The Great Sea Pirate

As the Moke Pirates' ship sailed further away, Cocoyasi Village gradually disappeared from sight. Leaning against the railing of the pirate vessel, Smoker's originally restless heart slowly calmed down.

He took the cigar from his mouth, flicked off the ash, then turned his head to look at Vice Admiral Garp, who was still lounging leisurely on the pirate ship as if he owned the place.

His brows furrowed slightly.

This mission had truly been unexpected.

Originally, he was supposed to investigate Marine Colonel Dander Xieche for colluding with pirates and embezzling Marine funds... and the results had indeed confirmed it. The evidence was solid—enough for an immediate arrest and trial.

Yet.

Who would have thought...

Vice Admiral Garp, the key figure in this mission, had actually teamed up with that guy.

And that wasn't even the worst part. What left him speechless was that the Marine Hero actually planned to swindle Marine Headquarters' funds alongside him?!

Too absurd!

He simply couldn't understand what the Marine Hero was thinking.

And there was another doubt gnawing at him...

Just then.

Suddenly.

As Smoker frowned in deep thought.

"Hahaha~" Garp's laughter rang out.

He lounged with his legs crossed, hands behind his head, not even lifting his gaze, leaning back in a deck chair on the Moke Pirates' ship, staring at the sea. "The mission's over, Smoker boy. Why the long face?"

"..." You've got the nerve to ask me that?

Snapping back to reality, Smoker took a deep breath, but still put on a serious expression. "Vice Admiral Garp, do you even realize what you've done this time?"

"Of course~" Garp said with utter certainty, reaching out to pick his nose. "Isn't it just planning to swindle the Navy's money with that brat Xianche?"

"..." So why the hell do you say it like it's perfectly justified?

A vein bulged on Smoker's forehead as he was about to speak again.

"Oh, sorry, can't go around saying stuff like that. What if I get investigated? Retract, retract~" Though he spoke of fearing an investigation, there wasn't a trace of worry on Garp's face. He remained cheerful. "You're just not as fun as that brat Xianche, Smoker boy. Looks like you've got something to say?"

"I'll keep this mission under wraps for now, as agreed. But if that guy does anything against Marine justice, I'll report everything—including today's events and everything you've done, Vice Admiral Garp—to the Fleet Admiral."

"Don't worry, I'll swear I don't know the kid then!"

"..." Smoker's eyelid twitched. Ignoring Garp, who was picking his nose and spouting nonsense, he took another deep breath and said gravely, "There is one thing I want to ask. I hope Vice Admiral Garp will tell me."

"Ask away." Garp kept picking his nose, grinning. "Let's see if this old man knows first!"

"The God Valley Incident..."

"Don't know!"

"..." Was this old geezer messing with him?

Seeing that Garp had immediately claimed ignorance before he even finished asking, his eyes darting away while picking his nose—clearly unwilling to tell him—Smoker's forehead bulged with veins. His right hand clenched into a fist. At that moment, he really wanted to punch the hell out of this guy!

Of course~

He knew he couldn't win.

But still...

What exactly happened at God Valley?

As a Marine, he had heard of the God Valley Incident.

In that incident, Vice Admiral Garp had been awarded the title of Marine Hero by the World Government for saving the Celestial Dragons.

But now, it seemed things weren't that simple?

Back then, Xianche had seemed about to say something before Garp cut him off. Now, when he brought it up again, Garp shut him down once more.

So what had happened that even the Marine Hero didn't want to mention?

Just as Smoker sank back into thought.

"Smoker boy, there are some things that, as a Marine, it's a blessing not to know." Garp, who had been cheerfully picking his nose, suddenly turned serious. "Don't dwell on it anymore. As a Marine, just hold fast to the justice in your own heart."

With that, before Smoker could ask anything else with a grave expression, Garp's face broke back into a grin. He stretched lazily, turned his head, and shouted toward the back of the ship, "Moke boy! Got anything good to eat on this ship? Hurry up, I'm bored!"

"Coming! Want some Cocoyasi Village specialty canned oranges and orange marmalade?" Moke's booming voice replied. "Grown with that spring water stuff, some hill, some soil! And some machine thing, hand-rolled! Tastes great either way!"

The moment he finished.

"???"

Before Garp could even understand what Moke was saying.

A crew member on the nearby ship yelled helplessly, "You idiot captain! The boss said we have to promote our Orange Marmalade and Canned Oranges like this: irrigated by natural spring water from the primeval forest, every orange seedling carefully selected, fertilized with natural, healthy organic fertilizer.

The orange grove sits on gentle hillsides, with rolling peaks, spring water winding through, mist and clouds shrouding, rain nourishing—making the oranges sweet, plump, fresh, and moving. Every jar of Orange Marmalade is handcrafted by eight master jam makers. A masterwork, a great legacy, a huge seller!"

"???" X N

Hearing the crew member's words, Garp was dumbfounded, his eyes wide. Even Smoker, who had been deep in thought nearby, was jolted back to reality by that advertisement, and along with Tashigi, looked over with equal curiosity.

