Garp: Exposed? But It Doesn't Matter

"Is all of this true?"

Dunn pointed to the records on the wanted posters as he asked Old Komodo.

"Of course it's true. These are all accounts from the survivors. There was a village of over a hundred people, and only a few survived in the end."

Hearing Dunn's doubts, Old Komodo seemed to raise his voice a little, as if to prove his records were accurate.

"So a pirate who killed hundreds of people only has a bounty this small?"

"Don't ask me. The Marines issued the wanted poster."

Old Komodo shook his head.

Killing, looting, and robbing merchant ships were everyday business for these pirates. Sometimes an entire ship's crew would die when they ran into pirates. It was all too common.

"I can explain!"

Colonel Nezumi walked into the tavern, with Marines following behind him.

The tavern fell silent at once, and everyone turned to look at the Marines as they entered.

"Because he's weak."

"So bounties are based on strength?"

Dunn wasn't surprised by Colonel Nezumi's arrival. He had already sensed him coming with Observation Haki.

"That's one of the reasons!"

With that, Colonel Nezumi took a money bag from one of the Marines behind him.

"Four million Belly. This is your bounty."

Dunn glanced at the money bag and nodded. "If I catch other pirates, can I bring them here to claim their bounties too?"

Hearing this, Colonel Nezumi looked at the stack of wanted posters in front of Dunn, then nodded.

"Of course. If you catch these pirates, you can claim their bounties. But there's something else I want to discuss."

As he spoke, Colonel Nezumi sent the Marines behind him outside to wait, then sat down by the counter and ordered a beer.

"The Marines would like to invite you to join. If you agree, you can head straight to Marine Headquarters."

Colonel Nezumi said.

The moment those words were spoken, everyone in the tavern widened their eyes.

Marine Headquarters?

To these people, it was a legendary place. They'd heard it was on the Grand Line, where all the big shots in the Marines were stationed—including Vice Admiral Garp.

"I refuse!"

Dunn shook his head.

"Why? If you want to catch pirates, wouldn't joining the Marines be better? Then you wouldn't have to search for them yourself, and we could even provide you with a warship."

Colonel Nezumi sounded reluctant after hearing Dunn's refusal.

"Garp invited me last time too, and I turned him down. As for why..."

Dunn thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I hate the Celestial Dragons."

The tavern fell so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at Dunn in horror.

What unbelievable nerve—to mention the Celestial Dragons like that!

Colonel Nezumi's eyes widened too. He watched Dunn, his thoughts racing.

His gaze fell on the sword in front of Dunn. Then he remembered that Dunn might be a Devil Fruit user.

He'd probably lose if he tried anything.

So what should he do?

Pretend he hadn't heard.

"Haha... hahaha!" Colonel Nezumi gave a strained laugh. "So Vice Admiral Garp already invited you. In that case, just pretend I never said anything."

With that, Colonel Nezumi got up and left without lingering for a moment.

Watching Colonel Nezumi's retreating figure, Dunn looked away.

The tavern was still quiet. Everyone stared at Dunn in shock.

But he'd openly said in front of a Marine that he hated the Celestial Dragons. If they found out...

At the thought, everyone in the tavern hurried to their feet and left.

Old Komodo looked at Dunn with a pained expression.

If word got out, every last person here would be in trouble.

Dunn knew perfectly well what would happen after he said that. But he hated them, and that was that.

If he ran into a Celestial Dragon, he might really cut one down.

After all, he had only one fixed impression of this world: the Celestial Dragons were all bastards who deserved to die.

"Let's go!"

Dunn put the cost of his drinks and the wanted posters on the counter, grabbed the two bags, and left.

Colonel Nezumi returned to the Marine Base.

He immediately reported his meeting with Dunn, but naturally left out Dunn's remark about hating the Celestial Dragons.

After all, Dunn was right there. If he reported what Dunn had said, Headquarters would definitely order him to arrest the man. Then he'd have to face this Pirate Hunter, who might be a Devil Fruit user.

Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's office.

