Garp left, and the people at the dock also dispersed, carrying the news with them. Rebecca took Granny Tsuru to pay her respects at the old woman's grave, then left as well.
Vic reflected on what he had gained and lost in the battle. His swordsmanship had grown stronger, his moves were better suited to actual combat, and he had eliminated many flashy but impractical movements.
His Observation Haki had also improved when it came to quick reactions, and he had developed new uses for his fruit ability. He could now apply the ability to the blade of his sword.
From now on, if he suddenly used his fruit ability to accelerate when swinging his sword, it would really catch people off guard and be difficult to defend against. Even old man Garp had nearly suffered for it today. He had gained quite a lot, though his face hurt a little.
"I gained quite a lot. Looks like fighting strong opponents is one way to improve quickly!" Vic said with some emotion.
"It's a shame I didn't get to experience old man Garp's Armament Haki. Do I really have to go to the recruit training camp to learn it? Old man Garp nearly wrecked my sword today. I really need to use swordsmanship together with Armament Haki, or I still won't be strong enough to deal with those renowned experts."
After thinking for a long time, Vic went into the forest and brought back a wild beast. He would be hosting Granny Tsuru that evening. He hadn't expected Rebecca's family to have such a connection with Granny Tsuru, or that he would get aboard Garp's ship so smoothly. Had heaven arranged everything about his transmigration?
There was still plenty of time. Akainu and the other two were still Vice Admirals, so if Vic worked hard, he still had a chance of becoming a Marine Admiral ahead of them. When the time came, one of them might get pushed out.
First, he had to become a Vice Admiral. Then there had to be an opening for promotion to Admiral. Finally, his personal strength had to reach the required level. Only then could he become a Marine Admiral.
Vic believed that with his strength, becoming a Vice Admiral would be no problem. The main thing was to accumulate military merit. After that, he only had to work on improving his combat strength and wait for an Admiral position to open up.
Rebecca and Granny Tsuru returned that evening, both with slightly red eyes. Vic didn't say much. He had already prepared dinner. Tsuru knew that Garp had invited Vic, so she didn't offer him an invitation herself. The three of them finished the meal without any fuss.
Granny Tsuru slept at Rebecca's house that night, while Vic went back to his own home to rest.
While waiting for Garp, Vic didn't stay idle. He wandered all over the island, asking people about rare metals and ores. He wanted to forge two better swords. Without Armament Haki, he scarcely dared to use his full strength, and that would hold him back for now.
Fortunately, he still had time. As long as he forged them before graduating from the Elite Training Camp, that would be fine. Once he joined the Marines, it should be easier to find rare metals, or even meteorite material.
He made a circuit of the island but found no rare materials. On second thought, that made sense. If such fine materials were so easy to find, there wouldn't be so few Famous Swords.
Over the past few days, Rebecca had taken Granny Tsuru sightseeing all over the island to relax. Out of her uniform, Tsuru looked like an ordinary old woman, wearing a kindly smile as she sampled the island's food and admired its different scenery.
Vic didn't dare openly develop his Devil Fruit ability, so he could only let his imagination roam while meditating. He thought through everything related to speed, but he had eaten the fruit only a short time ago and still needed to build up his ability. He could now apply speed to external objects consistently. His darts were exceptionally fast now, and they would be another means of attack in the future.
Vic didn't know the limits of the Speed-Speed Fruit. If he could increase speed a hundredfold, the possibilities would be unimaginable. As long as he was fast enough, what did it matter if Katakuri had Observation Haki with Future Sight? Would Katakuri be able to react in time?
He would be hit before he could use Armament Haki, or he might want to dodge but be unable to evade the attack. At that point, Future Sight would lose its usefulness. It would still come down to whose Armament Haki was stronger and lasted longer, and whose attacks were stronger and more relentless. His opponent could only defend passively, while Vic could choose to fight or retreat.
