First Arrival at Marine Headquarters

Time flew by in training, and the warship was about to reach Marine Headquarters.

On the dog-headed prow, Zhong Hao and Garp sat cross-legged side by side.

This spot had originally been Garp's personal seat, like a dragon throne to an emperor. Anyone who dared sit there would get a brutal beating. Yet after Zhong Hao sat there once, Garp showed no dissatisfaction at all. He merely pulled Zhong Hao over and proudly told him about the view from that spot, leaving the Marines utterly stunned.

Still, that suited Garp's character. He was always especially tolerant toward family. There was nothing he would not share.

In the distance, a massive island came into view. Soldiers patrolled back and forth through the harbor, rows of warships were docked in perfect order, and cannon after cannon bared their fangs.

"Teacher, if war really breaks out, are ordinary soldiers useful? Wouldn't a single burst of Conqueror's Haki knock them all out? Even without Conqueror's Haki, when powerful people fight, the earth splits and the ground collapses. Are ordinary soldiers really useful?" Zhong Hao asked Garp. This was a question he had had in his previous life.

"First, Conqueror's Haki has a limited range and consumes a great deal of mental strength, making you tired. That would be very disadvantageous for the battle afterward. So generally, kings fight kings, generals fight generals, and soldiers naturally fight soldiers. Besides, who didn't climb up step by step from weakness? Truly formidable pirates do not go around pillaging everywhere; everyone has their own restraints. But ordinary pirates are extremely numerous, far outnumbering the Marines, and they cause the greatest harm to civilians. That is where the lower-ranking Marines come in," Garp explained.

"Teacher, I don't want to officially join the Marines," Zhong Hao said after hesitating for several seconds. It was something he had thought about long ago.

"What nonsense! Have you forgotten what I said before? My disciple must be a Marine. That cannot be changed." Garp instantly became serious, his expression exceedingly stern as he looked at the disciple in whom he had placed such high hopes.

Zhong Hao's talent could only be described as shocking. Though young, he had a steady temperament. Garp had always seen him as the hope of the Marines. Now, hearing that this disciple did not want to be a Marine, he could no longer remain calm. If someone like this became evil, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"My word is a promise. I would rather die than go back on it. What I mean is, I want to be a Marine without a Marine identity," Zhong Hao hurriedly explained. Honestly, he had been a little startled. He had never seen Garp like this before. Though he often received Garp's 'Fist of Love,' that was merely Garp's way of expressing affection. The fact that only Luffy and Ace received it said a great deal. Garp truly treated him like one of his own children.

"So you don't want to become a pirate! But what is a Marine without a Marine identity?" Upon hearing that Zhong Hao did not intend to rebel, Garp's expression eased. He scratched the back of his head, looking utterly confused.

"Marines have to obey their superiors' orders, right? Could someone like me stand being ordered around? Even if I worked my way up to Fleet Admiral, the World Government would still be above me," Zhong Hao said, seemingly not answering the question.

Garp recalled Zhong Hao's Conqueror's Haki and immediately understood. Wasn't he the same? He treated the World Government's orders like utter bullshit and did as he pleased. Unless he was willing, even Sengoku had to ask him as a friend if he wanted him to do something.

Zhong Hao continued, "The Marines have many rules and regulations, right? There are many things they cannot do, all kinds of restrictions. Above Marine regulations are the World Government's rules. Isn't that the same as tying up justice's hands and feet?"

Garp nodded in deep agreement. Whenever he did something 'out of line,' Sengoku would come nagging at him endlessly, though he never listened.

"If I don't have a Marine identity, then I can do things the Marines find inconvenient to do. For example, if the World Government orders a criminal guilty of monstrous crimes to be released, the Marines can only obey even if they are unwilling, despite it violating justice. But I can directly kill that criminal. Does that mean what I do is not justice? That it is evil? It's not as if I plan to become a pirate."

Zhong Hao only hoped Garp would understand. Only then could he persuade Sengoku through him.

Garp smacked his fist into his palm and said in sudden realization, "So that's how it is. But it still won't work."

As expected of someone so stubborn. He was exactly like the future Luffy. Reasoning with him was impossible; he was the type who only responded to gentle coaxing.

Zhong Hao slapped his forehead and said helplessly, "Those with Conqueror's Haki are most characterized by supremacy and selfhood. Teacher, you know the nature of my Conqueror's Haki. You can maintain your independent self within the Marines and disobey orders, but I can only overturn Marine Headquarters. In the end, I will either die or become a Marine traitor."

Those words struck Garp right in the heart. He thought of his proud son, Dragon. Dragon had left the Marines and was not hunted to death, yet he had become the so-called world's most dangerous criminal.

Pressing his advantage, Zhong Hao said, "Besides, Marine is merely a title. The Marines uphold absolute justice. Then conversely, anyone who upholds justice can be a Marine, whether or not they join the Marine establishment."