The office door was kicked open from the outside, and Garp strode in with his usual careless swagger.

"Can't you knock, you idiot?"

Sengoku had already been looking for an excuse to give Garp a hard time. Seeing this, his face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

"I just ran out of my senbei."

Garp paid no attention to Sengoku's anger. He walked up to the desk as if he owned the place, pulled open a drawer, and found the senbei Sengoku had hidden away.

He grabbed two bags, went back to a nearby seat, tore one open, and began crunching away.

Sengoku's eyelid twitched at the sight. Veins bulged on his forehead, and he looked ready to explode.

"You idiot, didn't you say you couldn't find that kid in East Blue?"

Sengoku glared at Garp. After taking several deep breaths, he finally spoke, sounding like he was here to call him to account.

"What kid in East Blue?"

Garp, who was eating senbei, froze. He spoke indistinctly, spraying crumbs as he talked.

"That Pirate Hunter, that kid who might be a Devil Fruit user."

Sengoku snorted.

Normally, this matter wouldn't have reached him. It wasn't important in the vast, complicated workload of the Marines.

But it involved Garp, so the report had been sent to him.

He'd seen that Garp had found Dunn and been refused, but Garp had reported that he hadn't found the man.

One of them was lying. So who was it?

It wasn't hard to guess.

"Ahahaha, Sengoku, you mean that kid."

Garp laughed, acting as if it didn't matter.

"Didn't you say you couldn't find him?"

Sengoku glared at Garp as he asked.

"It's all the same. The kid turned me down anyway."

Garp waved a hand.

"He can be invited again, you idiot."

Sengoku was at a loss for words.

"I could tell that kid had no interest in the Marines."

Garp thought of the young man who had said something about the Celestial Dragons. He waved a hand, looking unconcerned.

"Then how strong is that kid?"

Sengoku took several deep breaths, tamping down his temper before asking.

"I couldn't tell, but he's probably pretty strong."

Garp thought for a moment, then shook his head.

They hadn't fought, after all. But the kid had shown up as soon as he arrived, so he must have sensed him in advance—possibly with Observation Haki.

Anyone in East Blue who could use Haki wasn't weak, let alone a kid that young.

"Forget it. Go to East Blue again. That kid is at the 16th Branch now. Bring him back."

Sengoku gave the order.

"He doesn't want to join the Marines."

"But we can't let a Devil Fruit user run wild across the sea. And he's still young. If he becomes a pirate in the future, he'll be another headache."

"There are plenty of Devil Fruit users out at sea."

Garp stared Sengoku down, his neck stiff with defiance.

"The Marines' ideals can change his mind."

Sengoku's tone softened a little.

Garp froze at that, his expression turning helpless.

That kid hated the Celestial Dragons. In that way, they were a lot alike.

Join the Marines?

That kid would never agree.

Though they'd only met once, Garp could sense it clearly.

"I understand!"

Garp thought for a moment, then stood up.

"If you can't find him, don't bother coming back."

Seeing Garp get up, Sengoku said it without thinking.

"Really?"

Garp stopped in his tracks and spun around, his face alight with joy.

Sengoku slapped his forehead.

"No! Get back there and bring him here, right now."

Garp waved goodbye and left, looking disappointed.

Sengoku wore a helpless expression.

That guy!

"Charge, men!"

A pirate ship came hurtling down from Reverse Mountain at tremendous speed.

Fish-Man Arlong stood at the bow, looking wildly arrogant.

His ship was full of Fish-Men, all of them looking excited.

Arlong had painted a glorious vision for these Fish-Men: conquer East Blue, then return to the Grand Line and strike back. They were all fired up.

Reverse Mountain was the only way for ordinary people to reach the Grand Line. Pirates could either cross the dangerous Calm Belt or take Reverse Mountain.

There weren't many ways to return from the Grand Line to the Four Blues, either.

But the only option available to pirates was to wait for one of the rare reversals in the ocean currents. When it happened, the currents would change direction.

Only then could a ship sail from the Grand Line back to the Four Blues.