Smack.
Garp casually shut the door, and a small shadow instantly fell over them, blocking out the sunlight outside.
"That's true, Shanks. What exactly are you doing in this old man's hometown?"
Standing one in front and one behind, Garp and Zephyr seemed to have surrounded the Red Hair Pirates, an inexplicable oppressive aura beginning to spread.
Every member of the Red-Haired Pirates sensed that something was wrong, their expressions turning serious.
First mate Beckman put a cigarette in his mouth, both hands already resting on his guns. Lucky Roux bit into his meat, his small eyes shifting beneath his sunglasses, while Yasopp raised his rifle as well.
Shanks looked left and right before finally shrugging helplessly and pointing outside the tavern.
"Just passing through, then I found some interesting people and an interesting village, so I decided to stay for a few days. If there's something to discuss, how about we go outside?"
If they started fighting here, Shanks was worried they would damage Makino's tavern.
Little Luffy blinked, looking confusedly at Shanks before looking at Garp and Zephyr.
"Gramps?"
Uta seemed to realize something too. She hurriedly put down her plate, not even having time to wipe the sauce from the corner of her mouth before rushing to Red-Haired's side.
"Shanks?"
Watching the increasingly tense scene, Makino, who had just brought over some drinks, opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something.
"Hahaha, a kid like you probably wouldn't lie. Hey, Garp, come sit down and introduce me to your hometown's liquor."
At that moment, Zephyr suddenly spoke. He had not come here merely to fight the Red-Haired Pirates.
"Oh, sure."
Garp walked over with a grin and no longer blocked the door. As the Navy's number one bruiser, he knew perfectly well that he was not as smart as his three old friends. Following orders and taking action was enough for him.
He carelessly sat beside little Luffy, scooping the foolish kid into his arms without caring about the sauce smeared all over him, then looked at Makino.
"Little Makino, bring Zephyr the best liquor in the tavern. Make sure it's so good he swallows his tongue with it! Luffy, this is your Grandpa Zephyr."
"Grandpa Zephyr?"
"Yes, Mr. Garp."
Seeing the atmosphere ease, Makino smiled and immediately went into the back to get the liquor.
Seeing this, the Red-Haired Pirates lowered their weapons as well, their expressions returning to calm.
"You're Admiral Black Arm, right? You know our captain?"
Beckman cautiously spoke, wanting to know why Zephyr and Garp had come.
"How should I put it? You could say we've met."
Zephyr swept his gaze over Red-Haired, and that single sentence shattered the composure on his face.
"Was it at Mary Geoise, perhaps?"
"Ahahaha, Mr. Zephyr, you must be joking. I'm just a small-time pirate. How could I possibly have gone to a place like Mary Geoise?"
Shanks waved his hands wildly, trying to laugh the subject away.
But the people around him knew him too well. Even Uta could tell he was lying, and she looked at Shanks with confusion.
After a moment of silence, Shanks sighed helplessly and gave Zephyr a look asking to speak in private.
Zephyr smiled smugly. This was the power of having read the script. He accepted the liquor Makino handed him and took a sip.
"Mmm, Garp, this does taste quite good."
"Hahaha, I told you!"
Garp looked delighted and asked Makino for several more plates of grilled meat. He had missed the taste of his hometown.
The atmosphere seemed to freeze up again. Shanks wanted to say something, but seeing Garp and Zephyr eating and drinking without a care, he felt that speaking first would put him at a disadvantage.
Just as he hesitated, the tavern doors were suddenly blasted open by a fierce gust of wind. The impact was even more violent than Garp's arrival.
"Oh? This tavern is pretty crowded today."
Higuma, with a cross-shaped scar on his forehead and arrogance practically written across his face, strolled inside. He swept his gaze around before settling it on the coats of justice.
"Marines? Heh heh heh, I never expected Marines to show up in a place like this."
Higuma, a mountain bandit, sneered and looked at Makino.
"Hey, tavern owner, looks like you've been making plenty of money. If you can afford to entertain Marines, can't you show me a little more respect too?"
Makino's face turned pale. "Mr. Higuma, please don't do this. Mr. Garp's hometown is Foosha Village. They only came home for a visit."
"Oh?" Higuma looked at the Garp Makino had mentioned, then laughed disdainfully again.
"No wonder. A rotten old man waiting to die, huh? Is that his grandson in his arms? That grandfather and grandson sure look equally stupid!"
"Hey! What are you saying?! Gramps isn't some rotten old man! His fists are really strong!"
Garp said nothing, but Luffy in his arms was the first to lose his temper, jumping up and shouting furiously.
