The so-called Sea Defense Identification Zone was really just Garen's "farming zone" for grinding experience.
Since he had to wait for a Marine Headquarters vice admiral to arrive and hold the "Shichibukai investiture ceremony," Garen temporarily gave up on heading out to sea for adventure and remained in Alabasta.
With nothing else to do, Garen simply raised the banner of maintaining order in Alabasta's waters and began frantically intercepting pirates around the kingdom.
Compared to the small fry of East Blue, the pirates of the Grand Line were not only much tougher but also plentiful, stuffing Garen's experience bar until it had grown considerably fatter over the past few days.
Since the Grand Line had only seven magnetic routes, blocking Alabasta was equivalent to blocking one-seventh of the pirate crews traveling through the Grand Line. Moreover, this enthusiastic citizen's work ethic and efficiency were far more proactive and effective than those of ordinary branch bases.
Thus, in only half a month, Alabasta had become a dangerous place that passing pirates desperately sought to avoid.
But Moria was naturally different from those minor pirates. Back in the Florian Triangle, his trade had been intercepting and slaughtering passing ships. Why would he fear another colleague blocking the road in Alabasta?
Even though Garen had displayed a bit of his impressive strength, Moria still refused to show weakness.
"Kid!"
"Do you know who I am?"
"Of course."
Garen looked disdainfully at Moria's seven-meter-tall, flask-shaped body and said with a laugh,
"Looking like that, how could anyone fail to recognize you?"
"Gecko Moria. Just a stray dog."
"Bastard!"
Moria's eyes bulged with fury, and he opened a bloody maw larger than Garen's head.
The enraged Moria was about to spit out some threats, but Garen slowly took several steps forward. Then he raised his