Exceptional Condition

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

The massive fortress at the center of the world stood silently, the giant words "JUSTICE" gleaming so sacredly under the sunlight.

All the Marines on the Dog Head's deck erupted in cheers—they were finally home!

"Justice, huh? Then... you, who claim to be justice, why did you become a lapdog of the World Government?!" Luo Sa's face flickered with a barely perceptible sneer. "That's a sickness. It needs to be cured!"

"What's wrong, Luo Sa?" Just then, Garp's voice rang out, startling Luo Sa.

He turned his head and saw Garp looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"Hmph, it's not like I've never seen Marine Headquarters in the newspapers. And every time I do, my mind always conjures up some guy holding a Rice Cracker!"

"Uh."

Garp chuckled awkwardly, naturally understanding that Luo Sa was talking about him.

"Forget it, it's all in the past. From now on, this is my home!"

Luo Sa didn't even glance at the embarrassed Garp as he walked toward Marine Headquarters.

In the Marshal's office, Sengoku was reviewing documents while listening to Garp's report on this mission.

Garp reported, "A whole ship of Rice Crackers has been successfully transported from Gourmet Island to Marine Headquarters. It's being stored now. You can go check the inventory."

Sengoku's face lit up with joy. He immediately called over a Marine, whispered a few words in his ear, and sent him off.

"Hahaha, if I go a single day without Rice Crackers, my mouth feels tasteless! For once, you actually came through!" Sengoku walked over to Garp and patted him on the shoulder.

"That whole ship... was all Rice Crackers?"

A cold sweat suddenly broke out on Luo Sa's forehead. In his past life, he'd always wondered how Sengoku never ran out of Rice Crackers. Now he finally knew the reason!

That was an entire ship full of Rice Crackers!

"Hey, who's this little kid?"

At that moment, Sengoku finally noticed Luo Sa standing behind Garp and looked a bit puzzled.

"Garp, I have a favor to ask. Will you help or not?" Garp's expression rarely turned serious.

Seeing Garp like this, Sengoku also grew solemn. He walked back to his desk and nodded at Garp.

He knew Garp well—whenever he wore that look, it meant something major.

"This kid is my grandson. I want him to join the Marines!"

Sengoku narrowed his eyes. Someone wanting to join the Marines, and the grandson of the Marine Hero at that—that was definitely great news!

But...

Sengoku turned his gaze to Luo Sa. From his height, he looked to be about one meter fifty, but his face... it was far too young!

This was clearly just a child!

"Garp, I recall your grandson is Luffy, right? When did you get another one?" Sengoku didn't answer directly, instead asking with a smile.

"Oh, this kid might not be my blood grandson, but he's better than one. So, are you going to agree or not?" Garp pressed on.

"Then... can you introduce me to your grandson?"

Garp nodded. "His name is Luo Sa. Portgas D. Luo Sa. He's a Zoan Type Bird-Bird Fruit: Seagull Form ability user. He's... he's... ten years old!"

"Ten years old? Ten years old! Garp, you want me to enlist a ten-year-old as a Marine?!" Sengoku immediately roared, spittle flying everywhere.

"Hmph, what's wrong with ten years old? He's my grandson, Garp's grandson! Even at ten, he could sweep through the entire New Recruit Camp!"

Seeing Sengoku's obvious refusal, Garp's hot temper flared up, and he roared right back at Sengoku without backing down!

The argument raged on until both were panting, neither able to convince the other.

"Hmph, I'll lay it out right here. If you don't agree, I'll take Luo Sa and storm the New Recruit Camp. I'll have him beat every last rookie flat, and we'll see where your face ends up!" Garp clenched his fist and started throwing out threats.

"Well... how about letting him join the Marine school for a while first?" Sengoku looked at Garp and fell silent for a moment before speaking.

A vein instantly popped on Garp's forehead. Clearly, Sengoku wasn't agreeing to let Luo Sa into the New Recruit Camp!

