Aside from Shimotsuki Village, I'd been in East Blue only long enough to send a batch of pirates to Base 16 and earn some startup money. The pirates must have been the ones who'd let the news slip.
I wasn't a pirate, and the man looking for me was Garp. I had no intention of joining the Marines, and even if he found me, he probably wouldn't force the issue.
If it had been someone else, I would've had to consider leaving before I brought trouble here.
Dunn was thinking, and so was Koushiro.
He watched Dunn walking quietly ahead, then glanced at his daughter, Kuina.
He'd worried that Dunn's arrival would make Kuina even more competitive and stubborn.
But now, it seemed things had actually turned out rather well.
Still, he wanted his daughter to live a peaceful life in Shimotsuki Village. It was the safest place for her.
After all, in this age of pirates, the seas were far too dangerous.
Unfortunately, Dunn didn't seem likely to stay in Shimotsuki Village for long.
If he could wait a few years, perhaps he could take Kuina out to see the world.
With Dunn looking after her, Kuina would be much safer.
After they returned to the dojo, Koushiro told the three of them to find something to do, then went back to his room.
"You want to use the power of a Devil Fruit to make up for the difference in your body—or, more specifically, your physical constitution?"
Dunn looked at Kuina, who was staring straight at him, and started walking outside.
Kuina was taken aback, then turned and followed him. Zoro came along too.
"Mm."
Kuina didn't deny it.
"Then don't you think relying on an outside power to improve your strength isn't pure swordsmanship?"
Dunn was a little curious.
He didn't care about that himself, but he knew that some people in this world had a very pure belief in the way of the sword.
"Why would you think that? It would still be my own power."
Kuina wondered why Dunn had said that.
"Doesn't a swordsman have to devote everything to the sword in their hand to reach a higher level?"
Dunn led the two of them into Shimotsuki Village. People called out greetings as they passed.
"So that's how you reach a higher level."
Zoro looked enlightened.
He hadn't given swordsmanship much thought at all. The most he'd done was remember something an old man had told him about swords not long ago.
"But it would still be my sword."
Kuina shook her head slightly.
Dunn wasn't wrong. Kuina also felt that using such a method was a bit of a shortcut.
But Dunn's appearance had shown her the gap between herself and a true monster.
Even Zoro had surpassed her in strength now, or so it seemed to her.
"If that's the case, I'll keep an eye out for one when I go to sea."
Dunn looked at Kuina, then smiled.
"Dunn, what about me? What about me?"
Zoro hopped around beside them.
"Not you."
Dunn shook his head. Zoro instantly bristled and lunged at him, only for Dunn to grab him by the collar.
Zoro struggled with all his might, but couldn't break free.
"Pfft!"
Kuina couldn't help laughing at the sight.
"I'll treat you two to something. Get whatever you want. Your senior's paying today."
Dunn waved a hand and tossed Zoro away.
"Then I won't hold back."
Zoro didn't approach Dunn again, choosing to turn his grief and anger into an appetite instead.
Shimotsuki Village had inherited some of Wano Country's customs, and of course, most of its cooking methods came from Wano Country too.
Kuina and Zoro didn't hold back at all. Dunn, meanwhile, bought a newspaper.
The publisher of World Economic News was a bold man who would report any news, no matter what it was.
The upside was that the newspaper let you keep up with the major events happening around the world.
As soon as Dunn got his hands on it, the front page caught his eye.
Three figures stood together in Marine uniforms.
[The Marines' Greatest Fighting Force]
Dunn narrowed his eyes as he read the headline.
Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji!
He paid for Kuina and Zoro's food while reading the report carefully.
Fleet Admiral Kong was about to step down, and Admiral Sengoku would take his place as Fleet Admiral. Meanwhile, the three Admiral candidates would all be promoted to Admirals.
As Dunn read the newspaper, he felt as if he were watching the history of this world unfold, and couldn't help smiling.
Yet his smiling gaze seemed to look down on everything.
Perhaps it was because of the angle at which he was looking at the paper. Or perhaps it was something else.
"Dunn!"
Kuina's voice came from beside him as she held a skewer of dumplings up to his mouth.
Dunn opened his mouth without thinking and bit one off. It tasted pretty good.
Foosha Village, East Blue.
Garp, dressed in civilian clothes, looked at Luffy, whose head was covered in bumps.
Clearly, Garp's Fist of Love had just landed on Luffy.
"Damn you, Shanks!"
Garp's voice was full of disapproval.
"You're not allowed to insult Shanks! I'm going to sea someday. I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!"
Hearing his grandfather insult Shanks, Luffy flew into a rage and shouted defiantly. Though perhaps he wasn't trying to defy anyone; he simply did whatever came to mind.
Garp was furious. He clenched his fist, ready to teach his grandson a lesson.
Buru buru!
The Den Den Mushi rang.
Garp lowered his fist, pulled out the Den Den Mushi, and answered. The snail's face twisted and changed, taking on the appearance of a man with a braided mustache and a seagull perched on his head.
"Garp, how's the matter I gave you coming along?"
Sengoku's voice came through.
"What matter?"
Garp asked automatically, then suddenly remembered. "Ahem. I'm still looking."
"Garp!!!"
Sengoku's roar came through the Den Den Mushi, making Garp instinctively hold it farther away.
"You bastard, what have you been doing back in East Blue? You think you're on vacation?"
Sengoku shouted again.
Garp looked a little embarrassed and scratched his face.
"No, no. I'm looking, aren't I? You know how big East Blue is. It's hard to find one person in a place this big."
Garp made excuses, but Sengoku knew his old comrade too well.
From the way he spoke, it was obvious Garp had been slacking off for a whole month and had even forgotten about the assignment.
A deep breath came from the other end. After a long pause, Sengoku spoke again.
"In that case, end the mission. You've probably seen the newspaper. You have to show up this time too."
"It's not like the old man has anything to do."
Hearing Sengoku's tone soften, Garp picked his nose with his left pinky and spoke nonchalantly. Sure enough, Sengoku exploded.
The ear-splitting roar made the young Luffy cover his ears, looking terrified.
What kind of monster was that?
He sounded even fiercer than Grandpa.
At the thought, Luffy quietly backed away, trying to sneak out of the room.
The moment he moved, he felt an unbearable pain on top of his head. He screamed and fell to the ground, clutching his head and rolling around. His Devil Fruit power couldn't protect him from this pain at all.
Perhaps this was partly why Monkey D. Luffy wasn't very bright.
Before you continue