Not Wanting to Trouble Friends Means Solving Their Troubles for Them

Smack.

Garp casually shut the door, instantly casting a small shadow that blocked out the sunlight from outside.

"Indeed, Shanks. What exactly are you doing in this old man's hometown?"

Standing before and behind them, Garp and Zephyr seemed to have the Red Hair Pirates surrounded as an inexplicable oppressive aura began to spread.

Every member of the Red-Haired Pirates sensed that something was wrong, their expressions turning serious.

Beckman, the first mate, put a cigarette between his lips, his hands already moving toward his guns. Lucky Roux chewed on meat, his small eyes darting around beneath his sunglasses. Yasopp also raised his gun.

Shanks looked left and right before finally shrugging helplessly and pointing outside the tavern.

"Just passing through, then I ran into interesting people and an interesting village, so I decided to stay a few days. If there's something to discuss, why don't we go outside?"

If they started fighting here, Shanks was worried about damaging Makino's tavern.

Little Luffy blinked, looking at Shanks in confusion before looking at Garp and Zephyr.

"Gramps?"

Uta seemed to understand something as well. She hurriedly set down her plate, not even having time to wipe the sauce from the corner of her mouth before running to Red-Haired's side.

"Shanks?"

Watching the increasingly tense scene, Makino, the proprietress who had just brought over 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 this old man 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 grinned and walked over, no longer blocking the door. As the Navy's number one fighter, he knew full well that he was not as smart as his three old comrades, so obediently following along was enough.

He sat carelessly beside little Luffy, scooped the foolish boy into his arms, and ignored the sauce smeared all over him as he looked at Makino.

"Little Makino, bring this guy Zephyr the best liquor in the shop. Make it so good he swallows his tongue with it! Luffy, this is your Grandpa Zephyr."

"Grandpa Zephyr?"

"Yes, Mr. Garp."

Seeing the tension ease, Makino smiled and immediately went to the back to fetch the liquor.

Seeing this, the Red-Haired Pirates lowered their weapons as well, their expressions returning to calm.

"You're Admiral Black Arm, right? Do you know our captain?"

Beckman spoke tentatively, wanting to know why Zephyr and Garp had come.

"How should I put it? You could say we've met before."

Zephyr glanced at Red-Haired, and that single sentence shattered the composure on his face.

"Perhaps at Mary Geoise?"

"Ahahaha, Mr. Zephyr, you must be joking. I'm just a small-time pirate. Why would I ever go 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 that he was lying, and she looked at Shanks with a puzzled expression.

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 tastes quite good."

"Hahaha, told you so!"

Garp was very pleased. He asked Makino for several more plates of roasted meat, having grown a little nostalgic for the flavors of home.

The atmosphere seemed to freeze up again. Shanks wanted to say something, but seeing Garp and Zephyr eating and drinking as they pleased, he felt that speaking first would put him at a disadvantage.

Just as he hesitated, the tavern door was suddenly blasted open by a powerful gust of wind. With a boom, it was even more violent than Garp's arrival.

"Hoh, this tavern's pretty crowded today."

Higuma, with a cross-shaped scar on his forehead and arrogance practically written across his face, sauntered inside. He swept his gaze around before settling it on the cloak of justice.

"Marines? Heh heh heh, never thought there'd be Marines in a place like this."

As a bandit, Higuma sneered and looked at Makino.

"Hey, proprietress, looks like you're making quite a bit here. 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 act like this. Mr. Garp's hometown is Foosha Village. They only came home for a visit."

"Oh?" Higuma looked toward the Garp Makino had mentioned, then sneered again.

"No wonder. A decrepit old man waiting to die, and that brat in his arms is his grandson? This grandfather and grandson really look equally stupid!"

"Hey! What are you saying?! Gramps isn't some decrepit old man! His fists are really strong!"

Garp said nothing, but Luffy in his arms could not hold back any longer and immediately stood up to shout at him.

Without a doubt, Luffy cared more about the important people around him than himself. His grandfather might hit him all the time, but he could not let others insult him.

Garp merely glanced at Higuma and ignored him, continuing to seriously eat the roasted meat that had just been served.

Shanks, Beckman, and the others also stared at Higuma in shock. How could Foosha Village possibly produce someone like this?!

