Several lively, chaotic days flew by, and Foosha Village remained the same as ever.
The sea breeze was gentle, and the tavern was bustling.
Makino had to prepare several times as much food every day. The meat was practically swept off the table the moment it left the kitchen.
Rouge was always at the door, watching the three boys come tumbling back from Mount Colubo, screaming the whole way.
Sometimes Ace carried a mud-covered Luffy on his back. Sometimes Sabo helped Ace along while Ace clenched his teeth in fury.
More often, all three collapsed outside the tavern, bruised and battered, shouting in unison that they were hungry.
Rouge sighed as she tended to their wounds.
Deep in Mount Colubo, meanwhile, every day looked as though Sea Kings had trampled through it.
Bang!
Boom!
Waaah!
Luffy's scream tore through the forest.
A moment later, he bounced away like a rubber ball, snapped three trees in succession, and plunged headfirst into a mud pit. Only his legs remained outside, kicking wildly.
Ace gritted his teeth and charged. His steel pipe crashed toward Garp's waist with something like the budding force of Armament Haki.
Sabo circled behind from the other side and jabbed his pipe toward the back of Garp's knee. They moved together with remarkable speed.
One kept him busy from the front; the other struck from the side.
At the same time, Luffy stretched an arm out of the mud pit and tried to wrap it around Garp's ankle.
"Gum-Gum Trip!"
Garp stood where he was in a loud, colorful beach outfit and a pair of flip-flops. He looked like he was on vacation.
Even with all three brothers coming at him, he didn't put down his bag of rice crackers.
"Too slow!"
Garp burst out laughing and lifted one