After several days of sailing, the warship finally reached Marinford, the holy ground revered by all Navy personnel as the headquarters of their operations. The journey had been eventful, with multiple encounters with pirate crews. However, all of them were swiftly annihilated by Garp. A few meteor-like punches from the Vice Admiral were enough to sink the ships, leaving the rest of the navy with little to do but watch in awe.
This was routine for the sailors aboard Garp's ship. Unless he was feeling particularly lazy, Vice Admiral Garp usually took care of pirates himself, leaving his crew to handle only the aftermath.
As the massive gates of justice slowly opened, the full grandeur of Marinford came into view. Its towering buildings and majestic architecture exuded authority and power, a fitting headquarters for the Navy's operations. Even Satoru, who prided himself on maintaining his composure, couldn't help but be impressed. A sense of solemnity filled the air, demanding respect from all who approached.
"Don't be so uptight, kid. This place is just like my home," Garp said with a hearty laugh. He slapped Satoru's back, sending a jolt through the boy's body. Satoru winced, gritting his teeth at the unexpected force of the blow. If his Infinite Limit Warlock technique had been active, the attack would've been nullified. But maintaining the technique constantly was exhausting, and Satoru couldn't afford to waste his energy.
At the port, lines of naval officers stood at attention to welcome their hero. Recognizing Garp's warship, they quickly arranged themselves into neat rows, saluting the Vice Admiral as he disembarked.
"Welcome home, Vice Admiral Garp!" they chorused.
Garp led the procession, followed by his trusted aide Bogart and Satoru. The rest of the crew trailed behind, their respect for Garp evident in their expressions. Despite not holding the rank of Admiral, Garp was a living legend. His exploits against the likes of Pirate King Roger and Rocks D. Xebec earned him a reverence few could match.
"Dismissed for the day," Garp commanded his crew. "Be back on the warship tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Vice Admiral!" they responded, dispersing swiftly.
Garp led Satoru toward the most imposing building in the headquarters, pushing open the large doors without so much as a knock.
"Warring States, the old man's back!" Garp bellowed.
Inside, Fleet Admiral Sengoku looked up, annoyance flashing across his face. "Garp, how many times have I told you to knock before entering?!" He hastily shuffled some papers aside, clearly caught off guard.
"Hahaha, this is my home, Sengoku! Who knocks at their own house?" Garp said nonchalantly, throwing himself onto a couch as if he owned the office.
Sengoku sighed but let the matter drop, his attention shifting to the boy who stood beside Garp. His sharp eyes scanned Satoru, and for a moment, Sengoku felt as though the boy's gaze pierced through him.
"Who's this?" Sengoku asked, his tone curious.
"This is Satoru," Garp said with a grin. "He's my grandson. I brought him here to join the Navy."
Sengoku raised an eyebrow. "Your grandson? He doesn't resemble you at all. He's far too refined."
"Hahaha! Adopted grandson, Sengoku. Found him a few years back in the middle of a pirate raid. He's mine now," Garp explained with pride.
Satoru stepped forward, bowing slightly. "It's an honor to meet you, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Sengoku's expression softened at the boy's politeness. "Well, you're certainly better-mannered than this oaf."
"Hey!" Garp interjected, though his grin showed he wasn't truly offended. "Don't be fooled by his manners, Sengoku. This kid's got a darker side. He's more devious than he looks."
As if to emphasize Garp's point, the Vice Admiral's uniform suddenly tore apart at the seams, leaving him flabbergasted. Sengoku's eyes widened at the spectacle.
"See what I mean? He just tore my clothes with his powers because I said something bad about him!" Garp exclaimed.
"Powers?" Sengoku's interest was piqued.
"Not a Devil Fruit," Garp clarified. "It's something he was born with, like the Lunarians and their flames. I've spent years searching through ancient texts, but I couldn't find a single reference to abilities like his."
Sengoku turned to Satoru, his curiosity evident. "What exactly can you do?"
"Gravity, repulsion, and stopping," Satoru said simply.
"Stopping?" Sengoku frowned, struggling to grasp the concept.
"To put it simply, as long as I'm aware of an attack, it won't touch me," Satoru explained. "Though attacks imbued with Conqueror's Haki can bypass it."
Sengoku's eyes widened in astonishment. "If that's true, then your abilities are… extraordinary."
"See? The kid's amazing," Garp said, grinning from ear to ear. "Give him a few years, and he'll be stronger than me."
"We'll see," Sengoku said, though he couldn't hide his excitement. If nurtured properly, Satoru could be a key figure in shaping the future of the Navy.