Without a doubt, Luffy cared more about the important people around him than he did about himself. His grandfather might beat him all the time, but he would not let others insult him.
Garp merely glanced at Higuma and ignored him, continuing to seriously eat the grilled meat that had just been served.
Shanks, Beckman, and the others stared at Higuma in shock as well. Someone like this actually existed in Foosha Village!?
"Fists? Hahahaha!" Higuma laughed arrogantly. "How much strength can an old man's fists possibly have? Kids shouldn't talk in a place where people drink."
He ignored Luffy completely and walked over to sit at the bar.
"You should be grateful I'm in a good mood today and won't lower myself to your level. Tavern owner, bring out the liquor. My brothers and I are thirsty!"
Zephyr tilted his head. He had not expected to come across this scene so conveniently. His scheming mind immediately came up with a plan to teach the children.
"Um..." Makino looked troubled. "I'm sorry, sir, but there have been many customers today, and we've sold all our liquor. Is there anything else you would like?"
"Sold out!?" Higuma abruptly stood up, his face darkening. "What kind of tavern has no liquor? What are you doing, tavern owner?!"
"I'm sorry, I truly am." Makino had no response and could only apologize repeatedly.
"This guy..." Luffy and Uta clenched their fists at the same time, both looking indignant.
"Um." Shanks smiled helplessly and drew Higuma's attention. "I still have a bottle of liquor here. If you don't mind, you can have mine."
On a friend's turf, Shanks still did not want to start a conflict.
"Oh..."
Higuma turned his head toward Shanks, mockery once again filling his face.
"Isn't this a pirate? Drinking with Marines, too. Disgusting. No wonder I smelled that nasty stench of the sea the moment I came in."
"My liquor?" Higuma suddenly drew his sword. "Don't look down on me, brat. I'm Higuma, the man who's killed fifty-six pirates and has a bounty of eight million Beli!"
As the sword was about to smash into Shanks's head, Shanks seemed to have no reaction. Just as the blade was about to hit the Straw Hat, he quietly dropped into a seated position.
The tavern's atmosphere seemed to freeze. Everyone stared in disbelief at the suddenly violent Higuma.
Smack.
A large hand seized the swinging blade. Zephyr had appeared at some point, leaving Higuma unable to move.
"Huh? Huh?!"
Higuma looked at Zephyr and only then noticed that the shadow cast by the old man's muscles was nearly enough to cover his entire body.
He tried to yank his sword back in terror, but it was as though the blade had been caught in iron pincers. No matter how hard Higuma pulled, it would not budge.
Looking at Shanks, who had dropped onto his backside, Zephyr grinned.
"Kid, when someone comes to your friend's place and bullies them, hesitating and worrying about this and that will only make people think you're weak, not considerate.
What truly protects your friends at a time like this is making the trouble get lost swiftly and decisively!"
The lecture-like words struck Shanks, leaving the usually free-spirited man stunned.
Zephyr turned to Higuma, the smile beneath his sunglasses obvious. "You said your bounty is eight million, right?"
Higuma's face stiffened, and his entire body trembled. Words of surrender were already at the tip of his tongue.
With a bang, Higuma flew through the air the next second, shooting backward out of the tavern. Less than a second later, a continuous series of crashes rang out as all the mountain bandits were sent flying as well.
"Arrest them all and interrogate them. Those with crimes go to prison; those without crimes get handed over to the local kingdom."
"Yes!"
At Zephyr's command, the Marines rushed forward and tied up every unconscious mountain bandit.
"So cool..."
Luffy stared blankly at Zephyr, who was now overflowing with Haki and cutting a majestic figure, his eyes sparkling.
Even Uta, standing beside Shanks, looked at Zephyr with a face full of admiration.
Shanks got up, looked at the delighted Uta and Luffy, then at the relieved Makino, and slapped himself as if he had suddenly understood.
"I acted stupid again!"
Zephyr turned back to look at the excited Luffy and smiled inwardly. Children at this age liked this sort of coolness. It looked like he had performed well.
Zephyr strode back to his seat, and little Luffy immediately forgot all about Shanks and swarmed around him like a bee.
"Grandpa Zephyr, eat."
Zephyr laughed. Having a grandson felt pretty nice. "All right, Grandpa will eat... Wait!"
Zephyr stared blankly at the strange fruit with patterned skin that had been cut into pieces before him. Could this be...
"Blegh! Hey, Luffy, where did you get this thing?! Why does it taste so awful?!"
Garp covered his mouth, looking miserable.
Zephyr stared over in shock. The next second, Garp's hands stretched out with a smack and fell to the floor.
"Huh?!"
Everyone was stunned.
Before you continue