Seeking Ace's Psychological Shadow Area

Ace rolled his eyes and ignored Garp's self-congratulatory ramblings. He looked at Bogard, who was sweating profusely, and said:

"Don't mind that idiot old man. Starting tomorrow morning, you'll teach Ace and Luffy to read, write, and basic life skills."

"Yes!"

"Relax, don't worry too much! I bought some children's books suitable for their age. They're in that pile over there. Just teach them using those."

As Garp spoke, he noticed that neither of them was paying attention to him. Instead, they were discussing things amongst themselves, completely ignoring him. He gritted his teeth and roared:

"Are you two brats listening to me or not! Don't ignore me! You scoundrels!"

After shouting, he raised his fist, ready to strike them both. Ace said with disdain:

"Listen to you? Ace is 7 years old now! He doesn't even recognize Belly, he doesn't know he has to pay when he buys something!"

The descending fist stopped instantly. Garp awkwardly scratched his head and looked away, nervously explaining:

"Yoho...Haha... Kids will naturally learn these things as they grow up, won't they?"

After hearing Garp's words, Bogard quickly took a step back, standing beside Ace and looking at his superior officer with the same disdain. It was clear that when it came to raising children, Bogard firmly sided with Ace's will!

Ace glanced in the direction of Ace and Luffy and saw the two boys dawdling and slacking off. He raised his hand and sent a few sword energies towards them.

"Hurry up!"

The sword energies grazed past their bodies. Feeling the sharp, lethal aura that could cut them in half at any moment, the pain receptors in their brains were deeply stimulated. Ace and Luffy, startled, yelled and started running wildly.

Garp, like a childish old man, sulked and ate donuts on the side. Bogard, meanwhile, looked at the children's books, contemplating how to teach them starting tomorrow. Ace leaned against a large rock, drinking juice, leisurely supervising Ace and Luffy, and occasionally sending a few sword energies their way.

And so, in the mornings, Ace and Luffy had cultural lessons with Bogard. In the afternoons, under Ace's supervision, they trained with the soldiers to build their bodies. In the evenings, they listened to Garp recount his glorious deeds.

However, by the afternoon, Ace had already pushed them to their physical limits, so they would fall asleep very quickly at night. Garp had clearly become a tool for telling bedtime stories.

Five days later, Ace gave Ace and Luffy a day off. After all, it was important to balance work and rest. He took the two little ones to town to shop and let them relax.

By evening, the three of them returned to the tavern, carrying bags full of purchases. They went to the bar and each ordered a glass of iced juice from Makino, waiting leisurely.

Garp then came over. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly noticed that both Ace and Luffy had large bumps on their foreheads. He asked:

"Did you two get into a fight?"

"No."

"Then what happened to you?"

Ace pointed at Ace and said honestly:

"Uncle hit me because I didn't have money."

Garp froze for a second. He saw that in Ace's small hand, he was clutching a few Belly.

Then he looked at the bags of children's toys, clothes, and other items. With his Monkey family's intelligence, he immediately understood.

"Duang~duang"

Garp punched Ace and Luffy on the head, laughing heartily.

Ace, with a bump on his head, held back tears and bravely extended his other small hand, saying to Garp:

"Give me money!"

Garp's expression suddenly turned sinister, like a final boss in a movie. He threatened the boy while also imparting life lessons:

"Those without strength have no right to demand anything from others!"

Ace, experiencing a "dine and dash" for the first time, stood there stunned for a long time, almost having his Conqueror's Haki prematurely awakened!

Then, he clenched his extended hand into a fist and looked at Garp with a fierce, childish gaze, saying firmly:

"Old man! When I defeat you, I still won't give you money!"

"Me too!"

"Yohohohoho, I'll be waiting for you~"

Ace, feeling immensely wronged, grabbed Luffy and left the tavern, not even having time to drink his juice. Garp didn't chase after them. Instead, he sat down next to Ace.

Makino came back from the kitchen with three glasses of juice. Seeing the empty stools, she asked doubtfully:

"Where are Ace and Luffy?"

"Bullied away by a certain unreliable grandpa,"

Ace said playfully, shrugging his shoulders.

"Yohohoho, right, you said last time that you've reached Admiral level. Do you know the advanced usage of Haki?"

"Mmm, I roughly know the direction, but I haven't fully figured out the specifics yet."

"You know me, I can't explain it clearly. Let's have a spar, and you can experience it yourself."

"Mmm, not today. I plan to head to Shimotsuki Village later to visit an old friend. Let's spar when I get back."

"Shimotsuki Village? The name Shimotsuki sounds familiar. Where did I hear it?"

Garp tilted his head and stroked his beard, racking his brain to recall.

"It's a swordsmanship family from Wano Country. Their ancestor was the Dragon-Slayer Shimotsuki Ryoma. The current head of the Shimotsuki family is also a very promising Great Swordsman. My Chun Jun was forged by his father."

"Oh, so it's that Shimotsuki. I thought the name sounded familiar."

Bogard, standing nearby, his eyes changed upon hearing the words "Great Swordsman." There was no helping it; Mo Xingchen's swordsmanship was too advanced for him to reach, so when he heard about a new Great Swordsman, he naturally wanted to witness it.

And not just any Great Swordsman, but a descendant of Shimotsuki Ryoma. Shimotsuki Ryoma! What swordsman on the sea hadn't grown up hearing his legends?

"Um... Vice Admiral Mo, may I go with you? I want to witness another Great Swordsman."

"You may."

Mo Xingchen agreed, looking at Bogard's expectant face. He then turned to Makino and said, "Little Pudding, I'll be counting on you to teach Ace and Luffy their cultural knowledge in the mornings for the next couple of days."

"Okay, don't worry, Brother."

"Then Bogard, go inform the soldiers to prepare for departure. We don't need many people, just enough to get the warship moving."

"Yes!"

With that, Bogard excitedly ran out of the tavern to gather personnel.

Since everyone had been at the port these past few days, no soldiers had been specifically assigned to guard the warship. It was as if Garp had given everyone a holiday. However, they still had to complete their daily physical training before they could have free time.

"Yo ho ho ho ho! Then for the next couple of days, I'll let those two brats properly experience their Grandpa's 'Iron Fist of Love'!"

Laughing heartily, Garp stood up and went out to find Ace and the others. Seeing this, Mo Xingchen could only silently apologize to Ace and Luffy in his heart:

I'm sorry! I can't control your grandfather, you two will have to fend for yourselves!