Marine Headquarters.
Conference Room.
"Garp, I heard you were outwitted?" Sengoku looked sideways at Garp.
"Ah hahahaha, I met a nice young man and made a bet, but I lost fair and square."
Garp said frankly, not concerned about winning or losing.
"So you let that pirate go?" Sengoku asked sarcastically.
"That's right! After losing the bet, it would be too rude to break my promise."
Garp crossed his arms, quite satisfied, and even sounded a bit proud.
"Garp, I think you're falling back into your old habits. Allowing pirates to cause trouble is the most disrespectful thing in these seas!"
Sengoku looked at Garp sternly. To him, Garp was like a child who never grew up—willful and unconstrained.
"Indeed, but that kid is really something! You didn't see the look in his eyes; otherwise, you would have let him go too."
Garp replied with a nonchalant expression.
"I would never do something so foolish! Garp!" Sengoku shouted, standing up in anger.
"That's enough! Are you all free? If you have the energy to argue, put it into dealing with pirates!"
Fleet Admiral Kong at Marine Headquarters put out his cigarette with an annoyed look and spoke authoritatively.
Hearing this, Sengoku sat down again, still staring seriously at Garp.
"There are two important matters in this meeting. One is the arrangements for Admiral Zephyr, and the other is the official start of the Shichibukai plan..."
Kong was halfway through speaking when he saw Garp getting up to leave.
"Hey! Garp, where are you going?" Kong asked seriously.
"How can I, a Vice Admiral, sit here observing a meeting of this level?"
Garp turned his head, looking indifferent.
"Even if you sit here, no one will object." Kong said politely.
"Forget it, some people will always be jealous. I'll take a stroll in the East Blue." Garp said casually.
"Garp, why have you been visiting the East Blue so often recently? What's your intention? There are plenty of pirate-infested areas to choose from!"
Sengoku looked coldly at Garp's back, speaking directly to the point.
"Hmph! Don't mind my business." With that, Garp walked out of the conference room without hesitation.
"See, is that the tone he should use with a Fleet Admiral? It's just too rude." Sengoku said with frustration.
How long has it been? Ten years or twenty? Sengoku and Garp have always been rivals.
They just don't like each other, compare everything, and argue over the smallest things. Even stealing snacks could lead to a fight.
It seems ridiculous to others, but they enjoy it.
As time passed, their relationship remained unchanged, still disliking each other.
Until a recent promotion broke this delicate balance.
Sengoku was promoted from Vice Admiral to Fleet Admiral, and Garp was supposed to become an Admiral, but he unexpectedly refused the promotion.
This upset Sengoku. For years, neither had the upper hand, and now he was suddenly ahead in rank.
However, this didn't make him happy, because his advancement wasn't due to strength, but because Garp stepped back. This kind of lead felt like an insult.
"Why did you refuse the promotion? Was becoming a Vice Admiral your only goal in the Marines?"
That day, Sengoku confronted Garp, expressing his feelings passionately.
"You're so noisy!" Garp replied casually, picking his ears.
"Only by gaining more power can we implement true justice. Otherwise, we're just pawns. You told me this, and now you're contradicting it!"
Sengoku grabbed Garp's collar, asking impulsively.
"Sengoku, I'm sorry. Those were passionate words from my youth. Now they seem childish. I thought you'd forgotten them, but you still remember. You haven't grown up!"
The smile on Garp's face vanished, replaced by a serious look.
"Garp, do you know what it means to not forget your original intention? I don't believe you're someone who forgets their roots!"
Sengoku gritted his teeth, not believing Garp could abandon his passion so easily.
"Times have changed, and we can't change things alone. I've set my sights on the younger generation, so I don't want to be an Admiral. Being a lackey of the Celestial Dragons is too boring."
Garp spoke clearly and wisely.
"I see, do you want to take a back seat? Can you get what you want?"
Sengoku released Garp's collar, a look of disappointment in his eyes.
"I hope so!" Garp straightened his collar, lacking confidence.
"With your strength, the Celestial Dragons won't give up control over you."
Before leaving, Sengoku said these words harshly.
Since that conversation, their relationship entered a cold phase.
In the past, their arguments were habitual, just superficial disputes.
Now, their disputes had turned into real confrontations.
They used to be rivals who never truly fought or loved each other, but now they were like estranged enemies.
This seemingly unfavorable situation wouldn't last long, and a turning point would come soon.
On an uninhabited island far from Marine Headquarters.
Kaizen opened his eyes.
The pain seemed to have lessened.
The sky was so gray it was hard to tell what time it was.
There were vague signs of habitation, but they were fragmented, requiring careful observation to piece together.
The walls were made of wooden boards haphazardly arranged, with gaps of various sizes.
The roof was even more ridiculous, barely a roof at all.
A rag was draped over the top, covering half the space. Looking up, the night sky was visible.
As Kaizen observed his surroundings, he heard a strange creaking sound.
It was the sound of a door opening.