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Amid the sound of laughter, two figures stepped forward, and the atmosphere in the area shifted once more.
Leading the way was a tall man, nearly three meters in height, clad in a white Marine uniform.
Though his age showed on his face, his muscular physique was so robust that it seemed on the verge of bursting through his uniform.
Following closely behind him was another man, his expression stern and slightly sombre, with furrowed brows, as if burdened by the troublesome scene before him.
"Marine Hero, Garp!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the Buddha!"
The crowd quickly recognized their identities, prompting murmurs to ripple through.
Figarland Garling, standing at the forefront, frowned slightly as he observed the two.
The agents of CP0 displayed fleeting glimmers of apprehension and gravity in their eyes.
In this era, no one could overlook the presence of two individuals of admiral-level strength, particularly Garp, whose legendary feats had long demonstrated his terrifying combat capabilities.
Sengoku, while renowned as a master strategist, was equally formidable in battle.
Together, their presence demanded attention, even from the Five Elders themselves.
"What is the meaning of this? Is this the choice the Marines have made?" Figarland Garling said coldly, his gaze sharp as it landed on Garp and Sengoku.
To the World Government, the Marines were a subordinate organization. To the Celestial Dragons, they were but servants to command at will.
For these two Marines to openly stand against them now was a troubling development.
"I can't tolerate my disciple being bullied in my presence!"
Garp said with a boisterous laugh, his piercing eyes fixed on the opposing group, exuding a readiness to strike at any moment.
Sengoku, on the other hand, sighed softly, casting an exasperated glance at his old friend.
"I just hope that my choice today won't come back to haunt me in the future," Sengoku said with a deep breath, his tone measured and steady.
"Arashi is a vice admiral under the Marine banner. If he's done something wrong, the Marines have their own rules and systems to deal with such matters."
"I ask for your understanding." He paused before adding firmly, "We cannot stand by idly while one of our own is threatened. That goes against the justice of the Marines!"
Figarland Garling let out a chuckle, cold and mocking.
"Justice? What an amusing notion." Then, with a turn of his heel, he began walking away.
"The consequences of this will be yours to bear, Sengoku," he said, his voice lingering in the air.
In moments, Figarland Garling and the God's Knights under his command vanished from sight. Following suit, CP0 hesitated briefly before turning to leave as well.
Once both groups had departed, Sengoku exhaled a sigh of relief. Then, he quickly turned to face Garp, his expression serious.
"Garp, you're too reckless! How could you openly defy them like that?"
Garp laughed heartily, patting Arashi's shoulder with a heavy hand. "When my disciple runs into trouble, it's my duty as his teacher to step in!"
"But you, Sengoku—you sided with me this time! Now, that's interesting!"
Sengoku rolled his eyes. "If it weren't for you, old man, I wouldn't have acted so rashly." He turned to Arashi.
"And as I said earlier, this young man is still a member of the Marines. I will protect him!"
Arashi blinked, momentarily stunned by Sengoku's words.
While he wasn't surprised by his teacher's intervention, Sengoku's decision to stand with him, despite his promising future and potential risks, was unexpected.
It was even more surprising considering the events at Ohara, where Arashi hadn't held back against him in the slightest.
"What are you staring at, kid?" Sengoku barked. "Don't get any ideas. I'm not just doing this for you! Remember, you're still part of the Marines!"
Arashi chuckled and said, "Thank you, Admiral Sengoku."
The gratitude in his tone softened Sengoku's expression noticeably. On a personal level, Sengoku was eager to mend his relationship with Arashi.
Whether it was the latter's strength or his growing influence in the West Blue, both would significantly bolster the Marines' position.
"Ha! The World Government's lost it, targeting my disciples one after another," Garp grumbled in dissatisfaction.
"Shut it! There are too many ears around!" Sengoku snapped, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
Numerous pairs of eyes, filled with a mix of awe and respect, were fixed on them.
"Oh? Then I'll take back what I said just now!" Garp said with a laugh, completely unconcerned.
Sengoku scowled and, without another word, dragged Garp along as they hurried off. Arashi and Cobra exchanged glances before following closely behind.
A short while later, in the temporary residence of the Nefertari family:
"What? The Five Elders summoned you?" Sengoku's eyes widened in shock after hearing Arashi recount his recent encounter.
"Why would they?" He frowned, clearly puzzled. For the lofty Five Elders to summon someone meant the matter was of great significance.
"It was nothing more than a meaningless test," Arashi replied with a faint smile. "I got what I wanted, and they got what they wanted."
"That's a dangerous test to take," Sengoku said gravely. Though Arashi spoke lightly of it, Sengoku was sharp enough to sense the weight behind it.
"Well, as long as you're safe." Garp broke the tension with a grin.
