"Garp!"
Sage was taken aback for a moment and instinctively looked at Jabra and the other two, "Did you report this? That was fast..."
Owl shook his head immediately under Sage's gaze, "Didn't have the time to report, chirp chirp."
That means it's something outside of the plan!
He wasn't afraid of CP9 reporting his whereabouts; he was worried about a flaw in his plan.
Garp's appearance was not within his expectations, but looking at the situation now, this guy doesn't play by the rules, which means there's a high chance it's just his one ship.
So the plan wasn't ruined.
Sage clicked his tongue, put one foot on the deck's railing, and shouted loudly, "You old geezer, how did you find me!"
"Bwahahaha, this old man isn't good at waiting for people. It's better to personally set out, just taking a casual stroll anyway!" Garp laughed.
This old guy certainly wasn't lying; he really happened to stumble upon him...
"When you get old, you should retire early. Then you can wander this sea as much as you like!" Sage said grimly.
"Bwahahaha, this old man is still young!"
Garp casually hurled the cannonball in his hand.
Rain?
What's the rain got to do with him manually firing cannons?
The power is strong enough; it can still explode.
The cannonball in the rainstorm vanished into the rain curtain, moving not only quickly but also indiscernibly. You could only hear a whooshing sound, and the pitch-black cannonball had already reached alongside the deck.
Boom!
Sage kicked it, the cannonball flying into the sea, creating a massive splash.
"Want to fight?" Lily gripped her sword hilt.
"No need, Renedia, set sail!"
"Got it!"
Renedia's hands sparked with electricity, pressing onto the deck, and the Death Star turned around without anyone steering, heading forward.
"Gin, take some people to raise the sails. Pearl, take some to the engine room to start the power. Bellamy, have your men watch out, maintain order, avoid running around, and be ready for battle at any time!"
"The Navy Hero Garp..."
Hawkins watched the pursuing Doghead Battleship, drawing Tarot Cards, and said, "Sage, if you fight him, your chances of winning are only 20%. Retreating is the right choice."
"It's not because of that."
Sage shook his head, "It's purely meaningless."
Win or lose, Sage wasn't afraid. If he couldn't win, he could run, but after a robbery, why bother fighting?
Now we're at sea, if a real fight broke out, what about the crew on this ship?
The resources he had painstakingly accumulated were not meant to be used for such things.
If they were still in the process of robbery, to ensure the plan's success, he wouldn't mind having a proper duel with Garp. But now, there's no need.
"Bwahahaha, kid, do you plan to run when you see me? You've done some serious stuff, I won't let you go so easily!"
Garp picked up another cannonball, leaned back, straightened his legs, and threw it forward with all his might like a baseball.
"Fist Bone Meteorite!"
Boom!!
The cannonball, even faster than before, shot into the water close to the Death Star, sending waves like a tsunami crashing onto the Death Star, tilting it sideways, almost capsizing.
A few unlucky crew members fell into the sea, overwhelmed by the surging waves.
"You old bastard!"
Sage flashed to the stern, directly pulling out a box of cannonballs covered with cloth under the aft cannon, taking one in hand, "You think you're the only one who can do that?!"
He swung his hand, sending the cannonball flying.
Boom!!
With similar force and speed, the cannonball hit near the Doghead Battleship, creating a massive splash, nearly overturning it in the stormy winds.
Similarly, a few unlucky Navy men fell into the sea, swallowed by the violent waters.
The sudden strike left Garp stunned on the spot. Bogard, beside him, widened his eyes, watching in amazement as Sage picked up another cannonball.
That posture, that technique...
Is it 'Fist Bone'?
When did he learn it?
"Old man, I told you next time we meet, I won't be so miserable!"
Sage threw out another cannonball, exclaiming, "Now, let's see whose ship sinks first!"
"Bwahahaha, copying my moves, are you? Let's see how much you've learned!"
Garp laughed out loud, picking up a cannonball and throwing it too.
Boom!
The two cannonballs collided violently in between the two ships, and even in the rain, the powerful force and impact made them explode, raising a cloud of smoke quickly washed away by the rain.
"And how about this!"
Garp grinned, his hands moving like afterimages, continuously throwing cannonballs forward, "Fist Bone Meteor Shower!"
The pitch-black cannonballs, like meteors streaking through the sky, hurled relentlessly at the Death Star under his fast throws.
On the vast sea, the means of transport and foothold have always been only the ships.
If the ship is lost, a pirate crew is half done for, and in this stormy weather, if the ship sinks, it's catastrophic.
Sometimes, hitting the ship is more effective than hitting people.
Coincidentally, Sage thought the same.
"Fist Bone Meteor Shower!!"
