The Tide of the Era

Marine Headquarters, Roy's Office

The last rays of the setting sun streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dappled golden shadows on the floor.

Roy gently closed the Den Den Mushi's casing, his gaze lingering on the distant horizon, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"With Shusui in hand, Zoro should be quite satisfied."

At the long table, Garp was crunching away on a Senbei rice cracker) while sipping hot tea, chuckling and muttering, "Three-Sword Style? That Moss Head brat's got some ambition! Haha--"

Roy chuckled but didn't reply. He simply walked to the window and gazed silently toward the direction of Marineford Harbor, his thoughts churning like a surging tide.

Garp put down his teacup, the smile on his face gradually fading. His deep gaze fell on Roy, and after a moment of silence, he said in a low voice, "Roy, you... weren't you moving too fast?"

The air in the room seemed to freeze at that moment.

Roy, with his back to the old man, paused slightly, his tone calm. "Grandpa, what... are you referring to?"

Garp's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, was fixed on Roy's retreating figure. "Luffy, Kuina, even Ace... the Devil Fruits you prepared for them are not ordinary abilities."

"Mythical Zoan aren't something that come out of nowhere, yet you... it's like you planned everything all along."

He paused, a complex look in his eyes. "What you're cultivating is no longer just the Navy's 'New Generation'... Your attitude is a bit too obvious."

Garp stood up, walked to Roy's side, and they both looked out the window. His voice was even lower. "The Navy can't be too powerful, at least... not now."

Roy remained silent for a long while, then finally sighed softly, "That's why I didn't force Professor Zephyr to eat that fruit."

He turned his head, meeting Garp's gaze, a weary yet clear sharpness appearing in his eyes. "To be honest, the powerful physique and stamina of the 'Vampire Fruit' are a perfect match for Teacher Zephyr."

"But if he were to consume it, he wouldn't be just an ordinary 'veteran naval warrior,' but rather a 'banner swearing an oath to oppose the old order.'"

"In that case, our stance would be far too clear—so clear that we would be instantly 'purged'."

Garp gave Roy a deep look, his face grim, and slowly nodded. "So you noticed it too."

Just then, a lazy voice drifted from the sofa. "Oh dear... I can't believe I overheard such a serious topic."

Kuzan sat up straight at some point, casually removed his blindfold, scratched his head, his expression seemingly nonchalant, but his gaze was colder than the setting sun outside.

He strode over and stood beside the two of them, his tall figure like a wall, directly blocking the light coming in through half of the floor-to-ceiling window.

"Senior brother," Roy smiled faintly, "What do you think?"

Kuzan gazed out the window, remaining silent for a long time until the wind ruffled his crisp yet disheveled military overcoat. Only then did he slowly speak, "The World Government will not allow the Navy to possess too many 'high-end combat forces'."

His voice was deep, yet it sent chills down your spine, like a frozen deep sea.

"Especially those forces that refuse to stand beneath the 'temple of gods'."

Garp scoffed, "Those old guys are only good at scheming about 'balance' all day long! They're even better at manipulating people's hearts than Pirates."

Roy's eyes remained deep, as if he could see through to the storm brewing on the distant sea. "Therefore—we need to 'grow up properly'."

He turned to look at Kuzan, his voice calm. "Senior brother, your 'laziness'... is also a kind of camouflage, isn't it?"

Kuzan did not respond, but simply sighed softly, "Ah la la," as if acquiescing.

He slowly turned around and walked towards the door.

But as he gripped the doorknob, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and whispered, "Roy, be careful... 'They' have noticed you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the door closed gently.

After Kuzan left, the room fell silent for a moment.

Garp walked over to Roy, silently patted him on the shoulder, and gestured for him to sit down and continue the conversation.

Roy smiled gently, turned around and went back to the table, personally refilling Garp's hot tea and pouring himself a cup as well.

The aroma of tea wafted through the air, and the steam rose slowly between the two of them, like the unspoken words in their hearts.

Garp picked up his teacup, his rough fingers gently stroking the rim, but his gaze never left Roy's face.

Finally, he spoke in a deep voice, "What is your reason for doing this?"

"Is there anything... that could threaten you now?"

Roy didn't answer immediately. He simply picked up his teacup, looked at his reflection in the clear tea, and said softly, "Old man, you must have sensed it too, right?"

"This era is about to go completely mad!"

Garp frowned suddenly and slammed his teacup down on the table with a loud thud.

Stop playing games with me, speak clearly!

Roy wasn't intimidated; instead, he smiled and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, as if placing a piece in a game of chess. "The map of the New World has basically been drawn up. Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido —the three Emperor of the Sea stand in a tripartite balance."

