everyone started with an astronomical bounty. If the destruction of the islands alone had been considered, an initial bounty of one or two hundred million Berries would have already been high.
Issho had reached five hundred million because his strength was terrifying and because the person killed was a Celestial Dragon.
"That was the initial amount," Sengoku said. "After the report reached the World Government, they passed down the Celestial Dragons' demand."
"What demand?"
"They are willing to personally pay the bounty. Their only request is that it be raised to one billion Berries."
Garp paused.
"One billion Berries?"
His eyes lit up.
"They really are rich. That could buy so many bags of senbei…"
Sengoku stared at him.
Of all the ways to measure one billion Berries, that was the one this idiot chose.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
Sengoku returned to his seat and straightened his posture.
"Come in."
A Marine soldier entered, saluted respectfully, and said, "Fleet Admiral, I've brought him."
Behind the soldier stood a white-haired child.
Before Sengoku could respond, Garp moved.
In one step, he grabbed Axel by the back of his collar and lifted him into the air.
The Marine soldier froze.
"You brat!" Garp roared. "What the hell have you been doing?!"
Sengoku immediately waved at the soldier.
"This no longer concerns you. Leave."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine soldier fled with remarkable speed.
Garp raised his fist.
Axel's eyes widened.
The fist came down toward his head.
Axel was not about to simply accept it. His ability activated at once, trying to block the incoming punch.
For a brief moment, Garp's fist slowed.
Only for a brief moment.
Bonk!
The punch still landed cleanly on Axel's head.
"Ow!" Axel shouted, clutching his skull. "Damn old man, what are you doing?!"
"Damn old man?" Garp's eyes narrowed. "Is that how you talk to your grandfather?"
Axel had never been the sort to admit defeat easily.
Especially not when Garp was pressing him like this.
His stubbornness flared.
"Damn old man, damn old man, damn old man—"
Garp's forehead bulged with veins.
"You little brat! I'll teach you some respect today! Since you don't know the height of the sky or the depth of the sea, this old man will let you properly feel his love!"
He raised both fists.
Then he hammered Axel's head several times in a row.
Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!
Each punch was perfectly controlled.
Strong enough to break through Axel's automatic defense.
Not strong enough to worsen his freshly treated injuries.
In other words, the damage was almost entirely pain.
Pure, concentrated, grandfatherly pain.
By the time Garp finally stopped, Axel's head was covered in swollen bumps.
Garp, meanwhile, looked much more refreshed, as if beating his grandson had vented all the frustration he had been storing.
"Who gave you the guts to act so boldly?" Garp barked. "Openly attacking the Marines? What did I teach you?"
Sengoku nodded slightly.
Finally.
A proper lesson.
Garp clenched his fist and continued, "If you're going to attack, you do it cleanly and decisively! Don't leave evidence behind! Look at you. They even got pictures!"
Sengoku froze.
Wait.
That was not the lesson.
Garp pointed at Axel and kept scolding.
"And you even got involved in attacking the Celestial Dragons. Now I have to clean up your mess? Couldn't you have handled it properly yourself?"
Sengoku froze again.
You did not clean up anything.
You were sitting here eating senbei the entire time.
Garp crossed his arms, looking deeply disappointed.
"Having a grandson like you makes me feel ashamed."
Sengoku stared at him blankly.
Was this not the same man who had just said, "As expected of my grandson"?
"Ahem."
Sengoku coughed several times, forcibly interrupting Garp before the conversation became any more ridiculous.
"Enough. Let's get to business."
.....
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