Garp's expression stiffened, and finally he barked directly at Haku, "You brat, looking for a beating, aren't you?"
Tch!
Haku curled his lip in disdain, because back when he had first started training with Garp, the old man had straight out caught a lion and hollered about making a braised lion's head for him to taste-test!
The result was that he choked on that unpalatable lion's head, and ever since then, he hadn't had a single shred of appetite upon seeing lion's head meatballs!
To prevent Garp from whipping up any more bizarre culinary creations, he had started learning how to cook himself, drawing on experience from his past life.
Of course, thanks to that past-life experience, Garp's palate had instead been spoiled by Haku to become increasingly picky.
Everyone was thoroughly satisfied with the meal that day! Except for Chaton, of course! Because the more he compared himself to Haku, the more he felt that his hopes of pursuing Momousagi were growing hopelessly remote!
There was no helping it, who told Haku to be young and handsome to begin with, and at such a tender age, possess unrivaled strength? He had even become Chaton's direct superior!
Of course, to be explicit, Momousagi genuinely had taken a fancy to Haku just like that!
She couldn't help it, for she herself possessed a pride others could scarcely imagine, and her own strength ought to reach the level of a Rear Admiral Candidate!
Among her peers, the three admirals whose strength surpassed hers were naturally not people she needed to dwell on!
And Chaton, who was a fellow Rear Admiral Candidate alongside her, looked far too old! As for the other vice admirals, she could only say hehe!
Now, with Haku's appearance—taking into account his strength, background, looks, and the lingering impact of the Hollow Mask on Haku last time—Momousagi couldn't help but care about this boy who was a bit younger than her!
The more she observed him, the more she felt that aside from his mouth being a bit annoying, he practically had no flaws at all.
In the Marines, she had seen plenty of men. But a man like Haku—she truly was seeing one for the very first time!
After dinner, Vice Admiral Tsuru dragged Garp along, dragging Chaton with them in tow, to go out for a stroll. They even gave it the high-sounding name of aiding digestion!
Momousagi eagerly rushed to clean up the kitchen. Only then did she come before Haku and say, "Um... Haku, if you don't have anything going on, let's go out for a walk together!"
Haku looked at Momousagi's blushing expression and asked with lingering curiosity, "Sister Gion, what's wrong with you? How come you seem a little strange today?"
Momousagi was taken aback by Haku's question, and couldn't help thinking to herself, How come this brat didn't figure it out? Could it be that he has zero feelings for me?
She immediately shook her head, casting that thought aside. Then she spoke up, "It's nothing, I just feel like you've grown very fast lately. I wanted to chat with you about your plans going forward!"
Perhaps due to spending too much time in contact with members of the Monkey family, Haku had become rather slow to react when it came to romantic matters.
Haku replied with his usual expression, "Actually, I don't really have any plans. Because of the World Government, I have to go take up my post at the G5 Branch in a few days."
"Doesn't that mean you're going to the New World?" Momousagi actually didn't know about this matter, which was why she was somewhat surprised by Haku's response.
Haku smiled and said, "That's right! The New World—just thinking about it makes me feel kind of excited!"
Instead, Momousagi said with a measure of seriousness, "That place is the Four Emperors' home turf after all, so I'm afraid it'll be all too easy for you to become a target once you go over there!"
Hearing Momousagi's worry, Haku smiled faintly and said with confidence, "Rest assured. I have my own strength and plans, and I won't easily plunge into danger. Besides, I believe there will be plenty of interesting things waiting for me in the New World."
Watching Haku's resolute gaze, Momousagi couldn't help but admire his courage and determination.
She knew Haku was a person of strength and wisdom. Thinking back to that day when Haku had fought against Akainu, she felt that the ones who ought to be worried were probably the pirates who ran into Haku!
Furthermore, from the moment she met Haku until now, the guy hadn't even brought out his true strength yet!
The night passed without incident, and Haku still spent the past few days at Marine Headquarters quite pleasantly.
During these few days, Momousagi would always find some excuse to spend time with Haku.
No matter how thick-headed Haku was, he had still noticed Momousagi's attitude toward him.
Right now, the state of the two of them was somewhat hovering in the realm of above friendship, but not quite lovers yet.
Pity that Haku was destined to leave Marine Headquarters after all. Therefore, this yet-to-happen romance could at best only be given a question mark.
At this moment, high above the Red Line, he was piloting the Ark as it set off toward the latter half of the Grand Line, the New World!
Aboard his Ark were quite a few marines, all of whom Haku had specifically requested and demanded from Sengoku.
Among them, veteran marines made up the vast majority!
As for why he brought along this bunch of people, Haku was well aware of the situation over at G5.
Marine GL 5th Branch was an organization located in the New World. Two years ago, it and Marine G-1 Branch were among the rare Marine branches in the New World.
G-5 was an atypical marine unit; the marines inside didn't look like marines at all, acting more like pirates. They refused to obey commands from Marine Headquarters and committed atrocious deeds, brutally slaughtering pirates.
Of course, as for the brutal slaughter of pirates and whatnot, Haku certainly didn't mind. Anyway, he had no fondness whatsoever for heinous pirates who committed all manner of evils!
However, Haku knew he needed these veteran marines to help him straighten out the order of the G5 Branch.
After all, he still wanted an orderly marine base, rather than a bunch of filthy, undisciplined scum of soldiers!!!
Naturally, the birth of these military ruffians undoubtedly had a certain connection with Vergo, the former base commander.
It was precisely because he tolerated this bunch of subordinates running wild that G5 Base had turned into what it was today!
If that guy really was still in G5, Haku would genuinely draw his blade and hack him to death.
Perhaps he had been dwelling on it too much, because right from the very moment Haku entered the New World, he happened to run into some G5 base marines who were chasing down a pirate ship!
Due to the vast distance between them, those people on the opposite side hadn't noticed Haku's conspicuous flying ship suspended in mid-air!
As for Haku, he was using Observation Haki to observe that group of G5 marines who were just about to drive that pirate ship close to a nearby island.
"Interesting! I didn't expect these G5 marines to look pretty fierce!" Haku muttered to himself.
With that, he maneuvered the ship and closed in toward the island.
Shortly afterward, Haku arrived on that island and saw that group of G5 marines brutally slaughtering those pirates.
However! This wasn't the issue; it was mainly the conduct of certain marines that made Haku utterly furious just from watching them!
Before you continue