Finally, it was Mihawk who broke the silence. "Thank you for sparing my life. As the victor of our swordsmanship battle, you had every right to claim it," he commented, his tone respectful yet tinged with acknowledgment of our unspoken duel.
I simply smiled, understanding the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. "Mihawk, you should try controlling your emotions better. I can read you like an open book," I teased gently.
Mihawk's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly composed himself, returning to his trademark calm demeanor. "I owe you my life, and I will not deny that," he admitted. "But as a swordsman who aspires to reach the pinnacle and beyond, I hope you can accept my challenge in the future when I grow stronger."
His words held a quiet determination, a testament to his unyielding spirit. I nodded in acknowledgment, respecting his resolve. "Mihawk, I commend your ambition. A true swordsman is always striving for greater heights. But tell me, why should I accept your request? And do you know why I spared your life?" I replied, emphasizing the mutual respect that underpinned our rivalry.
From the moment he had entered the restaurant, Mihawk had been assessing me, sizing up the gap between us. Even without drawing his blade, he recognized that he was not yet a match for my current strength. And so he extended a challenge for the future, a testament to his unwavering determination.
"Well, I did hear from Shakky, so I can guess your intention. If I am not wrong, you would like to extend the same invitation to join the Donquixote family that you extended to Shakky, isn't that right?" Mihawk couldn't help but inquire, his sharp gaze fixed on me. It seemed he had already spoken to Shakky regarding the offer I had made to her.
"Hahaha, you are mistaken, my friend," I chuckled, though my tone held a hint of seriousness. "You must have misunderstood the offer I made to Shakky-san. While it was indeed an invitation to join the Donquixote family, it's more than that. I seek your undying loyalty to myself. I aim to form a group of companions whom I can trust with my life in the future."
I shared my true intentions openly, revealing my desire to bring about a group of people who I can rely on and trust within the Donquixote family. While I trusted the current Donquixote family members to a certain extent, my experiences had taught me the importance of having a dedicated group of allies I could rely on unconditionally.
The betrayal I had witnessed in my past life had left a deep scar, making me hesitant to place my trust in anyone other than myself and Doffy. Even now, as I sought to protect Doflamingo, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease regarding the loyalty of his cadres.
Vergo was the only member of the cadre whom I truly trusted completely, but unfortunately, he wasn't by Doflamingo's side. As for the others, including Diamante and the rest, I harbored a healthy dose of suspicion. The force I sought to nurture within the Donquixote family was my insurance—a trump card to safeguard Doflamingo's ascent to the throne, no matter the circumstances.
As I explained my rationale to Mihawk, I couldn't help but feel a sense of determination wash over me. In this unpredictable world, I would do whatever it took to ensure Doflamingo's safety and the success of our shared ambitions.
Mihawk carefully contemplated my words, his gaze piercing as he weighed the implications of my offer. After a few moments of tense silence, he finally spoke, his voice steady but filled with determination.
"Ross, I understand that you have great ambitions, perhaps even greater than mine," Mihawk began, his tone measured. "But I do not think I can stay tethered down. I relish the thrill of a challenge; swinging my blade makes me feel alive, and I wish to live freely out in this open sea."
His words resonated with me, and a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "Hahaha, I wasn't wrong about you," I replied, admiration coloring my voice. "You are everything that I had hoped for. As someone with ambition, I can understand your resolve. So how about this? You can roam the seas to your heart's content. I will not restrict you. All I ask is that we become blood brothers, helping each other in times of need. And if it ever comes to a day when you need a place to settle down, you can come back and join my family."
Mihawk thought for a moment, his expression unreadable, before a light smile bloomed on his stern face. It was a rare sight, but one that filled me with satisfaction. Never would he have believed that there would come a day when he would take a blood oath after being betrayed, especially with a Marine. Yet here we were, forging a bond that transcended our pasts.
Understanding the weight of his decision, Mihawk pulled out a small blade from his crucifix without hesitation. With a swift motion, he slit his palm and extended it toward me, blood dripping from his hand. My heart swelled with pride and delight as I stood up, accepting the crucifix that Mihawk offered.
Without a moment's hesitation, I mirrored his actions, slicing my own palm and clasping his hand in a firm grip. As our blood mingled, sealing our pact, I felt a surge of camaraderie and determination wash over me. In that moment, amidst the chaos of the New World, Mihawk and I became more than allies – we became blood brothers, bound by our shared ambitions and unwavering loyalty to each other.
As I returned to the present, I found myself standing on the deck of Garp's ship, my hand instinctively grappling with my own crucifix chain. The memory of my blood brotherhood with Mihawk lingered in my mind, a reminder of the bond we had forged amidst the tumultuous seas.
Currently, our marine ship is making its way towards a government-affiliated country in the New World. The nation had plunged into rebellion, and chaos reigned throughout. Somehow, Kong had managed to persuade Garp to intervene and subdue the uprising. Normally, Garp would not involve himself in such matters, but pirates were entangled in this affair.
Due to the citizens' rebellion, the kingdom's army had split, forcing the king to seek assistance from pirates to quell the unrest. With the Reverie fast approaching, the World Government couldn't allow such instability to continue. They dispatched CP agents, and Kong ordered a Marine force to suppress the rebellion.
