When the three people and six beasts returned to the Isshin Dojo, it still caused the apprentices to exclaim in surprise. These kinds of wild animals were the slipperiest in the forest, and ordinary hunters had a hard time catching them. Otherwise, such delicious wild animals would have been caught long ago.
It's quite amazing to see them obediently following behind the three of them without any fear of humans. I wonder how they do it, but no one is going to explain it to them.
The six beasts lived their lives in the happiest time, without any pain. Their last moments were filled with beautiful memories arranged by Vic. They were among the happiest beasts in that forest.
When the meat was served, Kozaburo felt that the wild animals tasted much better than he remembered, which puzzled him greatly. He didn't know if the chef's skills had improved or if his memories had faded, but the taste of the other ordinary vegetables hadn't changed much.
This time, it wasn't Vic who cooked. Only Vic had a guess that the meat tasted better because it might be related to the animals' feelings before they died, but this guess was too superstitious, so Vic didn't say it aloud.
Vic stayed at Isshin Dojo for one night and then left Kuina alone. He was going to witness Luffy's historic Luffy the sea, and there was no need to take Kuina with him at this time. It was more important for her to reunite with her family for a few days.
Vic was keeping track of the days. He left Shimotsuki Village on May 5th, which happened to be Luffy's birthday and the day he turned seventeen and set sail.
Luffy is a man of his word; he will never change his decision unless a major event occurs. If he says he'll set sail at seventeen, he'll set sail on that very day, not a day earlier or later.
Given Vic's travel speed, he could reach Shimotsuki Village and Foosha Village, both located in the East Blue, in no time, so setting off on the same day was perfectly feasible.
Although Vic wanted to witness the historic moment of Luffy setting sail, he didn't want to appear in the open. However, when he emerged from his hiding place, he found two familiar figures there. Sure enough, the eyes of the strong are all similar; the best hiding spots are universally acknowledged, so they all gathered here.
"Stop talking nonsense. As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, I'm going to get beaten up, and you, as a pirate, won't escape it either. Don't be too happy yet!"
Dragon spoke with a face full of resentment. Why did his old man beat him every time they met? He couldn't understand it. Was he not his biological son?
There are specific moments when Garp beats up Dragon; the significance of beating him before and after a certain point is different, and that point is when he leaves the Navy.
Garp beat him up before he left the Navy in order to train and cultivate him, so that he could become an excellent marine more quickly.
The reason I beat him up after he left the Navy was simply because I didn't like him. He gave up a promising future in the Navy to join the Freedom Fighters to resist the World Government's interference in other countries' internal affairs? And later he even founded the Revolutionary Army, an organization specifically to oppose the Celestial Dragons? How could Garp, Hero of the Marines, think of that? Naturally, he would beat him up every time he saw him!
However, after communicating with Vic a few times, Garp came to a change of heart. He thought it would be better to overthrow such a brutal World Government. He was ashamed of his title as Hero of the Marines and shouldn't have saved those Celestial Dragons at God Valley.
The old man now feels that the Revolutionary Army isn't so bad, but whenever he sees Dragon, his fists itch, and he unconsciously starts punching Dragon on the head. It's probably because he's punched him too many times in the past, and his body has developed a conditioned reflex, which can't be changed overnight.
"Hahaha! No way, how could the old man bear to beat me, right, old man?"
Back when he was on the Dog-Head Warship, Vic did often get beaten up by Garp, but that was all to help him get used to the effects of Conqueror's Haki on his mind and improve his combat experience.
Once his strength was recognized by the old man, he basically stopped getting beaten up. Now that the two of them are on the same page, he's even less likely to get beaten up, Dragon's wish is destined to be dashed.
"Hahahaha! I've fought so many before that I'm getting a little carried away. Now when I see that face, I can't control myself. This just proves that kid is weak. He can't even dodge an old man's attack. He's such a waste! Hahahaha!"
Ever since Vic treated Garp's body and made him look younger, he had been wearing a dog-head hat, and he still did so now. The gold ring on his finger gleamed in the sunlight, and he looked no different from before.
However, he possessed a unique charisma, an indescribable quality that inspired awe in people. Those in the navy assumed it stemmed from his legendary status as a marine and Hero of the Marines, without considering anything else.
However, Sengoku, his old comrade-in-arms, has also had this feeling in recent years. He always stares at Garp with strange eyes, which makes even Garp, who has a strong heart, feel a little uneasy. He rarely goes to Sengoku's office to steal senbei anymore, and now he is mostly out on missions and rarely returns to Marine Headquarters.
"You call yourself an old person? What old person has your strength and speed? If someone like you is considered old, then there are no old people in this world! I'd like to hide, but can I even get away?"
Dragon was really frustrated. He knew something was wrong when he saw his old man's fist trembling, but even though he dodged in advance, it was no use; he still had two bumps on his head.
He couldn't see the old man's movements at all; it was as if the old man had never left his spot. But in the entire Foosha Village, there couldn't possibly be such a powerful figure besides the old man. Who else could he have defeated?
Besides feeling frustrated, Dragon was mostly shocked by the old man's strength. After all these years, the old man's strength had become even more monstrous. He himself had been on the rise, but now it seemed that he still couldn't fathom the old man's limits. Beating him was like beating a child. And this was a seventy-year-old man? Nobody would believe it if they told them!
"You're all here to witness Luffy the sea, right? I didn't expect you all to have the same idea. Today is Luffy's birthday, are you sure you're not going to show up?"
Vic knew, of course, how terrifying the old man's strength was now, which was why he was so eager to comprehend the Laws; he wanted to experience that realm as soon as possible!
Therefore, he didn't want to continue the previous topic. If he did, it would bring up the old man's strength. Right now, the old man is the trump card. Whether it's him or the Revolutionary Army, the old man is the trump card. It's better not to discuss that topic now.
With the Mirror-Mirror Fruit's ability to remotely monitor, there are other ways to gather information that are imperceptible. Therefore, apart from the time he persuaded the old man, Vic has never mentioned topics like the God Realm again. As long as he hasn't broken through, this remains top secret.
"Keeping himself out of the public eye is the best way to protect him. That's how we've been doing things all these years anyway. He needs to see the world for himself!"
Garp didn't say much. He wasn't really in a position to show up. What should a Marine grandfather do when he sees his grandson going out to sea to become a pirate?
Dragon's consistent view is that the weakness of parents is their children. He doesn't know what Luffy's future will be like, nor does he know that Luffy is the chosen one. So this view is not wrong. Luffy also needs time to grow. Superficial indifference is the best protection.