"Sengoku, I remember when Zephyr joined the New Recruit Camp, he wasn't fourteen yet. Marshal Kong came up with the idea to change his age. You can just change Luo Sa's age to fourteen too, can't you?"

Garp was as stubborn as ever, thinking it was that simple.

"Zephyr was an exception. He challenged the Elite Camp the moment he entered the New Recruit Camp, and his age wasn't far off from fourteen. That's why Marshal Kong made an exception!" Sengoku suppressed the anger in his heart and explained patiently.

"Oh? Is that so? Then it's simple. I'll just take Luo Sa to challenge the New Recruit Camp. As long as he sweeps through them, you change his age, and we're done!" Garp smacked his left palm with his right fist, pretending to have a sudden epiphany!

Sengoku: "Mmp, just look at this temper of mine."

"Huff, huff, huff!" Taking a deep breath, Sengoku's eyes darted as he spoke again: "No need to go through all that trouble. Just take Luo Sa for a test. If he meets the Elite Camp's standards, I'll let him join the Marines. Remember, the Elite Camp's standards!"

Garp thought Sengoku had finally relented and was overjoyed. He grabbed Luo Sa and rushed off to get his physical data tested, completely ignoring Sengoku's dark expression.

"Phew, finally got rid of that troublesome guy. But..."

"I said the Elite Camp's standards. Even if someone passes the Elite Camp exam and gets in, they're just an intern. They're not real Elite Camp members!" Sengoku felt a bit smug, mentally patting himself on the back for his cleverness. No wonder they called him the Wisest of the Wise!

Not long after, the door to the Marshal's office was kicked open. Garp stood there, holding a report card, waving it triumphantly at Sengoku.

Sengoku looked at the smug expression on Garp's face and suddenly felt a bad premonition surge in his heart.

He lunged forward and snatched the score sheet from Garp's hand.

Instantly, the words "meets Elite Camp standards" appeared before his eyes.

"Tell me, Garp, did you cheat? Did you use your fists to force the examiner to alter the scores?"

Sengoku roared at Garp, trying to mask the shock in his heart.

That was a child only ten years old!

"Well... the examiner this time was me."

Just then, a purple-haired figure walked into the office, with Luo Sa following behind him.

"Ze... Zephyr!"

Sengoku felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, too stunned to speak.

"Did he really achieve it?"

Sengoku was still somewhat uncertain.

Zephyr nodded, casting an appreciative glance at Luo Sa behind him, and said with a smile to Sengoku, "Let this kid come straight into my Elite Camp. I'll teach him personally!"

Sengoku was taken aback, slowly walking over to his desk to sit down.

"You two aren't conspiring to fool me, are you?"

Sengoku still couldn't believe it, to the point where Garp wanted to hit him!

"Then... one final test. Let him directly join this Elite Camp assessment, and if he enters the Elite Camp on his own strength, I'll make an exception for him."

"I think a ten-year-old Elite Camp member will be enough to shut those people up!"

Sengoku said gravely. Clearly, making an exception for Luo Sa meant he would have to bear a lot of pressure himself!

"No problem, Luo Sa is this old man's grandson. It's just an Elite Camp, nothing major!" Garp said, brimming with confidence.

He and Luo Sa had spent a total of half a month aboard the Dog Head. In that time, he had a clear understanding of Luo Sa's strength.

And with half a month left until the Elite Camp assessment, he could give Luo Sa an intensive training. That Elite Camp spot was as good as secured!

"Garp, don't be too careless. While there aren't many outstanding figures among this batch of recruits, a few monsters have emerged from the previous ones!" Zephyr warned his old friend.

"Besides, to enter the Elite Camp, you must place in the top three in the final ranking battle. Otherwise, you're just an intern!"

Garp said nothing in response, grabbed Luo Sa, and headed outside. He needed to start Luo Sa's training immediately. To be honest, he was feeling a bit anxious too!