The Flower Capital was West Island's famous nickname. Because all four seasons coexisted on the island, with varying elevations between regions, countless flowers and exotic plants could be found here. Thus, the world called it the "Flower Capital."
City of Ten Thousand Flowers!
As one of the World Government's Affiliated Nations and the designated supplier of decorative flowers to the Celestial Dragons, the Flower Capital had enjoyed peace for a long time. Its people lived and worked in contentment, making it a rare peaceful island in the Great Pirate Era.
Ordinary pirates simply did not dare cause trouble on this island, and even those arrogant Supernovas were no exception.
They knew perfectly well that if they made trouble here, both the Marines and the World Government's intelligence agencies would hunt them down. There would be nowhere left for them to hide on the seas! Even if they fled back to the Four Blues, the Marines would swarm after them and execute them on the spot!
There was only one reason...
The flowers here were designated tributes for the Celestial Dragons!
Making such a huge fuss over flowers the Celestial Dragons liked seemed absurd, but it was hardly unusual.
The warship docked in the "Summer Region," one of West Island's four seasonal zones. Lush grass and blooming flowers flourished here, and the air carried nature's fragrance. Ivy covered the outer walls of the port buildings, verdant and vibrant. As far as the eye could see, brilliant green plants blended into the city in perfect harmony.
The Flower Capital, the City of Ten Thousand Flowers—seeing it once truly surpassed hearing of it a hundred times!
Splash!
The massive steel anchor was lowered by the winch, kicking up white waves. Amid the grinding of mechanisms, the deck by the railing began to shift and transform into a wooden staircase that slowly extended toward the moss-covered stone steps of the port.
Thunk!
A soldier operated the wheel, locking it into place. Then he saluted Garp. "Vice Admiral Garp, the stairs have been installed!"
"Mm. Inform everyone... form ranks!"
"Yes!"
The soldiers immediately sprang into action, straightening their backs and bringing their rifles level with their shoulders. They formed two columns and marched down either side of the staircase in step.
As a World Government Affiliated Nation and the Celestial Dragons' designated flower supplier, the Flower Capital held an exalted position on the seas. When a Marine warship under the World Government docked here, proper courtesy had to be observed regardless of rank.
For once, Garp had put down the doughnut he never let leave his hand. He was dressed neatly, and the Justice coat draped across his back was spotless, making him look exactly like an old man heading to a blind date.
Just as he was about to head down the stairs, Garp suddenly turned around and called out.
"Ron, come stand on my right!"
"Me?!"
Among the ranks of logistics soldiers, Ron pointed at his own nose and looked around, only to find everyone nearby staring at him with a tangled mixture of envy, jealousy, and admiration.
Logistics soldiers were not qualified to be among the first to disembark, especially when the person coming to greet Garp was the Queen of the Flower Capital, a true pinnacle of power! Being allowed to leave the ship alongside Garp represented Garp's trust and favor. A meteoric rise was practically within reach!
And besides... the position Garp had assigned him was the spot at his right hand, coveted by countless gifted elites!!!
The soldiers of Marine Headquarters all knew that ever since Garp defeated Rocks over thirty years ago and became the world-famous "Hero of the Marines," only one person had stood at his right side during serious occasions like this!
That was the current Marine Admiral, "Aokiji" Kuzan!
Perhaps there had been one other... Smoker, one of the Marine's rising stars who had been sent to Loguetown in the East Blue last year to serve as a gatekeeper. He was a Logia Smoke-Smoke Fruit User, and Ron had heard that he had also stood at Garp's right side then.
But that had only been in the East Blue, for a meeting with a local national leader while Garp happened to visit an old friend and brought Smoker along. Compared to the Grand Line's prestigious Flower Capital, the difference was like heaven and earth!
Even Major General Traine, the first mate who had mastered Two Types of Armament Haki and excelled in Rokushiki and swordsmanship, was currently standing on Garp's left. Garp's regard for Ron was self-evident from the honor he had granted him.
For a moment, countless soldiers instinctively held their breath and looked at Ron with reverence.
"Vice Admiral Garp, isn't this a little too soon?"
Traine was not jealous of Ron. By the time he had reached his current position, he had long seen through the notion of "talent." But Ron was still only a logistics soldier, and his strength was far from sufficient. Putting him at Garp's right side was somewhat inappropriate.
"It doesn't matter. I believe in the lightning brat."
"All right, if you insist..."
Traine stopped what he was doing and, like the other soldiers, turned his gaze toward Ron.