Garp fell silent for a long time. In the end, he lowered his head and sighed. "We'll do as you say. As long as you are truly just, this old man will support you. But I will keep watching you."

Seeing the happy smile on Zhong Hao's face, Garp placed a hand on his head and rubbed his shoulder-length messy hair, his gaze somewhat complicated. What truly made him reach this decision was the ugly title of 'Marine traitor.' He did not want his beloved disciple to be branded with such a vicious name. Besides, his disciple's words were not without reason.

After the ship docked, Garp brought Zhong Hao to the Fleet Admiral's office. Sengoku was the only person in the office. Well... aside from a sheep eating paper. Zhong Hao casually sat down on the sofa, while Garp rummaged through cabinets and drawers.

Sengoku carefully examined Zhong Hao, then glanced at Garp. "This is the disciple you took in? He's so young. Don't tell me he's actually a grandson you've been secretly hiding."

Garp poured a bag of rice crackers he had just found into his mouth. Hearing that, he immediately crumpled the bag into a ball and threw it at Sengoku's head, baring his teeth and rolling his eyes. "Have you ever seen someone take his own grandson as a disciple?"

"Others wouldn't, but you would definitely do it." Though the bag hit him in the head, Sengoku did not get angry. The two had been comrades and brothers-in-arms for many years. If it had been anyone else, he would have blasted them with a Buddha Shockwave long ago.

"He's only seven, isn't he? He's too young. How about sending him to the Headquarters recruit training camp first and letting Zephyr train him? Once he grows a few years older, he can officially be added to the ranks," Sengoku said to Garp.

At the appropriate moment, Zhong Hao said, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Teacher and I discussed this before. I will not be added to the Marine establishment."

Sengoku's expression abruptly changed, and he said sternly, "Garp, what's going on?" Sengoku could not be blamed for being sensitive. Garp had a long history of outrageous behavior, and then there was Dragon's precedent.

Zhong Hao spoke first, selectively recounting what he had said earlier.

"A Marine without a Marine identity?" After listening to Zhong Hao's explanation, Sengoku narrowed his eyes slightly. He was an intelligent man; otherwise, he would not be known as the Wise General.

Marines were soldiers, after all. Soldiers did not distinguish between right and wrong when carrying out orders; they merely obeyed. Yet some matters truly violated the Marines' ideals of justice, making the Marines, who always acted in justice's name, feel as if they were slapping themselves in the face.

Sengoku was tempted by Zhong Hao's proposal. As long as Zhong Hao's heart remained with justice and the Marines, Sengoku would not be as dogmatic as Akainu. More importantly, Zhong Hao was Garp's disciple. He trusted Garp without reservation.

"Garp, what do you think?" Sengoku asked Garp for his opinion again.

"Do as he says. This old man will trust his disciple at any time," Garp said decisively.

Sengoku then asked Zhong Hao, "Did you come up with this yourself?"

"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Zhong Hao answered firmly.

"You need to think this through. Without the protection of a Marine identity, you will be in great danger. Moreover, some things you do may anger the World Government. They may order the Marines to issue a wanted notice for you. At that time, while the Marines can try their best to avoid pursuing you, the World Government is full of powerful people and also has the CP intelligence network. It will be very difficult for you to escape."

Sengoku's expression was extremely serious. Since Zhong Hao was Garp's disciple and was also on their side, Sengoku naturally felt a degree of concern for him.

"This is already the best outcome. If I joined the Marines, things would likely develop in an even worse direction," Zhong Hao affirmed once more.

Without the protection of a Marine identity came freedom from its shackles. For a man who could travel through different worlds and disappear intermittently, this result could not have been better.

"Then from today onward, you will be an external member of the Marines. You will not take orders from anyone, including me. But I will give you a Den Den Mushi that will only contact me. If the Marines have something inconvenient to handle, I will notify you, and you may choose whether to do it or not. Of course, that depends on your strength and age being sufficient. I would never send a seven-year-old child onto the battlefield."

Sengoku quickly made his decision. He even considered whether this model could be expanded. Though he had only recently become Fleet Admiral, he could clearly sense the World Government interfering more and more in Marine internal affairs. Many useless weaklings had even taken important positions such as Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral, occupying key departments.

He was loyal to the World Government, but he was also the Fleet Admiral—the person who should most uphold Marine justice. Therefore, he had to prepare for the future.

Zhong Hao could not help smiling. This satisfied him without putting Garp in a difficult position. He simply could not imagine himself joining the Marines and accepting orders. He would probably slice the officer giving him orders into minced meat within days.

Call it unruliness or pride, but that was his nature. Perhaps that was one of the reasons he had awakened Conqueror's Haki so quickly.

None of this had needed to be so troublesome. He had always admired personal strength—the power for one person to sweep across the universe.

But while Garp treated him as family, he had also accepted Garp, placing him among his loved ones alongside Kurenai Yuhi, Ji Mei, Tang Ze, and Da Ye. For that, he was willing to expend his mind and effort.