Garp's Request

Atlas is still the same as before...

Donghai Luoge Town Naval Base.

It's been almost five years since Atlas left. It's not a long time, but it's not short either. After all, Atlas, who is now 22 years old, has spent half of his life in this world in this small town. (The protagonist transmigrated here ten years ago.)

The Loguetown hasn't changed much; it's still the same group of people coming and going, and the architectural style remains the same.

However, it seemed that a small number of unfamiliar faces had been replaced by naval personnel at the base.

The navy is always on the front lines fighting Pirates, and war... how can it be without death!

Colonel's office at the base.

The owner here is still Colonel Randall, but although he is only in his fifties, his temples are already gray, and his face is still as iron-willed and resolute as before.

At that moment, Colonel Randall was puffing away on a cigarette behind his office chair. On the wall of the smoky office was a newspaper that looked a little yellowed, and through the smoke, one could vaguely make out that the newspaper was the World Economy News Paper.

Colonel Randall was rather relaxed at this moment, no, he had been quite relaxed for the past few years, mainly because for some unknown reason, Vice Admiral Garp had been heading to the East Blue. Of course, the specific reasons were not something a small branch Colonel like him could find out.

Since Zephyr's family was assassinated by Pirates, the information of the families of important officers at Marine Headquarters has been kept strictly confidential, and some have even been taken directly to Marineford for protection.

However, Randall didn't dislike this leisurely pace. So what if the East Blue was known as the Weakest Sea? Wouldn't it be better to have fewer naval casualties?

Glug glug~ Glug glug~

Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi on his desk rang, interrupting Randall 'Colonel thoughts. He picked up the phone casually. "Colonel Randall, the Marine Headquarters' warships will be arriving at Loguetown Port soon. We hope Colonel will make the necessary preparations."

"Yes!"

Randall said, biting his cigar.

Snap!

Who could it be?

Randall fell into deep thought. Could it be Vice Admiral Garp? But didn't he just come by recently?

Suddenly, Randall's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the newspaper on the wall, and an idea instantly sprouted wildly in his mind like weeds.

Could it be...?

The warship had just emerged from the Calm Belt.

The spacious deck was piled high with meat, which appeared to have been cut from the same creature.

Do you think I'm just born with bad luck?

Atlas looked at the Sea Kings limbs scattered all over the deck, a look of utter amusement and exasperation on his face.

"Huh? Why?"

Smoker's brain went blank for a moment, and he didn't quite grasp the meaning behind Atlas's seemingly random remark.

"Then explain this to me. I've only crossed the Calm Belt twice, and both times I ran into Sea Kings. Isn't that incredibly unlucky? By the way, is the Seastone embedded in the hull of our warships impure?"

Atlas, somewhat helplessly, extended his right hand and gestured the number '2'.

"... No way, Dr. Vegapunk from the Marine Science Unit is usually quite reliable."

Smoker was momentarily speechless.

This seems... a bit unlucky, but he was present both times, so who's really unlucky?

Smoker fell into deep thought...

"And Vergo, well done! You'll get a promotion and a raise when you get back."

Atlas turned to Vergo with an appreciative look and praised him, saying that Vergo had hunted down this Sea Kings, and as a superior, he should certainly reward his subordinate appropriately, even if it was just verbal praise.

Vergo appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was overjoyed.

He's taken another step closer to gaining the trust of the Navy's top brass...

At the port of Loguetown, Colonel Randall, the base's highest-ranking officer, was leading a group of naval personnel who were waiting.

Each person stood solemnly and respectfully; despite his suspicions, Randall dared not show the slightest negligence.

What if I guess wrong? That's Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, a very high-ranking officer!

On the watchtower, the soldier seemed to suddenly see something that surprised him, and then adjusted his binoculars again, trying to confirm what it was.

"Um?"

Atlas, who was some distance away, suddenly felt a gaze directed at him and looked in the direction of the gaze.

"Ah... Art..."

The scout was a little excited. There was no way he could mistake that face. He had gone to sea with Atlas to fight Pirates, something he had boasted about for a long time at the base.

We must report this to Colonel Randall immediately!

Ta-da!

The scout, his face flushed, rushed down the watchtower and shouted to Randall, "Colonel, it's Atlas!"

"Who did you say it was?"

As if afraid he had misheard, Randall asked repeatedly.

"It's Atlas! The person from Marine Headquarters is Atlas!"

"What?"

The eyes of the marines present nearly popped out of their sockets. Most of them had dealt with Atlas before, or at least heard of the legend of this naval monster. They never expected that the person from Marine Headquarters who came out to greet them this time would be him.

How old is he? Probably only in his early twenties.

Is this some kind of outrageous nonsense?! How are ordinary people like us supposed to survive?!

But then he raised his head with a hint of pride. After all, this young Marine Vice Admiral came from their Loguetown Marine Base. The Pirates in the East Blue are the weakest, but our navy is not!

"Call him Vice Admiral!"

Randall laughed and cursed.

His expression was filled with pride and smugness as he looked at the slowly approaching warship...

