Akainu had only just awakened when he prepared to lead the naval fleet back to headquarters.
Although Garen readily returned command of the fleet, he did not let Akainu leave immediately.
With the utmost enthusiasm, he put on the airs of a friend of the Navy and specially arranged a farewell banquet for Akainu and the other marines, making it as lively as a parting between close friends.
The marine officers and soldiers were all grateful for Garen's rescue, so naturally they did not refuse his goodwill.
Although Akainu was not quite used to Garen's inexplicable enthusiasm, he knew Garen had saved his life and that he owed him a favor, so he could hardly fall out with Garen over such a trivial matter.
Still, Akainu deliberately kept his distance from Garen throughout the banquet, maintaining his trademark impassive face the entire time.
But even that could not withstand Garen's excessive enthusiasm.
Using the alcohol as an excuse, Garen forcibly dragged Akainu into chatting about everything under the sun. Again and again, he ignored Akainu's icy glare and came over to drink and clink glasses with him. He even drunkenly slung an arm around his shoulders, annoying Akainu beyond endurance.
However, Akainu always wore an expressionless face, so no one could tell whether he was actually happy or not just by looking at him.
Thus, their relationship appeared extraordinarily harmonious on the surface.
At first glance, outsiders might have thought Akainu and Garen were lifelong bosom friends, so close that they lacked only a sworn brotherhood and sleeping foot-to-foot.
The farewell banquet was exceptionally lively, with many people coming and going.
For some reason, an onlooker happened to capture this scene with a Den Den Mushi and print it into photographs as a memento.
For some reason, those photographs then