Ron, as a transmigrator, did not understand the significance behind it. He simply assumed Garp thought highly of him and wanted him to show his face outside, build up some recognition... Bringing a promising junior along to introduce him to other important figures was a universal form of looking after someone, no matter the world.
Since he had decided to join the Marines, even if it was only to grow stronger more effectively, connections and reputation on the seas were undeniably important! Grateful that Garp could do this for him, Ron stepped out of the formation and walked over with firm strides.
No matter what the upper ranks of the government were like, this atmosphere and these people were pretty good...
But his mouth showed no mercy as he smiled. "Is this really okay, Vice Admiral Garp? I'm just a logistics soldier!"
Garp glared with his old eyes. "Why are you talking so much nonsense?! You've got one second!"
Whoosh!
Crackle, crackle!
The moment his words fell, lightning flashed. Beside Garp, more than ten meters away, Ron appeared in human form with a twitching mouth. Then he gave a sly grin and whispered.
"I bet five Berry you don't dare hit me right now."
From where they stood, the crowd below was clearly visible. Besides the royal officials who had come to welcome them according to protocol, there were countless onlookers who had come to witness the glory of the Hero of the Marines.
"Why, you little..."
Garp immediately got angry. Traine's eyelids twitched wildly as he coughed. "Vice Admiral, it is time to depart..."
The joints of the hand gripping his sword hilt had turned white. If those two kept fooling around, he was prepared to be held accountable and sent to a court-martial—but he would absolutely draw his sword and cut them both down first!
As if he had remembered something, Garp snorted, ignored Ron, and strode forward, stepping onto the staircase first.
"All personnel... salute!"
Following the powerful roar, the soldiers raised their right hands to their foreheads in perfect unison. There was no rustling rhythm, only a single dull thunk. The hundreds of soldiers who had been standing still just moments ago all raised their hands at once, a sea of white without the slightest discrepancy. The sight was breathtaking!
Lining up to salute was not merely a display of respect for an Affiliated Nation. It was also how the Marines demonstrated their strength and strict discipline to the public, allowing ordinary people to feel safe amid the Great Pirate Era!
For a moment, countless citizens voiced their admiration, gaining an entirely new understanding of the imposing Marines.
"So those are Marine Headquarters soldiers? They're really different from the branch troops!"
"That's Vice Admiral Garp, the hero who captured Pirate King Roger!"
"Mom, Mom! I want to become a general when I grow up too!"
"Hehehe, then you need to eat properly and grow big and strong before you can join the Marines!"
Under the public's worshipful gazes, the three of them, led by Garp, arrived before the Queen of the Flower Capital, who stood in formation at the port.
"Welcome to the Flower Capital, everyone!"
The Queen gave a slight nod, her smile perfectly measured—not overstepping, not artificial, but warm and sincere.
Whoosh!
The other two silently saluted. Fortunately, Ron's reaction speed had been enhanced as a Rumble-Rumble Fruit User, or he would have made a fool of himself.
"Huh?"
As he withdrew his hand with cold sweat running down his forehead, Ron suddenly noticed something strange about Garp.
Garp did not dare look directly at the Queen of the Flower Capital. He casually scratched the back of his head and took a long while before forcing out a sentence. "Well... long time no see, Rosa."
The Queen of the Flower Capital was no longer young, nearly the same age as Garp. Though she knew how to maintain herself and still possessed considerable charm, the wrinkles on her face mercilessly gave her away.
She wore a magnificent gown adorned with green leaves and roses, along with a golden laurel crown set with an emerald the size of an eyeball. Her entire being exuded the lazy, noble, mature aura unique to a Queen. In her youth, she must have been a beauty who drove countless young men mad!
Seeing Garp's behavior, the Queen of the Flower Capital, called "Rosa," curled her lips. With the businesslike manner of an official reception, she raised her right hand covered by a thin gauze glove and waited for him to kiss it.
"It has indeed been a long time, Vice Admiral Garp."
Queen Rosa spoke slowly. "If I had not held a grand banquet for my seventieth birthday, I imagine I would not have seen you, Lord Garp, even once more before I died of old age."
Crack, crack...
Under Ron's subtle gaze, Garp, who had just bent down and had been so carefree and thick-skinned moments ago, instantly stiffened at a speed visible to the naked eye. Those muscles were so hard... Ron figured that even a knife could not pierce them now!
There was something going on!
There was definitely something going on!!!
The flames of gossip burned fiercely in Ron's eyes. Dragon's mother, Luffy's grandmother, Garp's wife—this was an age-old mystery that had troubled countless pirate fans!
Could the answer finally be revealed here?
Say a little more, Your Majesty! Expose that old bastard's dirty history!
Before you continue