The More-More Fruit, for example, could enlarge objects a hundredfold and increase speed a hundredfold as well. His Speed-Speed Fruit was a bit like an inferior version of the More-More Fruit.
But the More-More Fruit's ability seemed to work only on objects, which the user had to touch. It had no effect on the user or other living beings, which greatly limited the fruit's ability.
His Speed-Speed Fruit ability, on the other hand, could be used on himself, and he still didn't know its limits. It was too early to call it an inferior fruit.
A week later, Garp finally returned, and Vic was about to leave the island. He wondered aloud whether he would ever have a chance to come back.
Of course, it would be best if he never returned. He was a Marine, and catching pirates was his duty. If he offended those pirates and they learned where he was born, the island would be in danger too.
There was Chinjao, who couldn't beat Garp and took revenge on his grandson instead. And Golden Lion, who had actually wanted to destroy the entire East Blue to get revenge on Roger. Zephyr went even further, wanting to destroy the New World to get revenge on pirates.
So Vic probably wouldn't come back. He had also warned the mayor not to publicize the two of them and to keep a low profile from now on.
"That brat Dragon disappeared again after bringing Luffy back. He'd better watch out for my Fist of Love when I catch him," Garp complained when he saw Tsuru.
"Luffy? Monkey D. Luffy? Is that your grandson's name?" Tsuru asked.
"Hahaha, yes. My grandson is really adorable. I'm definitely going to train him into an outstanding Marine someday, hahaha." Garp laughed carefreely again, seemingly less concerned about his son.
"Where's that kid Vic? We're leaving for Marine Headquarters now. Where is he?" Not seeing Vic, Garp asked Tsuru.
"They went to say goodbye to the people in town. They'll be here soon," Tsuru said calmly.
Before long, Vic and Rebecca appeared in their line of sight, followed by a sea of people who had all come to see them off. They were all gratified to know that Vic and Rebecca had become Marines, though the island's safety would no longer be assured.
Vic had spoken to Mayor Andre about it. Relying on others all the time was no long-term solution; they had to become stronger themselves. He told the mayor to seek out the Marines at the base and ask them to help train the security team. Andre had no choice. Their protectors were leaving, so that was all he could do.
Vic and Rebecca boarded Garp's flagship, and the Dog-Head Warship slowly left the dock. The two waved to the crowd on the dock. After this parting, they didn't know when they would have a chance to return. Perhaps in twenty years...
Garp's warship was very safe. Almost no pirates dared come looking for death. The ship occasionally stopped at islands to pick up outstanding Marines recommended by the branches for further training at Marine Headquarters.
They also went to Loguetown. Vic walked around the island but saw no sign of Smoker. He supposed Smoker had already gone to Marine Headquarters. Vic had originally planned to recommend Smoker, but since he didn't see him, he simply looked around, bought a few things he needed, and left.
The Dog-Head Warship took the route over Reverse Mountain. At this time, Seastone technology was not yet very advanced. Vic saw the grandeur of the Red Line for the first time. It soared straight into the clouds, its top nowhere in sight.
Riding the Knock Up Stream, the warship rose above the clouds. The temperature was very low there, and the spray immediately froze into ice crystals that fell back into the water. It was as thrilling as a roller coaster, and some of the recruits were nearly scared into wetting themselves.
Vic calmly admired these masterpieces. Were they man-made? Or the work of nature's mighty forces? He wasn't strong enough yet to pursue these secrets, but he felt the arrangement was very strange, far too deliberate. Of course, Oda had designed it that way, but how had it come about within this world?
Beyond Reverse Mountain lay Twin Cape. Vic didn't see Crocus and didn't know where he had gone.
The warship didn't stop and sailed straight past. Vic kept his Observation Haki active the whole time but did no other training, instead admiring the scenery along the way. For once, he was finally passive and didn't have to take the initiative to think about what to do. Others naturally handled the running of the warship, leaving him free to sightsee or train, and someone prepared his food as well. He was quite comfortable.