P. S. Just a quick pull, here's another chapter! (σ≧▽≦)σ

Chapter 127 Garp's Request

"Hahaha, it really is you, you brat! I didn't expect that after just a few years, you've become such a big shot in Marine Headquarters!"

Randall went to greet him with some excitement. Atlas's honor was so great that he, as his former superior, was also proud of it.

The ladder was lowered from the side of the ship that was docked. Atlas, wearing a pure white Suit, had his Justice Cloak billowing behind him in the wind. Smoker and Vergo followed on either side of him. Behind them, rows of solemn and dignified marines emerged from the ship, looking like elite soldiers from Marine Headquarters.

"Hey! Not bad, Smoker's back too!"

Seeing Smoker on board, Randall's smile deepened considerably.

These two former twin stars of Loguetown have finally grown up, and the two he had placed high hopes on are now important combat forces for Marine Headquarters.

"Colonel Randall of the Loguetown Marine Branch greets Vice Admiral Atlas! Welcome to our Marine Base!"

Suddenly, Randall straightened his expression and gave Atlas a standard military salute.

Despite their familiarity, Randall was a traditional old-school naval officer, and it was only natural for him to maintain appropriate respect for his superiors after the necessary pleasantries.

"Hey, hey, hey! Old man Randall, this is making me unhappy. Who are we to each other?"

Atlas's expression changed, and feigning some displeasure, he stepped forward, put his arm around Randall's shoulder, and smiled intimately.

"Oh, right, Vergo, you take the sailors on board for a rest. I'm going to catch up with my old superior. You come along too, Smoker!"

"Yes, Lieutenant Vice Admiral Atlas!"

Inside the Loguetown Marine Base.

Vergo and his group of soldiers had already begun their dinner party as arranged by Randall, while Atlas and Smoker had arrived at Randall's private residence.

The table was laden with food and drinks, but the most eye-catching dish was the Sea Kings Roast Meat, which emitted an enticing aroma.

Atlas, Smoker, Colonel Randall, and Major Wright were seated at the four corners of the table.

Five years have passed, Wright is still a major. Don't think that it's easy to get promoted in the Navy. The first thing is personal strength. This is a world with extraordinary military power. If you don't have the strength to match your position, you're just a sheep to be slaughtered.

Secondly, merit. Don't be fooled by Atlas's rapid rise in rank; it's because the wars Atlas participated in and the Pirates he captured were enough to offset any gaps in seniority.

Unless there is a major upheaval in the Navy, like after the Paramount War more than a decade later, when one of the Three Admirals was promoted and the other left, leaving two vacant positions with no one to fill them, Gion Tokikake's strength is still a bit lacking, so the only option is to recruit World Military Draft.

The situation is different now. Although there are still two fewer Admiral positions in the Navy, the three monster Vice Admiral are strong enough to take over the Admiral positions. It is only because the Five Elders deliberately suppressed them that this is the result.

"Without realizing it, Atlas, you've grown so tall."

"I still remember when you first came to the base. I personally recruited you. You were only this small back then."

Wright looked on with emotion, gesturing to show Atlas's height ten years ago. In just five years, Atlas had changed not only in height, but also in strength and demeanor.

"Haha, Smoker, you'd better step up your game! Don't let your strength be inferior to Atlas's, or your height be too short!"

Randall chuckled upon hearing this.

"..."

Smoker shook his head with a wry smile. His height was basically fixed at 209cm, which was quite different from Atlas's 2.8 meters.

"Alright, enough talk, let's drink until we drop tonight!"

Seeing that the atmosphere was warmed up enough, Randall raised his glass on the table and shouted loudly.

Atlas didn't refuse. With his current physical condition, it was impossible to get him drunk, not even if Smoker and the other two took turns.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

"Atlas... I'm telling you, I think the best decision I ever made was... recruiting you into the Navy!"

Wright, elbows propped on the table, cupped his drunken face in his hands and slurred a laugh.

The other two didn't look much better; their faces were flushed and their eyes were glazed over.

"Atlas and Smoker are arguably the most outstanding young men I've ever seen in my naval career... Oh? Sorry, I accidentally included Smoker."

Randall was equally eager to share his thoughts.

"Okay, okay, you're all right!"

Atlas, helpless, repeatedly agreed.

Smoker, that little devil, was quiet after getting drunk; he just lay there on the table, completely still.

"Huff... huff..."

Suddenly, a snoring sound came from the air, and Atlas looked in the direction of the sound.

Smoker!

A bunch of losers, and they even drank with me. I have to take you all home one by one today, what a hassle...

Thus, many naval soldiers who went out for a walk witnessed a strange scene.

Atlas had Colonel Randall and Major Wright tucked under his left and right armpits respectively, with Smoker, who was still snoring, slung over his shoulder.

It was late at night when Atlas returned to his lodgings, reeking of alcohol.

The night was pleasant, with a gentle breeze.

After washing up, Atlas was about to lie down on the bed to rest for a while.

Blue Blue~

Suddenly, a Den Den Mushi (a type of Den Den Mushi) rang in the pocket of the white Suit.

"Moshi moshi~ This is Atlas."

Logically, not many people should know his phone number, so who would visit him so late at night?