Rowen's eyes were racing and the possibility came to him when he realized Garp was looking at him the wrong way. There was a time when he got food poisoning, after that time, he had become more aware of bad food and other bad things, and now he is feeling that bad thing as he looked at the look Garp is sending him.
Rowen can guess one, two, or three things about why Garp's plans to drag himself into Marine forces.
Through the conversation he had with some of the soldiers, he knew that this year was Sea Calander, October 22, 1514, the 14th Year of the Great Age Of Piracy and Eight Years before the beginning of the series, and it was the age when Marines were in a decline and they were unable to make ends meet.
The "Unable to make ends meet" here refers to the true peak of the Marine Headquarters, their strongest combat power, Admirals ... No one can take over their position at present!
Even though Momousagi and Tokikake are excellent, there is a clear gap in strength between them and the Admirals, otherwise, their ranks would not have been replaced by two unknown masters, Fujitora and Ryokugyu in the original series after the time skip.
Do Marines not care about loyalty? They disregarding the merits of both Momousagi and Tokikake and elected some other people as Admirals?
They naturally do care about loyalty!
But being powerful is the key!
The reputation of any Marine Admiral is backed by their powers for centuries and their powers have frightened countless people. Wherever they go, they can make that portion of sea peaceful form criminals.
Without Admiral as a "Strongest Fighting Force" to deter many criminals in the Sea, the world will enter in an era of unprecedented chaos!
That situation is definitely not what the World Government and Marines are willing to see.
So they would rather take the risk of promoting the unknown people like Ryokugyu and Fujitora who are quite powerful, rather than let Momousagi and Tokikake, who are underpowered, serve.
Throughout the original book, Marines have never shown to lack the Generals and Soldiers!
100,000 thousand Marines participated in the War Of The Best, so it can be said that Marines will never lack Soldiers.
There are 16 Headquarters Vice Admirals including, Momousagi, Tokikake, Momonga, Yamakaji, and others and they are all top-level powerhouse in the Grand Line!
The lower-level military officers also have many outstanding characters, such as the person who trained under Garp in the future who quickly got promoted and there is also Smoker who will have a deep grudge with Straw Hat Pirates and he will also grow stronger step by step.
But at the top-level ...
All the people are veterans!
And they have already exceeded their age of retirement or some are reaching there!
Even for the current three Admirals, Kizaru is already in his early 50s and has passed the peak period and he wouldn't be able to fight for many years.
So the current Marines are very eager for a rookie who can come to the end and succeed as an Admiral!
With the legend of the current three Admiral, they are Monsters who are known as the strongest power of Marines and coupled with the external pressure of Marine's top combat power, the guy who "fell from the sky" with the "Strongest Logia" Rumble-Rumble Fruit in his body and the fact that he is innocent and does not belong to any organization or forces, Rowen has naturally become a worthwhile candidate for the position of Admiral.
Even if you take a step back and even if Rowen has limited talents and a low future success, but with the inherent advantages of Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he can suppress One of the Four Seas and protect it from the criminals and he can definitely become a Headquarters Vice Admiral! Him joining the Marines can also eliminate the possibility of Rowen becoming a pirate and reduce the threat to Marines ... so Rowen joining the Marines is only profitable for them!
But the main question is whether Rowen wants to become a Marine.
It has nothing to do with Tenryubito's crimes that they never got punished for. Rowen is naturally free and self-contained. Once he becomes Marine and enters the army, he would be subject to militarized management, with limited access to anything and he would have a high chance of death! Rowen did not choose to become a soldier on Earth, and naturally, he has no interest in being one here.
In addition, Rowen is lazy and he does not like to fight against someone under any banner. If he became a Marine, he would have to bear the name of "Justice" and fight for Justice of Marines in the Sea and that is not something that he likes.
The summary is: Him joining the Marines is too much trouble!
So refusal is certain, but considering the strength gap between the two sides, Rowen slowed his tone and said softly: "That ... Vice Admiral Garp."
"Hmm, I'm here, are you asking about how to join the Marines."
I haven't said anything about joining, OK?!
Rowen's heart was filled with thousands of horses that were running on mud and grass and he felt as if he had thrown his head on the grass.
Taking a deep breath and setting aside the clutter of thoughts, Rowen carefully looked at Garp's eyes and spoke: "The world is so big, I want to see it first before joining anything."
Garp: "..."
Trane: "..."
Soldiers eavesdropping around: "..."
This ... What a human being!
Is the refusal so euphemistic?
The world is so big, I want to see...
The sky is so wide, do you want to go there too?
Flying with birds with the sun on your back, don't you want to do that too?
Looking at Rowen's sincere eyes, Garp immediately felt something wrong with his expression.
If Rowen directly refused to join the Marines then he would have nothing to say. Everyone has their own ambitions, and even if they can't make it, everyone has the right to attempt in completing their dreams. Garp understands this truth and may also support it. After all, one of his grandsons wants to become a pirate in the future ... or two! And he would never insist neither will he go and capture Rowen.
He appreciates and recognizes all the characters who have dreams and are advancing towards them!
But Rowen's attitude was obviously not so firm. His expression wasn't a comment on Marine, but it was as if he found this entire situation troublesome, which made Garp unable to bear it.
Whether it is Marines or Pirates, there are so many people in this Sea who are desperately fighting for their dreams. Garp is unhappy with Rowen who sees being a Marine a mere nuisance and had almost no ambition.
Especially, Garp was very angry.
How did Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which has not been seen for three hundred years and enjoy the name of "Strongest Logia", fall into this kind of tired and lazy body who does not want to do anything inspiring?