However, the rebels proved formidable, determined to end the tyranny of the king. They even turned against the Marines sent to assist the monarchy. Now, Garp was tasked with putting an end to the conflict once and for all.
As we approached the kingdom, I noticed three more marine warships anchored near the now destroyed port. I immediately recognized them as ships from the base where Vice Admiral Dragon was assigned. The flagship of the G5 base lay anchored, indicating that this particular sea area might be under the jurisdiction of the G5 Marine Base.
"It seems like Dragon-san is here as well. It seems like the issue is worse than we expected," Kuzan commented, standing by my side. He had been reassigned under Garp once more due to Garp's request, as he had completed the elite training camp and was simply loitering in HQ. Garp thought it was better to have Kuzan learn from him for some time.
"Kuzan-san, Ambrosia Kingdom, is one of the oldest kingdoms out there. It's said that the kingdom has close to a million-strong army. Maybe only Arabasta in Paradise might have a larger standing army. And now, with the entire country plunged into rebellion, do you know how many people would be involved?"
The entire port had been burned to cinders, and there wasn't even any visible movement amongst the rubble. However, I detected a few hidden presences using my observation Haki. It seemed like the ruined port was also under watch.
Just as our ship made it near the other Marine ships, I could detect a commotion on the main ship of G9. Dragon was having a heated conversation with what appeared to be agents from CP0. After a moment of back and forth, Dragon stepped up and grabbed the collar of the CP agent, lifting him up.
"Do you guys know what you are doing?" Dragon's voice boomed through the air, reaching our ship. Garp stepped out, his expression unreadable, though I could see a hint of pride and frustration in his demeanor.
I understood that with CP0 directly involved, the situation in Ambrosia Kingdom might be worse than what was shared by Kong.
Without hesitation, Garp quickly retrieved a transponder snail and contacted the Fleet Admiral, who had sent him here based on false intelligence. The entire ship could hear the Marine Hero yelling at Fleet Admiral Kong before he abruptly disconnected the call. With Moonwalk, he stepped onto the air and jumped onto Dragon's ship.
The CP0 agent, who was about to clash with Dragon, ceased as he felt the presence of Garp looming over him. Though the CP0 agent wasn't afraid of Garp, he wasn't stupid enough to challenge the Marine Hero head-on.
"You have your orders, Vice Admiral Dragon. Whether you choose to follow them or not is up to you. However, you should remember the consequences of defying the World Government's orders," the lead agent stated firmly. With that, the three CP0 agents left the ship and headed towards the interior of the country.
As the CP agents departed, Garp turned to Dragon, his gaze fixed on the turmoil unfolding within Ambrosia Kingdom's borders, where the distant echoes of cannon fire resounded.
"What's the situation?" Garp's voice was firm, cutting through the tension like a blade.
Dragon's expression darkened as he relayed the grim reality. "They're planning a complete purge of the rebels. We're tasked with apprehending their leader, a formidable Logia user who once commanded the kingdom's forces."
Garp's brows furrowed in concern. "Shouldn't it be our duty to address the rebellion?" Kuzan, standing beside Garp on Dragon's ship, voiced his inquiry.
"The rebels they're referring to are the common folk," Dragon clarified, his tone heavy with solemnity. "The majority of the civilian population is oppressed and subjected to unspeakable atrocities. They've risen up after half of the army sided with them against the tyranny. Now, they want us to hunt down these oppressed people, alongside the pirates."
The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Garp's shoulders as he contemplated the moral dilemma posed by the World Government's orders. It was clear that their duty as Marines clashed with their obligation to uphold justice and protect the innocent.
"What have you decided, now that you're a Vice Admiral and this area falls under G5 jurisdiction?" Garp's voice held a solemn tone as he handed the weighty decision over to his son.
Dragon's gaze hardened as he absorbed his father's words. The responsibility of command weighed heavily on his shoulders, especially in a situation as morally complex as this. He knew that whatever choice he made would have far-reaching consequences, both for the Marines and the people of Ambrosia Kingdom.
"I won't follow those orders blindly," Dragon declared, his voice resolute. "We're here to uphold justice and protect innocent lives. If that means standing against the World Government's tyranny, then so be it."
Garp nodded in approval, a sense of pride swelling within him at his son's unwavering resolve. "Then let's do what's right," he affirmed, his eyes reflecting the unwavering conviction of a Marine hero.
As they were engrossed in their serious discussion, my laughter suddenly echoed through the air, catching the attention of Garp, Dragon, and Kuzan. They turned to me with stern looks, clearly unimpressed by my interruption.
"It's funny, Garp-san," I said between chuckles, trying to stifle my amusement. "Tell me honestly, what are you proposing here?"
Garp's expression soured slightly, his gaze reflecting a mix of curiosity and frustration at my interruption. "We're discussing a serious matter, Ross. This isn't the time for jokes."
I waved off his concern, still grinning. "I know, I know. But isn't it ironic? Here we are, Marines sworn to uphold justice, yet we're debating whether to follow orders that go against everything we stand for."