As soon as Garen returned to the airship, he came face-to-face with Golden Lion's ghostly, foul expression.
Golden Lion was in a terrible mood.
He had just spent half the day beneath the ship serving as a floating engine for those Marine brats, only to be left alone on the airship by Garen for several more hours as a scarecrow to chase away birds.
The moment he saw Garen, Golden Lion let out a cold laugh.
"Finally back? The son-in-law of Fish-Man Island—"
"Hm?"
Garen's gaze sharpened, and he immediately ordered Golden Lion to shut up in his mind.
Golden Lion was forced to stop talking, but the sneer on his face did not fade in the slightest.
"How did you know?"
Garen quietly leaned closer and asked Golden Lion in a low voice.
"Heh heh."
Golden Lion sneered again.
"Your order was for me to chase away the News Birds. You never said I wasn't allowed to read the papers!"
"..."
Garen was speechless.
"Hmph!"
Golden Lion snorted and looked at Garen with utter disdain.
"You did it, yet you don't dare admit it. It's a miracle someone like you managed to awaken Haki."
"They're just a few women, yet they've made you so timid and indecisive!"
Golden Lion brought his chilly ghostly face close to Garen's and patiently lectured him.
"You need to understand."
"In this world where the strong devour the weak, the strong can always do whatever they want!"
"Kid, do you know the Big Mom Pirates, one of the Four Emperors?"
"Charlotte Linlin has had so many husbands. Who in the world would dare say a word against her?"
"Hm?"
Garen's eyes lit up. For a moment, he felt as though he had found the direction of his life.
"Shiki, you have a point."
"Big