A Waterfall Suspended in the Sky, a Showdown with Garp!

Inside Smoker's office at the Loguetown branch.

Smoker, who usually sat in the boss's chair, stood in front of the desk, while his personal seat was occupied by a gray-haired old man with an imposing presence.

It was none other than the Marine hero, Monkey D. Garp.

Garp grabbed a handful of rice crackers from his pocket and tossed them into his mouth. Chewing vigorously, he asked indistinctly,

"Kid, where did that little brat Ivan run off to? It's been two days, and I still haven't seen a glimpse of him."

Smoker cursed Ivan a few times in his heart, then forced a smile onto his stern face and said reassuringly,

"Vice Admiral Garp, Ivan has been leading a squad on patrol through the waters around Loguetown these past few days, clearing out pirate bands roaming the area. According to the plan, he should be returning today."

"Oh, is that so?" Garp raised his eyes and glanced at him with the hint of a smile.

His gaze bore down on Smoker like a physical weight, making his shoulders sink slightly as fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his brow.

Just as Smoker grew increasingly uncomfortable, Garp grabbed another handful of rice crackers and stuffed them into his mouth. His tone was casual, but expectant.

"That kid's rather to my liking. When he gets back, I'll have a good look at what kind of young man he is."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the wooden office door was suddenly pushed open. A panicked Marine rushed in and cried out in alarm,

"Bad news, Vice Admiral Garp, Captain Smoker! The Krieg Pirates have launched an attack on Loguetown!"

When the news reached them in the office, Garp and Smoker looked at each other, each seeing the confusion in the other's eyes.

Good grief, were the Krieg Pirates really that bold? Daring to attack Loguetown, and right when Garp was stationed here?

Smoker looked thoughtful, but Garp gradually grew excited. He became an afterimage, smashed through the window, and charged toward the harbor, leaving behind a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha, so the pirates of the East Blue are this brazen now. Perfect! I'll go meet this Don Krieg myself!"

"Wait, Vice Admiral Garp!" Smoker's heart tightened, and he instantly came to his senses. Remembering Ivan's previous unexpected antics, he hurriedly reached out to stop him. "Things might not be what you think!"

But it was already too late.

Before Smoker had finished speaking, Garp's figure had already become a tiny dot on the horizon and vanished from his sight entirely.

Smoker sighed. All he could do was turn into a cloud of smoke and follow Garp out the window, hurrying toward the harbor.

I just hope I can make it in time.

If his guess was right, the "Krieg Pirates" attacking Loguetown had to be Ivan!

On the top deck, the sea breeze carried a salty dampness as it swept past, and sunlight spilled over the railing and deck, pleasantly warm.

Ivan squeezed some sunscreen onto his fingertips and rubbed it gently between his palms until it spread, then placed them against Nami's bare, fair back.

Nami's skin was naturally smooth and delicate, warm and soft to the touch like fine mutton-fat jade.

She had not yet undergone the transformation she would two years later. Though her figure was not as shapely as it would become, her curves had already begun to develop, far surpassing those of her peers.

Ivan's palms moved slowly over her back. He quietly circulated Water Breathing, rubbing the sunscreen evenly into every inch of her skin while massaging her with just the right amount of pressure to ease her tense muscles.

"Mm..."

As he applied it, Nami kept letting out soft little murmurs.

If anyone else heard them, they would surely get the wrong idea.

When Ivan finished and withdrew his hands, he smiled and patted Nami on the shoulder. "All done. Your turn to help me."

Nami turned around, blushing, and was just about to take the sunscreen.

But just then, Tashigi, dressed in a swimsuit and clutching a telescope, suddenly said in astonishment, "Captain Ivan, there are a lot of Marines gathered at Loguetown's harbor. It looks like we've been misunderstood again!"

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. I'll go over and clear things up in a bit." Ivan raised a hand to push up his sunglasses, speaking lazily without a trace of concern.

But Tashigi did not relax at all. Her voice abruptly rose as she cried in a panic, "Ahhh, Captain Ivan, this is bad! There's a Dog-Head Warship heading toward us. That... that looks like Vice Admiral Garp's ship!"

Ivan: "???"

The moment he heard it was Garp's ship, Ivan lost all interest in having Nami apply sunscreen for him.

He casually grabbed a floral shirt and draped it over his shoulders. Still wearing his beach shorts, he used Geppo to soar into the air and raced toward the Dog-Head Warship, leaving behind a single instruction:

"I'll go over first and explain things to Vice Admiral Garp!"

If the Loguetown Marines misunderstood him, he could afford not to care. With him there, the two sides would never come into conflict in the first place, and even if they did, there would be no casualties.

But facing Garp, Ivan did not dare be careless. That was one of the strongest fighters on the seas, Garp the Hero, Pirate King Roger's rival!

If Garp failed to use Observation Haki and did not discover their identities, then with one punch, setting Ivan aside for the moment, Nami, Tashigi, and the others would be dead for sure!

Garp wouldn't be that unreliable, but what if he was?

Ivan would not gamble with his own people's lives!

But Ivan had barely flown any distance when he saw the distinctive Dog-Head Warship speeding toward him through the waves.

He looked up and saw a sturdily built old man standing on the dog's head atop the warship.

Almost at the same moment, the old man looked up at him too, and their gazes abruptly collided in midair.

Ivan looked at the old man. He was tall, with short gray-white hair, a scar on his face, and blue eyes... Yeah, that should be the pirate hero Garp.

Wait, why is he jumping over here?!

Ivan was aghast. In his field of vision, Garp suddenly pushed off with both legs, driving the front of the Dog-Head Warship deep into the sea. An instant later, he shot into the sky and flew toward Ivan.

In an instant, immense pressure engulfed Ivan from every direction, and the terrifying aura overwhelmed all his senses.

The next second, he saw Garp's fist enveloped in dense black-and-red Armament Haki.

Garp grinned and laughed, his voice booming like a great bell.

"**Hahaha, what a gutsy pirate! You actually dared attack a Marine base. Take this punch!

Fist Bone: Normal Punch!**"

Ivan: "!!!"

Seriously, man?!

You really didn't use Observation Haki?

Can't you see the Marine uniform I'm wearing?

He instinctively glanced down at himself. Beach shorts and a floral shirt—he really did not look even remotely like a Marine.

Fine, forget I said anything.

Realizing this, Ivan's panic faded, and he grew serious.

His heart raced, and a somewhat fierce excitement appeared on his face as he spoke, whether in worry or anticipation:

"I'm going to fight the Marine hero. Looks like I'll have to give it everything I've got!"

Ivan took a deep breath, and streams of water suddenly appeared around him. They condensed into strands, wrapping around him and the long blade in his hand.

Soon, a deep blue-black color spread through the water and enveloped the blade. Ivan did not intend to hold back on this strike; he was prepared to use all his strength in one go!

Gripping his sword, he murmured, "One Sword Style: Black Blue, Water Breathing, Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!"

A vast torrent of water rose from the sea and engulfed Ivan, then bore down on Garp like a waterfall suspended in the sky!