Senga was having breakfast with Gion and the others when a maid entered, bowed respectfully to Senga, who was seated at the head of the table, and said,
"Lord Senga, Vice Admiral Garp requests an audience."
Upon hearing the word "request an audience, "Senga almost couldn't contain herself. When had Garp ever become so humble?
In fact, Senga doesn't fully understand his own identity yet. His current status is several times more prestigious than that of Celestial Dragons before. Even the usually carefree Garp is a little intimidated by Senga.
What's more, he brought the "world's most dangerous criminal" with him today.
Garp was naturally very pleased that Dragon wanted to return to the Navy, but he also knew that Dragon couldn't just return to the Navy whenever he wanted; such a thing definitely required Senga's consent.
So he brought Ryu to see Senga, wanting to see what Senga was.
To Garp's surprise, Senga showed no surprise at all upon seeing the dragon, as if she had known about the dragon's arrival all along.
Senga greeted Garp and then continued eating her breakfast.
Long bowed very respectfully to Senga, while glancing at Senga and the people around him out of the corner of his eye.
Senga continued eating her breakfast by herself, while Hancock kept adding food to Senga plate, looking every bit the devoted wife.
As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon was naturally familiar with Hancock, and he also recognized many of the other people at the table besides Hancock.
For example, Celestial Dragons Shalulia, the Child of the Devil Robin, and Ain Kalifa, who was just designated as a Gion for Admiral candidate, are all already Rear Admiral Generals, and the dragons have not been overlooked either.
Senga put down her cutlery and looked at Ryu, saying...
"I already know you want to rejoin the Navy. To be honest, I admire your courage; you actually dared to come to the Navy with the reputation of being one of the world's most dangerous criminals..."
Senga's tone carried a hint of danger, and the temperature in the room suddenly dropped, causing Ryu to feel tense.
A layer of cold sweat appeared on Garp's forehead. He wondered if bringing the dragon today was a mistake.
Gion had just caught a glimpse of the barely perceptible mischievous smile on Senga's lips, knowing that his cunning side had kicked in again, and he wanted to tease Garp.
She gently patted Senga's thigh under the table, then whispered in Senga's ear,
"Senga, stop scaring Vice Admiral Garp, okay? He's getting on in years..."
Senga smiled, pressed down on Gion's small hand hidden under the table, and said,
"For your courage alone, I agree to let you return to the Navy, but you'll have to start as a junior lieutenant."
Long breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, and then nodded vigorously. Given his personality, he didn't care much about military ranks; as long as he could successfully return to the navy, that was all that mattered.
Garp was overjoyed and said he would give all the rare senbei he had "taken" from Sengoku to Senga.
Senga suggested that they forget about it and leave the senbei to Garp and Sengoku, those two best buddies, to enjoy themselves.
Long sighed helplessly, tugged at his unreliable father, bowed to Senga again, and said,
"Senga... sir, we apologize for disturbing your meal. We'll take our leave now."
It sounds a bit awkward for a dragon to say the word "master," but Senga saved the world, so calling Senga" master" isn't unacceptable to a dragon.
Senga raised her hand and called out to him, saying,
"Dragon, did you bring Sabo with you this time?"
Ryu was puzzled as to why Senga would ask about Sabo, but Garp's expression changed upon hearing it. Of course he knew Sabo; in fact, he had even beaten him up.
Moreover, he remembered that Sabo was dead, and Luffy and Ace were depressed for a long time because of it.
Dragon didn't notice the change in Garp's expression; he respectfully responded to Senga.
"Sabo? He's here. What business does Lord Senga have with him?"
"It's not me looking for him, it's a little guy who wants to see him. Vice Admiral Garp, why don't you take Ace to see Sabo? It's been a long time since they last met."
After saying that, Senga lowered his head and continued eating, while Garp pulled the bewildered Ryu away.
Aside from the palace gates, Dragon looked at Garp with a puzzled expression and asked,
"Father, Ace is...?"
Dragon left Luffy when he was very young, so he was unaware of the two older brothers Luffy knew, and even less aware that Sabo, whom he saved, was one of them.
Garp sighed and told Dragon about Ace, Sabo, and Luffy, including Ace's background.
Upon hearing this, Dragon froze on the spot. He never expected things to be so coincidental; the child he had saved by sheer chance turned out to be Luffy's sworn brother.
But what shocked him most was that Senga had actually allowed the son of the Pirate King Roger to join the Navy, which was even more outrageous than Robin, the Child of the Devil, joining the Navy.
Thinking about it this way, it's not so hard to accept that I, the "world's most vicious criminal," have joined the Navy. I guess everyone else is already used to it.
Garp also learned about Sabo's experiences from the dragon. The father and son sighed with emotion, then discussed it and decided to split up.
Dragon will take Sabo, Garp will take Ace. They will meet in Sengoku's office later.
Sensing what was happening outside, Senga smiled. Shalulia, who liked to watch Senga after finishing her meal, couldn't help but ask when she saw him suddenly smile.
"Senga, what are you laughing at?"
"It's nothing, I just laugh at the thought of those two idiots meeting."
"Two idiots?"
"Um."
Senga smiled without saying a word, stood up from the table, stretched, and greeted the women.
"Alright, there's a coronation ceremony today, let's all go watch it."
Kalifa covered her mouth and chuckled, saying,
"Boss, you're the main character at the coronation ceremony! We're here to see you. Who do you want to see?"
"Hey, just go through the motions!"
Shalulia pouted and muttered,
"Hmph, I bet those princesses are just waiting impatiently!"
"Um?"
Senga teleported to Shalulia's side, reached out and pressed down on the tuft of hair on her head, and started ruffling it.
Shalulia cried out in pain, and seeing that she couldn't escape Senga's clutches, she turned to Hancock for help.
Shalulia and Hancock have a very good relationship; Hancock practically treats Shalulia like her own little sister, something Senga never expected.
Hancock, receiving Shalulia's pleading look, rose and slowly walked to Senga's side, speaking softly.
"Lord Senga, Shalulia never thinks before she speaks, please forgive her this time!"
"..."