His hands moved like afterimages, constantly grabbing cannonballs from the crate and quickly hurling them, forming a dense barrage of cannonballs that collided with the incoming ones.
Boom!
Boom boom boom!!
Explosions and billowing smoke filled the space between the two ships, which sailed one after another.
Whether they were Pirates or Navy, everyone watched the exchange of cannonballs with tense anticipation.
Being hit by one would surely cause a hole in the ship, putting them at a disadvantage.
Garp, after tossing a cannonball, grinned, grabbed a heavy cannonball, and his hand turned pitch black, coiling around the cannonball.
Sage's pupils contracted as he reached out, "Solid Shot!"
Mute, who was standing by, had already brought plenty of cannonball crates. Hearing the command, he placed a solid shot in Sage's hand.
Similarly, the flowing fire-like dark Haki coiled around the solid shot in his hand.
Almost simultaneously, both took a throwing stance and hurled with all their might toward each other.
"Fist Bone Meteorite!"
Bang!!
The Haki-infused solid shots collided mid-air with a sharp explosive sound, sending a blast of air that even dispersed the surrounding storm for a moment.
An old man's eyes clashed with those of a young man amidst the air blast.
One was aging but full of grandeur, laughing heartily.
The other, young but fiercely spirited, with a vicious grin.
After that eye contact, Sage made the first move, grabbing a cannonball and throwing it, while Garp laughed and retaliated.
Explosive cannonballs, Haki-infused solid shots, chain bullets aiming to tear through the other's sails—anything that could be thrown was hurled by them.
Compared to the bombardment from the ship's cannons, their manual speed was several times faster, and the power exceeded the cannon's bombardment itself.
Of course, this kind of exchange consumed a huge amount of resources.
In this high-speed, continuous cannonball clash, neither side could keep up with replenishing cannonballs fast enough, causing pauses.
But now, pausing didn't matter as the distance between them widened.
Driven by power, the Death Star was incredibly fast, leaving battleships struggling to keep up.
Even this special Vice Admiral ship managed to stay for only a while before it was left behind.
Boom!
Two cannonballs collided mid-air once more, erupting in a violent explosion. But Garp's next toss exploded farther away in the sea, sending up a splash.
"Puhahaha, it's been ages since I had such a thrilling throw!"
Garp laughed, "Sage, it's a pity you're a Pirate!"
"Really? I think it's a pity you're with the Navy!" Sage retorted with a vicious grin.
"Is that so... But I have no regrets about being with the Navy!"
Garp's expression turned serious as he stood at the ship's bow, clenching his fist, dark Haki coiling around it, with hints of black lightning flashing nearby.
Sage squinted, then suddenly grinned, "Perfect! Let's see where the gap lies!"
He also clenched his fist, gathering flowing fire-like Haki onto it.
But just then, he felt a shadow of darkness appear behind him, dissipating the newly-gathered Haki.
He glared at Garp with a mocking grin, "Old man, I'll play with you next time, it's not the time now! This time, I won't be caught in distress. Next time... I'll make sure you bleed!"
With that, he vanished into the darkness, and the entire ship disappeared from sight.
Their previous position had already surpassed Water Seven, recording the final direction of the first half.
Originally, they were heading towards the Red Earth Continent.
Or rather, heading towards the vast sea covering all routes in front of the Red Earth Continent...
The Devil's Triangle Sea Region!
Lily carried out Sage's plan. If they ever got entangled with the Navy, they would simply head into the Devil's Triangle, leaving no trace of their whereabouts.
"That dark fog..."
Bogard watched the Black Ship vanish into the pitch-black fog, frowning, "Vice Admiral Garp, should we continue the chase into the Devil's Triangle Sea Region?"
"That won't do!"
Garp lowered his hands, laughing, "Let them escape for now, we can catch them next time. That brat isn't the kind to give up; I have a hunch he'll head to Water Seven, and I'll meet him there!"
"Vice Admiral Garp... Are you happy about this?" Bogard asked curiously.
"Puhahahaha, of course I'm happy! It seems there's a successor. Kuzan is too lazy, Coby is still growing, but Sage has potential. Who would've thought I'd end up with a Pirate apprentice after a lifetime of chasing Pirates?" Garp laughed.
"Vice Admiral Garp, that's just spying, not a true apprentice. Please be cautious, that's not something to say lightly," Bogard reminded.
"Uh, let's just pretend I didn't say anything then."
Garp scratched his head, glancing at the pitch-black fog-covered area, "But it's too dangerous... Sage can't keep going like this."
The power of that Haki would stand out even in the New World, not to mention the first half.
This place, for that brat, is truly a 'Paradise.'
Moreover, the way that brat gathered his Haki flow just now...
It shouldn't be possible.
That kind of technique isn't something just anyone can learn.