"Oh, by the way, Sengoku's about to take up the position of Fleet Admiral. Make sure you support him properly, kid!"
"I thought you'd leave the Marines after all that," Garp teased with a hearty laugh.
Garp chuckled casually. "Garp, you idiot!" Sengoku turned his head and snapped angrily.
"Congratulations, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. I'll be sure to support you with all my strength,"
Arashi said with a warm smile. Sengoku's expression softened, but his tone remained serious.
"It's precisely because Arashi still identifies himself as a Marine that the World Government didn't react even more severely."
Arashi smiled faintly but didn't reveal the truth. Moments earlier, he had been teetering on the edge of an explosive conflict.
If not for the delicate balance of power between both sides, it could have escalated into a devastating war that would engulf the entire world.
However, both sides harboured mutual reservations, and even with simmering anger, the outcome was destined to be a calculated test and negotiation rather than full-blown chaos.
"If there's nothing else, let's leave this place as soon as possible," Garp grumbled.
"This rotten place is filled with a stench I can't stand. Staying here even a second longer is unbearable. I'd much rather be at home playing with my grandson!"
"This is part of our duty as Marines!" Sengoku retorted with a glare.
"Tch!" Garp rolled his eyes. "But he's got a point. Staying here will only make things worse for you," he added, his tone uncharacteristically serious.
"Besides, the people you rescued are bound to cause trouble."
Sengoku's gaze shifted toward Hancock, Fisher Tiger, and the others in the distance, his brows furrowing.
Rescuing slaves from the Celestial Dragons in the Holy Land was no trivial matter.
While the opposition had feigned indifference and retreated earlier, their eventual response remained uncertain.
"Perhaps, to the Celestial Dragons, Arashi's other attributes outweigh this minor incident," Sengoku muttered, his eyes lingering on Arashi.
He fell silent, clearly aware that this young man held secrets far deeper than he let on.
Before long, Garp and Sengoku departed. Arashi couldn't help but feel moved by their unwavering decision to stand by his side earlier.
At the same time, Sengoku's warning lingered in his mind. Staying in the Holy Land was like walking a tightrope over a pit of deadly vipers.
From the Five Elders to Imu, the God's Knights, and CP0, the threats here were unparalleled.
From the moment he arrived, an invisible game of probing and confrontation had begun.
His negotiation with Imu wasn't the end of it—the arrival of the God's Knights and CP0 served as both intimidation and a warning.
Their message was clear: the Celestial Dragons were powerful, and Arashi shouldn't act recklessly.
"What a headache…" Arashi murmured, rubbing his temples. Compared to them, the forces he could muster were pathetically few.
Even if he could stand against the enigmatic Imu, what about the others? The disparity in power and resources was immense.
The next day, after consulting with Cobra, Arashi decided to withdraw from the ongoing Reverie and leave Mary Geoise.
Surprisingly, no one from the Holy Land attempted to stop them, allowing their departure to proceed smoothly.
Perhaps the confrontations and negotiations from the previous day had made the World Government more cautious.
Fisher Tiger, Hancock, and her two sisters were disguised under large cloaks as they quietly left with the group.
That afternoon, their ship docked at the Sabaody Archipelago. Fisher Tiger bowed deeply, his voice filled with emotion.
"I will never forget the kindness you've shown me, Vice Admiral Arashi. I'll dedicate the rest of my life to spreading the ideals you've shared with me!"
Arashi smiled and nodded. "Everyone has their role to play. Go forth boldly and do what you believe is right."
Fisher Tiger nodded firmly and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
He was eager to return to Fish-Man Island to share his experiences and newfound ideals with King Neptune and his brothers in Fish-Man District.
Though his time as a slave had been the most humiliating period of his life, it had also been the catalyst for his enlightenment and resolve.
To him, Arashi had been the only guiding light in his darkest days.
Next came Hancock and her sisters. With tears in her eyes, Hancock clung to Arashi and said, "I want to follow you, Lord Arashi! When I grow up, I'll marry you!"
Arashi chuckled gently and placed a hand on her head.
"Just like I told Tiger, everyone has their role to play. Hancock, you have dreams to chase and things you must accomplish as well."
"Think about your homeland. Think about your family. When the day comes that you've grown and accomplished your goals, we'll meet again."
Hancock froze, her tears momentarily halted by his words.
Her sisters grabbed her arms on either side, clearly worried she might impulsively abandon everything to follow him.
"Lord Arashi!" Hancock called out, her voice trembling.
"I know I'm not worthy of standing by your side right now, but I swear I'll become one of your women!"
With tear-filled eyes, she watched as the ship carrying Arashi sailed further and further away, her resolve only growing stronger.
Arashi looking at the vast ocean, chuckled. 'One of my women huh?'
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