Few in Marineford could step into Garp's room uninvited, but one of the exceptions stood there now—a gray-haired, deeply wrinkled woman with a calm and commanding presence: Tsuru.
She entered the room and casually shut the door behind her.
Garp hastily flipped the newspaper on his desk face down, an act so conspicuous it might as well have had "Nothing to see here!" written all over it.
Despite his speed, Tsuru caught a glimpse of the headline and the photo prominently displayed at the top: Portgas D. Ace—A rising pirate star bearing the infamous 'D.'
Her piercing gaze landed on Garp. "Portgas D. Ace, a new up-and-coming pirate with a 'D' in his name. What's your connection to him?"
"Ah, Tsuru..." Garp chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head, unsure of how to deflect her question.
Ace's origins were a secret he hadn't even shared with Sengoku. Now, Tsuru's sharp eyes had sniffed out a clue. Under her scrutinizing gaze, Garp felt as though every secret was laid bare.
"You want a donut?" He shoved the plate toward her, a clumsy attempt to change the subject.
Tsuru didn't even glance at the plate. "If you don't want to answer, I won't press you."
"Ahahaha!"
Relieved, Garp stuffed a donut into his mouth.
Tsuru shook her head, exasperated by his carefree demeanor. She cut to the chase. "There's news from Gion."
"Mm?!"
Garp immediately sat up straight, swallowing the donut in a few hurried bites. "Is it about Phantom Gun?"
"Yes." Tsuru nodded. "Our sources indicate the opportunity is promising, though the timing isn't perfect just yet."
"Go on," Garp said, his expression growing serious.
"We've acquired new leverage against Phantom Gun," Tsuru said calmly. "And this time, the leverage is significant enough to force his hand."
"Leverage, huh…" Garp stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"But," Tsuru added, her tone measured, "whether the timing is right remains uncertain. You've waited years already; a little longer won't hurt. Don't act rashly."
"I understand."
Garp's brow furrowed as he nodded.
Tsuru studied his rare serious expression. "You could inform Sengoku about this. Even if he doesn't fully support your position, he could still provide substantial assistance."
"No, this is my personal vendetta. Besides, Phantom Gun is just an old pirate who's been out of the game for years. From the Navy's perspective, he's hardly worth the effort. Among the remnants, Phantom Gun has always stayed in the shadows."
Tsuru nodded slightly. "From a personal standpoint, I'd also like to see Phantom Gun dealt with—regardless of his retirement. And there's always the possibility that this new 'leverage' could become his apprentice."
"If that's the case," Garp said seriously, "it wouldn't be a bad outcome."
"Not bad now, perhaps," Tsuru said lightly. "But if another Phantom Gun emerges, the headache won't just fall on you and me."
"Of course!" Garp's tone grew firm, his gaze sharp.
"There is one thing that intrigues me," Tsuru said.
"What's that?"
"This new leverage seems to have a particular... inclination toward killing pirates."
"Hm???" Garp tilted his head in confusion.
"Don't look at me like that," Tsuru said. "The intelligence is limited. Even I can't deduce their motive or reasoning."
"Fair enough."
"One more thing—the Revolutionary Army has had some involvement with the island. Likely an attempt to free the enslaved populace there."
"Oh."
At the mention of the Revolutionary Army, Garp's previously tense posture relaxed noticeably, his reaction deliberately indifferent.
Tsuru wasn't surprised. She was well aware of the unspoken ties between Garp and the Revolutionary Army.
"There's a chance this could lead to complications."
"..."
Garp remained silent.
Sol's Weapon Shop.
In the shop, Maude gripped his sword, Dark Crow, practicing thrusts and slashes. His movements, though earnest, were clumsy and unpolished.
After finishing his warm-up, he turned to Sunny behind the counter. "What do you think?"
Sunny averted her eyes, clearly unwilling to comment on his lackluster swordsmanship.
"...Fine." Maude shifted his gaze to Bailey, who stood nearby.
Driven by sheer survival instinct, Bailey offered an insincere but enthusiastic compliment. "Brilliant! Truly impressive swordsmanship!"
Maude smiled faintly, though he wasn't deluded. He knew his skills were far from adequate. Still, he was optimistic that his proficiency would improve after tonight's hunt.
Sheathing Dark Crow, Maude approached the counter. "Sunny, give me an estimate. How much is Dark Crow worth?"
Sunny examined the blade for a moment before answering. "Mediocre quality. Probably between 600,000 and 800,000 Berries. If you sell it here, you could list it at 1.2 million."
"Not bad," Maude said, satisfied. "Good enough for now."
He had no intention of selling Dark Crow. As a beginner, this sword was adequate for his current level. Once his skills improved, he'd look for a better weapon—perhaps even one of the famed Great Grade Blades.
If he ever found the Weapon-Weapon Fruit, he could even wield a unique Living Blade.
"By the way, don't tell Sol about this."
"..." Sunny stayed silent.
Taking her silence as agreement, Maude headed upstairs to hide Dark Crow.
Sunny watched him leave and muttered to herself, "I didn't promise anything."
In his room, Maude glanced around the sparsely furnished space. Finding no better spot, he tucked Dark Crow under his blanket.
After securing the blade, he summoned his Hunter's Notebook, jotting down detailed information about Kazte and his crew's abilities.
[Sini Kazte]
Zoan Devil Fruit: Yak Model
Signature Moves:
Black Hoof: A concentrated strike using hardened hooves.
Savage Charge: A headlong attack utilizing sharp horns.
Double Strike: A simultaneous dual attack targeting the throat and abdomen.
[Tyler Gabdon]
Proficient in swordsmanship.
Signature Moves:
Shatter Slash: A series of five consecutive high-speed strikes.
Ground Sweep: A targeted slash at the opponent's knees to gain the upper hand.
[Andy Wells]
Proficient in marksmanship.
"Having bounty posters is convenient," Maude mused as he closed the notebook. "Even their full names are listed. Without that, I'd miss out on some of the critical benefits."
He looked toward the window, anticipation building. "All that's left now is to wait until midnight."
This was the most detailed intelligence he'd gathered on a target so far. The thought of the rewards awaiting him filled him with excitement.
Gripping Dark Crow earlier, he'd felt a sense of purpose and resolve—a feeling he was eager to sharpen through battle.
As night fell, Maude prepared his gear. After some deliberation, he decided to bring Dark Crow along.
Quietly slipping out of the weapon shop, he disappeared into the shadows of the night.
----------------------------
Join my patreon to access advance chapters: patreon.com / emperorgarus