Was this orange really that amazing?

"That's right, that's how it goes. I forgot, but anyway, it's really delicious!" Though scolded by his own underling, Moke didn't mind. He scratched his head and grinned foolishly. "Want a taste?"

"Not bad, that sounds really tasty." Garp laughed heartily, showing great interest. "Hurry up and bring some for me to try!"

With that.

After a moment.

Moke brought over the Orange Marmalade and Canned Oranges. Smoker and Tashigi also curiously gathered around.

"Can I try some?"

"No problem, there's plenty more!" Moke didn't mind at all, directly handing one to Tashigi, and even shoving one into the frowning Smoker's hands. "Go ahead, everyone have a taste!"

As Moke's words fell, the three had already opened the cans. After curiously taking a bite, their eyes lit up.

But...

Though it was pretty good, it wasn't quite as exaggerated as all that!

"Not bad, but that ad was way over the top. I think it's definitely a scam!" Garp said cheerfully while pouring the contents into his mouth. "That brat Xia Che really is a swindler who even cheats the navy out of its funds!"

"Hmph~"

Smoker, who was also eating, let out a cold snort. He looked at the can in his hand, as if about to say something else, but before he could speak.

'Brrring, brrring~'

Just then.

The sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out.

It was Garp's.

Garp paused, pulled out the Den Den Mushi, and without much concern, answered it directly. "Ah~, it's Sengoku! What's up?"

With that.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku.

At the mention of Sengoku, Smoker and Tashigi immediately sobered up, their faces turning serious as they stood quietly to the side.

And the Moke Pirates, witnessing this scene, also fell silent.

Then came.

"What's that noise? Are you sneaking food again? Can you take this seriously?" The Den Den Mushi, now shaped like a seagull wearing a hat, spoke in a very exasperated tone. But after saying that, it sighed and continued with a grave expression. "How's the mission going?"

"Mission? What mission?"

"You bastard, did you forget the mission I gave you again? Weren't you supposed to investigate whether Dander Xieche has been colluding with pirates along the way?"

Hearing Garp's reply, the seagull Den Den Mushi roared again.

"Can you take this seriously for once? That brat submitted another funding request, and the approval department is suspicious of Dander Xieche. But Zephyr insists his student would never do such a thing. Both sides are arguing, and it's driving me crazy."

"Ahahaha, I'm just messing with you~." Seeing the angry Den Den Mushi, Garp casually picked his ear, unfazed. "I remember, it's already handled."

"Handled?" After Garp's reply, the Den Den Mushi calmed down a bit, frowning. "What's the situation? Is Marine Branch 16 defrauding funds or colluding with pirate crews?"

The moment the words landed.

"Of course not~" Garp said without hesitation, his tone serious and righteous. "Everything Colonel Xia Che reported is true. The Moke Pirates are indeed a vicious and ruthless crew. The current equipment of Marine Branch 16 really can't stand against them. Even I found them a bit troublesome."

"Why are you suddenly so serious? That doesn't sound like you. Whatever—are you telling the truth?" The Den Den Mushi's brow furrowed in confusion. "The Moke Pirates? Even you find them that troublesome? Isn't that just a pirate with a thirty-million bounty? And what's wrong with you? Why is your Den Den Mushi so sweaty?"

Then, as if realizing something, its tone turned stern.

"You bastard, you didn't slack off, did you?"

"Ahahaha~, how could that be? It's just been a bit hot in the East Blue lately. Anyway, that guy escaped from me." Facing Sengoku's suspicion through the Den Den Mushi, and under the contemptuous gazes of Smoker and Tashigi, Garp remained unflustered. He laughed it off, picking his nose casually. "You know me—he's a pirate."

"True. At least you wouldn't collude with pirates, right?"

"..."

"Fine. Since you say so, it really does seem like a dangerous crew." The Den Den Mushi, as Sengoku, frowned after speaking, then pondered for a moment. "To escape from you, it's no wonder Marine Branch 16 couldn't capture them. Looks like another big pirate is about to emerge in the East Blue."

"Right, right, definitely no pushover!" Seeing Sengoku's reaction, Garp seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, returning to his carefree grin. "The bounty needs to go up!"

"Raise the bounty? Isn't the Moke Pirates still in the East Blue? Isn't thirty million enough?"

"Not enough, not enough." Garp picked his nose, grinning. "They're pirates who escaped from me."

"Is that so?" The Den Den Mushi, as Sengoku, frowned at Garp's words, thought for a moment, then asked, "How much do you think it should be raised?"

"How much?" Garp grinned, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Moke, the captain of the Moke Pirates, who was holding a can nearby.

For some reason, Moke, who was being stared at, felt his heart skip a beat. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, as if he had a bad premonition.

Before he could say anything—

He saw.

Garp before him suddenly grinned, flashing his white teeth. Then, with a wave of his hand, he said in a serious tone, "A pirate like this is worth at least fifty million!"

As the words fell.

Moke: ...

Fifty million?!

What the hell does this old man want?