"The Beasts Pirates have begun a full-scale expansion, 'Totto Land' is encroaching on smaller islands, and the division commanders under Whitebeard are becoming increasingly active."

But that's not all!

Roy suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp as knives. "Soon, the fourth 'Emperor of the Sea' will appear."

Garp's expression changed drastically, his pupils contracted, and he almost blurted out, "You mean... Red-Hair Shanks?"

Roy didn't answer directly, but instead swirled his teacup and continued calmly, "Starting this year, promising new Pirates will spring up like mushrooms after rain—"

"Supernovas, the Worst Generation, underground organizations, defectors, avengers... This ocean is about to change."

"A storm is coming, and... it'll sweep across the entire world!"

Garp fell silent, the smile on his face vanishing, replaced by a heavy, somber expression.

He stared at Roy's face, his voice extremely low. "You... do you know something?"

Roy lowered his eyes slightly, avoiding the old man's gaze, and calmly put down his teacup without giving a reply.

Seeing this, Garp didn't press the matter further.

He leaned back in his chair, let out a long sigh, and his brows were filled with the heaviness and weariness that only a veteran could bear.

"Alright! Just do it! As long as we old folks are still around—"

Even if the sky falls, we'll hold it up!

He paused, took a sip of tea, and his eyes regained their hawk-like sharpness. "The Sengoku period has also noticed something."

"Don't underestimate that guy. Although he appears calm and collected, he's got more schemes up his sleeve than you and I combined."

Roy nodded and smiled, "I've never underestimated the Fleet Admiral."

"But... he was considering the bigger picture."

"And I only want to make sure of one thing—"

Looking out the window, sunlight slanted across the Training Ground, where several young figures were training hard— Luffy, Ace, Kuina, Law...

"I just want these kids to have the ability to 'protect themselves' before that great historical upheaval arrives..."

Upon hearing this, Garp was momentarily lost in thought.

After a moment, he burst into laughter, as if he had just realized something. "Don't let Zephyr's stern face fool you, his passion... it's still as strong as ever!"

"That fruit you took out that day really stirred his heart..."

Roy gave a sly smile, "Don't worry, I won't let Professor Zephyr retire so early."

Garp was stunned for a moment, then reacted, pointing at Roy and laughing, "You brat! You've got something hidden away, haven't you?!"

Roy smiled without saying a word, picked up his teacup, and offered a gentle toast.

Garp shook his head and smiled wryly, but didn't press the matter further.

He looked out the window, where the "Justice" military flag fluttered in the wind, its gleaming brightly in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The orange-red light illuminated half the sky and fell on his face, which was marked by the passage of time, as if it had rekindled a long-forgotten memory.

He slowly exhaled, and that familiar yet unfamiliar light rekindled in his eyes—

"This is... a long-lost feeling of passion."

His fist clenched slowly without him even realizing it.

At that moment, he seemed to see his youthful days fighting alongside Zephyr and Sengoku, where cannon fire, ocean waves, and the roar of Justice intertwined to create a passionate and fiery youth.

"I'm actually... looking forward to it."

The old man murmured softly, as if he too had a renewed fighting spirit for this world that was about to be reshaped.

Roy, standing to the side, watched Garp's expression, a slight smile playing on his lips, and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

He moved closer, whispering in Garp's ear with a sly grin, "Old man, if there were a fruit—that could increase the power of your Fist Bones by a hundred times..."

"Will you eat it or not?"

Garp, who was still immersed in his passionate memories, was taken aback by the words and subconsciously asked, "A hundred times stronger? Really?"

As soon as he said it, he realized something was wrong and abruptly turned to glare at Roy.

"Are you trying to trick me, you little brat?!"

But by then, Roy had already crossed his arms and was looking at him with a mischievous grin. "What? Didn't you hate Devil Fruits the most? Now you're hesitating?"

Garp was speechless for a moment, his lips twitched, and he fell into a brief period of self-doubt.

He muttered, " With my Fist Bones strengthened a hundredfold, I could probably blow Kaido up with one punch... It doesn't seem like a bad idea after all..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly slapped his forehead and yelled, "Screw your stupid provocation!"

He swung his fist at Roy, his laughter and curses echoing through the office. "My Iron Fist, Garp, doesn't need any Devil Fruit power!"

Roy had anticipated this, and dodged aside, peeking out from behind the sofa with a laugh and teasing, "Oh, so what were you hesitating about just now? Were you tempted?"

"You brat!!"

Amidst the sounds of chasing and beating, the figures of two generations of naval heroes created a noisy scene in the office.