Actually, I'm Just Angry at Myself

Mo Xingchen stood on the shore, watching the merchant ship disappear over the horizon before slowly turning around.

At that moment, he fully understood Garp's feelings when Dragon left. It was a mix of hoping his loved one could achieve their dream and worrying about their safety.

Sigh~ Melancholy.

By the time Mo Xingchen returned to the Fleet Admiral's office, only the old trio remained. Mo Xingchen collapsed onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling like a fish left on shore and baked by the sun. A visible low-pressure cloud hung over his head, his face a picture of dejection.

Sengoku asked curiously, "What's wrong with you, kid? I only looked away for a moment."

Mo Xingchen stared at the ceiling, only his mouth moving, "Robin has gone out to sea."

Vice Admiral Tsuru was shocked and said with a hint of anger, "How old is she! How could you let her go out to sea alone!"

"She wants to chase her dream, what else could I do?"

"Sigh~"

The three old men sighed in unison. After all, they had all raised children, so they deeply understood this feeling. Not to mention Garp. Sengoku wanted Rosinante to follow the Marine path properly, but Rosinante, fearing his Celestial Dragon status would affect Sengoku's promotion, insisted on going undercover. Tsuru had always wanted to raise Gion into an elegant lady, but she insisted on becoming a Great Swordsman and enjoyed frequenting the pleasure quarters.

"Uncle Sengoku, I want to request leave to return to the East Blue."

"Oh, right! Sengoku, I want to request leave to return to the East Blue too."

Sengoku looked at the two scoundrels, one old and one young, before him, veins throbbing on his forehead, "Get out, get out! You two will be the death of me one day!"

On Garp's Dog-head Warship, the two lay on beach chairs. Mo Xingchen stared intently at the man standing impeccably beside them, dressed like a movie star.

"Vice Admiral Mo Xingchen, hello! My name is Bogard, Colonel rank, currently Vice Admiral Garp's aide-de-camp. I look forward to your guidance!"

Seeing Mo Xingchen staring at him, Bogard saluted and introduced himself.

"Yohohohoho, when I was the G-3 Branch Base Commander, Old Man Kong said I didn't have a reliable aide-de-camp and was worried. So he assigned Bogard to me."

Mo Xingchen chuckled awkwardly, "I was off chasing the Golden Lion at the time, cough cough... Bogard, I see you also use a sword. What's your level now?"

"Reporting, Vice Admiral Mo, swordsman level."

Mo Xingchen waved his hand and said with a smile, "Don't be so serious, I prefer things to be casual. Show me your swordsmanship, Vice Admiral Garp's path is different, he can't guide you in this regard, I'll give you some pointers on his behalf."

Then Bogard demonstrated his swordsmanship on the deck. After watching, Mo Xingchen found that he was, as expected, following the common swordsmanship path of this world. He then repeated the sword philosophy he had told Koshiro back then to Bogard. After listening, Bogard bowed deeply to Mo Xingchen.

Mo Xingchen patted Bogard's shoulder and earnestly encouraged him, "Vice Admiral Garp's previous aide-de-camp was Kuzan, and the one before that was me. You have to work hard, don't disgrace our lineage!"

"Yes!"

"Yohohohoho, so all my aides-de-camp are this formidable?"

On the way to Windmill Village, Mo Xingchen sparred with Bogard, just as he had with Koshiro, correcting his sword-wielding habits. Before they knew it, they had arrived at Windmill Village.

Mo Xingchen and Garp entered the tavern where Makino was. As soon as they walked in, Mo Xingchen was stunned to see a graceful young girl standing behind the bar.

"Brother Mo, Mr. Garp!"

Makino greeted them happily upon seeing the two enter.

"Where's your grandfather?"

"My grandfather fell gravely ill two years ago and passed away."

Mo Xingchen gently stroked the girl's head and comforted her softly, "It's okay, you still have me, your brother."

"Mhm."

Makino threw herself into Mo Xingchen's arms, as if wanting to release all the grievances and sadness of the past two years since her grandfather's death. Mo Xingchen felt the clothes on his chest slowly getting wet. He didn't speak, just gently patted Makino's back.

When Makino finally calmed down, she looked up and said to Garp, "Mr. Garp, little Luffy is sleeping in the room. I'll go get him."

"Wait! Why is Luffy here!"

Mo Xingchen exclaimed in surprise.

"Big Brother Dragon entrusted him to me. He said he's also your brother and he has important things to do, so he can't take care of little Luffy. So... and Mr. Garp comes to visit Luffy every few months."

After hearing this, Mo Xingchen became furious. He grabbed Garp by the collar and roared, "What is going on with you Monkey family members! Makino is still just a child herself! How can you bear to torment such a young girl like this? How is she supposed to find a boyfriend in the future! Will she have to bring Luffy along when she looks for a boyfriend! Huh!"

Garp awkwardly wiped the spit from his face, forcing a smile, "Sorry, sorry, I forgot."

Makino was happy to see Mo Xingchen getting angry for her. It had been a long time since someone cared about her; it felt so good!

Smiling, she ran into the inner room and carried out Luffy, who was still sleeping!

Seeing Garp dotingly take Luffy and start playing with him, Mo Xingchen shouted with a dark expression:

"Bogard!"

After Bogard ran in, Mo Xingchen pointed at the little girl standing there grinning foolishly.

"My sister, have the soldiers on the warship come help prepare a feast for the entire village."

"Yes!"

Mo Xingchen picked up Luffy, handed him to Makino, and asked Garp:

"Where's Ace?"

"In Mt. Colubo."

"Lead the way."

"Oh, oh."

The two walked silently through the mountains. Garp, looking at Mo Xingchen's perpetually expressionless face, cautiously said:

"Um... Little Mo, please don't be angry anymore. Next time I see that brat Dragon, I'll beat him up severely for you."

Mo Xingchen sighed and slowly said:

"Actually, I'm angry at myself. When I was in trouble at first, Makino's grandfather took me in, and only then did I meet you, Uncle, in Loguetown. As a result, I only focused on my own enjoyment and didn't know how Makino managed all by herself these past few years."

Garp was clearly not someone who knew how to comfort people, so he began to recount stories that had happened to him in these mountains. Garp was talking about his childhood. Although they were just trivial matters, they did distract Mo Xingchen, who no longer dwelled on his own negligence.

"Hoo~ hoo~ hoo~"

As Mo Xingchen quietly listened to Garp tell stories, he heard the sound of the wind – the heavy and dangerous sound made by a rapidly moving heavy object, and it was aimed at him.

The next second, a long axe flew towards him. Mo Xingchen caught it casually, the handle fitting perfectly into his grip. Honestly, such an attack was beneath Mo Xingchen and Garp's notice.

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