"Fists? Hahahaha!" Higuma laughed arrogantly. "How much strength could an old man's fists possibly have? Brats shouldn't talk in a place where people drink."

Completely ignoring Luffy, Higuma walked over and sat at the bar.

"You should be grateful I'm in a good mood today and won't lower myself to your level. Proprietress, bring the liquor. My brothers and I are thirsty!"

Zephyr tilted his head. He had not expected to run into this scene by such a coincidence, but his scheming mind immediately came up with a plan to teach the children something.

"Um..." Makino looked troubled. "I'm sorry, sir, but there are many guests today, and all the liquor has been sold out. Is there anything else you need?"

"Sold out?!" Higuma sprang to his feet, his face darkening. "A tavern without liquor—what kind of tavern is that? What are you doing, proprietress?!"

"I'm sorry. I'm truly very sorry." Makino had no answer and could only apologize repeatedly.

"This guy..." Luffy and Uta clenched their fists at the same time, their faces full of indignation.

"Um." Shanks smiled helplessly and drew Higuma's attention. "I still have a bottle here. If you don't mind, you can drink mine."

On a friend's turf, Shanks still did not want to start a conflict.

"Hoh..."

Higuma turned his head. When he saw Shanks, a mocking look filled his face again.

"Isn't this a pirate? Drinking with Marines, huh? That's disgusting. No wonder I smelled that nasty fishy pirate stench the moment I came in."

"Drink your liquor?" Higuma suddenly drew his blade. "Don't look down on me. I'm Higuma, the man who killed fifty-six pirates and has a bounty of eight million Beli!"

As the blade was about to smash into Shanks's head, Shanks seemed to have no reaction. Just as it was about to strike the Straw Hat, he secretly dropped down to the floor.

The tavern's atmosphere seemed to freeze, everyone staring incredulously at the suddenly violent Higuma.

Smack.

A large hand grabbed the swinging blade. Zephyr had appeared at some point, leaving Higuma unable to move.

"Huh? Huh?!"

Higuma looked at Zephyr and only then realized that the shadow cast by the old man's muscles could almost cover his entire body.

He tried to yank his blade back in terror, but it seemed caught in an iron vise. No matter how hard Higuma pulled, it would not budge.

Looking at Shanks sitting flat on the floor, Zephyr grinned.

"Kid, when someone comes to your friend's place and bullies them, if you keep hesitating like this, people will only think you're weak, not that you're considering the bigger picture.

The real way to protect your friends at a time like this is to make trouble get lost swiftly and decisively!"

Those instructive words struck Shanks, leaving the free-spirited man stunned.

Zephyr then looked at Higuma, the amusement beneath his sunglasses obvious. "You said your bounty is eight million, right?"

Higuma's face stiffened, his entire body trembling as pleas for mercy reached his lips.

With a bang, Higuma flew through the air the next second, shooting backward out of the tavern. Less than a second later, a series of crashing sounds rang out as all the bandits were sent flying outside as well.

"Arrest them all and interrogate them. Those who are guilty go to prison. Those who are innocent will be handed over to the local country."

"Yes!"

At Zephyr's command, the Marine soldiers rushed forward and tied up every unconscious bandit.

"So cool..."

Luffy stared blankly at Zephyr, who now radiated Haki and stood tall and mighty, his eyes sparkling.

Even Uta, standing beside Shanks, was the same, looking at Zephyr with a face full of admiration.

Shanks climbed back up, looked at the satisfied Uta and Luffy, then at the relieved Makino, and slapped himself as if he had just realized something.

"I was being stupid again!"

Zephyr turned back to look at the excited Luffy and laughed lightly to himself. At this age, children liked this sort of coolness. It seemed his performance had gone well.

Zephyr strode back to his seat. Little Luffy immediately forgot all about Shanks and buzzed around him like a bee.

"Grandpa Zephyr, eat this."

Zephyr laughed. Having a grandson felt pretty good. "All right, Grandpa will eat... Wait!"

Zephyr stared blankly at the strangely patterned fruit with its skin divided into sections. Could this be...

"Blech! Hey, Luffy, where did you get this thing?! It tastes awful!"

Garp covered his mouth, his face full of discomfort.

Zephyr stared over in shock. The next second, Garp's arms snapped out long and fell to the floor.

"Eh?!"

The entire tavern was stunned.