What a waste!
"Iron Fist" Garp is a good person, but he was never soft-tempered. He suddenly raised his fist covered in Armament Haki and punched it towards Rowen's head!
Buzz!
Along with the air shock, a layer of black gloss covered Garp's hand like armor, and a dangerous breath rushed towards Rowen's head.
Grabbing Rowen's collar, Garp pressed his punchy fist to Rowen's and looked at Rowen's look of "I'm indifferent", and suddenly he ...
"Pooh hahaha" laughed out!
"... Don't want to join! All right!"
"Eh ?? So easy?! "
It was Rowan's turn to become surprised this time as he had thought that Garp would persevere or threaten him with force. Just like he did with Luffy, he didn't expect him to agree to his words.
"Naturally, Marines are not Pirates or thieves, and I will not limit your freedom in life."
Garp "haha" laughed, but then his face was filled with a cold expression as he shouted and spoke: "Then... Give me my lost money!"
Not wanting to join the Marines because it would be troublesome?
Then I will give you some trouble!
I don't believe I can't handle a brat like you!
Puff!!!
Rowen gaped for a moment, staring at Garp in disbelief.
Am I hearing this right?
"Lost Money? !!!"
"Yes, lost money!"
With that in mind, Garp sneered and waved towards him: "Someone, come here and settle the bill for him!"
"Understand!"
Garp's lieutenant Trane is playing a faithful role at this moment. The information he just got was actually prepared for Rowen.
He turned the first page and cleared his throat: "Mr. Rowen, you dined in this Battleship and you eat a total of ten pounds of sea animal meat, five pounds of fruit, and countless grains. Calculating labor costs, plus medical expenses, worth 150000 Belly… "
150000 Belly???!
"You guys are blackmailing me !!! What meat and medicine are worth 150000 Belly?"
After one sentence, Rowen jumped up and protested with a loud voice. He admitted that as his physical strength increased, the number of meals became larger and he was taken aback when eating, but those fish were caught from the sea and they were worthless!
As for his bodily injury, it can heal itself even if they left it alone!
Seeing that Rowen was about to run away, Garp pressed his fist on his head hard and pressed him down again.
Trane glanced at him calmly and lowered his head to continue: "In addition, you smashed the Marine Battleship, the repair costs plus soldiers' medical expenses and our entire ship's psychological loss fees, a total of 500000 Belly."
"Haha!"
Rowen can see it, this group of guys are completely shameless!
But this is not over yet, and Trane turned another page: "... According to Article 157 of the Marine Regulations, civilians damaging Marine Battleships without authorization. Those in serious cases and the perpetrator will be sentenced to be imprisonment for more than three years and a fined for 3,000,000 Belly. In addition to damaging the deck and the cabin, you have also cost us a lot of food and drinking water.
"... In summary, Mr. Rowen, you owe us 3,650,000 Belly."
Trane pushed the glasses where the bridge of his nose did not exist. His thin lips made a slight smile, he looked like an old landlord who squeezed the money out of the farmers: "Naturally if you choose not to get imprisoned for three years, you would need to pay 2,000,000 Belly per year and it would be 6,000,000 Belly for three years. So the total amount you own us is 9,650,000 Belly, give us our money!"
W ... T ... F?
Using money to buy jail free card?!
Rowen's eyes widened in an instant, and an idea appeared in his head.
If they earn this much money then it is better being them then being a King, what kind of thing is happening here?
Such a corrupt official, they are all against him!
...
"How about it you brat, don't say I bullied you! Whatever you need to pay is something you did yourself! We are justified in asking for the Debt Repayment!"
Garp's empty hand's finger was digging a booger in his nose and he saw Rowen's constipated face and the corners of his mouth raised slightly: "Naturally, if you join us, you will be our own ... as chief, I will forgive this money for you ... you won't even have to thank me at that time!! "
At this moment, Garp's face was filled with radiance and the Hero of his generation was feeling proud at this moment! If there were no such thing as extortion, Rowen would have believed him!
So in response to this remark, Rowen rolled his eyes and grinned.
"Huh ~ huh ~"
9,650,000 Belly is not a small number, rounding them up, the number reached to 10 Million, which is enough money for ordinary civilians to spend in a lifetime!!
Rowen doesn't really care about the money amount. As a Logia Devil Fruit Ability user, he can develop his Devil Fruit ability a little bit and he can walk unhindered in the First Half off Grand Line.
In Grand Line, there are thousands of pirates with various amount of bounties on their heads, he can just grab a few of them for their bounty and making 10 Million would be simple.
What's more, he can also be employed by people ... With the name of Rumble-Rumble Fruit, let alone 10 Million, people would even be willing to pay One Billion!
Taking another step back, he can also go to the sea, and maybe he can even go home...
It's just that he was certain and sure that he didn't have that last chance...
But he is on Garp's ship and Garp has the final say in where everyone can go. Can he even meet a Pirate to earn Bounty? The crime of "Destroying a Marine Battleship" is enough for Garp to use legitimate means to restrict his personal freedom and not give him any chance.
This is a naked conspiracy!
Therefore, Garp's "Lost money" is basically impossible for him to get.
Seeing Rowen's discomfort, Garp didn't want to let this good young man feel bad about Marines, and his tone slightly relaxed as he persuaded: "Actually, there's nothing wrong with joining Marine ... I'll ask you, do you instead want to become the King Of Pirates?"
"Pirate King?"
Gol D. Roger?
Rowen touched his chin and suddenly gave a sip of disgust: "Not interested."